Columbia Eats: Bone-In Artisan Barbeque on Wheels

Bone-In Artisan Barbeque on Wheels may be the one reason for locals to frantically activate a twitter account. Cilantro-lime slaw, pulled pork on homemade focaccia, and fresh handcut chips? St. Louis Style Ribs with a spicy cornbread and smoky beans? Mac and Greek, stuffed with feta, artichoke hearts, and more? Yes please!

Gourmet food became mobile in the midlands earlier this year when chef Scott Hall hit the streets of Columbia with the Bone-In Artisan Barbeque food truck. An executive chef who's spent over a decade in NY, Hall brings not only Carolina barbeque to the streets, but a variety of styles that he's picked up from his time away from the South, providing a varied menu to suit everyone's tastes.

Wednesday's special menu featured St. Louis Style Ribs, a fall-off-the-bone rib slathered in a sweet, smoky orange-hoisin sauce with a side of cornbread and beans. The beans were fresh and covered with bits of bacon for smokiness, but a little hit-and-miss as some of the beans were not fully-cooked. The sweet and meaty ribs more then made up for it though.

Bone-In always seems to carry two staples in the menu, the vinegar based pulled pork sandwich and shredded hickory hoisin beef brisket sandwiches on focaccia bread, both served with fresh cut chips or salad and cilantro lime slaw. I opted for the pulled pork which didn't disappoint, coming in heaping amounts on the buttery focaccia bread. You can definitely taste the bright vinegar flavors coming out of the pulled pork, and the focaccia bread helped keep it in check, making for a nice tandem. The fresh cut chips were well-seasoned, but a little on the buttery side - a slight turnoff after the already buttery focaccia. Even with the cilantro lime slaw, I somewhat wish I'd went with the micro green salad instead of chips to cut through some of the richness of the meal. The cilantro lime slaw was light and refreshing though, a welcome change of pace between the chips and sandwich.

No Reservations, a Shakedown of Bone-In
Cost: Bone-In Chips with brisket, pimento cheese, and
more is the budget meal at $6. Most meals average $9.
Try: Beef brisket or pulled pork sandwiches.
Opt for a salad to keep things light!
Trying to find Bone-In? Find out where they're at and what's new on the menu at http://www.artisanbbqtruck.com/

The Final Verdict
With a constantly rotating menu of specials and barbeque fit for anyone's tastes, Bone-In Artisan Barbeque offers a refreshing new face in the Columbia scene. The portions are generous, the food is inviting, and the daily buzz around the scene about the truck shows that the midlands have already more then welcomed the food truck invasion with open arms. If Bone-In Artisan and 2 Fat 2 Fly are any indication, it looks like Cola's food scene has many great surprises to come as it continues to mature.

Columbia Eats: 2 Fat 2 Fly

"They're stuffed with what!?!?", my friends exclaimed when I told them about Columbia's newest food truck, 2 Fat 2 Fly. Columbia's quickly grown into a culinary hot spot in the last several months with the emergence of the local food truck invasion. 2 Fat 2 Fly may seem a bit small on the surface, but with their recent victory for "best wings in Columbia" and daily praise from the local papers, they've quickly established themselves as a major player in the Columbia area.

So what puts 2 Fat 2 Fly light years ahead of Columbia's wing competitors? Two words: stuffed wings. The brainchild of locals Ramone and Corey, 2 Fat 2 Fly features mad experiments such as the mac and cheese, Thanksgiving, and smokehouse which takes wings to new heights with the explosions of flavor packed into succulent deep-fried delights. Describing the wings is as much a challenge as thinking about how they are made. Take the mac-and-cheese stuffed wings: packed with creamy mac-and-cheese, deep fried, and covered in cheese sauce, these decadent wings will make you swoon in cheesy heaven. The Thanksgiving wings come packed with stuffing and topped with a creamy gravy. The star of the show, however, was the jambalaya wings which recently won best in Columbia. Stuffed with rice and sausage, and crusted with a devastatingly awesome mix of Cajun spices, the jambalaya stuffed wings are easily borderline life-changing for those who experience it. All wings can be paired with sweet and spicy french fries or a spicy, almost meaty fried okra. I'd recommend the 50/50 to get the best of both worlds (including the wings!).

