The Series
Previous Chef Dinners
May 26th, 2022
Prepared by Chef Mike Ellis
Menu:
Starter
Spicy sesame shrimp wonton with smoked neufchatel
Second
Asian chopped salad with muscadine shoyu vinaigrette
Main
Charred Teriyaki pork with Caribbean curried rice and garlic-chili stir-fried seasonal vegetables
Dessert
Local strawberry lemon shortcake with coconut ginger ice cream
Rates: $60

About Chef Mike Ellis:
Chef Mike Ellis is from Dayton, Ohio. He learned to love food and cooking from a young age from his parents and grandparents. He is currently the Culinary director at LTC Hospitality and Executive Chefs at The Grand on Main and The Main Course in downtown Columbia. Chef Ellis has 4 daughters and recently married the love of his life, Rebekah.
July 23rd
Prepared by Chef Will Lacey
Menu:
Starter
“Egg Salad”: Soft boiled egg, halved, served on top of buttermilk biscuit breadcrumbs with a jalapeño-avocado cream sauce and garnish
Second
Charred Corn + Tomato Salad with pecans and lemon curd vinaigrette
Main
Shrimp Roll: Fresh South Carolina shrimp with a blueberry-herb-yogurt dressing
Dessert
Peach Bread Pudding with Fresh Cinnamon-Gran Marnier Whipped Cream
Rates: $60

About Chef Chef Will Lacey:
May 14th
Prepared by Chefs Isaiah and Jessica Carswell
Seared Tuna Deviled Eggs
Spring greens, candied lardon, apricot vinaigrette, feta cheese foam

About Chefs Isaiah and Jessica Carswell:
Chef Isaiah Carswell, and wife Jessica, both have over twenty years of combined restaurant, culinary, hospitality, and education experience, as well as a passion for great food. They began independent food ventures in 2010 with catering, consulting, and creating innovative delectable food fusions, leading to the formation of The Food Academy, LLC in 2015
The Food Academy is a full-service restaurant, event planning and catering entity dedicated to providing delectable culinary & hospitality experiences. The company offers an extensive menu of food, nutrition, event, and education services.
January 22nd
Prepared by Chef Ramone Dickerson, Owner of Wing City restaurant and the 2 Fat to Fly food truck
Salad
Spring Mix, Lime Burst, Winter Spiced Almonds, Toasted Coconut, Honey Drizzle. Adluh Mango-Mint Cornbread
Wine: 2007 Lucille (Dry White)

About Chef Dickerson:
The stuffed chicken wings created by Chef Ramone Dickerson and his business partner, Corey Simmons, landed a reality TV show on the Oprah Winfrey Network last year called Wingmen. Dickerson owns Wing City restaurant and the 2 Fat to Fly food truck, both in Columbia, where their unique approach to stuffing chicken wings with collard greens and rice, macaroni and cheese, jalapeno / bacon and cheddar, has generated a flock of fans. They also appeared on the Steve Harvey Show earlier this year.
Chef Dickerson is a 2016 South Carolina Chef Ambassadors with the SCPRT.
November 13th
Prepared by Chef Joe Turkaly, Owner of Joe Turkaly Catering and Events
Baby Arugula and Mustard Greens,
Gypsy Wind Farm Pork Belly Lardon, and a
Malabar Peppercorn infused local honey
Gingered Sweet Potato Puree with Bourbon Candied Pecans and
Grilled Asparagus with a Piquillo Pepper-Almond Sauce
Sea Salt-Brandy Hard Sauce and Whipped Cream

About Chef Turkaly:
With 32 years experience working every type of restaurant from fine dining to BBQ, Chef Joe has worked at many great restaurants in Columbia from Monterrey Jack’s, Hunter-Gatherer, Hampton Street Vineyard, Goatfeathers, Smoke Southern Barbecue Revival, Gervais & Vine, Doc’s Gumbo Grille, as well as opening new restaurants in town including: Kraken Gastropub, A.G. Floyd’s Prime Steaks and Chops, Buster’s Bistro, Hannah Janes, and RB’s Bodacious Barbecue.
Exhibiting a couple of decades worth of experience and skills, Chef Joe owns Joe Turkaly Catering and Events in Columbia, SC.
September 18th
Prepared by Chef Howard Stephens, Executive Chef at Sapori
Menu:

Columbia Food Tours offers unique experiences highlighting the rich food and culture in Columbia, South Carolina.