National foodie days are a great reminder to eat some of the things that we have maybe forgot about, and an excuse to even splurge on some sinful desires that our personal trainer has deprived us of. National Dessert Day is a time to reflect on all of the delicious desserts we have eaten over the course of our lives. I grew up in New York City where we were surrounded by Italian bakeries, cannolis, 7 layer cookies, and so much more. Now I live in Asheville, and dessert is just about everywhere you look. And I’m looking!
We have made a list of places to go for some great dessert in the Asheville area:
Ice Cream has definitely taken a new twist in Asheville North Carolina. So many delicious ice cream shops all around town, with just about any flavor you can imagine. Frostbite has just recently opened in west Asheville right down the hill from Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack and in front of the bowling alley. We zoomed through the drive-thru before heading home to eat dinner. They had Dynamite Coffee on tap, and we ordered two cups immediately. Then we ordered the ice cream, and come to find out, it is soft-serve and they way they serve it is by starting with ice cream, we chose vanilla, and then twisting in the flavor you choose. Never heard of this before. So we ordered the Black Cherry and the Cotton Candy. And it was so good! The other half of the menu is traditional. When that other ice cream shop down Patton Ave near Cook-Out gets back from hibernating for the winter, they are going to have some tough competition on deck. We eat ice cream year round, round here!
Chocolate is becoming one of the great things Asheville is known for. Along with the foodie and restaurant scene exploding in the area; snacks, desserts and chocolates come right along with it.
We did some research online, and did you know that there is a “Chocolate Academy” you can attend? There is not one in Asheville yet, but hopefully one day. And did you know that there is a chef named Jacques Torres in NYC who is also known as Mr. Chocolate? I need to meet this man!
So much of life revolves around chocolate when you think about it. We have chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, hot chocolate, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate ice cream, chocolate icing, chocolate beer, chocolate coffee, chocolate cake, chocolate pie, chocolate cookies, chocolate breads, chocolate chips, chocolate brownies, chocolate martinis and much more! We recently purchased a fondue pot and cannot wait to pick up some local chocolate to melt and enjoy.
When you come to Asheville, we want you to be welcomed by chocolate and then surrounded by it. You know you do too. So we put this list together so you can visit all of these incredible places in the Asheville area. As a matter of fact, we recommend a chocolate tour if you may, where you go to each stop and come to your own conclusion, choosing your favorites spots, if you even can. Chocolate is kinda created equal around here to some extent. All of these places are so good!
The Chocolate Lab – this is the newest spot in town, and definitely worth a visit. They have a fine line of truffles and are the only ones in town that do a beer truffle. One of the things we noticed is that they have a Hot Chocolate Bar with many toppings where you can do it yourself, and have a good creative time. They also have a cafe area where you can spend some time with family, friends, or work on your computer.
The Chocolate Fetish – this place is the chocolate landmark of Asheville North Carolina and has been here since 1986. Lots of pre-wrapped chocolate options here for you to grab & go! You can pass by their location in the Haywood Park Hotel and see them through the glass, in their chocolate factory working away.
Chocolate Gems – this is a wonderful sweet spot in downtown Asheville where you can find the whole family making chocolate, working away in front of you, right behind the counter. They also have a gelato stand for your yummy enjoyment. We love the custom chocolates that they create around all of the holidays and special occasion days such as Valentines Day.
French Broad Chocolate Lounge – this spot speaks for itself and has grown tremendously in recent times. Their investment years ago in online sales is now paying off in the long run, with orders coming in from all around the country. You will notice their spot downtown when you see a long line of tourists near Pack Square waiting to get in and give their chocolate a try. Lots of desserts here. The liquid truffle is our favorite.
Kilwin’s Chocolates – this dessert oasis has a huge selection of treats from chocolate to candy, caramels, fudge, ice cream and more. The smell when you walk into this place is something amazingly delicious. And then you get to watch the crew make sweets right in front of you. They have several shops in the area including downtown Asheville, Black Mountain, and Hendersonville NC.
You can visit four out of five of these choices while in downtown Asheville, all within walking distance of each other. The only one off the beaten path is The Chocolate Lab in the north Asheville / Woodfin area, and it is well worth the 8 minute drive from downtown. Whether you live in Asheville, or come to Asheville to visit; it is highly recommended that you Get Your Chocolate On!
