01.25.2024

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Today’s Forecast

73º | Light rain | 40% chance of rain
Sunrise 7:26 a.m. | Sunset 5:47 p.m.

We can almost taste victory

2024 James Beard Award semifinalists from Columbia

Enjoy wines from a James Beard Award Nominee restaurant. | Photo by @patmikekelly

Roll out the red carpet, food lovers (and watch the crumbs). On Jan. 24, the semifinalists were announced for the 2024 James Beard Awards — one of the culinary world’s most prestigious prizes — and Columbia stars are shining bright.

You’ll find three local culinary stars up for an award based on excellence and other factors like commitment to the community. But it’s an honor just to be nominated — getting on the James Beard radar is a game changer for any chef or restaurant, no matter how long they’ve been around.

Mark your calendars for April 3, when the finalists will be announced. A June 10 ceremony in Chicago will reveal the winners. Here’s the local flavor.

citylimitsq_1691928222_3168446035630096940_2199489739.png — City Limits Barbecue cooks its meats in a variety of styles. | Photo by @citylimitsq

🏆 2024 Semifinalists

Robbie Robinson, City Limits Barbeque | Nominated for Best Chef (Southeast GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) | Since 2016, this family-owned West Columbia restaurant has been serving up authentic barbecue. Using all-wood burning pits for both Texas-style and Carolina-style BBQ, it handcrafts sausages, southern sides, pickles, sauces, and pimento cheeses from scratch, emphasizing fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

Kitwanda “Kiki” Cyrus and Tyrone Cyrus, Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles | Nominated for Best Chef (Southeast GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV) | Established in 2012 and 2023 Free Times Best of Columbia — Best Soul Food Restaurant winner, Kiki’s is known for its homemade soul food. Next time you stop by, try its signature dish, featuring four perfectly seasoned fried chicken wings atop a warm Belgian waffle.

Lula Drake Wine Parlour | Nominated for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program | This is the second year in a row this popular wine + perfect pairings spot with an interesting history has been nominated, with last year’s nomination being for Outstanding Hospitality.

Asked

Are there restaurants or local chefs you think deserve some more love?

Now we want to hear about your tastes. Click the button below and let us know about the unrecognized award-worthy meals.

Dish

Events

Thursday, Jan. 25

Art in Focus with Dr. Frank Martin | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | In a series of spotlight talks, Dr. Frank Martin explores themes found in an individual artwork on view, offering an opportunity to discover new insights with a true fine arts specialist.
The Runout, Kenny George Band, The Water Kickers | Thursday, Jan. 25 | 7-11 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern, 632 Harden St., Columbia | $10 | Enjoy three local acts with a flair for Americana music.

Friday, Jan. 26

Free Popcorn at the Columbia Visitors Center | Friday, Jan. 26 | 9 a.m.-7 p.m. | Columbia Visitors Center, 1120 Lincoln St., Columbia | Free | Stop by the Columbia Visitors Center for free popcorn and grab the new 2024 Experience Columbia SC Insider’s Guide.
Private Winter Book Sale | Friday, Jan. 26 | 3-7 p.m. | Richland Library Operations Center, 130 Lancewood Rd., Columbia | Donors with gifts of $25 or more in the past year are eligible to attend the private sale.

Saturday, Jan. 27

Alpine Wine Tasting | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 3-4 p.m. | Hampton Street Vineyard, 1207 Hampton St., Columbia | $33 | Sip and learn about the wines of Alpine region of Europe and try six different wines with advanced sommelier Jonathan Lopez.
Gamecock Men’s Basketball vs. Missouri Tigers Men’s Basketball | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 1 p.m. | Colonial Life Arena, 801 Lincoln St., Columbia | $30-$65 | Root for the Gamecocks as they take on the Missouri Tigers inside Colonial Life Arena.
Triva Brunch | Saturday, Jan. 27 | 7-10 p.m. | The Grand on Main, 1620 Main St., Columbia | Free | Test your knowledge while enjoying brunch.

Friday, Feb. 23

Winter Concert Weekend | Friday, Feb. 23-Saturday, Feb. 24 | 8-10 p.m. | The Omni Grove Park Inn, 290 Macon Ave, Asheville | $85 | Chase the winter blues away with a memorable weekend of comedy and yacht rock tunes at the historic Omni Grove Park Inn.*

Calendar events here

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Eat

Wellness

Doctors’ Orders: Eating healthy at Pasta Fresca

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

Plates of seared shrimp, seared scallops, and other Italian pasta dishes arranged on a metal table.

The pan-seared southeast wild-caught shrimp is sautéed with roma tomatoes and fresh asparagus and topped with a lemon butter reduction served on your choice of pasta. | Photo by @pastafrescasc

We’re kicking off 2024 with another round of Doctors’ Orders, a series in which Midlands physicians weigh in on what to eat at some of our favorite local restaurants. Today, we’re dining at Pasta Fresca, a family-owned Italian eatery on Forest Drive offering fresh pasta and sauces made from scratch.

