Curate, Cúrate, Asheville, NC, North Carolina, Where to eat, Restaurants, Spanish, Spain, Tapas, Best Restaurants in Asheville, Recommendations, Chef Katie Button, Co-owner, Partner, Where Chefs Eat, Chefs Feed, Southern, Chef Katie Button, Director Felix Meana, Restaurateur Elizabeth Button, Restaurateur Ted Button, Chef Recommended, Chef Approved

Cúrate | What The Pros Say

“The food is classic, straightforward Spanish tapas. I really like her cured trout salad.”

- Chef Jacob Sessoms of Table in Asheville, NC

“It’s one of my favorite wine bars; I love to drink at Cúrate.”

- Lorenzo García-Iglesias Soto of Bodegas Tradición in Jerez, Spain

About Cúrate

A Taste of Spain in Western Carolina

I love the look on our guests’ faces  if they’ve never been to Spain. Our menu can be overwhelming, the titles are all in Spanish and mention a lot of products that people aren’t familiar with.  But with an open mind to taste the food, we see that look of surprise, enjoyment, and satisfaction, which is what we love most.

We also love to see the reactions from our guests who have traveled to Spain, lived in Spain, or are from Spain. They are typically a little more wary when they first enter because they fear that someone is going to royally mess up what they love most. Then they realize the chef in the kitchen is an American woman, uh oh...then they’re thinking that could be bad news. But then Felix Meana walks over to their table and they realize he's from Spain. Plus when they look at the menu and see items like 5J and Fermin hams, brands that are not only some of the best in the USA, but the best in Spain as well. At the end of their meal, these guests are typically so excited to have a piece of Spain tucked away in Western North Carolina. It really makes us feel good.

Dishes Not To Missed

Berenjenas fritas - eggplant that is lightly battered and fried, drizzled in local Wild Mountain Bees honey and garnished with rosemary.

 

Pulpo a la gallega - spanish octopus served warm with olive oil, smoked pimenton, and a yukon gold potato puree, this is a very traditional dish from Galicia and we prepare it in the traditional manner.

 

Esquiexada de montana - this dish is a twist on the classic version using local trout instead of the more typical salt cold, the trout is sliced thin, served raw with a lemon vinaigrette, fresh tomato, black olive and sweet onion.

The Classics

As with any tapas bar we also have the classic standards of tapas bars of Spain.  The type of dishes that you order at a tapas bar to taste just to see if the restaurant is worth its salt before you order other things. Like:

 

Croquetas de Pollo - creamy chicken fritters, basically chicken cooked in bechamel, deep fried and delicious.

 

Patatas Bravas - french fries of Spain, fried potatoes topped with a spicy tomato sauce and aioli.

 

Ensaladilla Rusa - typical potato salad that is a staple at every tapas bar. potato, carrot, bonito, green peas, piquillo peppers, and our homemade arbequina olive oil mayonnaise.

And of course if you've never had Jamon (ham) from Spain, you can't leave without tasting some. We offer three different kinds: Serrano, Iberico, and Iberico de Bellota.

Ingredients | Imported

The products imported from Spain are primarily Spanish pork products. They are the home of the Iberico breed pig, which we don't have in the US and the centuries of tradition that they have behind them curing Spanish hams and charcuterie is one of the areas where Spain truly shines. We import three different kinds of ham: Serrano, Iberico, and Iberico de Bellota. They have different breeds and different diets, the last one is acorn fed.

Other imported products include specialty cheeses, Marcona almonds, pimenton, anchovies, boquerones, and bonito, and of course the octopus.

Ingredients | Local

We try to get as much as possible locally, just to list a few, trout from Sunburst Trout Farms, eggs from Cane Creek Farm, produce from Rise Up Rooted Farm, Ivy Creek Family Farm, and Gaining Ground Farm, beef and pork from Brasstown Beef, honey from Wild Mountain Bees, peppers from Smokin J's Pepper Farm.

 

Chef’s Guide to Asheville

Find | Markets

The North Asheville Tailgate Market and the City Market

We're really lucky in Asheville to have so many wonderful farmer's markets, any of them are worth checking out as they are all fantastic, but these are the two that I frequent most.  You can find cheese, produce, bread, proteins...anything you can think of, and every year they are growing and expanding.

North Asheville Tailgate Market

1 University Heights, Parking Lot C, Asheville, NC 28804

T: 828.712.4644 | northashevilletailgatemarket.org

West Asheville Tailgate Market

718 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806

T: 828.545.4516 | www.westashevilletailgatemarket.com

French Broad  Food Co-Op Tailgate Market

76 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801

T: 828.255.7650

City Market

161 S. Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801

www.asapconnections.org/citymarket

Find | Wine

Table Wine

This is a great wine store and the owner Josh Spurling is extremely knowledgeable and he has a fantastic selection. Felix frequently goes in to chat with Josh and hear about his latest recommendations.

1550 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803

T: 828.505.8588 | www.tablewineasheville.com

Find | Baked Goods

Farm and Sparrow Bakery

This is  some of the best bread ever made. You can find it in a few of our local grocery stores and the Tailgate markets, they also do some kick ass pastries, savory and sweet.  The owner, Dave Bauer definitely knows his way around an oven.

T: 828.633.0584 | www.farmandsparrow.com

Available at: North Asheville Tailgate Market, Asheville City Market, Black Mountain Tailgate Market, All Souls Pizza.

Flat Rock Bakery

Worth a trip to Flat Rock for their wood fired pizzas. Felix and I will take motorcycle rides down there on a nice afternoon just to eat some pizza.

Inside the Wrinkled Egg, 2710 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, NC 28731

T: 828.693.1313 | www.flatrockwoodfired.com

Eat | Breakfast & Brunch

Sunny Point Café

Great all day breakfast spot. I go for 2 eggs over easy, grits, and sausage... and don't forget the biscuit on the side.

626 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806

T: 828.252.0055 | sunnypointcafe.com

The Junction

This is my favorite brunch spot. Order the sticky bun; it's savory sweet and probably one of the best brunch items I have ever had. They've got great brunch cocktails as well.

348 Depot Street, Asheville, NC 28801

T: 828.225.3497 (book a table) | thejunctionasheville.com

Eat | Restaurants

Table

Farm to table restaurant by chef Jacob Sessoms, the menu changes constantly, but Felix and I love to go there for lunch, they've got an outstanding hamburger.

48 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801

T: 828.254.8980 (book a table) | tableasheville.com

The Bull and Beggar

This place just opened this past year and the food is fantastic. It's tucked away off the main road, set back next to Wedge Brewery. I say make a day out of it, go to Wedge for a beer, work up an appetite playing cornhole and then head over to the Bull and Beggar for dinner. My favorite dish is the filet mignon served with bone marrow which is deliciously decadent.

37 Paynes Way, Asheville, NC 28806

T: 828.575.9443 (book a table) | www.the-bull-and-beggar.com

Drink | Cocktails

The Imperial Life

A great cocktail bar with fantastic house-made charcuterie.  My favorite is the barrel aged Negroni. For a bite to eat, don't miss the pastrami or the 10 day lomo when they are on the menu.

48 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801

T: 828.254.8980 | imperialbarasheville.com

Drink | Coffee

High Five Coffee Bar

This is the best coffee in town. Each cup of espresso is ground to order and the milk is steamed fresh, making the perfect cup. Felix loves that he can order a “cortado” and they know its different than a “macchiato.”

 

190 Broadway, Asheville, NC 28801

T: 828.398.0209 | highfivecoffee.com