Smoked reflects on its success of the Blue Zone Dinner collaboration & what is to come for Columbia
July 19, 2024
Smoked, an award-winning Main Street restaurant and bar, presented Columbia’s first Blue Zone Dinner on June 27th. The evening took guests on a culinary journey inspired by the blue zone regions across the globe, where people live significantly longer and healthier lives.
Guests explored what it would be like should Columbia adapt to the blue zone way of life with a five-course selection of entrees carefully prepared and plated by Smoked’s Executive Chef, Timothy McCloskey. Each dish told the story of its blue zone origin, featuring items like the Okinawan sweet potato, Sardinian fava bean and fennel salad, Ikarian poached halibut fish, Nicoyan taco with braised brisket, and Loma Linda carbonated fruit salad and was carefully paired with selected wines and beverages. Smoked has added a blue zone inspired dish to their lunch menu that will debut on July 29, which was featured during the event. The dish, inspired by Nicoya, Costa Rica, includes a handmade taco filled with braised brisket, smoked corn salsa, braised black beans, and roasted squash, all locally sourced through Bradford Farms, Senn Brothers, US Foods, and Cheney Brothers. The restaurant plans to continue introducing blue zone inspired dishes to its menus.
“Our goal with the Blue Zone Dinner was to offer our guests not just a meal, but an experience that embodies the principles of healthy living and longevity,” states Smoked Executive Chef, Timothy McCloskey.
“Prisma Health is excited that this opportunity has been afforded to them and, along with the City of Columbia, we have applied for grant funding through the Duke endowment. The Duke endowment has funded many other communities– in terms of health and wellness with this particular grant funding. If awarded, not only will it be an opportunity for us to start laying the groundwork for what blue zones will become– but we can see immediate results from the work that will transpire in our community.” states Stacey McPhail, Director of the Prisma Health Community Office.
Guests included Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and other City Council members, representatives from the Columbia World Affairs Council, Prisma Health, Walker Institute of International and Area studies, alongside local publications and news outlets. Sponsors included US Foods, Cheney Brothers, Optus Bank, Main Street District, and Columbia Printing & Graphics. The blue zone campaign could have a significant impact on Columbia, establishing it as the first blue zone city on the East Coast. The initiative serves as an opportunity for the Columbia community to unite to raise the quality of life, sparking a city-wide passion for healthy lifestyle choices and aiming for Columbia to be an epicenter of the blue zone movement led by the partnership between Smoked, City of Columbia, and the University of South Carolina.
About Smoked
Stay updated with Smoked and The Burnline latest news and promotions by following Smoked on Facebook and Instagram. Smoked is an award-winning microbrewery, speakeasy, and fine dining experience all wrapped into one in the heart of the Main Street District. The historic location, originally constructed in the mid-19th century, has won preservation awards in recognition for their exceptional accomplishment in rehabilitating a facet of South Carolina’s architectural and cultural heritage. The Burnline is an underground speakeasy with a vast selection of rare bourbon, whiskey, and spirits located beneath Smoked. For more information, visit www.smokedsc.com or www.theburnlinesc.com.
