Julie McCombs
Chef Samuel Jones barbecued pig was mouth-watering sensational. He was poetry in motion slicing the meat for the hundreds of visitors.
Julie McCombs
Sierra Nevada was among the local brews that gave Euphoria that home-town flavor.
Julie McCombs
Trevor Higgins of Roost hosted the popular Swine and Dine.
Julie McCombs
Music by Kim Carnes and Seven Handle Circus, and the Swinging Richards kept things hopping on Saturday.
Eurphoria began Thursday night and lasting into Sunday. The event raises cultural awareness for local charities.
The venues, with their elegant décor topped with perfect fall weather, were chosen for the local flavors of chefs and food.
Thursday in Nova Square, Euphoria kicked off its first night of delicious fun. Trevor Higgins of Roost hosted Swine and Dine with Chef Samuel Jones. I watched Chef Jones take the barbequed pig right off the grill and artistically slice it for the line of hungry guests.
The crowd was allowed to be up close and personal with the chefs all weekend, enjoying the delicious food and conversation.
Locals brews like Sierra Nevada, Six & Twenty, Slow & Low Whiskey did a healthy business. The square was filled with a great crowd and tunes from the West End Strings Band and Piedmont Boys until late into the evening.
Friday kicked off a weekend of wine tastings from area vineyards and a few special guests from Sonoma, Calif., and vineyards that have created their own tourist attraction in Virginia. Food was served by my local favorites, Chef Brian Sonoskos from Tupelo Honey Café and Chef Shaun Garcia from Soby’s.
Greenville welcomed chefs from Charleston and Columbia to add some special touches to the culinary menu.
Local favorite breweries were also on tap like Thomas Creek and Firefly.
The amphitheater featured Kim Carnes and Seven Handle Circus, and the Swinging Richards.
Chef demonstrations, wine auction tastings, beer seminars and a variety of entertainment made the festival the best bargain around. Euphoria ended with a jazz brunch with the South Carolina Jazz Orchestra and a culinary cook off. Chef James Boyce from Alabama took home the winning title this year.
LoavesandFishes.org, SlowFoodUpstate.com, and AChildsHaven.com were selected Euphoria’s charities of choice.