It’s said that the celebrated mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina, is becoming even better known for “the two Bs”: beer and bees. It’s home to the Center for Honeybee Research; the headquarters of Bee City USA, a nonprofit dedicated to creating sustainable habitats for pollinators; and scores of beekeepers making small-batch honey. It’s no wonder that Asheville Bee Charmer, opened in 2014 by beekeepers Jillian Kelly and Kim Allen, has become a destination for both local foodies and tourists. This honey purveyor offers a range of bee-related products and more than 50 different artisanal honey varietals—each with its own unique color, texture, and taste.
Inspired by the vast honey selection available behind the Honey Bar, chef Carrie Schloss has created The Asheville Bee Charmer Cookbook, a collection featuring 130 recipes, 20 honey varietals, and 8 special Bee Charmer blends. With a color, aroma, and tasting guide to honey varietals and dishes like Bee Pollen Nut Brittle, Chipotle Honey-Marinated Skirt Steak, Milk and Honey Dinner Rolls, and Chocolate Avocado Mousse, this cookbook proves that honey is the best way to season or sweeten your next meal.
Schloss writes with the home cook in mind, packing complex, surprising flavors into recipes written in clear, accessible prose. With beautiful full-color photography throughout, The Asheville Bee Charmer Cookbook is an excellent resource for anyone ready to ditch the ubiquitous honey bear, learn about artisanal honey, or simply reduce their refined white sugar intake without sacrificing flavor.
