The Smiling Chef Mike Ellis Takes Home Top Honors at Palmetto Palate

The Palmetto Palate was back again for the 15th year to showcase the best in the South Carolina food scene. Mike Ellis, The Smiling Chef, was named the 2024 Top Chef by a panel of judges at the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation's annual event on Thursday, July 18 at the South Carolina State Museum. Ellis was among ten local chefs and restaurants participating in the event.

Ellis took the honors by serving braised beef short ribs over creamy, local grits topped with horseradish pearls.

This year's Top Chef was chosen by local celebrity judges: Tony Chiavaroli, WIS TV morning weatherman; Kate Maroney, Director of Research for the South Carolina Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; and Raleigh West, Exectuive Director of the South Carolina Conservation Bank.

"The Palmetto Palate celebrates local food grown by South Carolina farmers and this year's Top Chef honored that tradition in a very delicious way," said Harry Ott, SCFB President. "These are some of the best chefs in the country, and the event and excitement continue to grow each year because of that."

In addition to the great food, attendees have the chance to bid on items in the silent auction. County Farm Bureaus and other contributors across the state donate items unique to South Carolina, the outdoors, cooking and local artwork. Money raised from this year's event went to support the South Carolina Farm Bureau Land Trust.

Other chefs who participated were from Blue Marlin, Dupre's Classic Catering, The Gaj Kitchen, Hall's Chophouse, Mediterranean Café, Palmetto Peach Catering, Peculiar Pig, Roy's Grille and The Robinson Room. Sallie's Greatest and Black Tie Bartending provided drinks for the evening.

South Carolina Farm Bureau is a grassroots, non-profit organization that celebrates and supports family farmers, locally grown food and our rural lands through legislative advocacy, education and community outreach. The organization, founded in 1944, serves nearly 95,000 member families in 47 chapters. For more information, please visit www.scfb.org.