Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR) is throwing its annual fund-raising party, The Taste of Asheville, on November 17 at The Venue, 21 N. Market Street, from 7–9 p.m. This evening of culinary samplings features an impressive array of local talent. Guests can experience savory creations from 37 restaurants plus wine and beer tasting from local breweries.

“We are very excited about this year’s event as it has a record number of participating restaurants and will feature some of Asheville’s top chefs,” says Steve Frabatore, AIR president. The evening will also serve as the official kick-off of AIR’s Passport program that offers discounts at many top restaurants. The program is a great way to try something new.

Restaurants donating their time and food for this year’s Taste of Asheville include Avenue M, Blue Ridge Dining Room, Blue Water Seafood, Boca, Chai Pani, Chelsea’s Tea Room, City Bakery, Corner Kitchen, Fiore’s, The French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Jack of Hearts, Jack of the Wood, Laughing Seed, Lexington Avenue Brewery, Luella’s Bar-B-Que, Mamacitas, The Market Place, Olive or Twist, Tupelo Honey, Ultimate Ice Cream, Vincenzo’s and Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian, among others.

A portion of the proceeds from the evening and the sale of the Passports will help fund AIR’s Chefs of Tomorrow scholarship program at A-B Tech. AIR will present $5,000 to the scholarship fund bringing this year’s total contributions to $12,000, says Amy Garcia, marketing director for AIR. Tickets for the event are $70 per person and $125 per couple.

Tickets are available on the AIR website at airasheville.org. For more information, call 828.338.9839.