Rising Star Chef Ashleigh Shanti Exits Asheville’s Benne on Eagle - Eater Carolinas

"While at Benne on Eagle, Shanti was nominated as James Beard Award for Rising Star Chef and was named an Eater 2019 Young Gun. In a profile of Shanti, Eater contributor Osayi Endolyn writes, 'Since beginning at Benne on Eagle last fall, Shanti’s menu, rich with spices, memory, and a remix of tradition, has attracted regular diners and popular industry figures alike, all enamored with her dexterity. Her cooking brings forward a part of Appalachia that many haven’t heard about, or have forgotten.' While Shanti brought Appalachian and West African touches to the kitchen, they will likely not disappear from the menu at Benne on Eagle, as she moves on to build her own food empire." - Erin Perkins