Columbia Food that you LOVE (Chapin: shop, health, area)

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Eescapes

Can't believe no one mentioned Labrasca's Pizza, a Columbia institution! Pizza and a cheese salad! I was born an raised in Columbia, moved to Raleigh in 2005 and then to Nashville, TN in 2008. As soon as I hit town, I order from Labrasca's and take it over and share with my ex inlaws. It's not quite the same as when I was in my teens, but then again, what is? They have different owners now. These days I prefer a thin crust artisian pizza, but LaBrasca's is in a catagory by itself. It's a warm, fuzzy comfort food from my childhood and teens. When I was in high school you had a very long wait for a table on Friday (after the local highschool foot ball games) and Saturday nights.

What about burgers (and boiled peanuts) at Rockway Athletic Club?

Also, I really loved (and miss) Cribb's Bakery that was in Five Points. There is just nothing like a real "Mom and Pop" bakery! They had the best brownies and mocha sticks in the world. What I wouldn't do for those recipes. In fact, I have thought of writing The State Paper to see if they could procure them. Hope spings eternal. Headed home in March and Labrasca's will be my first stop!

Somethng a little more current: Dessert at Nonnah's in the Vista! Yum!

I grew up on Labrasca's pizza and cheese salads, too. I still make the drive over to Jackson Blvd to pick it up sometimes, too!

[oolala7]

I wish that someone would open a traditional dim sum place like Yank Sing in San Francisco. For now I like Mai Thai on Sunset Blvd. for good Thai and O Bok on Decker Blvd. for Korean.

[Eescapes]

waccamatt -

When I lived in Raleigh and would drive to Columbia, I drove straight to Labrascas to pick up take out before I went anywhere else! Now that I am in Nashville, I try to do the same if I get in early enough. But I always get it at least once when I am in Columbia and sometimes take an unbaked pie back. To me, they are a Columbia institution. I even dated one of their managers when I was in high school (like a billion years ago). In HS I lived off of cheese salads at lunch!

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Eescapes

waccamatt -

When I lived in Raleigh and would drive to Columbia, I drove straight to Labrascas to pick up take out before I went anywhere else! Now that I am in Nashville, I try to do the same if I get in early enough. But I always get it at least once when I am in Columbia and sometimes take an unbaked pie back. To me, they are a Columbia institution. I even dated one of their managers when I was in high school (like a billion years ago). In HS I lived off of cheese salads at lunch!

I don't know what it is about their cheese salads, but I love them.

[Eescapes]

You know "back in the day" when "Jack" and Diane Jackson owned Labrascas, they used Kraft Zesty Italian dressing on those salads. Now they use the Golden Italian. I much prefer the Zesty and sometimes order mine with no dressing. It's still good!

[Eescapes]

waccamatt, do you know anything about Cribbs Bakery? I know they sold out right before the store caught on fire. The new owners were supposed to reopen but never did and then TWC bought the property. I would do just about anything to find their brownie and mocha fingers recipes! I thought about writing the food editor at The State, but it's probably too late - they have been closed for so long.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Eescapes

waccamatt, do you know anything about Cribbs Bakery? I know they sold out right before the store caught on fire. The new owners were supposed to reopen but never did and then TWC bought the property. I would do just about anything to find their brownie and mocha fingers recipes! I thought about writing the food editor at The State, but it's probably too late - they have been closed for so long.

I didn't know they had sold out before the fire. I do miss them, also. I'm afraid the days of the stand alone bakery are limited. Do you remember the Eclaire Bakery in Five Points, too?

[Eescapes]

Oh my gosh, I do remember Eclaire! When I was a little girl I used to have my birthday parties there. They had a room in the back for parties. I grew up in the Rosewood area so that was very convenient. They moved (can't remember when) out to Seven Oaks Shopping Center for a while but have been closed for many years. They had a great butterscotch bar. It was really thin and chewy. And the best spice bars. What I would give for those recipes and the Cribb's recipes. I went to high school with the Cribb's son Billy, but haven't been able to locate him or I would ask for the recipes!

There were some Mom and Pop Bakeries in Raleigh. Not the same though. Lots of breads and ethnic sweets which were great but not what I grew up with. Haven't been to any in Nashville yet. Cupcake cafe's are really popular here. There must be 5 or 6 between Nashville and surrounding suburban cities. Haven't tried any of them yet. Today on my way to the chiropractor (in an adjacent suburb) I passed Gigi's. I will probably stop in soon and see what it's all about! Who would think you could make a living off of cupcakes!

[waccamatt]

Tiffany's Bakery is still operating on Two Notch Road, near Alpine, but I can't think of any other real, locally-owned bakeries left. It's sad.

[ranger17]

I know this is a bit off topic, but we have found that the grocery stores ( ones we've hit so far anyways ) don't even have a fresh bakery/donut case. Maybe that says something about the, uhh, 'healthy' ways people back in Wi enjoy their food..... but every single store had a long bakery case with fresh donuts and muffins each and every day......
I have seen a few smaller "self serve" cases here, but not like the big ones back home. Come on people, everyone needs a good donut now and then!!