Foodie

So one of the things that I really enjoy on God's green earth is food, but not just food, foodie food. So what exactly is a foodie? That is what I will address here and now.

A foodie by Wikipedia definition is one who seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out for convenience or hunger. While gourmet and epicure can be used as synonyms they have fallen out of favor and bring to mind a stodgy or snobbish attitude.

Urban dictionary would say a foodie is a person that spends a keen amount of attention and energy on knowing the ingredients of food, the proper preparation of food, and finds great enjoyment in top-notch ingredients and exemplary preparation. A foodie is not necessarily a food snob, only enjoying delicacies and/or food items difficult to obtain and/or expensive foods; though, that is a variety of foodie.

Foodies are a distinct hobbyist group. Typical foodie interests and activities include the food industry, wineries and wine tasting, breweries and beer sampling, food science, following restaurant openings and closings and occasionally re-openings, food distribution, food fads, health and nutrition, cooking classes, culinary tourism, and restaurant management. A foodie might develop a particular interest in a specific item, such as the best egg cream or burrito. Many publications have food columns that cater to foodies and many of the websites carrying the name foodie have become popular amongst the foodies.

Check out this Foodie's blog or look below at five ways for foodies to experience Columbia, SC:

Doc's Barbeque & Southern Buffet

Try the BBQ
Serving up pulled pork drizzled in the region's unique mustard-base sauce, you won't get bored sampling the delicious offerings our barbecue restaurants have to offer. With places peppered throughout the region, like Doc's Barbecue & Southern Buffet, Little Pigs, Hite's Bar-B-Que House and Hudson's Smokehouse and Saloon, it will be difficult to pick just one place to try.

DiPrato's Monday Special: Bacon & Pimento Cheese Burger

Grab a Burger -- Not Your Classic Burger
Columbia, SC is home to juicy burgers that have a Southern twist, like the pimento cheese burger. As best culinary experts can tell, the proper pimento cheese burger originated in Columbia, SC -- and since then, burger joints like Pawleys Front Porch (featured on the Food Network), Burger Tavern 77 and Rockaway Athletic Club, have perfected it. Restaurants like The Whig and DiPrato's Delicatessen are also known for their juicy burgers topped with anything from pimento cheese, fried eggs and jalapeño bacon to onion rings or fried green tomatoes.

Jambalaya stuffed chicken wings from 2 Fat 2 Fly

Track Down a Food Truck
Some of the region's best food can be found on wheels. Dotted throughout the Columbia area and keeping their diners up-to-date on their locations via Facebook and Twitter, Columbia's food trucks, like Pawleys Mobile Eats, Bone-In Artisan Barbecue on Wheels and 2 Fat 2 Fly Stuffed Chicken Wings, won't be difficult to find.

Thirsty Fellow French Toast 

Brunch It

Brunch is a definite must-do here, especially on weekends, with Southern staples like shrimp & grits, banana pecan pancakes, omelets, french toast, salmon or crab cakes, breakfast burritos and more. Restaurants like Café Strudel, Crepes and Croissants or The Gourmet Shop offer brunch in true culinary style all week. Other spots, like Thirsty Fellow, Cafe Caturra, Soda City Market, @116 Espresso and Wine Bar, Blue Marlin Steaks & Seafood serve up brunch on weekends.

Interactive cooking class with Charleston Cooks! in Cross Hill Market

Take a Cooking Class
Sampling everything the region has to offer is great, but learning to make them is even better. Visit Charleston Cooks!, 701 Whaley, University of South Carolina's McCutchen House or Let's Cook Culinary Studio and unleash your inner chef all the while learning how to whip up some adventurous and oh-so-tasty delights.