No Reservations, the Shakedown on 2 Fat 2 Fly
Costs: $7 for a four wing combo with sides.
Varying costs for just wings.
Try: The jambalaya stuffed wings. Columbia's official best for good reason.
How to find them: http://www.2fat2flywings.com
http://www.twitter.com/2fat2flywings

Though 2 Fat 2 Fly is constantly on the move around Columbia, they are constantly updating their twitter accounts with their next location to make sure you don't miss out on the action. Come hungry, leave devastatingly happy - and puzzled at how anyone could make such sinfully delicious concoctions.

Latta Eats: Jr's Restaurant

For most, Latta, South Carolina is just a town down I-95. A five-to-ten minute drive off the highway in between Florence, SC and Fayetteville, NC, there's likely no reason for most to stop by. Jr's Restaurant, however, may be reason enough to drop into this small town in Dillion county.

A family run restaurant, Jr's serves familiar Southern dishes with a Cuban flair. While there are a ton of great sounding dishes in their main menu of soup, sandwiches, and more, the main reason to check out this dive is easily for their daily specials. Whether it's fried pork chops with rice and gravy, a tangy Cuban soup, homemade bread, and yuca or the classic Sunday dinner of fried chicken with brown rice and a spicy fried okra, Jr's likes to do local favorites with a touch of Latin. The fried pork chop may be some of the best I've ever had, with its absolutely succulent bites of well-seasoned crispy pork. The beautiful collard and tomato soup and yuca provide nice, clean flavors on the side while the warm and buttery homemade bread brings it all together. Sunday dinner is about as traditional as it gets with a side of creamy mac and cheese, crispy, spicy fried okra, bisquit, and sweet, juicy fried chicken. If that wasn't enough, it only gets better considering the fact that these amazing meals, easily over ten dollars in a larger city, only cost $5.75.

The owners are always around to meet and greet you in this friendly local establishment and eager to talk about their business. Jr's also continues to expand daily with it's ever-growing gameroom in the back. Quickly becoming the new local place-to-be for citizens of Latta, Jr's Restaurant may also be one of the best reasons to take a lunch break while driving down what would normally be a pretty dreary ride up I-95.

Greenville (NC) Eats: Thai Kitchen

It's gotta be tough being a Thai restaurant when the best is usually found in something like a 7-Eleven. I'm sure there's a statistic somewhere out there that shows how bad Thai gets in relation to the quality of dining facility. Case in point: Thai Kitchen is located in a wonderfully obscure part of town in a strip mall. Like all frighteningly ominous but good Thai places, Thai Kitchen hits all the right notes where it counts - in the food. Those who take a chance and walk in will even find a surprisingly warm atmosphere in the modest dining room despite the less-than-stellar appearance outside.

While all the usual suspects are on the list, Thai Kitchen features a brief, but satisfying specials menu armed with what may be one of the best bites in town - pla chu chee. A crispy tempura fish served hot off the stove with a spicy, creamy chu chee curry, it's a wonderfully savory bite that never ceases to impress. A similar dish, the pla sam rod, takes a similar approach with crispy fish covered in tamarind sauce. Unlike the pla chu chee's savory bite, the pla sam rod features a bold sweet, spicy, and sour kick that offers more depth then the pla chu chee, but it's got a lot of sweetness to it that makes it a bit of a harder dish to finish. Mixed vegetables help cut through the sweetness, but this is definitely a dish best left shared.

Most of Thai Kitchen's menu is extremely friendly to new members, offering flavors that everyone can comfortably dig into and enjoy. For those a bit unfamiliar with the various colored curries, red tends to be a bit sweeter then the average - a safe bet for newcomers. Green curry features a fresh chili paste that cranks up the heat, while panang and mussaman tends to lean toward the savory. For those a bit less adventurous, the special's menu features some interesting choices like general Thai chicken, a slight twist on the classic Chinese fast food staple, and rama chicken, a peanuty-dish full of rich flavor. Anyone looking to cut the spice a bit may want to try the sweet and creamy Thai ice tea to cool things down.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on Thai Kitchen
Atmosphere: Surprisingly comfortable for a couple or group.
Cost: Diverse range, but slightly on the pricey side for most. 9+
Try: The pla chu chee.

