Food Meets Music Bash

Written By: Marlene Osteen | Issue: April 2023

There’s something new and extraordinary in the air this spring. And it has to do with the intersection of food and music at the third annual Bear Shadow Music Festival, from. April 28 through 30. With its folk and R&B soul, country spirit, and rock and roll swagger, Bear Shadow draws everyone from faraway and nearby, from young to not, from hipster to nerd and everything in between to hear a lineup that’s just the right mix of talent and genre. And beyond the bright lights of the stage, there’s a top-notch roster of food vendors. With food offerings as elevated as the venue, this food meets music bash has a wealth of scrumptious ways to fill your plate and sate your appetite. From top end burgers to po boys and pizzas, from falafel to hoagies and from pulled pork to pork chop sammies, the culinary delights are as fetching as the headliners, and as compelling as is their music. Read on for a taste of the incomparable spread being served up on the sprawling grounds of Winfield Farms. Kinfolk: Owners Emily and Brady have been serving up their succulent Southern fare since 2021. Always a hit are their terrific shrimp po’ boys and juicy burgers. Smoking Good BBQ: Ruritan Barbecue Cookoff winner Kermit Terrentine says he started Smoking Good “as a way to keep his fans full, fat and happy.” Come for the luscious pulled pork, smoky barbecue chicken and oh-so-satisfying turkey legs. Backwoods Bakery: A mom-and-pop shop known for their “lovingly crafted, thoughtfully sourced” artisan breads.   A devoted gaggle of fans regularly flock to their Bear Shadow outpost for this archetype of Italian pizza. Secret Garden Courtyard: Highlands native Rachel Lewicki will serve up sandwiches of uncommon excellence, including her justifiably famous, classic Italian hero – a variety of cured meats layered on crusty hoagies rolls. The Scarlet Bee: Traditional Middle Eastern dishes from owner Matt Sawaya’s Lebanese family – savory spiced dips, beautiful mezze dishes like brightly flavored cauliflower shawarma and juicy, tender tenderloin kebabs. Post 25 Kitchen & Lounge: Hits from the all-American cuisine of Hendersonville’s favorite restaurant – famous tiger wings, killer mac’n cheese and awesome burgers. Life Raft Treats: Whimsical Ice-cream treats celebrating those goodies sold by ice-cream trucks of yesteryear – fashioned to resemble everything from fried chicken to bananas. VIP attendees will be treated to elevated bites from celebrated local chefs, Chris Huerta of the Crafty Goat and Matt Weinstein of Indigo Road Hospitality’s Skyline Lodge. For the complete scoop, visit bearshadownc.com.
by Marlene Osteen