South Carolina is the only state to have four types of barbecue sauces: mustard, vinegar, heavy tomato, and light tomato. The meat used in South Carolina is consistent throughout the state, slow-cooked pulled pork. In the Pee Dee and Low country coastal region, a vinegar and pepper sauce is prevalent, though the region is home to Sticky Fingers, a rib house who uses all four sauces. In the Midlands area around Columbia, a mustard-based sauce sometimes referred to as "Carolina Gold" is the predominant style. Such establishments as Melvin's (2 locations in Charleston, SC), Maurice Bessinger's "Piggy Park," Shealy's (located in Batesburg-Leesville) and Dukes BBQ (3 locations in Orangeburg, SC) use gold sauce made from mustard, apple juice, pear juice, and other ingredients. In upcountry around Rock Hill, one finds the light tomato and the rest of the upcountry stretching down past Aiken is home to the heavy tomato sauce. In addition to pork, other popular BBQ dishes include hash and ribs.

• Antley's Bar-Bq, 1370 Sims Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115, 803- 531-0444. Open from 11 AM till 9 PM tree days a week -- Thursday, Friday, and Saturday “…BBQ in Orangeburg is still pit-cooked pork. The main difference is the sauce - which is much milder than Bessinger’s yellow mustard sauce. If you’re in the Orangeburg area, you might want to stop in Orangeburg and eat at Antley’s.” “By the way, you can get Antley’s BBQ in Columbia now at the location of the old Shealy’s Sandwich Shop near the Vista area.”
• Maurice's Gourmet Barbeque, 1586 John Centre Calhoun Drive, Orangeburg, SC 29115, 803) 516-8771. Bessinger’s BBQ is pit-cooked pig, flavored with a strong mustard sauce. To people who live in the middle of South Carolina, Bessinger and his “Piggy Park” are synonymous with BBQ.
• Brown Derby, a soul-food restaurant recommended by NFL Senior Analyst Gil Brandt, 1397 Belleville Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29115
• The Kuckery Restaurant and Catering, (southern buffet) 210 Cannon Bridge Rd SW, Orangeburg, SC 29115 803- 534-0074
• Sweatman’s BBQ (Eutawville), Highway 453, Eutawville, SC 29048. Open Fridays and Saturdays. Located on Hwy. 453 outside of Holly Hill, South Carolina.
• Sweatman’s BBQ (St. George). Voted “Best Must-See BBQ Road Trip, Sweatman's BBQ” by Charleston City Paper, Best of Charleston 2006.
  2113 Hwy 15 N. St. George 563-7574
• Menu includes BBQ pork, BBQ chicken and all the trimmings. Fill your plate one time. Rated as one of the Top 10 BBQ restaurants in the U.S. by Southern Living Magazine. "Hog Heaven , A guide To South Carolina Barbeque published by the Sandlapper Press rated Sweatman's the number one BBQ restaurant in S.C.” “The thing about Sweatman's is its authenticity. The house, on old southern farm house, the gracious - died in the wool - southern hosts (a family affair) and the fact that they slow cook the whole hog, not just shoulders or butts, over wood.” –We8there.com. If you are driving to Charleston or anywhere near there, take the Holly Hill exit off of I-26 and head to Eutawville.
• Dukes BBQ on Chestnut Street 803- 534-9418 and Dukes Barbeque on Whitman Street 803- 534-2916. “A plain place with perfect pig." – Michael Stern. "There is no decor to speak of and . . . no music other than the thud of the cleaver hacking pork and the moans of pleasure, slurping, and licking that are a symphonic expression of people enjoying one of the great meals of the Southland." -- Roadfood and Goodfood, Jane Stern
• Clark's Restaurant, 114 Bradford Blvd., I-95, Exit 98, Hwy. 6, Santee, SC 29142
  
  

• Fatz Café, 3575 St Matthews Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29118, Phone: 803- 534-8000. ChefMoz.org Review: "perfect food, perfect people." Yahoo! Review: “I Love this place. The atmosphere is great and the food is excellent. You never have to worry about whether the food will be any different than it was the last time you visited because it's always the same great taste and just what you see on the menu is what you get! I commend that consistency and it's the reason I keep going back. They have never let me down.”
• Mediterranean Grill & Spirits $6 - $19 lunch/dinner. 3667 St Matthews Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29118, Phone 803- 539-9912. You'd probably expect Mediterranean food at Mediterranean Grill, and the Greek and Italian choices won't disappoint. You can navigate the steam-line buffet at lunch.
• Chestnut Grill, 1455 Chestnut St, Orangeburg, SC, 803- 531-1747
• Joe Fox's, 1141 Orangeburg Mall Circle, Orangeburg, SC 29115, 803- 535-0908
• Georgio's Food & Spirits, 3667 Saint Matthews Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29118. Menu: Greek-Italian Cuisine.
• 1058 Grill, 1058 Russell St, Orangeburg, SC 29115
• Zaxby's Restaurants, Orangeburg
• House of Pizza, 1375 Sims Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115 and 591 John Centre Calhoun Drive, Orangeburg, SC 29115
• Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile – Santee. These 100-year-old authentically restored country stores feature original counters and showcases, old drink boxes, vintage displays, old photographs and a wide variety of other antiques that represent a bygone era. A country-style buffet is served Th-Su. 803-854-2000
• Southland Restaurant, 1270 John C Calhoun Dr (Between Windsor St SW and Maple St), Orangeburg, SC 29115, 803- 534-2036
• Mikey's Bar & Grill, 1922 Charleston Hwy, Orangeburg, SC 29115, 803- 534-1912. Yahoo! Review: “Mickey’s has the best bartenders in town….”
• Village Place Restaurant, 1899 Saint Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 699 Citadel Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118
• Ruby Tuesday, 724 Citadel Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118, 803- 531-0022
• Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 2360 Chestnut Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115, 803- 535-0051
• Catch & Cleaver
• Ryan's Family Steak House
• Red Lobster
• Quincy's

FRUITS
Apples – August15 – November 10
Blackberries – June 15 – July 20
Blueberries – June 20 – August25
Cantaloupe – June 5 – August 10
Pears – Mid-July – October
Scuppernongs (grapes) – Mid to Late Summer
Watermelons – June 10 – September 30
Pecans – November – February
Muscadines (grapes) – September – October

VEGETABLES
Artichokes – July
Asparagus – March 15 – May
Beans (butter/lima) – June – October
Broccoli – May – June
Cabbage – April 10 – June 10
Cauliflower – October – November
Cucumbers – June 1 – Nov 15
Greens (fall) – September 1 – December
Peanuts – Fall
Peas – June 15 – October 31 (crowder, purple tip, purple hull, field)
Peppers – June 5 – November 5
Potatoes – May – July
Pumpkins – September 1 – November 5
Squash (yellow & zucchini) – Summer & Fall
Sweet Corn – June 1 – August 31
Sweet Potatoes – September 1 – November 30
Tomatoes – May 15 – August 15

Peaches - May 5 - September 15
Apples - Mid August - November 10
Blackberries - June 15 - July 20
Cantaloupe - June 20 - August 15 Strawberries - May 1 - June 15
Watermelons - June 10 - September 30
Tomatoes - May 15 - August 15
Butter Beans, Lima Beans - June 15 - October 31
Beets - April - May
Cabbage - April 10 - June 10
Cucumbers - Fall Peas - April 15 - May 31
Okra - Mid July - First frost
Sweet Corn - June 1 - August 31
Summer Squash - May 1 - July 31
Fall Squash - September 15 - October
Sweet Potatoes - September 1 - November 30