Dream Come True
The first of 12 food and beverage concepts to open in Mauldin’s new BridgeWay Station, BridgeWay Brewing aims to be a place where folks come and stay for a while. Owner Michelle Dodge worked in commercial banking before taking the leap to open her own business. “I’ve always had a burning desire to do my own thing,” says Dodge, who comes from a family of entrepreneurs.
For this venture, she partnered with Nate Tomforde, owner of Southernside Brewing Co. in West Greenville. It was his idea to incorporate duckpin bowling lanes, which have been a huge hit with families. Between the scratch-made menu of bar food; 10+ beer taps pouring brews from porters to IPAs; 4 duckpin lanes; and 15 flat-screen TVs for watching your favorite team, there’s fun for everyone here. “We’re not just a brewery,” Dodge says, “we’re a social experience.”
610 Bridgeway Blvd., Mauldin, 864.688.2106, bridgewaybrewing.com
Curated Charcuterie
Dark wine-colored walls, a U-shaped bar, and chic chandeliers set the mood at Curean, a place where friends can sip wine or cocktails while sharing a charcuterie board they curate from a selection of meats, cheeses, and accoutrements. Beyond charcuterie, Chef Austyn McGroarty (formerly of Woodside Bistro) has designed a tantalizing seasonal menu that centers on shareable Mediterranean small plates, from spicy prawns to lamb lollipops. “A lot of the menu is what I grew up eating,” says owner Vickie Zambrano, noting that her mother makes the spanakopita and dolmades for the Greek Board and her grandmother prepares the baklava on the dessert menu.
Zambrano, whose industry experience began as a kid helping out at her grandfather’s Greenville restaurant, Palmetto Fine Foods, never pictured herself as a restaurateur, but she’s enjoying her role at Curean. “I drive home every night with a smile,” she reports, “even on the longest, hardest day.”
732A S. Main St., Greenville, 864.416.4610, cureangvl.com
Meet the South Carolina Chef Ambassadors
At the end of January, Governor Henry McMaster named three chefs to be the state’s official Chef Ambassadors for 2024. In this role, they will highlight Certified South Carolina produce, meats, dairy, and seafood in culinary and other events.
This year’s chefs are Javier Uriarte, owner of Ratio in Elgin; Leslie Rohland of The Cottage Cafe Bakery & Tea Room in Bluffton; and the Upstate’s own Michael Sibert from Anonymous Burgers in Greer. Launched in 2014 by then-governor Nikki Haley, the Chef Ambassador program is celebrating its 10th year promoting South Carolina as a great food destination. “Our state’s outstanding culinary talent contributes to the rich cultural heritage and quality of life that makes South Carolina unique and attractive to all,” McMaster said in a recent press release.
discoversouthcarolina.com/chef-ambassadors
