Stepping in and out of Asheville’s best restaurants every day, our Tour Guides have their finger on the pulse of Asheville’s thriving food scene. On our Daily Tours, Eating Asheville’s Food & Beverage Professionals share the multi-sensory experience of Asheville’s most popular dining rooms.
A Combined Century of Hospitality Experience
Each of our Tour Guides is a true professional from the food and beverage industry having served as former restaurant owners, chefs, servers and bartenders. Meet Asheville’s most experienced food guides:
Stephen Steidle
Stephen is the founder and owner-operator of Eating Asheville and used his 20 years of experience as a restaurateur and hospitality pro to craft a dynamic presence in the Asheville Foodtopia scene. Stephen has spent the last five years showing off Asheville’s best restaurants, literally eating and drinking his way through downtown Asheville! When he is not guiding tours, Stephen is always considering the next meal, a great drink pairing or enjoying the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains.
Hank Fuseler
Before joining Eating Asheville Hank spent close to twenty years in food, beverage and hospitality, most recently as beverage manager for Rhubarb. Over the years he has managed restaurants, drink programs and catering operations in addition to bartending, serving, cooking, and working on a farm and in a vineyard. Hank greatly appreciates the camaraderie formed when people are brought together to share food and drink.
Kim Murray
Kim is a veteran of the Western North Carolina restaurant scene, most recently performing as a managing partner of Asheville mainstay the Lobster Trap for over 6 years. Kim has served as vice president of Asheville Independent Restaurant Association (AIR) and is an entrepreneurial and hospitality guru. Kim is an alumna of Appalachian State University that we are proud to have as a part of our Eating Asheville team.
Kasey Hotchkiss
Kasey is a bon vivant of the Asheville scene, and when she’s not bartending, guiding food tours, hosting parties or attending book groups she is pretty much a professional traveler. She brings her worldly experience along with over a decade in hospitality to every Eating Asheville tour she is a part of, and our patrons adore her for that.
Anne Lehmann
Anne has been a key part of the Asheville food and beverage scene since 2012. Anne’s passion for local food, Asheville history, and customer service is second to none. When she’s not guiding tours Anne is cooking, exploring Asheville, and can usually be spotted photographing and eating local delights. She is always on the search for Asheville’s next best thing, while at the same time discovering the stories of the diverse architecture, impressive landscape and the inventive people that made this city what it is today.