Columbia, SC – Scott Hall and the crew of Bone-In Barbeque, was named the 2018 Top Chef by a panel of judges at the South Carolina Farm Bureau (SCFB) Federation’s annual Palmetto Palate. The event took place Thursday at the South Carolina State Museum. Hall was among ten local chefs and restaurants participating in the event.
This year’s Top Chef was chosen by local celebrity judges: Leland Pinder, WIS TV news anchor; Christina O’Conner, Columbia food blogger known as Bit of Delish; and Kirk Litton, managing partner of Midlands Media Group.
Hall and Matthew Pate, kitchen manager/pit master, led the team to the honors. Their menu included brisket-stuffed mac and cheese with Corley Mill Farm roasted tomatoes. Hall is a Midlands native, and after ten years in New York City, he returned home in 2011 to launch his own signature catering company, Scott Hall Catering, and a food truck, Bone-In Artisan BBQ on Wheels. He now focuses his time on his Bone-In Barbeque business at Bull Street.
“The Palmetto Palate celebrates local food grown by South Carolina farmers, which midlands chefs incorporate into tasty dishes,” said Harry Ott, SCFB President. “These are some of the best chefs in the country, and the event and excitement continues to grow each year because of that.”
Palmetto Palate pairs SC farms with leading chefs from around the state and the result is tapas-sized portions of food that are perfect for sampling. Members from county Farm Bureaus across the state also make donations to a silent auction that features items unique to South Carolina, the outdoors, cooking and local artwork.
In addition to Bone-In Barbeque, other chefs participated from Blue Marlin, Crave Artisan Market, Dupre Catering, Cupcake Downsouth, Hall’s Chop House, Pearlz Oyster Bar, Primal Gourmet, Silver Spoon Bakery and Spotted Salamander
Palmetto Palate has become a highly-anticipated celebration of locally grown food, the area’s culinary artistry, and fellowship. The money raised will help support the South Carolina Farm Bureau Foundation, which provides scholarships to deserving students across the state who are involved in agriculture.