the staff

Chef David Van Tassel is a WNC native. He was raised in East Asheville and graduated from Reynolds High School with honors. Though his family always had a garden, it wasn’t until he moved away as a young adult that he realized he grew up eating farm to table food. A few years after high school, David worked on an organic CSA farm outside of Columbia, SC - a job ripe with new and varied experiences: plowing with draft horses, playing blacksmith, and growing vegetables. His time on the farm lead to working in a local natural foods store, and ultimately to asking a chef for a job over some Napa cabbage. Columbia’s food scene gave David more food firsts: foie gras, duck confit, soft shell crabs, gnocchi, shad roe, Benton’s bacon… Ultimately inspiring him as a young line cook to go to culinary school back home.

AB Tech’s culinary program proved to be one of Van Tassel’s best decisions, leading to jobs at a number of Asheville’s well-known restaurants. With his varied food knowledge and propensity towards nostalgic Southern cuisine, The Junction has worked well for David. Now a married homeowner, he and his wife Nicole are making their home into a fun little farm. With extensive gardens, fruit trees, and eight happy chickens, there is not much down time. However this immersion in growing, tending, preparing and cooking seems to suit Van Tassel just fine.

At the Junction, Chef David has come to be known for his playful reinterpretations of classic Southern dishes and the foods of childhood, as well as his dedication to continuing to support the farms and local products who make our region unique and delicious.

Bar Manager Courteney Foster literally has restaurant work in her blood.

Growing up in a mom and pop restaurant, in Marietta, Georgia, Courteney’s service skills were ingrained as a child. The work values her parents instilled in her youth have allowed her to have success in the industry and to work all over the world. A full life of travel and experience has allowed Courteney to tap into the food, wine and spirits of many cultures. While living in Florence, Italy, Courteney visited many vineyards and farms which enhanced her passion for wine and traditions that create true viniculture and cuisine.

Courteney’s understanding and emphasis on the balance in life is conveyed in her cocktail creations and is informed by a background in yoga practice and teaching. When Courteney creates an elixir, she finds the yin and yang in each cocktail she places before a guest. As with a well executed yoga asana, or posture, a cocktail should be both strong and balanced. When she is developing a recipe, she aims to create something that is not only balanced, but also beautiful and unique.

For Courteney, the bar is a place to gather, laugh and experience life. One sits at the bar to interact and find connection with others. She loves listening to her guests’ experiences and bringing people together to relax and enjoy being alive.