Here’s the hottest food news from our pages in 2024
Like a pot bubbling over, Greenville’s food scene continues to boil and garner recognition in the national media. From the best new places to eat to local award winners and trends in food and drink, we recap some of our favorite food stories of 2024.
Favorite Food Stories Recap
What’s New?
It seems that barely a week goes by without announcements of new Upstate restaurant openings. Some of the year’s most noteworthy include Stella’s third restaurant, Rôtie, in BridgeWay Station in Simpsonville, where meats are cooked on the kitchen’s double rotisserie; and rustic-chic Tavola, a craveable Italian concept from Table 301, also in BridgeWay Station.
And the Winners Are . . .
Greenville has captured the country’s attention when it comes to coveted James Beard Awards. In 2024, our city claimed three semifinalists and two winners. Chef Joe Cash’s Scoundrel was nominated for Best New Restaurant; Tania Cienfuegos Harris, then at Topsoil, got the nod for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker; and Kimball Birenza and Stephen Palmer of O-Ku Sushi were up for Outstanding Restaurateur. Directed by Rioin Oshiro of Undercurrent Film Company, Great Wall won a JBA for Visual Media–Short Form for documenting the journey that led Khailing Neoh to open Sum Bar in downtown Greenville. The timeless appeal (since 1947) of Wade’s Restaurant in Spartanburg earned it a spot as one of six James Beard America’s Classic winners.
Hog Heaven
Barbecue is king in these parts, and TOWN (March) laid out five of the best places for ’cue. In Easley, Smokin’ Pig is a crowd favorite for pulled pork, while Bobby’s BBQ in Fountain Inn wins raves for the perfect mix of smoke and spice in their house-made sausage. In Greenville, MooHogz is a go-to for pork spare ribs; Home Team BBQ ranks high on the list for their slow-smoked and fried wings; and Lewis Barbecue is tops for Texas-style brisket.
Sipping On Trend
From mocktails to libations that pack a punch—including punch—we covered the most sippable drink trends in TOWN’s July issue. Explore White County in northeast Georgia to taste wines ranging from old word varietals to Bordeaux-style blends, and consider a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, to follow the Urban Bourbon Trail. For non-alcoholic options, find the best places to sip mocktails for “dry July” on TOWN’s website, and hit that sweet spot with a thick, rich milkshake at Pickwick Pharmacy’s old-fashioned soda fountain.
Sweet Endings
“Don’t pass up dessert” are words to live by, especially when our city boasts talented pastry chefs whose confections are well worth the calorie splurge. In February, TOWN talked to some of these chefs to find out what inspires them to create sweets so artful that they look like they belong on a canvas rather than a plate. And to celebrate fall firepit season, check out Chef Sydney Taylor’s recipe (September) for s’mores with a surprise: homemade marshmallows.
