News Summary
The Columbia Food and Wine Festival 2025 promises an unforgettable experience from April 22 to April 27, featuring chef collaborations, unique wine pairings, and engaging culinary activities. Visitors can partake in workshops like Breadmaking 101, enjoy cultural dishes, and cheer at the Cocktail Games. With a roster of renowned chefs and diverse events, this festival showcases the vibrant gastronomic scene in Columbia while celebrating local culture. It’s a must-attend event for food enthusiasts!
Columbia Food and Wine Festival 2025: A Flavorful Extravaganza Awaits!
Excitement is brewing in the heart of Columbia as the city prepares to host its much-anticipated Food and Wine Festival from Tuesday, April 22 to Sunday, April 27, 2025. This delightful event promises to be a feast for the senses, blending culinary creativity with rich cultural experiences. Get ready, Columbia, because it’s about to get delicious!
The Festival’s Highlights
This year’s festival is set to feature a sprinkle of everything that makes Columbia’s food scene so vibrant. Attendees can look forward to chef collaborations, enticing wine pairings, hands-on activities, and a few unique mashups that will keep your taste buds dancing! Check out some of the standout events that you won’t want to miss:
- Knead to Know: Breadmaking 101 on Wednesday, April 23 at The Proof for $100. This workshop is all about perfecting that loaf with a hands-on approach!
- Palates and Pages on Thursday, April 24 at All Good Books for $40. Join authors Mary Martha Greene and Kelvin Davis for an experience where cuisine meets literature!
- Collaborative Kitchens on various dates and locations priced at $125–$150, featuring special menus crafted by guest chefs. A perfect way to taste the creativity of Columbia’s best!
- The Cocktail Games on Friday, April 25 at The Laundry for $65. It’s all about showcasing custom cocktails and a bit of friendly competition among the city’s best mixologists.
- Soul of the South: A Gullah Experience also on Friday, April 25 at The Farm 1780 for $125. Celebrate Gullah culture with traditional dishes paired with captivating storytelling.
- ColaFEST! on Saturday, April 26 at Runway 728 for $50. This event merges food with music and will feature local bands along with top chefs.
- BubbleQ on Saturday, April 26 at City Roots for $125. Indulge in the divine pairing of champagne and barbecue!
Meet the Culinary Stars
Leading the way in mixology, you’ll find David Adedokun, who brings an abundance of experience from Columbia‘s cocktail scene. In a city that loves its flavors, he aims to focus on seasonal ingredients to create tantalizing drinks that perfectly complement the festival’s offerings.
But that’s not all! The festival will feature notable chefs like Harold Pendleton from War Mouth, who is known for his exceptional Southern food. He will be stirring up excitement at the Cocktail Games and the Grand Tasting on April 27. Meanwhile, Tripp Roche from Villa Tronco will host the family-friendly event “Ping Pong and Pasta,” a fun, non-alcoholic offering perfect for all ages.
Chef Thomas Hardenberg, executive chef at Motor Supply Bistro Co., emphasizes local farm products in his dishes and is contributing to the Grand Tasting event. Celebrating a remarkable milestone, Brandon and Jeanne Velie of Juniper are marking 20 years in business this July and will also participate in the Grand Tasting.
Sweet treats will be in good hands, too, with VonGretchen Nelson and Tyrus Donawald, co-owners of the popular food truck Bessie’s Sweet Delights, offering unique desserts and comfort foods during the Grand Tasting.
For those who crave something different, Chef Javier Uriarte of Ratio, the winner of “Best of Columbia’s Best Restaurant, Northeast for 2024,” will take center stage with his modern Peruvian cuisine. To add a twist, Marc Herro from Pitas on Taylor Street will bring a delicious fusion of Southern and Mediterranean dishes!
Community and Culinary Celebration
The Columbia Food and Wine Festival is more than just a celebration of food—it’s a chance to spotlight local chefs, culinary traditions, and community engagement. By indulging in the myriad offerings, festival-goers will not only have a blast but will also support the culinary heartbeat of Columbia!
So, mark your calendars and get ready to eat, drink, and be merry! The Columbia Food and Wine Festival awaits to stir excitement and tantalize your taste buds in 2025!
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Additional Resources
- Post and Courier: Talent Chefs Columbia Food and Wine Festival
- Cola Today: Columbia Food & Wine Festival
- WLTX: Columbia Food and Wine Festival Kicks Off
- Wikipedia: Food Festival
- WIS TV: Columbia Food and Wine Festival Returns
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Wine
- ABC Columbia: Cola Food and Wine Festival Preview
- Google Search: Columbia Food and Wine Festival