The Final Verdict
Thai Kitchen also offers sushi, but its namesake is easily the highlight. Those on a budget may want to check out lunch time when the prices take a friendly cut. The restaurant is by no means in the most convenient of places to eat in relation to East Carolina University, but is certainly worth the time and effort for quality that Thai Kitchen produces. One of Greenville's best.

Seattle Eats: A Tour of the Town, Part 1

Fate brought me to Seattle, Washington for a week in March, leading me on a long and delicious tour of town courtesy of my wonderful tour guides (thanks to you know who's!). Here are a few of the many highlights:

Piroshky Piroshky

Type of Cuisine: Russian Bakery
Location: Pike's Place

Don't let the shop's small size fool you, the long lines and brilliant smells coming out of this Seattle institution are there for a reason. Easily one of the best things I've had all year was the potato, onion, and cheese piroshky. A flaky, buttery croissant stuffed with a warm and savory potato filling, this Russian delicacy is one bite that every passerby needs to give a try. A flurry of other delectable goods are also offered at the bakery, including meat buns and desert pirokshky's.

El Puerco Lloron
Type of Food: Authentic Mexican
Location: Pike's Place Market

Tucked away on the lower levels of Pike's Place is El Puerco Lloron, about as fair Mexican food as you'll find in the area. Seattle's gotten a bit of a bad rap in the past for authentic south of the border food, but El Puerco Lloron's makes a fair argument in response with its traditional menu. On special during my visit was the chicken mole. Rich, filling, and reasonably priced, there's not much more you could have asked for with this dish. The menu may look a bit on the modest side, but the dishes at El Puerco are made with great care. The colorful shop adds to the experience, providing a vibrant, but relaxed place to zone out during a busy day in town.

La Creperie Voila
Type of Food: Crepes. Duh!
Location: Downtown

What better way to start off the day then a light, but filling crepe filled with nutella, or fresh strawberries and vanilla cream? La Creperie Voila is about as small and unassuming as shops come - a trend in the downtown Seattle area. Just behind the Hyatt around the convention center lays a bit of sinful pleasure in the form of sugary, doughy goodness. Mildly sweet and tart from the berries, the fresh strawberries and cream crepe it strikes a beautiful balance to start off any day.

La Creperie Voila also have savory crepes available for anyone looking for some lunch on the go along with some devastatingly delicious ice cream (banana fans will go ape for the reel banana).

Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant
Location: Pike's Place, sandwiched inside an office space inside an alley?

If you look at the definition of hole-in-the-wall, you'll most definitely see a picture of Jasmine Thai Restaurant. This out-of-the-way place in Pike's Place looks about as assuming and appealing as places get, but if you are looking for a quick and inexpensive plate of red curry, pad thai, or other favorites you'll most likely be pretty happy with this fairly quiet spot in the market. The red chicken curry came out fast and packed with good flavor - a welcome sight for any cold, rainy day.

Jasmine image borrowed from Michael E. off of Yelp.

That's all for now! Stay tuned for part two of the adventure.

Bonus Footage

Tamale at El Puerco

Fresh Strawberry and Vanilla Crepe at La Creperie Voila

Cinnamon, Hazelnut, Orange Piroshky at Piroshky Piroshky

The potato, onion, and cheese piroshky at Piroshky Piroshky

Columbia Eats: Hunter Gatherer

If you go to USC, it's a requirement that you visit Hunter Gatherer. A lot. Columbia's only brewery, Hunter Gatherer not only dishes out fantastic microbrews but also carries a tremendous selection of bar food fit for any foodie.

While Hunter Gatherer has a nice, varied menu of appetizers, any first timer at HG has a mandatory requirement of ordering their specialty - the black bean dip. Not a grounded, refried thing that it may sound like, but rather a soulful appetizer that gets deeper with every bite. Between the beans, cheese, and dollop of sour cream is a beautifully warm dish that easily feeds a table of four on its own.

HG features both a list of daily rotating specials alongside a set list of comfort food gone trendy. The HG burger is a standout for people looking to get a bang for their buck. A thick, juicy slab of angus beef topped with your choice of cheese including options such as gouda and/or blue cheese. What else is there to say there?

