Congratulations

Smokin’ Coles Original BBQ Sauce, based in Gaston, was named the Grand Champion Sauce in the National BBQ Festivals Best of the Best contest. Learn more about this sweet, tangy, peppery sauce at smokincolessauce.com

Po Boy’s BBQ Sauce, based in Hopkins, won gold in the 17th Annual World-Wide Mustard Competition, conducted under the direction of the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin. poboysbbqsauce.wordpress.com

Festivals/Events

Restaurant Week starts tomorrow! Restaurants (and this year, hotels) throughout the state will be offering specially priced menus created to showcase the talents of the chef. Restaurant Week runs through Jan.20. Check out restaurantweeksouthcarolina.com to find special deals or make reservations.

Love oysters? Always wanted to host an oyster roast but didn’t want to deal with all of the hassle? Let Our Local Catch cater your oyster roast. They supply oyster knives, tables, towels, sauces, crackers, shell recycling, cleanup and on-site steaming. Call Bryan for pricing and availability (843) 992-4989 or stop by Rosewood Market, 2803 Rosewood Drive, 1-7 p.m. Thursday and check them out. ourlocalcatch.com

Set the DVR so that you don’t miss “Soul Food Junkies,” a new film by Bryon Hurt premiering on the PBS series “Independent Lens” 10 p.m. Monday. With humor and heart, Hurt questions the effects of soul food on the health of not only African-Americans but all who guiltily consume this most comforting of American comfort foods. Also, check out the website pbs.org/independentlens/soul-food-junkies for healthy soul food recipes (including black-eyed pea fritters and healthy pulled pork) or submit your own take on a healthy soul food recipe by Jan. 15 for a chance to be posted on the website.

Celebrate at Hampton’s in Sumter with a five-course dinner prepared by Master Chef Raffaele Dall’Erta and a tasting of wines from Castello Banfi, one of Tuscany’s most prestigious estates, 6 p.m. Jan. 16. Featured speaker will be Sharon McCarthy, President, U.S. Society of Wine Educators. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., $85 per person. Hampton’s is located at 4 West Hampton Ave., Sumter, (803) 774-4400, hamptonsfoods.com

FREE breakfast at participating Subway restaurants. Local restaurants are taking online reservations to try any 3-inch flatbread sandwich from the breakfast menu and coffee for free. Go to myfreebreakfast.com and choose a time and day to visit a neighborhood Subway during the trial period of Jan. 28-Feb. 2.

Who is the best seafood chef in SC? The third annual South Carolina Seafood Challenge Jan. 29-31at Myrtle Beach Convention Center will determine who is the best in the state and who will move on to represent South Carolina in the national competition in New Orleans. This event is part of the 37th Annual Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Supply Show of the Southeast and is open to members of the Hospitality Industry. Information: contact Kellie Swezey, (843) 448-9483, hmrsss@leisuretimeunlimited.com

Reserve your spot today for the Truffles + Hazelnut Wine Dinner at Let’s Cook Culinary Studio. Guest Chef Carlo Zarri will be preparing a six course dinner with wine pairings 6 p.m. Feb. 1. Pre-registration and payment is required, $96 inclusive, per person. Can’t make dinner? Meet the Chef Zarri at a special wine and cheese reception 6-8 p.m. Jan. 31, $30 per person. Let’s Cook is located at 1305 Assembly St., (803) 348-5874, letscookculinary.com.

Rose Wilkins’ World Famous Chicken Bog will be served at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 5:30-8 p.m. Feb. 1. $7 per plate, $3 per child’s plate (age 12 and under), to-go plates available. Proceeds to benefit the Altar Guild and Outreach Ministries. More information: call church office Tuesday through Thursday, (803) 359-2444. St. Alban’s is located at 403 Park Road, Lexington.

