Taste of UNC Asheville Dining

UNC Asheville Dining Services is excited to host Hickory Nut Gap, Mountain Foods and United Natural Foods on Monday, August 26^th for a Taste of Dining experience. We’ve brought in exciting new products from UNFI to sample with students. UNC Asheville Dining is also thrilled to sample our house-made blended burger, made with local mushrooms from Orchard Valley Farms and beef from Hickory Nut Gap Meats. This juicy burger is about 33% mushrooms, so diners can still enjoy beef with less guilt of environmental impact. In fact, for every third burger eaten, an entire beef patty is skipped.

Blending meat with veggies or grains is not a new concept, but definitely becoming trendier. Mushrooms make a great substitute with their umami flavor and meaty texture. Because we’re using less meat, we’re able to offer a higher quality product from Hickory Nut Gap Meats. Hickory Nut Gap’s beef is GAP 4 certified humane, which means their animals live their entire lives on pasture, are not given antibiotics or hormones, never go to a feedlot and have specific requirements for management practices. Coupling this beef with local mushrooms make a delicious local burger that we’re proud to serve the UNC Asheville community.

Students will be tabling on the benefits of choosing a blended burger over conventional, and why blending meat with vegetables is a great step in reducing ones carbon footprint. Everyone is invited, and there will be lots of samples to go around. Music is provided by Noah Proudfoot. This exciting event will take place Monday, August 26^th in between Brown Hall and Highsmith Student Union from 11:30 to 1:30pm.