Looking a bit deeper in the menu, we get more comfort picks kicked up a notch. The Port Royal Shrimp Sandwich fills anyone's seafood needs. If the red pepper remoulade and spicy seasoned shrimp wasn't enough, this special comes with hashbrowns, which for this foodie is easily a gamebreaker when it comes to decision time at HG. HG also features a list of personal gourmet pizzas, either done your way or theirs. Thin, crispy and chock full of quality ingredients, these personal pizzas tend to hit the spot for most. For all the good, there are some hit-and-misses, the mac and cheese being a disappointing one. Lacking a punch of flavor and a crumbling top that one would come to expect from a place like HG, it was one of the few disappoints to be found. Fortunately, they make up for it with a list of terrific beer, whether it is one of their three constantly rotating microbrews or deck full of import/domestic options. Between you and me though, definitely hit up HG's beer. Not only are they a nice low price, but they're pretty fantastic as well.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on Hunter Gatherer
Atmosphere: Despite its location in relation to USC, a surprisingly diverse clientele. Comforting and buzzing with activity at night.
Cost: A bit high for some of the college crowd, but still manageable.
$5-7 appetizers, $8+ main courses.
Try: The black bean dip and microbrews. A Cola requirement.

The Final Verdict
For those looking for a good drink, good food, and a laid-back environment to hang out for the evening or weekday lunch, look no further then Hunter Gatherer. The only real negative there is to say about HG is the parking situation, or lack their of during lunch hours. If you plan to go, either come late for dinner or pack some serious quarters.

Columbia Eats: Shealy's BBQ

People coming into the Midlands looking for good barbecue will likely get plastered with a pretty hefty of options depending on who they ask. Unfortunately for Columbia, great barbecue can be surprisingly difficult to run into, nine times out of ten involving a bit of a drive for a good bite. Located in Batesburg-Leesville, Shealy's is one of those more involved drives, if not the most involved being a forty minute drive through the countryside.

Our expedition crew may our way over the Congaree River and invaded the small but inviting town of Batesburg. Shealy's is a modest building, but serves its purpose well with three large dining rooms. You'll likely find yourself sharing some space with the locals during the busiest of hours.

We quickly made our way in and hit the buffet line for lunch. A lot of the local favorites were on the list, such as collards and green beans, but there were also some alternative sides that were necessarily normal considering the other bbq places our crew has hit in the past year. Cream corn, lima beans, and pasta also made an appearance along with cheesed broccoli. Even more surprising was the crispy strips of fatback sitting on the side. Teeth-breaking, but utterly fascinating stuff. For the most part, the vegetables were fairly good, though there were a few hit-and-miss. The collards did not make me cry for seconds, and the pasta option was wet and runny. The green and lima beans, however, were flavorful along with the slaw and cream corn. Shealy's cornbread in particular may have been one of the bigger standouts. Not too greasy, the cornbread was nice and crisp on the outside and well-seasoned - a much better side then the average dinner roll.

On to more importance business, the barbecue. A few months ago, I argued that Columbia's Little Pigs had the best mustard barbecue in town. Well... they still do. Shealy's vinegar barbecue, however, easily stands tall over the competition. Less tangy then Little Pigs and slightly sweeter, its lean, clean bite convinced our table for a heaping round of seconds. Much ado has been made more about Shealy's fried chicken as well. Though flavorful and juicy on the inside, Little Pigs may just win out in this department due to their lighter breading. Shealy's gets a little thick with their coating, making for a less flavorful bite and some weariness after thigh or two.

Finally (after a second round of course) there was the desert bar, where Shealy's easily wins best banana pudding with their coconut rendition. Mildly sweet with a nice texture from the bits of coconut mixed in, it provided a nice finish to a heavy meal. Deserts don't stop there for Shealy's though. Various pies, chocolate delights, bread pudding, and of course peach cobbler also lined up the sizable desert section.

No Reservations, The Shakedown on Shealy's
Atmosphere: Southern dining with all the country trimmings.
Cost: Average for this kind of lunch, $8.
Try: The dynamite vinegar barbecue for sure.
Don't: Know where the mac and cheese was!?

The Final Verdict
No really, where was the mac and cheese? What the heck. Despite this glaring loss, Shealy's has a lot of interesting dishes going for it and a Southern atmosphere that you'll be hard-pressed to find in most of Columbia. From a personal standpoint, Little Pigs stands out for me as the better of the two in terms of food, but Shealy's is still well-worth the trip for some great traditional Southern home-cooking including a few unexpected bites not seen elsewhere in town.