Plethora of pimento cheese options available with passport

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Aficionados of a Southern delicacy have a new way to consume pimento cheese.

Experience Columbia SC is celebrating National Cheese Day on June 4 by reintroducing its Pimento Cheese Passport. The downloadable passport features 17 dishes highlighting the ingredient at 17 participating restaurants. Pimento pioneers can check into the restaurants and order the featured dish to collect a digital passport stamp.

“Pimento cheese in Columbia dates back to 1912, when one of the first recipes was published in a local cookbook, and we feel honored to continue its legacy with the relaunch of the passport,” Charlene Slaughter, director of communications for Experience Columbia SC, said in a news release. “This passport includes a dozen returning locations from our debut pimento cheese passport in 2019 and five new spots for this year all found throughout our beautiful city.”

Featured dishes range from a classic pimento cheese dip with pita chips to a Southern egg roll made with pimento cheese and pulled pork. A vegan dip option will also be available.

Any participant who visits five restaurants will receive a Pimento Cheese Passport mug or pint glass. Each participant who visits 10 restaurants will receive a Pimento Cheese Passport t-shirt, while the seasoned traveler who dines at all 17 locations will receive a mug, pint glass, t-shirt, and $50 gift card to their favorite Pimento Cheese Passport restaurant.

“We are thrilled to be a new stop in Columbia SC’s Pimento Cheese Passport,” said Chris Williams, chef at Roy’s Grille and a 2022 South Carolina Chef Ambassador. “It’s so exciting to recognize the creativity and quality of pimento cheese dishes available throughout Soda City.”

Participating establishments in this year’s Columbia SC Pimento Cheese Passport include:

• Bourbon
• Cafe Strudel, Lexington
• Cafe Strudel, West Columbia
• DiPrato’s Delicatessen
• Good Life Cafe
• Midwood Smokehouse
• Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Cafe
• Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits
• River Rat Brewery
• Rockaway Athletic Club
• Roy’s Grille
• Spotted Salamander
• Terra
• The Root Cellar
• Sandwich Depot
• The War Mouth
• The Whig