Black Mountain, a charming town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is buzzing with excitement as the popular Peri Social House gets ready to welcome a brand-new food truck to its property. Earlier this year, the owners, Kathryn and Trevor Rudisill, envisioned having a food option available on-site, and after a fortuitous meeting, that dream is now becoming a delicious reality.
When Kathryn and Trevor first opened Peri Social House, they were clear about one of their long-term goals: to have a food truck become a staple in their establishment. “It’s kind of been one of our goals all along,” Kathryn shared. They realized that they wouldn’t be able to dive deeply into the food scene right away. Instead, their plan revolved around understanding just how crucial it is to have food available consistently for their guests.
The path to bringing a food truck to Peri Social House took an unexpected yet delightful turn. Glenn Osterberg, the owner of Abbiocco Pizzeria, which used to operate from Whaley Farm Brewery in Old Fort, found his way to Peri Social House thanks to a chance encounter. It all began when Glenn’s wife, Nicole, visited the venue and heard Trevor chatting with delighted customers about how much they loved the pizza from Abbiocco. When she mentioned her husband owned the pizzeria, it sparked a connection that would bring culinary magic to Black Mountain.
With the partnership now underway, Glenn expressed how the collaboration benefits both parties. His pizzeria will offer delicious pizzas while Peri Social House provides cocktails, creating a delightful combination of flavors and experiences. “Doing both is real hard,” Glenn explained, appreciating the relief of sharing responsibilities, especially with the complexities of liquor licenses and health inspections. “It’s nice to have someone to deal with the liquor licenses and someone else deal with health inspections and food, so it kind of takes a little bit off of each other’s plates.”
With nearly two decades of experience, much of Glenn’s culinary journey took place in some of New York’s Michelin star restaurants. After meeting Nicole, the couple made their way to North Carolina to be closer to family. Glenn’s passion for cooking led him to work at Rhubarb in Asheville before he founded Abbiocco Pizzeria, where he sought to create a more “simplistic” menu focusing on pizza.
Abbiocco Pizzeria is well-known for its hybrid New York-Connecticut style pizza, which Glenn describes as “crunchy but soft.” He prepares the pizzas in a special wood-fired oven imported from Italy, weighing an impressive 3,000 pounds and measuring about 6 feet in width. Glenn said he truly loves working with these specific ovens, as it plays a significant role in achieving his signature pizza style.
When it comes to creating his pizzas, Glenn holds a unique philosophy: “pizza is just an edible plate and you could put whatever you want on it.” His menu showcases innovative pies, with crowd favorites like the Angry Roman, topped with cured Italian bacon, red onion, and chili flakes, and the Maple Pig, featuring smoked bacon, caramelized onions, and a hint of spiced maple syrup.
After facing challenges from Tropical Storm Helene, which caused significant upheaval for Abbiocco Pizzeria, Glenn is more than ready to get back to work and share his culinary creations once again. “I hope it’s the same,” he expressed, regarding the restaurant’s reopening post-storm. “I think after the storm, normalcy is much needed in everyday life nowadays.”
The grand opening at Peri Social House is set for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Glenn is thrilled to reintroduce his food truck menu and offer catering services for special events. “You meet a lot of really cool people,” he said, excited about reconnecting with his regulars and making new friends. “I’m lucky enough to have that product and people like what we do, and it’s exciting.”
As Black Mountain continues to grow, it’s clear that the addition of Abbiocco Pizzeria at Peri Social House will offer locals and visitors alike a delightful culinary experience to savor.
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