The Palmetto Palate was back again for the 16th year to showcase the best in the South Carolina food scene. Marvin Ross of Peculiar Pig, was named the 2025 Top Chef by a panel of judges at the South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation’s annual event on Thursday, July 17 at the South Carolina State Museum. Ross was among ten local chefs and restaurants participating in the event.
Ross served up smoked pork belly atop barbecue beans with cornbread crunch and southern style slaw.
This year’s Top Chef was chosen by local celebrity judges: Naomi Popa, WIS TV reporter; Cody Simpson, State Executive Director USDA Farm Service Agency; and Beth Bernstein, South Carolina House of Representatives – District 78.
“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 Catering and Events, Forest Lake Country Club, Hall’s Chophouse, Mediterranean Café, Palmetto Peach Catering, Roy’s Grille, The War Mouth with Manchester Quail, and White Wine and Butter. 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 over 91,000 member families in 47 chapters. For more information, please visit www.scfb.org.
View more photos from the event on our Flickr page, here.