Columbia Eats: The Whig

There are local bars, and then there are local bars. The Whig is most definitely in the latter category, tucked down the stairs with nothing more than a platform sign hanging on the wall of the ABC news building. By spread of most word-of-mouth and the occasional press from the Free Times however, the Whig's lived off of its college locals who mostly survive off the extremely generous beer list and 50 cent Taco Tuesdays.

Behind the beer and cheap tacos, however, is one of the best guilty-pleasure menus in town. The starters in particularly are devilish and perfect for splitting with a crowd after a few rounds. A couple of friends and I decided to go for broke and hit the highlights last week, ordering a deathly trio of gouda mac and cheese, pizza fries, and poutine. The gouda mac and cheese is kind of a thing of legends at The Whig with penne pasta covered from top to bottom in gooey gouda. The pizza fries sound like a random night of mistakes gone wild, but the pile of sausage, pepperoni, and cheese on top of steak fries is kind of brilliant, especially with the light marinara sauce. It's the kind of dish so blindingly insane that it sparks a touch of genius, actually making perfect sense a few bites in.

And then there was the poutine. Traditionally, a Canadian dish consisting of fries covered in gravy and cheese curds, the Whig's poutine doesn't quite hit the mark with the kind of cheese curds you'd normally find on Canadian poutine, but it's still a devastatingly good pile of crispy steak fries covered in gravy and cheese nonetheless, something our table had no trouble gouging down. The gravy kind of touches on a lot of Southern sensibilities with the fries and cheese, making for a kind of ultra-comforting dish. If you're just looking for a snack to eat while drinking with friends, throw caution into the wind and give these dishes a whirl for sure.

After taking some time to recover from the storm that was the three starters, we decided to grab a handful of Whig burgers; insane behemoth burgers piled with melted gouda, local bacon, gravy (!) and a sriracha aioli. Totally killer bites of guilty pleasure. The flavors meld well and pack a punch going down. An order of sweet potato fries and sauteed zucchini and broccoli also hit our table as the sides. Sweet, crispy, and flavorful, the sweet potato fries were some of the better I've had in recent memory. The zucchini and broccoli were also fine, sauteed in a bit of butter but still firm and keeping their character. A nice side to help curb some of the carb insanity.

No Reservations, the Downlow on The Whig
Atmosphere: Casual, local bar.
Costs: Very reasonable for starters, fair prices for entrees.
Between $5-6. to lower tens at most.
Mondays are $1 slice pizza for anyone with light wallets.
Try: The Whig burger and gouda mac and cheese.
Don't: Wait up at the table. Orders come in and out at the bar.

If you decide on a night at the Whig, make sure you get your exercise in beforehand because you'll be in for a heavy, but insanely satisfying taste of the good life. They also feature some interesting pizza choices along with a few other comfort dishes that cut back on some of the guilt for those seeking less daring adventures. Going to The Whig is an adventure in itself for first-timers, being down a narrow unmarked stairway in the middle of downtown and behind a rusty graffiti covered metal door. It might be an adventure getting there, but trust me when I say there are no risks when it comes to The Whig. Everyone needs a hideaway after a rough day at work, in class, or life in general. If you live in the Columbia area, The Whig might just be yours.

Columbia Eats: Mezza's Lebanese Bistro and Hookah Lounge

There's oddly not necessarily a shortage of Mediterranean/Lebanese food in Columbia with places like Al Amir, Elie's and more floating around, but the Vista somehow was one place that missed the boat on the ethnic flair until Mezza's opened. Just down the street from Publix in a strip, Mezza is a pretty trendy little place with a small, but neat menu of classic Lebanese fare such as falafel, shawrma, and kebobs along side some not so normal eats you would expect in a place like this.

I visited the restaurant just past lunch time with a friend and immediately ordered a Turkish coffee (because really, how often can I?) along with a plate of Phoenician fries, a behemoth of heavily rosemary and thymed out potatoes covered in lemon, garlic and feta cheese. While the fries could have been crispier, we still mopped this monster up in a hurry. The salty feta and herby fries were a nice pairing that was hard to resist, with the lemon in particular balancing everything out. It's a touch on the oily side though, so make sure you have someone to share this with. The Turkish coffee was served in a neat vessel along with two miniature cups. Strong, robust, and heavy on bitter, it's definitely not a beginners coffee, but one worth trying out for the novelty alone.

