magnetometer montcalm: Coffee, Food, Drink: Asheville Love! {This is the Good Life ...

Friday, July 6, 2012

Coffee, Food, Drink: Asheville Love! {This is the Good Life ...

We have some pretty great couch surfers staying with us this week. Check ?em out they?re musicians!?Because they?re in town we?re talking a lot of this sweet home town of ours. It made me realize that it?s about time I write another installment of Asheville Love! So, here are the coffee spot, food place, and watering hole that I?m feeling this week!

Coffee:

Waking Life

I love this spot because it?s seriously a spot for serious coffee nerds. There are barely any flavored coffees, it?s all about the taste of the bean. On top of that the owner will totally nerd out with you if you want to talk about the coffee for an hour and a half. The downside of this, it?s not a place for those who aren?t into learning all about the bean. It can actually be quite annoying for those. But, I?m not one of ?em so I?m all about it. There are a couple of baristas there with awesome personalities, there are also a couple that just aren?t friendly. But, they?re good at their job and aren?t rude by any means. The coffee is phenomenal. They are serious about educating their customers on why they are buying what they?re buying. {which I love.} They treat their employees well and source fairly!

The atmosphere isn?t too shabby either. It?s an old house converted into a coffee shop, but, it?s nice, clean and modern. They have amazing internet, the fastest in town. Also, lots of parking.

So, make sure to check ?em out next time you?re in West Asheville!

Food:

Bouchon

Guys, this place is seriously legit. Bouchon is this amazing french bistro on Lexington Ave. The atmosphere and the food are both like a teleportation machine right to France. The first time I walked in there I was blown away by how much it felt like places we visited in Paris. Then, I ate the food. Chef Michel Baudouin is a master! I recommend the escargot as an appetizer and the Ravioli de Homard Nantua {lobster ravioli} for your meal! There is often a pretty big wait and they don?t take reservations. However, there?s a nice bar to sit at while you wait. They?ve also recently increased their seating room by opening up the wine cellar for dinner guests. This has supposedly cut down on the wait time significantly. But, either way, it?s worth the wait. A great place for a nice night out. Entrees average about $20/person. Not as much as you would think if you tasted the food first.

Drink:

The Southern

This has easily become my favorite place to grab a drink. With their relaxed patio and classic indoor seating you will feel comfortable anywhere you choose to enjoy your happy hour! I love them for their drink specials! Check it:

monday: $5 margaritas-$1 off bottled beers {the margaritas are pint glassed sized, not those tiny ones you usually get.}
tuesday: $3 well liquor and draft beers
wednesday: $5 irish whiskey
thursday: $2 PBR
friday: $5 all stoli flavors
saturday: $5 makers mark
sunday: Bloody Mary Bar, $6 mimosas, and 1/2 priced bottles of wine.

Did I also mention that they have amazing food! Truffle mac and cheese, meat and cheese plates, and sunday brunch! The Southern is also home to some of our favorite specialty cocktails: ?We love the Southern Special Tea {sweet tea vodka, southern comfort, and lemon juice} and the Lavender Martini {gin, lavender simple syrup and lemon juice.}

It?s a great place to start or end your night, or just grab a quick drink after work. With the relaxed environment and quality for the price, you can?t go wrong!