Festivals/Events

There’s a new food truck in town. Starting this week, The Carriage Cafe offers local, restaurant-quality food at a reasonable price 11 a.m.-2 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the corner of Gervais and Huger streets. facebook.com/thecarriage cafe.com

Gamecock Nation: Have lunch with the coaches! Help support Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital Cancer Center at Coaches Curing Kids Cancer luncheon with USC athletic director Ray Tanner, women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley, baseball coach Chad Holbrook and All-American Michael Roth 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday at 701 Whaley. Meet and greet the Gamecocks, enjoy food prepared by chef Todd Adams and bid on autographed items and silent auction. Tickets $60 per person, sponsorship tables available at different levels. Information: Gina Janvrin, gina@curingkidscancer .org; buy tickets online at curingkidscancer.org

Girls with Grills! Ladies, the ladies-only BBQ and grilling class hosted by Master Barbecue Champion JT Handy and award-winning pit master Mark Busbee of Smokin’ Cole’s Sauces and Rubs is Saturday. This all-day class at the S.C. Farmers Market Demo Kitchen will give you grilling tips and techniques guaranteed to impress with a combination of lecture, demo and hands-on instruction. Learn the proper methods of grilling over charcoal and the safe and proper use of gas grills and “low and slow” techniques. You will prepare baby back ribs, BBQ chicken, grilled sides and dessert. Class is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. , $125 per person includes lunch and a take-home half rack of ribs. Contact Tim Handy (843) 214-3736 or Mark Busbee (803) 513-6087. Download the Girls with Grills form from thestate.com (with this calendar), complete and mail to Mark Busbee, dba Q Fore U, 180 Berry Hill Lane, Gaston, SC 29053

Get a head start on the holidays at Sandhills Farmers Holiday Market 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Locally handmade gifts, decorations, arts and crafts will be included as well as locally grown vegetables, meat, baked goods and more. Master Gardeners will answer questions and Keith Tracy performs. 900 Clemson Road (across from Village at Sandhill), (803) 699-3190 or (803) 788-5700, clemson.edu/sandhill

There’s an ‘r’ in October...17th Annual South Carolina Oyster Festival is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 18 on the grounds of the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion in downtown Columbia. Over 10,000 pounds of fresh oysters will be sold steamed in buckets or fried in baskets. Guests are encouraged to bring camp chairs and blankets to enjoy this all-day event. There will be a variety of food and beverages available, two stages for live music, arts and crafts, a children’s area and a Celebrity Oyster Shucking Contest. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Pawmetto Lifeline. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own gloves and knives to shuck oysters (tools can be purchased at festival). Pre-sale tickets $5 for sale through Nov. 16 at Robert Mills House Gift Shop, Pearlz Oyster Bar, Hampton Hill Athletic Club and etix.com. Tickets after Nov. 16 are $10; children 12 and under free. No coolers, no pets. More information at scoyster.com

Bubbie’s Brisket and Bakery is accepting pre-orders! While the big extravaganza is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 18, at Beth Shalom Synagogue, you can pre-order some of the mouthwatering treats such as kugel, corned beef sandwiches, tzimmes, brisket, matzah ball soup, stuffed cabbage and more. Call the synagogue to pre-order, (803) 782-2500, or plan to attend the event and enjoy some wonderful homemade kosher Jewish foods. Beth Shalom Synagogue is at 5827 N. Trenholm Road; BethShalomColumbia.org

The 4th Annual Sustainable Holiday Celebration is 4:30-8:30 p.m. Nov. 26 at 701 Whaley. Shop for unique, affordable gifts from local artisans, handmade S.C. Grown wreaths or create a S.C. Grown Specialty Food gift basket. Free tastings of food from local restaurants including 116 State, Rosewood Market, Spotted Salamander, Whole Foods and WP Rawl Farm. A $5 donation at the door will help continue funding of local programs including Sustainable Schools, The Midlands Green Congregation Initiative, Rocky Branch Watershed Alliance and The Faces of Local Food. sustainablemidlands.org

Thanks and Giving for St. Jude at The Melting Pot now through Dec. 31. This charity campaign asks patrons to “give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not” by raising funds for cancer research. Donate $10 or more to St. Jude at The Melting Pot and receive a Fondue for the Kids card that offers $20 off a future purchase of $50 or more. The Melting Pot, 1410 Colonial Life Blvd., (803) 731-8500, meltingpot.com/ fondueforthekids

Want to know if your freshly caught fish is safe to eat? DHEC’s “Fish Smart, Eat Smart” campaign provides you with a statewide map with the latest advisories, information and other materials to help anglers determine whether to keep or release the fish that they catch in South Carolina waters. www.scdhec.gov/fish

Market News

Soda City Market, 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday at the 1500 block of Main Street.

Vista Guild Farmers Market 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesdays, Lincoln Street in front of Blue Marlin Restaurant

Rosewood Market Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays, 2803 Rosewood Drive (803) 256-6410

Northeast Farmers Market at Lake Carolina is open 3-7 p.m. Thursdays at Town Center.

Classes

Cooking with Chef Marion, Holiday Appetizers and Hors d’oeuvres, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Ballentine Park. Learn tips, ideas and recipes to use again and again. Ages 18 and over, $20 per person, all supplies included. Call for reservations: Ballentine Park, 1009 Bickley Rd., (803) 781-2031

Columbia’s Cooking! Ask about cooking and nutrition classes for home schoolers, colacook@mailbox.sc.edu. Information, registration, Katherine Shavo (803) 576-5636, shavo@mailbox.sc.edu, cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking /classes.

Chef Francois Fisera hosts cooking classes at Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute. Friday and Monday, tournedos Rossini flambé; Nov. 14, mussels; Nov. 20 & 21, onion soup and lobster bisque; Nov. 30, Dec. 1, Beaujolais Nouveau. Fleur de Lys is at 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999 or fleurdelyscolumbiasc.com

Let’s Cook Culinary Studio events: Thursday, Italian supper; Friday, couples; Nov 13 and 14, Food Wisdom Rx; Nov. 15 sushi; Nov. 16, couples pasta; Nov. 19, Eye on Food.; Nov. 20, holiday pies; Nov. 23, gingerbread house; Nov. 27, Wild Women; Nov. 30, couples. Detailed listings at letscookculinary.com. Let’s Cook is at 1305 Assembly St. (803) 348-5874

McCutchen House on the USC Horseshoe. See complete schedule and sign up for classes at http://webapps.csg.sc .edu/McCutchen.

Have an upcoming food event? Email details to food@thestate.com. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.