While the side menu features some interesting choices like the Phoenician fries, the entree menu is a tidy choice between, falafel, beef or chicken shawrma, and some kebobs - all in wrap variety. Eaters can get an option between just the wrap or plate with sides like fattouch, hummus, salad, yogurt and more. As fun and interesting as the fries were, the entrees were somewhat more forgettable. I had a falafel wrap, which was crispy, flavorful and attractively packaged with red onion, lettuce, and beets, but leaned more to the dry side. My side of hummus was also a pleasure to look at, but rather thin and lacking the savory punch of a good hummus. My friend ordered a kafta kabob with a side of tabbouleh and yogurt. Also dry, but the kabob was saved with spoonfuls of yogurt to help down the wrap. The tabbouleh was different, to say the least, with incredibly green accents that wasn't bad, but not necessarily what either of us was expecting.

No Reservations, The 411 on Mezza's
Atmosphere: Leans much more toward the bistro side, upscale casual.
Costs: Mostly fair for the area. Appetizers range from $5-7 and are significant enough to be shared. Entrees are $5 for individual wraps, $8 for platters.
Try: Phoenician Fries.
Skip: Entrees. Snack and go.

Overall, for a first experience Mezza's was a little on the uneven side. They have a fun, interesting menu of appetizer and snacks that are certainly worth revisiting, along with a decent listing of drinks to try while enjoying the latter portion of the restaurants namesake. Their entrees and sides don't quite make the cut though. However, if you are still aching for some falafel, order the individual wrap and tag on one of the appetizers for a filling meal. Worth a visit, but unless you are into hookahs, this may not be the place to curb your Lebanese needs.

Greenville (NC) Eats: Skylight Inn

Just about ten minutes outside of Greenville in the small town of Ayden sits one of the most iconic barbecue joints in eastern North Carolina, Pete Jones Skylight Inn. Recently featured on Food Network's Man vs. Food, Skylight has been feeding locals and adventurers for over fifty years with its classic whole hog East NC style barbecue under the unmistakable dome building.

It had been awhile since I last journeyed to Ayden for a taste of the legendary barbecue, but a random craving this week sent me up there for a large pile of the infamous eats. Most barbecue eaters usually equate barbecue with some kind of sauce, but East NC style tends to use almost no sauce, if any just a few dashes of a peppery vinegar splash. Skylight keeps that on the side, however, and one ups the competition by doing something a little different, chopping all the wonderful crackling and gristle into the barbecue to give it character, fat, and an extra kick that makes their already fragrant, sweet/smoky wood-burned pork stand out from others in the area.

Admittedly, this might not be for everyone; the barbecue is a little fattier and has more texture then the average pulled pork around Greenville, which can either be a blessing for some or a bit of a turn off. For me, all those crispy bits of pork skin and gristle make it some of the best barbecue I've had on this side of the state, adding an extra touch of saltiness and complexity that really adds to the barbecue in ways others can't. A real standout.

Alongside the barbecue comes two sides, their trademark cornbread and slaw. Sorry, no hush puppies, fries, collards, or whatnot - just cornbread and slaw, take it or leave it. Their slaw is a finely chopped, cold, creamy, slightly tangy neon green thing that pairs really well with the barbecue, but - for me at least - the cornbread is kind of perplexing. A giant, heaping piece of thick, crispy on the outside and kind of soft, but chewy interior bread, it's both necessary and somewhat daunting to take on just because of its incredible size. The crispy exterior is actually really nice though, and a few bites into it there's something sort of comforting about it that somehow makes it work with everything. I can never finish a whole hunk, but I don't mind having it there at all.

