Vinnie’s expands, new Fairview cidery and Filipinx food on the horizon
ASHEVILLE – After a decade of operations in North Asheville, Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian is expanding. The second location of Vinnie’s will open at 1981 Hendersonville Road, in the former Iannucci’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant space, likely in summer.
The South Asheville restaurant should bear all the hallmarks of the flagship Merrimon spot, with its homage to old-school red sauce Italian joints, particularly those in the New York area.
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Founded in 2010 by restaurateur Eric Scheffer, who grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, Vinnie’s is known for its piled-high plates of pasta and family-friendly vibe.
Scheffer is also a founding member of the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association and a co-owner of Jettie Rae’s Oyster House.
Neng Jr.’s coming to West Asheville
Former Buxton Hall sous chef Silver Cousler is opening a progressive Filipinx restaurant in West Asheville in early 2021.
Neng Jr.’s, which will co-inhabit the former Mothlight space at 701 Haywood Road with community project Different Wrld, will serve Cousler’s takes on Filipinx classics in a meat-and-three format, according to a release.
Cousler, who worked at Buxton Hall for several years, followed that gig with a stint at Mission Chinese alongside Angela Dimayuga, followed by a residency at Tillies in the Cayman Islands.
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Silver created the lauded Filipinx-focused Love Songs pop-up with partner Cherry Iocovozzi. Iocovozzi will curate the natural wine list for Neng Jr.’s.
Neng Jr.’s will run gratuity-free service while paying employees a living wage. The restaurant will also have a street-facing quick-fire window, offering COVID-safe ordering and pickup.
“Silver’s lived experience as a nonbinary trans chef of color will inform all decisions, and they’re aiming to work with as many queer folks and folks of color as possible throughout the process,” the release said.
More information is to come on this new West Asheville concept, but for now read more about Neng’s Jr. in the chef’s own words on the GoFundMe page for the concept at bit.ly/38aWjk4.
New cidery for Fairview
There’s a new cidery and taproom in the Fairview-Fletcher area. Head cidermaker Dan Fowler and his partner Katie Moore opened Barn Door Ciderworks Nov. 12 with a goal to uphold cider in its traditional place at the heart of celebrations.
Though COVID presents some challenges to that, the property boasts ample outdoor space with firepits and plenty of room to spread out.
Over the weekend of Dec. 19, Barn Door makes use of that space with its second “S’mores by the Fire” event. Customers can purchase a s’mores kit for two for just $2 that includes homemade marshmallows and all the typical s’mores fixings. They’ll even loan you a roasting stick. The event is both adult- and family-friendly, a press release said.
A small bites menu at the cidery is loosely based on traditional Pintxos, and includes sausage simmered in cider, garlic mushrooms, and Tortilla Espanola.
Barn Door’s house cider uses onsite-pressed local, and sometimes wild-foraged, apples, according to the release. The cidery also serves beer, wine and other beverages. Bottle sales are available at barn-doorciderworks.square.site for pickup and onsite.
Barn Door is at 23 Lytle Road, Fletcher/Fairview. Hours are Thursday-Friday, 4-8 p.m., Saturday, 3-8 p.m., Sunday, 2-6 p.m.
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Mackensy Lunsford has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years, and has been a staff writer for the Asheville Citizen Times since 2012. Lunsford is a former professional line cook and one-time restaurant owner.
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