Last weekend we celebrated my birthday with a surprise trip to my favorite city — Asheville! Despite the hotel email confirmation coming to my inbox, Matt pulled off an incredible surprise-packed 24 hours.
Saturday morning we packed the car and hit the road…making a surprise stop before leaving town to pick up some of our best friends, Brynn and Palmer, for the trip! Already, it was the best birthday gift ever.
A few hours later we arrived to the AC Hotel (one of our favorite places to stay in Asheville) and dropped our bags before walking to my next surprise. Matt had been talking up this surprise for months and I honestly had NO clue what it could be. Finally, we arrived to Santé where I discovered we were on the first stop of a walking food tour through the city! We’ve been to Asheville a lot and love trying new restaurants so it was really fun that out of 7 stops, we had only been to 1 of the restaurants before this trip! 
my outfit details: top / skirt / shoes / bag / necklace / earrings
The food and drink pairings at each stop were truly incredible. Asheville is well known for their farm-to-table culinary scene and several of the stops were at restaurants with some of the best chefs (including one of Asheville’s James Beard-nominated chefs).
Asheville Food Tour
- Stop 1: Santé (wine bar) for carrot dip paired with vino verde
- Stop 2: Addissae (Ethiopian) for 3 traditional Ethiopian dishes paired with coffee
- Stop 3: The Lobster Trap (seafood) for lobster mac & cheese paired with beer
- Stop 4: Zambra (tapas bar) for pork spring rolls paired with sangria
- Stop 5: Strada (Italian) for grilled ravioli paired with red wine
- Stop 6: Rhubarb for chow chow tarte paired with white wine
- Stop 7: French Broad Chocolate Lounge for dessert
After the tour we were all so full that Brynn and I decided to rest back at the hotel for a few minutes before joining the guys at Green Man Brewery. Afterwards we got ready for the night and took the elevator to the rooftop bar, Capella on 9 for cocktails and pictures before heading to a late dinner. 
my outfit details: dress / bag / earrings
The dinner location was the last surprise Matt had planned. He made reservations at a restaurant we’d never been to before but absolutely LOVED — The Bull & Beggar.
Sunday morning we got up early and grabbed breakfast at Over Easy Cafe where we all tried to convince Matt that he did not need to order two pancakes after learning how ginormous they were. But he insisted…and we all cheered him on but he only made it halfway through before asking for a box. Brynn and I both got the breakfast tacos which were the absolute best breakfast tacos I have ever, ever, ever had in my life. 
After breakfast we hit the road to get home to our babes! It was an amazing 24 hours in Asheville and Matt truly wins husband of the year for planning the best surprises ever!
I love the new blog design!
AW!!! THANK YOU!!!! It’s still a work in progress but I am loving all of the new changes! You’re the first to notice!!! XO
I absolutely love Asheville, and I am now eager to try the walking food tour next time we go! Also, do you have a link for your black dress and crossbody bag? They are both so cute!
You HAVE to try do it!! We already want to do it again because the restaurants change every time! And thank you! I just linked up the items in my post! Dress is from Amazon and bag is from walmart! 🙂
Love the new look on the blog! Looks like it was a wonderful birthday weekend! I’m going to reread all of your Asheville posts and take notes as I’m planning a trip there next year – can’t wait!
Thank you so much! I’m so excited to hear you’re planning a trip! You’re gonna love it!
I am relocating from west Bloomfield MI to Asheville. I hope I find the town as enjoyable as you do!
I am SO jealous!!! How exciting!!! You are going to LOVE living in AVL! Good luck with your move!
I’m so glad I got to see this story. I was born and raised in Asheville, NC. My husband and I moved to Arkansas to care for his parents in 2015. I miss my mountains every day! I hope you had a great birthday and enjoyed Asheville.
What a great city to be raised in! I recently heard the public schools in AVL really focus on being outdoors as part of their curriculum and love that so much!
Your Asheville trips always look like a blast!! Love all the food pictures! And your outfits!
Thank you friend!!! Favorite city ever!!!
We ate at bull & beggar in March it was so yummy! I love the idea of a food tour!!! Happy belated birthday!
YES! B&B has been on my list for awhile and we had the best experience — such a romantic restaurant!