Barbecue is their business at Skylight Inn, and besides from the pork and on Thursday and Friday's their stellar barbecued chicken (also worth stopping for, but the barbecue first), there isn't anything else going on unless you just want some coleslaw. The barbecue also comes in sandwich form, but I think the best way to enjoy it is in a tray combo, which lets you work at it at your own pace without combining the flavors into one big mess. Affordable, flavorful, and an experience in its own right, Skylight is definitely a place you have to make a trip out for and try at least once if you're living in the Greenville/Eastern NC area.

Chew on This: "Health Nut Nachos" at Tipsy Teapot

You'll often find people drinking tea and lounging away at Tipsy Teapot, but I think it is easy to forget that they can put out some pretty good food daily too. Their Health Nut Nachos are definitely a fine example of this, taking their already wonderful bean salad and warming it up with a gooey pile of cheese on top. Served with some zingy salsa and not just tortilla chips, but sun chips, the whole dish makes for a really filling, comforting, and even a bit healthy meal. Tack on a black current iced tea and you have yourself a nice energy-packed lunch to help you power through your day.

On the Prowl: Baltimore, MD - Part 2

In part one of this special, we talked about a variety of locations including some appetizers at TEN TEN, classic pub food at James Joyce, and fine deserts at the Patiserrrie Poupon. Today we're wrapping up the special by hitting up Baltimore's night life and checking out a few bars and dinner locations around town, starting with The Owl Bar.

The Owl Bar
Located in the historic Belvedere hotel, the Owl Bar is a bit of a local secret. Dating back to the prohibition era, the bar and hotel retains a lot of the classic 20s characteristics, making for a pretty fascinating spot to lounge and wander briefly. It doesn't hurt that the food isn't bad either, the seafood etoufee pictured on the right being an example. It seems a bit light at first, but the dish grows on you and fills you up by the end. A large pizza oven also pushes out some pretty delicious pies, including a crab dip topping that's pretty killer. The winner of the evening though was definitely the chicken pot pie; a deliciously flaky hot dish filled to the brim with rich vegetables and chicken. A massive and wonderful pile of comfort, and easily one of the most enjoyable things I tried all weekend in Baltimore. They also have a large list of beer on tap and some interesting mixed drinks to try out. If you want a place to get away from it all, and for fairly decent prices, this might be the place for you.

Liquid Earth
Located in the trendy Fell's Point section of Baltimore, Liquid Earth is the vegetarian/vegan haven of the city, featuring a host of grainy, vegetable-ish stuff that I'm not a giant fan of, but still admire and admittedly looked sensational for what it was. I am a fan of their juices and drinks, however, such as the frui tea, a mix of green tea and fruit juice that really hit the spot and made for a nice midday drink to get you through the grind of the afternoon and early evening. It's tough to beat fresh fruit juice made right in front of you. With a giant list of drink options, you'll be hard-pressed to find something that doesn't suit your tastes here any time of the day.

The Brewer's Art
Both a restaurant and bar, The Brewer's Art is a local brewery in Baltimore pushing out some nice artisan beer alongside some pretty elegant eats. Save a few dollars from the restaurant side and have a look at their bar menu for some great small dishes like this seasonal gnocchi dish. Sauteed with pumpkin and greens, it was a quaint little dish that went well with their microbrews. The small plates list also included some other great looking options like roasted pork belly, chipotle mac and cheese, a sweet bread dish for more adventurous eaters, a devastatingly decadent looking croque-monsieur, and a satisfying plate of rosemary garlic fries to for anyone in need of a savory retreat from all the late night drinking. It's a bit of a tight space, but if you can find a spot to get in and relax, it's definitely a place you'll find yourself spending hours upon hours in with friends.

