Another glorious Asheville weekend

I woke up this morning wondering where my bag of beverage was... that's right, another Monday morning let-down after a weekend at the incomparable 1900 Inn on Montford, where each morning starts at 8 am with coffee in a travel mug, hanging from a quilted bag on the doorknob. I offered up Rob's laundry skills as barter for letting us move in... The owners and innkeeper seemed interested but perhaps we'll have to further sweeten the deal with dish washing or foot rubs...

On this, our second trip to Asheville this summer, we have confirmed that yes, it's a town we really dig with surrounding areas we dig even more, and yes, it seems nearly impossible to find a bad meal there, and yes, really cool people are drawn there, as was evidenced by locals we talked to and a groovy couple from Charlotte we met at the Inn... and yes, their drivers make Greensboro drivers seem really calm and vigilant.

Being the food-centric travelers that Rob and I are, I have to report on what we ate (perhaps a little preview for an adventurous Super Taster?):

• Vigne - this new spot (open only a month) is located roughly behind the Orange Peel and is owned by a hair stylist turned restaurateur (we actually met him - he seemed pretty surprised by his own career turn) and a Swedish chef. We ordered the Chef's selection menu and were treated to seven small, spectacular dishes - seafood that was cooked perfectly, served with interesting, well- matched sauces, unbelievable plating, and the staff was amazingly together for just a month in.
  
• Salsa's - was everything we heard it would be: packed with flavor and piled on the plate. One dish is easily enough for two people and the mojitos were perfect - refreshing and not too sweet.
  
• Tupelo Honey - even on an off-hour (lunch at 2ish), we had a little wait before being seated. The food was honest, with simple twists on traditional dishes like cornbread with ginger and whipped peach butter on the side, baked beans made with fresh limas and vegetarian greens with seasonings that compliment the natural bitterness, rather than attempting to mask it.
  
• Jerusalem Garden - had great lamb and was solidly good otherwise. We were hoping for a Moroccan experience like at the Imperial Fez in Atlanta. There was belly dancing but we knew it wasn't quite what we were hoping for when there was flatware on the table. Still, good eats.