If you have been around Asheville for any period of time, you have surely heard of, if not visited the Hop Ice Cream Shop. As a matter of fact, this month they are turning 36 years old. Talk about about foodie landmark in the community; this is it! The Hop began back in 1978 when a guy from New York came through Asheville, loved it and decided to take an old gas station and make homemade, handmade, craft ice cream. He then sold the shop in the mid 80s, it passed through a few more hands, and a wonderful couple named Greg and Ashley took it over. Since then, and them; it has never been the same. Actually, Greg and Ashley worked for the 4th owner of The Hop; then through a series of events, ended up purchasing the business.
Greg was born in Berwick Pennsylvania, moved to California, and then to Kingsport Tennessee. He remembers going as a child to Asheville to visit the Biltmore Estate with his family, and the great memories they made. As a teenager, his family moved to the suburbs of Houston Texas, but he ended up coming back to Asheville to attend UNCA in 2000. In 2003, he began working for The Hop. Ashley was born in the suburbs of Houston Texas, moved to Russia at 10 years old for about 2 years, then back to Houston. She met Greg while she was in High School, and then moved to Asheville in 2003 to be with Greg. This love story has yet to be told! Let get back to business…
Greg was coaching at the time, and Ashley was the manager of the Hop. The owner decided he wanted to sell. Greg’s grandfather “Pop” has recently passed away at the time, and the family was in mourning and transition. Out of nowhere, Greg’s father Walt asked them “what do you think about buying The Hop?” It was a question that would change their lives forever. This was an investment in our community, a huge responsibility with accountability to their family, a life decision that they could not reverse. The answer was “Yes” and they began the loan process, a story in itself as it was right on the hinge of the last recession, and one of the last SBA loans given at the time. From December 2007 to August of 2008 it was up in the air. The loan finally came through and Asheville ice cream began to hike to the next level in quality, selection and community relationships. They started with 5 part-time employees, and have now grown to 30+ employees. They opened the Hop West in October 2010 and they are getting ready to celebrate their 4 year anniversary there.
But growth and the future is in the works right now as Greg and Ashley recently attained a new location that will be called The Hop Ice Creamery on 167 Haywood Rd – Suite 20; just a stones throw down from Short Street Cakes and across the street from where the new HOLE Hot Doughnuts in being constructed. I can already hear it… “Asheville’s Dessert District” or “Asheville’s Sweet Slope” as these are just a couple of the community themes that came to mind.
This new “Hop Spot” will simplify & increase productivity for both locations, allow them to increase their wholesale accounts, and provide their wholesale accounts with more volume. It will also enhance the customer experience and give Greg and Ashley the freedom to grow in many other directions. The location is ideal as it is a growing part of the booming West Asheville community. Some of their wholesale accounts include Katuah Market, UNCA, the Ice Cream Deck in Micahville, French Broad Rafting & Zip Lines, The Strand in Waynesville, Farmburger, Packs Tavern, Green Sage, and Sandy Bottom Trails.
The Hop is not going anywhere, but deepening their AVL roots, supporting the organic and homegrown scene, and growing their business naturally… as the opportunities arise from the hard work, team effort and relationship building that they have put forth. They will also have the ability to provide after-school tours for kids and families, showcasing the process, and tasting new ice creams freshly made right in front of them. A small bakery that complements ice cream may also be part of the future concept.
Greg, Ashley, and now also little Finn are staples in the Asheville community on both the business and personal side. If you have ever met them, you have met people with a community mindset and big hearts to back it up. The Hop Ice Creamery is simply the evidence, a big part of the evolution… their overall beautiful vision. And it all started with ice cream. Congratulations!!!
National foodie days are a great reminder to eat some of the things that we have maybe forgot about, and an excuse to even splurge on some sinful desires that our personal trainer has deprived us of. National Dessert Day is a time to reflect on all of the delicious desserts we have eaten over the course of our lives. I grew up in New York City where we were surrounded by Italian bakeries, cannolis, 7 layer cookies, and so much more. Now I live in Asheville, and dessert is just about everywhere you look. And I’m looking!
