Perhaps you can’t put new wine in old bottles, but you can put it in a space-age serving system, as evidenced by the recent debut of the Enomatic Wine Kiosk at Vino Vino Wine Market (1457 Merrimon Ave. in Asheville). The 16-wine serving system, which bears a vague resemblance to a standard soda machine, pours wine at the touch of a button. According to press releases, this allows customers to taste a wine before they bottle it. To see the contraption in action, visit the store Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Noodles with radicchio sauce, prosciutto-wrapped fennel spears and stuffed baked tomatoes: The only local place you’ll find this tantalizing menu is Wally Maria Wyatt’s Weaverville kitchen, in which she’s offering Northern Italian cooking classes throughout December. Each of the Saturday-afternoon classes features instruction in a particular themed meal (The aforementioned lineup comes from Emilia Romagne day.) Classes are $50, or $180 for the four-session series. To register, call Wyatt at 658-8928.
‘Tis the season for restaurant closings: After a spate of openings this summer, the Asheville area has suffered a round of shutdowns. Foodies, have the kitchen gods gotten your attention yet? If you love a place, you must patronize it. And few places deserve your patronage more than Stone House Market, the little chef-run place on Old Leicester Highway reviewed in these pages just about a year ago. After a long hiatus, Stone House is again serving dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with reservations available for private dinners throughout the week. Call 252-1200 for more information. Soon.
