From Staff Reports

Curate, a Spanish tapas restaurant located at 13 Biltmore Avenue in Asheville, recently won the distinction of being included on the Food & Wine magazine list of the “40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years,” which was released in mid-August .

The coveted listing puts Curate, which opened seven years ago, in a class that is considered by to be a veritable who’s who of the U.S. culinary landscape.

Top restaurant names included on the list are Alinea, Canlis, Momofuku Noodle Bar and the iconic Commander’s Palace.

“Critics laud the restaurant’s smart tapas list, which borrows heavily from Spanish tradition and infuses it with Appalachian ingredients,” the Asheville Citizen Times reported. “The beverage program and service are virtually unparalleled in Asheville. None of that has gone unnoticed.”

In a Facebook posting, chef and co-owner Katie Button wrote that, for her and her family, “It is surreal for us to be included in this list surrounded by those we admire so much.” Button recently welcomed a second child. “Our teams work so hard and have so much passion,” she said, adding, “it feels great to see them recognized.” 

She also noted the gratitude she shares with her husband Felix Meana, who is co-owner and service and beverage director, for the local support of the vision that they have made manifest in Cúrate and Nightbell, located at 32 S. Lexington Ave.