Savoring Local Flavors: Our Collaboration with Myco-Gardens
At the Scheffer Group, we've always believed in the power of local partnerships and the importance of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Since day one, we've had the pleasure of working with one of the finest mushroom growers in the region, whose dedication and passion have enriched our culinary offerings.
For the past 31 years, Carol Dreiling has partnered with restaurants in Asheville to bring quality mushrooms to local menus. She and Eric Scheffer began working together in the early days of the Savoy, Eric’s first restaurant that helped put Asheville on the map as a premier dining destination. Later, when Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian opened in place of Savoy, Eric and his team would visit the North Asheville Tailgate Market and craft culinary delights from the fresh produce they sourced from various vendors, including Carol’s. During those market interactions, Carol and Eric’s relationship blossomed, leading to a longstanding collaboration. Carol is appreciative of the partnership, noting:
“We are very grateful for Eric’s support. He has always been supportive of local farms, and he has always been supportive of us.”
Carol and her husband run their mushroom operation, Myco-Gardens, in the lovely Alexander, NC. While her husband, Pete, is the primary grower, Carol finds the most joy in interacting with the chefs at the restaurants they supply. She finds the enthusiasm from the culinary teams motivating and loves to see what they create with her and Pete’s mushrooms. While they have always grown oyster mushrooms alongside specialties such as lion’s mane and reishi, their current concentration is cultivating exquisite oyster mushrooms in pink, grey, white, and gold varieties. Their offerings provide inspire our chefs to create dishes that showcase these beautiful additions.
Our collaboration with Myco-Gardens embodies our commitment to local partnerships and high-quality ingredients. The passion and dedication Carol and Pete bring to their craft have enriched our special dishes and strengthened our connection to the local community. We look forward to continuing to celebrate the best of Asheville's local produce, and to many more years of collaboration and culinary excellence.
