When it comes to the pantheon of local female entrepreneurs (or what the young folks might refer to as baddies), three women come to mind—Jael Skeffington, Katie Button and Jess Reiser, the co-owners behind some of Asheville’s most beloved and iconic businesses: French Broad Chocolates, Cúrate and Burial Beer, respectively. 

The women formed a bond in 2019 while helping to organize Asheville’s inaugural Chow Chow food festival and then went on to develop a friendship that has since led to multiple collaborations (and no shortage of casual gatherings filled with laughter and encouragement). 

The creative partnerships abound, and you can often find the flavors of each company being shared: Burial Beer in the sweet treats of French Broad Chocolates, and the cocoa nibs from French Broad Chocolates brewed in Burial Beer. And when Skeffington released a special collection of bonbons in 2024, one delightful set featured Cúrate’s sangria roja. 

The connection between the three women runs even deeper, though, into shared commitments to community. When Button, for example, organized a fundraising dinner last year for Haywood Street Community Development, a planned 41-unit affordable housing project, she quickly called on Skeffington and Reiser to help support the endeavour with donated food and drink. 

We decided to feature these women in our inaugural Live Local Guide in part because they fuel the creative power behind three of Asheville’s most successful businesses; but also because they illustrate the resilience, joy and fierce dedication to community that have defined the area’s response to the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. 

Featured left to right: Jael Skeffington, Jess Reiser and Katie Button

Edible Asheville: We often see the three of you working together. Did the projects you do as a group start as collaborations between friends or between business owners? 

Jess Reiser: We knew each other more casually as local business owners and then the three of us all became founding board members of Chow Chow: An Asheville Food Festival. That was the jumping off point. 

Katie Button: The relationship definitely started initially just as respect for one another running our businesses in Asheville. As we got to know one another, we started finding time to meet up to support one another through the challenges of running our businesses. From there our bond has grown, and our support for one another has grown from initially just business-focused to now whole-life focused. 

Jael Skeffington: In addition to how Jess and Katie described the evolution of our relationship from a business support network to trusted friends, I’ll speak to the collaborations between us. Our shared values, especially in how we manage our businesses, align so well that collaborating feels natural. We trust each other to always bring our best— whether it’s in flavor, quality, ingredient sourcing or relationships. 

Edible Asheville: What is the dynamic between y’all—and how do you think that dynamic influences how you work together? 

JR: The dynamic between us is very uplifting. The amount of laughter we exchange is so incredibly good for my mind and soul! We are in genuine and consistent support of one another as full human beings. Therefore, collaborating together feels natural and inspiring at the same time! 

KB: We listen to one another intently, and we laugh, nonstop. It’s the true understanding and acceptance that we have for one another that is beautiful and allows us to break into laughter about life, ourselves, pretty much everything. 

JS: I wholeheartedly echo the love and inspiration that Jess and Katie have shared! Beyond that, the mutual respect we have—not just for each other, but for each other’s businesses—drives us to honor one another through our collaborations. 

Edible Asheville: What has impressed you the most about the way our community responded in the wake of Hurricane Helene? 

JR: The response was almost immediate. I think once we all realized how catastrophic the damage was to our area, those of us who could mobilized. 

KB: I saw the heart and philosophy of hospitality really peak during this time in response to the crisis. Hospitality is more than just dropping a plate or taking a drink order; it is a human way of being—it is a means of connection and relatability no matter your background. Ultimately we were all experiencing a collective heartbreak, which brought us closer together as a community. 

JS: I am inspired by both Katie’s and Jess’s response to the crisis, from Cúrate’s immediate mobilization of World Central Kitchen to Burial’s hosting of chefs from the region, who volunteered to cook for our community. I had a few hot meals at their locations and I was struck how much these gatherings facilitated connection and empathy within our community. Our local government’s response also impressed me. Buncombe County Emergency Services set up a distribution hub in the building where our Distribution Center is located. This was one of many demonstrations of mutual support in the community, as we provided them hot coffee, use of our office space and our box truck for deliveries, while they facilitated internet service and provided hot meals for our team. 

