BEYOND ASHEVILLE DINING OUT IN NEIGHBORING TOWNS
BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA
COURTESY OF BLUE MOUNTAIN PIZZA
BY THOMAS CALDER Yes, Asheville’s culinary scene is well known and nationally acclaimed. But there are plenty of wonderful restaurants, cafes and breweries in surrounding towns. If you’re looking to get out of the city for the day, here are a few fun and delicious options within a 25-mile drive. • In the mood for barbecue? Head to Swannanoa via Interstate 40 east and find Okie Dokies Smokehouse. Want to keep exploring? Continue east another 10 minutes, and you’ll discover the picturesque and walkable town of Black Mountain, which has a number of notable eating and drinking venues, including The Dripolator Coffeehouse, Louise’s Kitchen, Open Oven Brunch & Bakery and Lookout Brewing Co. • Conversely, you could take I-40 west to Canton. The town experienced its first boom in the early 1900s, when the Ohiobased Champion Paper and Fibre Co. expanded its operations to the banks of the Pigeon River. The company continued operating for nearly 100 years before Evergreen Packaging took over in 2007. The plant’s paper production process creates a unique odor, but downtown Canton’s distinctive
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E AT S & D R I N K S
2021 – 2022
