Chow Chow is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to celebrating and enriching the foodways of Southern Appalachia and Asheville’s creative economy, led by a community of chefs, makers, artists, farmers, storytellers, and entrepreneurs. Founded in 2019 by a group of Asheville’s most iconic residents — including James Beard Award–winning chefs Katie Button, Meherwan Irani, and John Fleer alongside East Fork’s co-founder Connie Matisse — Chow Chow was formed to showcase Asheville’s creative spirit and community mindset.
Chow Chow Food + Culture Festival is the organization’s annual flagship celebration, designed to conveys a rich sense of place through four days of immersive and delicious programming in the heart of Downtown Asheville.
Today, Asheville is nationally recognized for its food, craft beverage, art, music, and outdoor scenes, named one of the “50 Best Places to Travel in 2023” by Travel + Leisure. The Chow Chow vision is an equitable and thriving regional food system, where culinary and creative enterprise are central to community identity and resilience.
festival themes
CULTIVATING
Explore the historical and modern ways in which we are cultivating community, collective agricultural sustainability, creative food & drink, and a resilient shared future.
PRESERVING
Journey with us as we trace the traditions and heritage of both old and new foodways and celebrate the intersecting diversity of cultures that connect us all through food and drink.
COLLABORATING
Honor a fiercely independent community of thinkers, creators, and doers through our rich history of cooperation, sharing, mutual respect, and learning from one another. Together we stand apart.
INNOVATING
Meet the makers, farmers, creators, thought-leaders and cutting-edge innovators who are developing new techniques and flavors for the modern Appalachian table, with an abiding respect to the rich regional heritage and people that came before.
CULTIVATING
Explore the historical and modern ways in which we are cultivating community, collective agricultural sustainability, creative food & drink, and a resilient shared future.
PRESERVING
Journey with us as we trace the traditions and heritage of both old and new foodways and celebrate the intersecting diversity of cultures that connect us all through food and drink.
COLLABORATING
Honor a fiercely independent community of thinkers, creators, and doers through our rich history of cooperation, sharing, mutual respect, and learning from one another. Together we stand apart.
INNOVATING
Meet the makers, farmers, creators, thought-leaders and cutting-edge innovators who are developing new techniques and flavors for the modern Appalachian table, with an abiding respect to the rich regional heritage and people that came before.
WE BELIEVE IN…
Celebration that facilitates deeperconnection.
The power and vitality of the creative andcollaborative spirit of the region.
The culture and traditions of our food,agricultural, and artistic regional heritage.
Growing awareness and appreciation oflocal food sources.
The value of many diverse voices joiningaround a table.
