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

Pie Day at McCutchen House ! Pre-order your favorites before Friday for pickup 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Ready-to-serve Chocolate Walnut pie, $10 each; ready-to-bake Tomato Pies, $15 per bakers dozen (13 pies). Order by calling (803) 777-4450; McCutchenHouse.sc.edu

Speaking of a Friday deadline: You can help support St. Lawrence Place, a 30-home community where homeless families can find skills and shelter that foster independence. Just order a delicious three- or six-serving ready-made meal from Dream Dinners by Friday and St. Lawrence Place will receive a portion of the proceeds. Choose from entrees such as chicken paella, Italian stuffed shells, BBQ beef and blackened salmon with pineapple salsa. Menu downloadable at stlawrenceplace.org. Email orders to Becca at bsmith@stlawrenceplace.org and then pick up Monday at Dream Dinners inside the Forest Drive Piggly Wiggly.

Annual Beaujolais Nouveau Release Party begins at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Gervais & Vine. This event, traditionally celebrated worldwide the third Thursday in November, marks the release of the young wine. Beaujolais is special in that the grapes must be harvested by hand and the wine is meant to be drunk young, usually consumed by the following May after its release. Gervais & Vine, 620-A Gervais St. (803) 799-8463

Also at Gervais & Vine, Frederick Wildman Wine Dinner, Nov. 21. Call for reservations (803) 799-8463.

There’s an ‘r’ in October...17th Annual South Carolina Oyster Festival is 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 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 Friday at Robert Mills House Gift Shop, Pearlz Oyster Bar, Hampton Hill Athletic Club and etix.com. Tickets after Friday are $10; children 12 and under free. No coolers, no pets. More information at scoyster.com

Bubbie’s Brisket and Bakery is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Beth Shalom Synagogue. Enjoy mouthwatering treats such as kugel, corned beef sandwiches, tzimmes, brisket, matzah ball soup, stuffed cabbage and more. Beth Shalom Synagogue is at 5827 N. Trenholm Road. (803) 782-2500, 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. Saturday 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 Road, (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. Tonight, mussels; Nov. 20 and 21, onion soup and lobster bisque; Nov. 30 and 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, sushi; Friday, couples pasta; Monday, Eye on Food.; Tuesday, 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.