Coming off this week's big scoop about Paul Smith opening a new Italian restaurant inside the old Bridge Road Bistro in South Hills, fans of the Charleston chef can also get their fill of his James Beard award-winning food during a special event next week.
Habitat for Humanity’s popular “A Taste of …” fund-raising dinner usually features food from a popular restaurant in another part of the state, giving locals a chance to try that food here in Charleston without the long drive.
But this year’s culinary celebration – from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Ball Event Center at 1900 Patrick St. Plaza – will feature “The Tastes of Chef Paul in Charleston,” where he’ll be showcasing several popular items blending Appalachian flavors with modern techniques made famous at his 1010 Bridge restaurant in South Hills.
On the menu that night:
1010 Caesar Salad with a twist, topped with crispy Brussels sprouts and a flavorful Caesar vinaigrette
Fried Nashville Chicken on toasted brioche, accompanied by horseradish pickles and ramp-herb peppercorn sauce
Potato Soufflé Bites, featuring airy bites of potato soufflé with a soft texture
Gulf Shrimp & Grits served over creamy white cheddar grits made from "Bloody Butcher" heirloom corn
Cast Iron-Seared 1010 Beef served with chimichurri and horseradish cream sauce
Chocolate Silk Tartlets topped with toasted marshmallow fluff and drizzled with JQ Dickinson salted caramel
Tickets for the event, which are $100 per person or $175 for two, can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/4gNYiO1. All proceeds from the evening will help Habitat for Humanity of Kanawha & Putnam build safe, affordable homes for families in need.
Picnic moving from Thomas to Charleston area
Popular taco shop Picnic in Thomas has announced that it is leaving its home in the Canaan Valley to move to the Charleston area. Its last day of business in Thomas will be next Saturday, Oct. 19.
“We are joining forces with some incredible folks and this new partnership will allow us to expand all over our beloved state,” the restaurant said in a Facebook post announcing the news. “We will be growing a fleet of mobile trucks and brick-and-mortars to share what has been created over the last four years.”
I know more about this partnership of which they speak, so stay tuned for some exciting details in the coming weeks.
Having been to Picnic several times, I can attest their menu of simple and fresh tacos, bowls and plates will likely be a big hit across the state.
Breathe Wine & Culture Co. closes in Cross Lanes
Last week’s roundup of four local restaurant closings was missing another local spot that is no longer.
Breathe Wine & Culture Co. closed its doors in Cross Lanes last week after three years in business. The cute little wine, beer and gift market was also known for its selection of soups, salads, sandwiches and sweets, which I’ve raved about here before.
While the little café did have fans, its owners acknowledged just how difficult it is to keep a small local business open in today’s marketplace – and that ongoing roadwork limiting access to their shop didn’t help.
“From a business standpoint, we know it has to happen, but our hearts keep trying to fill with hope,” a Facebook post shared. “We wish this area and economy could support more small businesses. We hope and pray that the roadwork creates a beautiful, efficient and welcoming environment so new businesses can thrive and Cross Lanes can become a better place to live, work and play.”
Fans of Breathe can still visit their location in Huntington at 335 9th St.
Bar 101/Ichiban win Capital Cocktail Classic
This past Saturday’s Capital Cocktail Classic benefitting the Fund for the Arts was another fun downtown pub crawl for a cause – and this year, I picked the winner!
After all votes were cast, Bar 101 and Ichiban won this year’s Best Cocktail for their refreshing Razz Yuzu Chill, a concoction blending vodka, Gekkeikan saki, triple sec, yuzu and raspberry purée. It was my favorite, too.
The public voted Sam’s Crab Cake Slider as their favorite appetizer (and it was delish) but Bar 101/Ichiban also had my best appetizer of the evening.
It was an unfathomably good Loaded Takeout Eggroll stuffed with General Tso’s chicken and house-made fried rice, then dunked in Sapporo beer cheese.
And it’s exactly the kind of hefty snack you want after a night of imbibing, if you know what I mean.
I know I wasn’t alone in my love for that eggroll.
I asked every person I knew along the crawl to tell me their favorite bite of the night and nearly everyone of them said, usually with eyes rolling to the back of their head: “Oh, that eggroll!”
Hey Sushi Evan, I’m going to need you to put that on your regular menu now. K?
The scoop on Larobi’s vs. Lorobi’s pizza
In last week’s column I shared the news that Larobi’s of Campbells Creek had closed after only a few months in business, referencing that it had been another spin-off of the original Lorobi’s Pizza in St. Albans.
Well, not exactly.
I thought the different spellings were just, well, mistakes on the part of those businesses – but a reader in the know set me straight.
“The St. Albans Lorobi’s was completely separate and had different owners,” Christina Mayes said.
“The original owners were my great aunts, Lorraine Curtis and Robi Hodges, and the restaurant’s name combined Lor, as in Lorraine, and Robi, as in her sister’s name.”
She said the original sisters have since passed away and a new family now runs the St. Albans location, original spelling and all.
“I don’t know the owners of the St. Albans Lorobi’s now, but wanted you to know Larobi’s was different. Love your column and look forward to it every week!”
Downtown Charleston restaurants rally for Asheville
If this doesn’t get you in the feels, I don’t know what will.
As I was enjoying a frosty adult beverage in downtown Charleston last week, Fife Street Brewing co-owner Derek Godwin told me that Fife was planning to donate 15% of all food sales this past Saturday to Hurricane Helene relief efforts, and that he was hoping to get “a few other” downtown restaurants to join them.
A few other?
Next thing I know, the Downtown Charleston Association is posting that a full dozen places had agreed to do the same. Big shout-out to Fife, Black Sheep, Short Story, Adelphia, Rock City, Ichiban, DT Prime, Pies & Pints, Hale House, Sam’s, Ellen’s and First Watch, who all did the same thing from open to close on Saturday!
Combine that with Chef Paul Smith’s 1010 Bridge coordinating the delivery of two relief trucks full of supplies to storm-ravaged Asheville last week and it makes you so proud to live in our town.
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Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national culinary publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.