KB: I am endlessly grateful for this incredible community that I get to call home. While I am still grieving the change, loss and devastation that we are facing and still have yet to fully realize, at the same time, over the past two months, I have witnessed beauty, resilience, community, love and care in a way that I never would have experienced. Our community collectively, in both big and small ways, jumped into immediate action to help and support each other. It was the fast opening of hearts and resources, time and care that surprised me most. I have also been in awe of the way the community has shown up to support our businesses as we began to reopen. In any way that they can, it feels like each and every person in WNC is pouring whatever they can back into this community and each other. 

Edible Asheville: What are your own favorite places to eat/drink/shop locally? 

JR: I am constantly inspired by our small-business communitty so I like to get out and about on a regular basis. Therefore, the real list is way too long for this article. For this moment in time, I love Farewell for coffee and plants, Mother Bakery for wine and lunch, OWL Bakery for Cardamom buns and baguettes, Anoche for cocktails, Bull and Beggar for dinner and elevation, Jettie Rae’s for seafood towers and martinis, East Fork for milestone gifts, Flora for everyday gifts for myself and others, Wake Foot Sanctuary for a much-needed pause and self-care products, Chai Pani for spice and a colorful atmosphere, Wedge Brewing for craft and community. 

JS: There are far too many incredible places to do this question justice. That said, I’ll add a few other favorites: Leo’s House of Thirst, a lovely space for gathering; our amazing network of farmers markets; Horse & Hero, showcasing fantastic local art; and Table, a downtown classic. I also feel a deep responsibility to support as many of our local restaurants and shops as possible during this challenging time. Our small businesses are the heart of Asheville’s culture, shaping it into the place we all love. With tourism at a low point, this is a unique opportunity for the local community to rally around and sustain their favorite local businesses. 

KB: I third all of the places that Jess and Jael have mentioned and will throw in the bar at Tall John’s also for a Martini and an incredible burger; Contrada, which might be my favorite place on earth for perfect pizza with elevated sides; and Sauna House, one of my favorite places to go and talk shop with Jess and Jael while sweating it out in the sauna and then supporting one another as we each tackle our individual cold-plunge challenge. 

Edible Asheville: What do you love most about living in WNC? 

JR: I LOVE our food and beverage community. I LOVE our small-business community. And last but not least, I LOVE our mountains—they give me a connection to the earth; they give me peace and keep me grounded. When I first landed in Asheville, I remember sitting at Wedge with my husband and 1-year-old son. I could recognize almost instantly that the people who live in WNC deeply and truly want to live in WNC. They are here because the place means something to them, it’s bigger than them—it’s community. That type of energy is one that I did not experience while living in bigger cities. 

JS: When the effects of the hurricane began to unfold, I experienced a clear and visceral thought: This is home. I didn’t want to escape the disaster; I wanted to stay and be a part of the rebuilding. There is so much I love about living here. The mountains and forests provide a spiritual connection to nature, a playground for adventure and a place for physical exercise— whether hiking or mountain biking—while offering endless opportunities to experience beauty. I am deeply connected to our small-business community, which gives me camaraderie, collaboration, friendship and unwavering support. And yes, I truly love the incredible places to eat and drink here. 

KB: When I first drove through Asheville in 2008 as we were looking for a spot to open our first restaurant, I fell in love at first sight. I was blown away by the natural beauty, the rolling mountains and flowing rivers, but what impressed me most was discovering what makes Asheville and Western North Carolina unique: It’s a vibrant region full of creative, passionate people who live here because they couldn’t imagine themselves living anywhere else and so they pour their heart and soul of their craft into this community by doing what they do best, whether that is making chocolate, or beer, or tapas, or cheese, or charcuterie, music, pottery, fine art, incredible fresh beautiful produce, etc. This is why our region is special: the people who live here and the gift of love and passion that they give to this community.