Photo by Rachel Pressley
Since opening in mid January, Juju’s Craft Cookery at Mills River Brewing Company has been serving hand-crafted comfort foods that pair well with the brewery’s locally crafted beers, wine, and spirits. “My partner and our head chef, Jared Dotson, and I have been designing the menu,” says co-owner Staci Raymond. “All of our sauces are made from scratch, we make our own French fries — everything is from scratch. Nothing is frozen.” The couple has been partnering with local bakeries such as City Bakery and local creameries Round Mountain and Looking Glass. “We will offer charcuterie plates as well as burgers, sandwiches, salads, and even pints of bacon [sourced from Hickory Nut Gap Farms],” says Raymond. One of the signature sandwiches is the “Frying Pan Tower,” a burger patty with fried-chicken fingers, shaved ham, bacon, white cheddar cheese, fries, arugula, tomato, spicy sriracha crema, and house-made ranch on a bakery ciabatta roll. The cookery/brewery has plans to partner with neighboring breweries for events, including nearby Burning Blush, which is putting in hiking trails. “There are very few places to go get food, hang out, and feel a sense of community,” says Raymond. “This will be a great place to have for everyone to come together. We are in the outskirts of Hendersonville and Asheville, so it’s a little more casual. It gives you that outlet.”
Juju’s Craft Cookery at Mills River Brewing Co., 336 Banner Farm Road, Mills River. For more information, visit jujuscookery.com or call 828-707-3978.
