Food & Drink Notes: Holiday treats

Rise Gourmet Goods & Bakeshop in Five Points has caught the holiday spirit.

Stop in and try the new holiday-themed treats (available through the end of the year): Egg Nog Cream Puffs, Panatonne Bars and Peppermint Meringues. They’re perfect to bring to a holiday drop-in.

In the cold-case, you’ll find some new dips and spreads to make holiday entertaining just a little bit easier. The caramalized Onion and Spinach Artichoke dips pair with freshly baked baguettes, fines herbes crostini, housemade crackers or everything bagel pretzel crisps.

While you’re there, check out their collection of Gourmet Gift Baskets (from $45-$75, limited supply). Each basket features a selection of Rise’s packaged goods, combined with some of Chef Sarah Simmons’ favorite products from her chef friends from around the country.

You deserve some chocolate. Joseph Vernon’s Evolution Through Chocolate handmade truffles can be purchased from noon-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24 at Crescent Cacao.

Vernon takes the idea of truffles to the sublime with unique and tasty flavor combinations. Sneak a box (or two) under the tree for someone you love – or, better yet, as a reward for yourself. Follow Vernon on Facebook.

Restaurant news

Longhorn Steakhouse has a new Winter Peak Season menu of three new items created to highlight the best ingredients of the season. On the menu: White Cheddar & Bacon Dip (Vermont white cheddar with bacon and green onion, topped with applewood-smoked bacon, cheddar jack cheese and served with crispy flatbread); Pecan Praline Sweet Potato Casserole (brown sugar-mashed sweet potato with a pecan praline topping); and Black Forest Lava Cake (warm dark chocolate cake with cherry filling, topped with cream cheese icing and finished with chocolate and raspberry drizzle). New to the list of entrees is the Lobster Hollandaise Filet (tender center-cut filet of beef topped with lobster meat and lobster hollandaise sauce over steamed asparagus, served with a choice of side and hand-chopped salad).

Owners of Knoxville, Tenn.-based The Casual Pint craft beer market franchise have announced plans to open three stores in Columbia starting in spring 2016 – the first of which will locate at 807 Gervais St. in the Vista.

“The six breweries and the overall craft beer enthusiasm in Columbia make moving to the area a no-brainer,” said Nathan Robinette, chief executive of The Casual Pint.

Owner, operator and local entrepreneur Doug Harmon began the process of opening the newest Casual Pint franchise in Columbia in late September. Harmon is quick to point out that The Casual Pint is not a bar, but “a beer cafe.” Casual Pint features features hundreds of bottled local, domestic and international brews as well as a rotating tap wall for take-home growlers and on-site tastings in a dedicated bar area.

Susan Ardis, sardis@thestate.com

This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 3:50 PM.