Savoy Cucina Italiana 641 Merrimon Avenue Asheville, NC 28804 Tel. 828-253-1077

Eric Scheffer

Savoy owner and sommelier Eric Scheffer infuses his establishment with highlights from extensive travels and experiences at some of the world's finest restaurants. A former television and film producer, his occupation took him all over the world as he worked with many well-known actors and musicians. Settling into the commercial television side of entertainment, Scheffer spent many years living in Los Angeles and Rio, Brazil. During his long stints in South America, he developed a passion for South American wines and for his wife, Heidi, whom he met on a commercial shoot in Argentina.

After Southern California's 1994 earthquake and a series of crimes too close to home, Scheffer and his wife set out to find a safer area to raise a family. Friends introduced to them Asheville, N.C., and they immediately fell in love with the city's charm. With the birth of their daughter, Jordan, Scheffer searched his soul to identify a career that would allow him more time with family and friends. Almost immediately it became clear that he should become a restaurateur. Scheffer's immense love for food and wine, coupled with his insatiable need to entertain, catapulted him into the business and he hasn't looked back.

Upon purchasing Savoy from Alan Liabson in 2000, Scheffer began to overhaul the restaurant's wine list by tastefully infusing Californian and South American influences. The result was a list that Wine Spectator hails as one of the country's best.

In April of 2001, Scheffer became sole proprietor of Savoy and continues to evolve and improve the Savoy experience. With a complete renovation of the restaurant's interior and the addition of a walk-up martini bar, he has created a sophisticated dining ambience unrivaled in Asheville. Together with Executive Chef Peter Affatato, Scheffer has taken Savoy's menu to an entirely new level. The Savoy's combination of food, wine and ambience has propelled it to "A-List" status, making patrons feel as if they have been transported from quaint, little Asheville to a swanky, cosmopolitan city.

Scheffer's years of logistical work in the entertainment industry have made him a natural restaurateur. This is apparent every evening as he orchestrates his staff, the curtain comes up and the show begins. And it is a show…complete with a seasoned wait staff, incredible food and fine wine. He brings together all of these ingredients with style and his own brand of Hollywood showmanship.

Scheffer has embarked on an endeavor to create a comfortable and elegant eating establishment that surprises and tempts with an ever-evolving selection of ingredients and flavor. With Savoy being touted as one of Asheville's finest dining establishments, it is safe to say that he has succeeded in this endeavor. To dine at Savoy is truly a worthwhile experience and an experience that exudes the personality of its owner.

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