Who is SHE? SHE is you! Come on out to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Feb. 8-10 for cooking, gardening, decorating demonstrations and more. Learn high tea etiquette from Sybil Davis, extreme couponing from Joyce Hansell, get cocktail tips from Josh Streetman of Motor Supply Company, decorating tips from Amanda McNulty and meet Ariana Lightningstorm, who will analyze a print of your lips (like a palm reader). Sample goodies from Rosewood Market, The Oak Table and more. Oh yeah, there will be fashion, too! Ticket information and more at shecola.com

Carolina Outdoor Cooking BBQ Class is scheduled 8a.m. - 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Exhibition Kitchen at the State Farmers Market. Award-winning pitmasters will teach you the techniques and art of preparing and cooking Carolina pulled pork, Texas beef brisket, Memphis pork ribs and smoked chicken. $250 per person includes lunch and all day BBQ samplings. Contact Garland Hughes, (803) 360-4700 or see more information/download registration form at carolinaoutdoorcooking.com

Tickets are available for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival Feb. 28-March 3. Experience some of the best food in the nation during this long weekend of events and meet some of today’s hottest chefs, including Hugh Acheson, Frank Stitt, Michelle Bernstein and Takashi Yagihasi. Check out the calendar, more information and buy tickets at charlestonwineandfood.com

2013 Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, March 4-9, is seeking entries for the International Wine Judging and Competition. Nearly 1,000 wines competed in the 2012 competition. Also, tickets are available for the Great Chefs of the South series of wine dinners at various restaurants and locations on Hilton Head Island and pre-festival events such as Uncork the Festival (Jan. 26). Wine entry information and festival details can be found online at www.hiltonheadwineandfood.com.

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

Classes

Columbia’s Cooking! Ask about cooking and nutrition classes for home schoolers, colacook @mailbox.sc.edu. Friday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Kids’ Winter Class (ages 9 and up). Menu focuses on healthy and warming winter foods and making healthy choices every day, $25 per child. Jan. 15, 5:30-8 p.m., Knife Skills with Chef Robert Stegall-Smith. Beginning Thursday, 5:30-8 p.m., 6 Weeks to Good Health program focusing on behavioral, nutritional and culinary strategies to help improve your health, $50 per class or $240 for six week course. A grocery store tour is included in the series pricing and will be scheduled separately from class.. Week 1: Benefits and criteria of a healthy diet; Week 2: On food and health, Week 3: Strategies for success; Week 4: Spices and herbs; Week 5: Healthy substitutions and recipe makeovers; Week 6: Dining out and around town. Information, registration, Katherine Shavo (803) 576-5636, shavo@mailbox.sc.edu or colacook@mailbox.sc.edu, cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking /classes.

Cooking with Chef Marion presents quick weekday meals in one hour or less, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at Ballentine Park. $20 per person, ages 18 and up. Call for reservations (803) 781-2031 or email bcc@rcrc.state.sc.us

Charleston Cooks! at Cross Hill. Register for classes online at charlestoncooks.com. All classes begin at 6:30 p.m. unless noted. Thursday, Fish and shellfish workshop; Friday, couples French bistro; Jan. 15, Kitchen Fundamentals: classic sauces; Jan. 16, noon-1 p.m., Lunch express: Asian noodles; Jan. 17, root vegetables; Jan. 18, Food and Wine 101; Jan. 19, 10 a.m., pasta workshop; Jan. 22, Kitchen fundamentals: everyday sauces; Jan. 24, $10 dinners; Jan. 25, couples French bistro; Jan. 26, 10 a.m., knife skills; Jan. 29, Kitchen fundamentals: meat and poultry; Jan. 30, noon-1 p.m., Lunch express: Asian noodles; Jan. 31, winter citrus.

Chef Francois Fisera hosts cooking classes at Fleur de Lys Home Culinary Institute. Today, crab cakes; Jan. 15 and 18, filet of beef; Jan. 21, Austrian shepherd’s pie; Jan. 25, wines of South Africa; Jan. 29 and Feb. 1, osso bucco; Feb. 5, French cooking goes to the dogs. Fleur de Lys is at 3001 Millwood Ave. (803) 765-9999 or fleurdelyscolumbiasc.com

Let’s Cook Culinary Studio events: Today, Eye on Food with Chef Platt; Jan. 10, gluten-free Italian; Jan. 11, couples cook; Jan. 15, Wild Women; Jan. 17, gluten-free Italian; Jan. 18, couples cook; Jan. 24, gluten-free Italian; Jan. 25, couples cook. 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.

Market News

Soda City Market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday at the 1500 block of Main Street

701 Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday at 701 Whaley St.

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

Farmers in the Forest,

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

Northeast Farmers Market at Lake Carolina

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