Chew on This: "Dolsot Bibimbap" at Tasty Korean BBQ in Greenville, SC

Korean food, unlike Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and even Vietnamese cuisine is a genre of Asian eats that is generally unknown by most of the public. You might hear of Korean barbecue, or kim chi, but beyond that it is sometimes rare for people to know what they are doing going into a restaurant. My personal recommendation is going for the dolsot bibimbap (read exactly how it looks). Served in a sizzlingly hot stone bowl, it's basically a bowl of rice served with a variety of vegetables and some Korean barbecue meat. To eat, take a fork and mix everything together, allowing that beautiful fried egg on top to slather and do its magic, and then squirt a little of the bean paste handed to you on the side and mix one for time. With the sizzling hot stone bowl, you get this wonderful crispy, sweet rice mixed in with all the ingredients, making for an incredibly comforting bite. If that wasn't enough as is, the dish is served with "banchan," a series of traditional side dishes. The best here is the sweet, cold mashed potato and somewhat fearsome appearing, but satisfying bean noodles. The combination of the sweet, salty, fresh, and spicy side dishes with the bibimbap make for a rewarding lunch or dinner any time of the week. For those in Columbia, you can hit up either DJ House or O Bok for this traditional bite.

Greenville (NC) Eats: The Scullery

The Scullery is exactly the type of place that local businesses have been aiming for, but haven't quite succeeded as well as this new local spot has. Quality, locally produced food, well done and at affordable prices for any level of customer, from student to local politician. I could probably leave this review at that and send you out, but this is a food blog and there are lots of great eats to talk about here, starting with one of their many now infamous trademarks: the grilled cheese sandwich.

Always rotating, but always as equally sinister, their grilled cheese sandwiches are a must for newcomers to the Scullery. They do a nice job of incorporating local ingredients into some not-so-normal concoctions. We're not talking your mom's swiss and cheddar here; you'll find a wide variety of combinations at the Scullary that'll knock your socks off. Their daily specials are often a thing of beauty, their new recent one - the gorgonzola grilled cheese with fig preserves and caramelized onions - being a nice example. Paired with rotating soups, they make for a very classy and enjoyable lunch with a subtle adult twist. For a real wicked treat though, try their egg-in-a-hole, a dirty, totally guilty pleasure grilled cheese with golden yolk ready to explode in the center. My personal favorite way of eating this one is to cut it in half and use it to dip into the running egg gushing from the hole. A really sinful, but awesome bite worth visiting.

Besides the grilled cheese, the Scullery's also become relatively well-known now for their homemade ice cream, using both familiar and sometimes zany creations nicely fitted to the times. Take their trick-or-treat ice cream during the Halloween season for example; a variety of candy bars including 100 Grand and Twix chopped and crammed into their creamy vanilla ice cream. They've experimented with a lot of flavors since day one and always have something worth dishing out a couple bucks for. Don't be afraid to ask for a taste before ordering; there is a rare hit-and-miss here, but more often then not you'll find some pretty delicious ice cream to pass the afternoon with.

Another item that might be less famous, but well worth diving into are the bagels. Small, airy pieces of bread slathered in your choice of jam, cream cheese, butter or anything I'm sure they can whip up and bring to the table. These lightly toasted salt bombs are a steal at $3 and make for a great breakfast or light snack any time of the day. Even better are their occasional bagel meals, like the fantastic smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese, a sprig of greens and capers which unfortunately just went out of rotation for the new year. The combination of the homemade bagels and salty, creamy, sour notes of the components really made for a well-balanced and indulgent lunch. The Scullery also has a host of other creative and surprisingly healthy options as well to curb the madness, including a pretty tasty falafel that's seen several incarnations throughout the menu, currently being a snack and sandwich option.

With a constantly rotating menu of thoughtful and delicious eats, along with some indulgent ice cream and great, french-pressed fair trade coffee, the Scullery's become a really hip, yet comforting spot to be. My only gripe about the place is that it is almost impossible not to run a huge tab. You have to grab a cup of their french pressed coffee, and of course at bare minimum a bagel or grilled cheese. And then there's the ice cream. Sooner or later, you have a $10+ lunch tab, and for a typical college student this can be a dangerous thing. If you can manage a gameplan though, you should do just fine. The Scullery is one of downtown's finest places for lunch and quickly becoming the "it" spot through word of mouth and publicity. The owners are almost always in as well, welcoming anyone who comes through. A real mom and pop dive, but with a trendy, twitter generation feeling both in the food and vibe, the Scullery's definitely become one of my favorite places to eat, play, and chat. If you live in the Greenville area and haven't stopped by, it's time you made your way to the most exciting thing to happen to the city foodwise in a long time.