ASHEVILLE – A local chef is changing course and bringing internationally inspired bites to an Asheville cocktail lounge.

Chef Christopher “Cookie” Hadley’s new dining concept, Bonito, is now open at The Hound, 2 Tunnel Road.

Hadley said he learned many cooking styles and techniques from his Japanese stepfather, who grew up in Hawaii, where the chef often visited. Over the course of his career, Hadley said he also became well-versed in Cuban and Spanish cuisine.

“I’m looking forward to making good, bold, flavorful and fun food,” Hadley said.

On Bonito’s menu

In July, Hadley left RosaBees, a Hawaiian-inspired restaurant in the River Arts District, where he had worked as executive chef since the restaurant opened in 2019. Hadley said that while he loved the restaurant and its successes over the past five years, he was ready for a change.

On July 31, Hadley began operations, serving guests at The Hound.

Hadley said Bonito gives him the freedom to explore international cuisines and cultures and their intersections and serve them in a casual, approachable setting.

He said the name “bonito” is a reference to the bonito fish and the Spanish word meaning “beautiful” or “sweet.”

Hadley is developing the menu, but the more than 15 dishes debuting during the soft opening phase include Cubano and banh mi sandwiches, as well as barbacoa and carnitas tacos.

Hadley puts an Asian twist on a hot dog by topping a Wagyu beef sausage in a brioche bun with takoyaki sauce, kewpie, takuan, aonori, togarashi and bonito flakes.

Lighter and shareable bites include the Chorizo ​​al Vino Tinto – a small plate of Spanish chorizo ​​sautéed with sweet onions, garlic, red wine and honey and served with a baguette.

The lounge’s commercial kitchen will be modernized to give Hadley more space to develop flavors and expand the menu.

Eating at The Hound

In June 2023, Peter Montague, owner of downtown restaurant Zambra, and Adam Bannasch, owner of Copper Crown in East Asheville, opened the former Greyhound bus station converted into a cocktail lounge.

Montague said the plan is to focus on the bar experience and outsource the food program at The Hound.

The Hound opened with a limited menu of bar snacks and has featured food trucks and pop-ups with chefs. Montague said the move to a new restaurant format is in response to customer demand for regular, upscale food service and is intended to increase tips for The Hound’s staff.

Montague said he was inspired by other local food and beverage partnerships, such as Terra Nova Beer Co.’s collaboration with Loott House at the Swannanoa taproom and Mission Pizza at the South Slope brewery.

This brings things full circle, as Hadley’s first job in Asheville was as a sous chef at Zambra.

“The most important thing for us was good food, and we are confident Cookie can provide that,” Montague said. “It was equally important to us to find someone who fits our culture. … Cookie had the perfect balance of skill, talent and vision for the food program.”

The Hound will continue to offer food trucks and pop-ups for guests. The Hound will host a weekly pop-up with MD2K on Sundays and Mondays through August.

Hadley offers in-house dining service five days a week, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Hound is open Monday to Saturday from 4pm to 11pm and Sunday from 4pm to 10pm.

“Cookie is a lifer. He’s been in this city a long time and he works hard,” Montague said. “We believe in him and believe this is great for him. I’m excited for him to rock it.”

Bonito

Where: The Dog, 2 Tunnel Road, Asheville.

Hours: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday

Friday and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Info: For more, follow @bonitoasheville on Instagram.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a Citizen Times subscription.

This article originally appeared in the Asheville Citizen Times: Bonito opens with international dishes to expand cocktail lounge menu