mother | bread + wine

"I am so glad to have a place like mother in Asheville. I love the Sicilian olive focaccia! I have always had friendly interactions with the people behind the counter and I have never had to wait in a line for this excellent bread. If you are lucky enough to see jambon beurre while you are here, buy one!"

"Stopped in to grab a loaf and left with a Jambon Beurre and a pesto focaccia. The Jambon Beurre was seriously one of the best we had ever tried and was amazing in its simplicity. The focaccia was also a show stopper. Super friendly and attentive service!"

"Outstanding sourdough everything. Store front and wine tasting in River Arts District. Cafe in town. The focaccia and babka are excellent. All the different styles look on point, including English muffins, baguette, soft pretzels, brioche, and regular sourdough loaves."

"Took an afternoon break at mother after a Sunday perusing the galleries. Since they were out of focaccia, I bought a loaf of the peppercorn bread and tasted it on the spot. Quite possible the best bread I’ve ever eaten. And it went perfectly with the special wine of the day and a hefty dose of sunshine."

"I'm beyond thrilled that this shop has opened. And it's SO CLOSE. They're still doing online pre-order but one day they're gonna be open open and I'll be able to swing by for coffee and a bagel before work. Right now you order online motheravl.com for Saturday pickup and collect your precious treasures between 2-5pm. The two working there were delightful and I'm kicking myself for not asking their names. Welcome to the neighborhood! Ok now to the important part. Is their bread good? Yes. Hell yes. I ordered the onion focaccia and y'all, some of the best caramelized onions of my life. Would I eat a bowl of these? With no shame. The bread itself is deceptive. It LOOKS like there's a loaf of bread but actually it's just your imagination. Despite the gorgeous internal bubbling and the beautifully golden crust, the bread is so light and soft and fluffy that the flavor must be all in your head. You're biting into a dream. I added a slice of fresh tomato with a bit of salt to the heel slice and let me tell you, it was perfection. Samin, your focaccia recipe is great, but I'll skip baking my own and let these folks do it. Are their bagels good? Yes. I don't love the cornmeal, it's a bit jarring in an otherwise chewy bite, but the bagel is delicious and loaded with sourdough tanginess. The crust properly bubbles, it's tight without tearing up the mouth, and it's hefty without being heavy. A+ in my book. Enjoy these pictures. The real thing is even better."