Eat & Drink

Best Picnic Spots in South Carolina

There has never been a better time to explore South Carolina’s stunningly beautiful parks and gardens. Pack your picnic basket and head to one of these spots for an unforgettable picnic!

Caesars Head State Park

Caesars Head State Park has some of the most incredible views of Greenville, South Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Build up an appetite on a hike through Caesars Head State Park before finding an overlook to enjoy your picnic. The park is located on Geer Highway and has over 60 miles of hiking trails, many of which will lead you to a stunning cascading waterfall.

Lake Murray Public Park

Lake Murray is home to a variety of picnic shelters, many of which can be reserved for large group gatherings. While there are parking fees, the Lake Murray Public Park is a great spot for a summer picnic followed by a dip in one of their swimming beaches.

The Riverwalk Park

Explore Cayce, South Carolina for a day! The Cayce Riverwalk Park, which is located on Naples Avenue, covers 8 miles of land along the banks of the Congaree River. It is the perfect spot to walk along, fish or have a picnic. There are designated picnic shelters that provide access to water and electricity upon request.

White Point Garden

White Point Garden lies in the heart of downtown Charleston. Grab lunch from a nearby cafe or bring your own picnic basket and enjoy the views of Charleston Harbor. There are plenty of grassy areas, shaded by oak trees to relax under. You can also get a short history lesson by strolling through the park and examining the various statues and monuments.

Eat & Drink

Former Hell’s Kitchen Contestant Opening Restaurant in Columbia

Kenny McDuffie, a former contestant on “Hell’s Kitchen,” and his friend Richard Conklin, chef at Columbia’s Capital City Kitchen and Grill, are opening up a soul food restaurant in Columbia – Esther’s Soul Food + Kitchen.

Esther’s Soul Food + Kitchen is coming to the Village at Sandhills in Northeast Columbia. The restaurant was inspired by their grandmother and great-grandmother’s passion for cooking and is even named after McDuffie’s great grandmother.

The establishment, which is expected to open this summer, will feature both a restaurant and a coffee cafe. The restaurant will offer class soul food staples like fried turkey wings, mac and cheese, potato salad and even Philly cheesesteaks, while the cafe side will have a variety of baked goods available for purchase.

Family is the center of Esther’s Soul Food + Kitchen and both Conklin and McDuffie are eager to share their skills with the community. Conklin said “(After) losing my grandmother to COVID last year, this is one of my main reasons to pay homage to her as well…The both of us want people that come in here to experience the recipes and the stories from my grandmother’s kitchens.”

Eat & Drink

Best Farmers Markets in South Carolina

‘Tis the season for fresh local produce! South Carolina is home to some delicious produce – all of which is locally farmed. Check out some of these farmers markets around the state, where you can get your hands on some local fruits and vegetables.

Charleston Farmers Market

This Marion Square-based farmers market has been providing fresh produce and local goods to residents and tourists alike since 1989. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the farmers market is currently running as the “Charleston Essentials Market,” only allowing certain local vendors to participate – but is still a must-see market. It is set to run through November.

Greenville State Farmers Market

Located at 1354 Rutherford Rd in Greenville, SC, the Greenville State Farmers Market houses both retail sheds and farmers stalls for consumers to browse through. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, all year-round – except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Pee Dee State Farmers Market

The Pee Dee State Farmers Market sits on fifty-five acres of land, which was previously used as farmland. In addition to fresh produce, customers can also explore the largely expanding industries of horticulture and floriculture. Located on US Highway 52, this farmers market is open year round and is a great place to stop on the way to Myrtle Beach.

South Carolina State Farmers Market

The South Carolina State Farmers Market houses a plethora of fresh produce from farmers and vendors from around the state. While this state farmers market runs year round, the peak season for local produce is April through October. The South Carolina State Farmers Market is located at 3483 Charleston Highway, West Columbia, SC.

Eat & Drink

Willy Taco Adding Another Location in the Upstate

Willy Taco, a popular Mexican fusion restaurant with locations in Greenville, Spartanburg and Boiling Springs, is expanding into Easley, South Carolina.

Willy Taco recently announced the expansion on social media saying, “Awesome news! You spoke and Willy listened. We’re headed to Easley. Fall 2021. Stay tuned.”

The upstate staple, which is run by Hub City Hospitality, is known for their out-of-the-box tacos. In addition to tacos, they also have quesadillas, burritos and salads. Willy Taco also offers inventive cocktails with over 80 tequila and mezcal options.