We asked Dr. Krista P. Gressette, MD at The Columbia Medical Group to share her piatti preferiti.

“I’d start with a Greek fresca salad and a glass of water. For the main course, I’d try something from the “light and fresh” section of the menu like the seared shrimp with roma tomatoes and asparagus. Shrimp are a great source of protein that is low in calories, carbs, and fat. Often people think when you are trying to eat healthy or lose weight you can’t have foods like pasta, but in moderation, you can eat most foods and maintain your goals.

Starting with a fresh salad allows you to fill up first with healthy vegetables. If you find yourself full after eating a portion of your entree, ask for a to-go box to enjoy the rest of your meal the next day. Studies have found that a Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke and helps control blood sugar in people with diabetes.”

The secret in the sauce (hint: it’s tomatoes)

News Notes

Sports

The Gamecock men’s basketball team beat (No. 6) Kentucky 79-62 against in front of a sold out crowd at Colonial Life Arena. This marked the first ranked win of the season + for head coach, Lamont Paris. The court was stormed — which will cost USC $100,000 — and their current season record is 16-3. (The State)

Read

Columbia welcomes A’ja Wilson, Midlands native and former Gamecock women’s basketball legend, for the launch of her book “Dear Black Girls” on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. The ticketed event, to be held at Richland Two Institute Of Innovation (R2i2), includes a book discussion, a photo opportunity, and a copy of the book for each attendee. (ABC Columbia)

Edu

Dreher High School’s Steel Pans, a steel band made up of 40 students, will be featured soloists in the SC Philharmonic’s Masterworks Series Concert, “American Rhapsody,” at the Koger Center for the Arts on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Grab a ticket.

Arts

Columbia Museum of Art announced “Darrel Ellis: Regeneration,” the first major museum exhibition on the work of Darrel Ellis. Co-organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art + The Bronx Museum of the Arts, the exhibition will display ~55 works. It will be featured from Saturday, Feb. 17 to Sunday, May 12.

Eat

Grab tickets for the exclusive Kugels & Collards Wine Dinner, happening Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at Hampton Street Vineyard. Enjoy a four-course menu from recipes out of the “Kugels & Collards: Stories of Food, Family, and Tradition in Jewish South Carolina,” book and six wines. Local authors Rachel Barnett + Lyssa Harvey will engage in group discussions, followed by a book signing.

Real Estate

After the local movie theater closed in December, Spotlight Cinema in St. Andrews (527 St. Andrews Rd.), will soon transform into Elevation Columbia Church after six years of hosting non-permanent services. Church officials told WLTX they plan to open sometime in October.

Eat

This leafy green is not just a trend — kale is a full-fledged superfood that packs a serious nutritional punch. From heart health to weight loss, kale offers a myriad of benefits that go beyond its culinary versatility. We’re embracing this superfood and cooking up this blackened salmon with lemon-garlic kale this week.*

Home

Perfect for a cleaner, healthier home: this extra-large maple cutting board, which is BPA and phthalate-free and conditioned with beeswax, flaxseed, and lemon oil.*

Eat

🍽️ Past nominees to visit

Chicken sandwich special from Spotted Salamander | Photo by @foodjackeats

Let’s take a look back at some of the culinary powerhouses that made the James Beard Awards Semifinalists list in 2023.

City Grit Hospitality Group., Think: SmallSUGAR, CITY GRIT, and Il Focolare Pizzeria. | City Grit Hospitality Group was nominated for Outstanding Restaurateur. In this case, it’s restaurateur(s) — Aaron Hoskins, Sarah Simmons, Nicole Storey, and Elie Yigo.

Through its restaurant concepts, catering, private dining, and wholesale operations, the hospitality group runs a Workforce Development Program supporting non-college-bound youth + contributes to summer feeding programs, aiming to ensure consistent and livable wages, leadership development, and upward mobility for its employees.

Jessica Shillato, Spotted Salamander | Nominated for Nominated for Best Chef (Southeast GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV)

Established in 2008, Spotted Salamander Catering brought southern cuisine to local farmers’ markets. In 2014, Chef Jessica expanded with a café in a historic 1890s building on Richland Street. The restaurant’s popularity led to a 2016 expansion into a nearby cottage, offering first-come, first-served lunch tables with outdoor seating.

The Buy

The Buy 1.25.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Your new favorite water bottle: the Owala Travel Tumbler. It combines the best of Stanley’s viral tumbler with Owala’s smart design. We’re liking colors “Bunny Hop” and “Foggy Tide.”

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The Wrap

Samantha Robertson in a white shirt and grey vest

Today’s edition by:
Sam

From the editor

The news on many local’s lips is about Carolina’s big win over Kentucky, but something I found so funny and wanted to share was Harris Pastides’ — former president of USC — tweet. He said, “I’ve paid a fine for storming the court after beating Kentucky before, but this time it was free for me so I joined the crowd! Best students anywhere!”

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