Wow what a weekend. We just catered the United Way event at the Hilton for over 250 guests. We featured a North Carolina theme, and used local products. We had Pulled NC Pork with Smoked Gouda Grit Cakes, Fried local Goat Cheese over beet and arugula salad, Sautéed Shrimp and Grits, with garlicky Organic Spinach and Fried Leeks, and for dessert Local Apple and Cinnamon Shortcakes- over fresh biscuits with whipped cream. All food was prepared in the event space and served fresh. Great comments all night, I love it when people enjoy the food I love to make. We even had a few “Grit Converts” people who hated grits before tonight. They just haven’t had them the Roux Way.

On to the roof: The Herb Garden had to be moved. Even though herbs love a hot dry temperate – the roof with was just baking them. They are still on the roof, but we moved them so they could get some shade. We are in a learning curve since this is our first year. I think we will need more pots to supply our needs in the future, and maybe an arbor for a little shade.

This is new. Text Asheville to 26469 to receive a special deal from us! Then come on into Roux show the server or bartender the text to get the deal. The Text is the coupon. Pretty Cool huh.

Some exciting things are happening at Roux. We have just planted an Herb Garden on our Roof Top. Eight pots containing 10 herbs: Rosemary, Sweet Basil, Thai Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Dill, Sage, Cilantro, Flat Leaf Parsley and Curley Leaf Parsley. If you’re staying at the Hilton you can see the Herb Garden from the hallway leading to your room as well as from many rooms. Just the basics, but there’s nothing like fresh herbs; you can check out our pictures on Facebook (search for RouxAsheville). While you’re there become a fan to receive daily specials, updates and the occasional free dessert offers.

Our Roof Top Herb Garden

We also rolled out some new menus and are starting $5 Dollar Lunches next week. New Menu Items include: Grilled Chicken and Goat Cheese Quesadilla, Crispy Calamari, Pulled Pork Sliders, Tuna Nicoise Salad, and lots of new burgers including an awesome Sesame and Ginger Salmon Burger. The new big hit on the dinner menu is a Pork T-Bone from Cane Creek Valley Farms. It’s served with Pineapple Chow Chow.

This leads us to the exciting news that we are now supporting a local organic farm: Cane Creek Valley Farm. We are buying organic produce and hormone free Beef and Pork. Add them to the list with: Claire’s ABC Preserves, Three Graces Dairy and Sunburst Trout and you can know when you support Roux that you are supporting the local farmers and local economy; something we are very proud of. Look for the green leaf on our menu that denotes these local ingredients.