While there are currently no details on the exact opening date or location of the new restaurant, residents of Easley can expect to sink their teeth into a specialty taco (or five) in the fall.

Willy Taco currently has three other locations – in Spartanburg at 930 E. Main Street, in Boiling Springs at 1925 Boiling Springs Road and in Greenville at 217 Laurens Road.

Eat & Drink

How to Get Free Doughnuts for the Rest of the Year

In an effort to encourage Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has created a sweet new promotion.

Krispy Kreme is offering free doughnuts for the rest of the year for individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

From now until the end of 2021, customers can bring in their COVID-19 vaccination card once a day and will receive a free original glazed doughnut. The offer is valid inside Krispy Kreme stores or through their drive-thru.

According to their website, “qualified guests include anyone who has received at least 1 of the 2 shots of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine or 1 shot of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine.”

Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme’s Chief Marketing Officer, issued a statement detailing the doughnut chain’s decision to implement the offer saying, “We all want to get COVID-19 behind us as fast as possible and we want to support everyone doing their part to make the country safe by getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them.”

There are 18 Krispy Kreme stores throughout South Carolina that are taking part in this offer.

Click here for more information on the promotion or to find a Krispy Kreme location near you.

Eat & Drink

Greenville Continues to Expand Their Restaurant Scene

The food scene in Greenville continues to expand. Check out these three new restaurants coming to the Greenville area in 2021.

Juniper

A new rooftop bar is coming to the top of the AC Hotel in downtown Greenville. Juniper will offer craft cocktails and elevated bar food to patrons, as they enjoy the view of downtown. The 16,000 square foot restaurant will also feature a gin bar in their cocktail garden. They are currently hiring and expect to open in the spring.

Paloma

Another addition to the AC Hotel is Paloma, a Mediterranean restaurant. Paloma recently opened their doors to patrons. They are located on the ground floor of the hotel and are serving up a variety of Spanish and American tapas plates for dinner.

Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack

Hot chicken isn’t just for Nashville. Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack, which is currently based in Asheville, just opened their doors in Greenville. They are located on Laurens Road and are offering southern staples like pimento cheese grits, fried okra and of course, Nashville-style fried chicken.

Eat & Drink

West Columbia Welcomes New Craft Brewery to the Midlands

A new craft brewery is officially open in West Columbia. Savage Craft Ale Works opened their doors at the end of January and are expected to be the newest hotspot for craft beer lovers.

The opening of Savage Craft Ale Works marks a burgeoning craft beer scene in West Columbia and Cayce marked by current breweries – Steel Hands Brewing and WECO Bottle and Biergarten.

According to their website, “Savage Craft Ale Works is a veteran-owned beverage company that is committed to providing the highest quality products while providing an unparalleled experience for those that visit our taproom. We apply the same disciplined approach to constantly improving and refining our craft that we learned as members of this great country’s military.”

Savage Craft offers patrons a full craft beer experience, providing patrons with an outdoor dog-friendly biergarten, modern taproom and rooftop bar. In addition to beer, Savage Craft also offers a variety of food. Their menu offers everything from Nashville chicken to Conch fritters to braised pork belly to Thai chili gator.

While not much is known about the individual beers they will be brewing, the craft brewery prides themselves on their ability to use local and fresh ingredients in addition to being creative and bold in their brews.

Check out Savage Craft Ale Works the next time you’re in West Columbia!

Eat & Drink

Charleston Staple Set to Replace Longstanding Greenville Restaurant

Tommy’s Country Ham House, a Greenville mainstay that has been operating for over 30 years, is closing in the Spring of 2021.

Earlier this year, the popular restaurant announced their decision to close their doors saying that owner Tommy Stevenson had made the difficult choice to retire.

While the news of the restaurant’s closing came as a shock to patrons, the restaurant set to replace the longstanding favorite was just announced and it has people buzzing.

Lewis Barbecue, a Charleston staple, is set to take the place of Tommy’s Country Ham House in 2022 following some renovations to the space. Lewis Barbecue features traditional Texas style barbecue and is most famous for their mouth watering brisket.

John Lewis, owner of Lewis Barbecue, issued a statement on the upstate opening of his restaurant saying, “Since moving to South Carolina six years ago, I’ve been blown away by the way locals love food — especially barbecue. We’ve welcomed a lot of Greenville folks to our Charleston spot, and I can’t wait to set up shop there permanently and be a part of the city’s vibrant community.”