COLUMBIA — A flurry of employees take orders, calling out “Next, please” from behind the counter of Zesto in West Columbia. The walls are lined with dozens of photos of Little League baseballs teams of years past. Waitresses stop and make conversation, others serve ice cream. “If the good Lord hadn’t wanted us to eat chicken, he wouldn’t have made it,” Jody Barr joked to his two young daughters at their booth.The Hartsville native found the decades-old burger shop known for its soft-serve ice cream cones and fried chicken dinners as a “broke college kid” at the University of South Carolina. When…

Geddes, N.Y. — Today is our last chance to soak up the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the New York State Fair. We can take in one last free concert, hang out with farm animals and indulge in food that’s hard to find any other time of the year.Today’s MenuI’ve been at the Fair every day and night, and I ate a lot because it’s my job. I write about food and drinks for syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Each morning, I’ve been passing suggestions onto you while working here. I’m no expert, and I relied on readers to tell…

Following two years of celebrating regional American cuisine, Bitter Pops has announced the launch of its Regional Hot Dog program, set to begin on September 5th, 2024. This year-long culinary journey is the third installment in Bitter Pops’ ongoing tribute to the food culture across the United States. Building on previous years’ Regional Burgers and Regional Sandwiches, Bitter Pops will offer a new regional hot dog each month, available exclusively on Thursdays. The program kicks off with the Michigan Coney, a hot dog that carries the flavors of the region but also a story from just north of Chicago.  The Regional Hot…

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Ryan Snyder and chef Manabu Horiuchi (known as Hori) join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss Japanese fine dining restaurant Katami. Opened in November 2023, Katami, a more luxurious sibling to Kata Robata, has earned wide acclaim, including spots on best new restaurant lists from Texas Monthly and Robb Report. The conversation begins with both men discussing their time together at Kubo’s, the pioneering Japanese restaurant in Rice Village. Ultimately, Snyder recruited to Hori to join him in opening Kata Robata, paving the way for it to become one of Houston’s most…

North Carolina has great food towns and restaurants. So, of course, online reviewers offer their thoughts on which spots are the best. One of Yelp’s latest lists ranks the “Best Restaurants in North Carolina.” Or 100 of them, at least. The review site typically compiles the ratings and number of reviews, and volume of submissions for the rankings.  Here’s a look at the top five, which includes a popular Carolina Beach burger spot.More:These 9 Wilmington-area restaurants made Yelp’s list of the Top 100 in North Carolina1. Surfin’ Spoon, 3408 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags HeadLook for cool treats and ice…

As fall approaches and temperatures start to mellow out a bit, Louisville’s outdoor dining spaces are calling to us! Luckily, there are handful of rooftop bars around Derby City that offer an elevated experience with sweeping views. Add these five Louisville rooftop bars to your rotation this season! We are grateful to all our sponsors: 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen Neighborhood: DowntownMore Info: 8uplouisville.com As its name suggests, 8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen offers views of Derby City from eight floors up, with seating available in the open-kitchen restaurant, lounge, and rooftop bar. The eatery’s chef-driven menu features a variety…

Rethink Food, a group which distributes excess food from restaurants and businesses to New Yorkers, wants to reduce food waste and tackle hunger.”We hope our example can show that it’s not just possible, but totally feasible to achieve a more just and equitable food system,” co-founder and CEO Matt Jozwiak told Newsweek.Across the U.S., 38 million people lack reliable access to nutritious meals, but 42 percent of the nation’s food supply goes uneaten, according to Rethink Food’s website.So, the nonprofit works with a variety of organizations to fight for systemic change, and help feed communities in need. Culinary director Ken…

Fall menu items are all the rage as the seasons begin to change, with one restaurant chain based in the Chicago area reminding everyone that fall is more than just pumpkin spice lattes. This week, Portillo’s debuted a new Salted Caramel Spice Cake and an accompanying Salted Caramel Spice Cake Shake for the fall season, according to an announcement from the chain. The addition marks the first time in two decades that Portillo’s has added a new cake flavor to its menu. “After 20 years, we knew our new cake had to be something special,” Portillo’s said, “and the Salted…

The Garden Oaks organization Kids’ Meals has been a lifeline for Houston’s most vulnerable preschool-aged children, delivering free, healthy meals directly to their doorsteps for the past 18 years. As the only program of its kind in the nation, Kids’ Meals is on a mission to end childhood hunger in the Greater Houston area by focusing on children under the age of five who often fall through the gaps in social services.With more than 80,000 preschool-aged children in Houston living in food insecurity, Kids’ Meals is addressing a critical need. Preschool-aged children are particularly vulnerable because they don’t have access…

Ah, hot cider. Is there anything more quintessentially ‘fall’ than a cup of it on a chilly night? We remember cider as a fixture at Halloween parties and even getting it by the jug come autumn. Fall in North Carolina is practically synonymous with it. While hot cider is delicious, of course, as humans do, we’ve found ways to turn a fall favorite into a spiked libation, making parties a bit more fun or stories around the campfire a bit more interesting. From small craft cideries to eclectic cider mills, these six amazing cider mills in North Carolina will make…