Sarah Simmons, Columbia SARAH SIMMONS Rob Masone, Rock Hill ROB MASONE South Carolina Chef Ambassador Rob Masone had been away from his hometown of Rock Hill for awhile — opening a restaurant, cooking for high-ranking military officials and foreign dignitaries, and globe-trotting to appear in an international Iron Chef -esque syndicate show. When he returned, he was surprised to discover that Rock Hill had developed into a thriving community. “Rock Hill had so much more to offer than when I was a kid,” he says. Masone ultimately opened Kounter , a Southern comfort food restaurant in the very same five-and-dime where the 1961 Civil Rights protest occurred at the then-segregated McCrory’s lunch counter. Patrons can sit at the original pink-Formica counter that bears the names of those student activists who courageously stood their ground against injustice. Here, you can reflect on the past while savoring Masone's take on comfort food with a modern twist. “Comfort food, to me, is anything that brings you back to your childhood,” he says. Darla Moore, Lake City DARLA MOORE Darla Moore established herself as the ultimate Southern businesswoman. After her success on Wall Street, the Lake City native landed on a 1997 cover of Fortune , which dubbed her one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. She was also one of the first women admitted to Augusta National Golf Club. Eventually, this financial powerhouse-turned-philanthropist moved back to Lake City part-time to open Moore Farms Botanical Garden on her grandparents’ land and to start ArtFields , best known for its annual arts competition. An area that was once one of the country’s largest tobacco markets is now enjoying a new era of economic growth with the botanical garden and a renowned arts scene. Stroll through Lake City to explore colorful public murals, trendy eateries, locally owned boutiques and modern hotels. As the founder of CITY GRIT Hospitality Group — a 2023 James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur Finalist and the owner-operator of Il Focolare pizzeria and smallSUGAR cafe in Columbia — Chef Sarah Simmons has a full plate. Early in her career, Simmons made her mark on New York City and was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company magazine, which called her “the chef cooking up the most exciting dining experience in New York,” a nod to her inventive culinary salon pop-up dinner parties. Her Southern restaurant Birds & Bubbles on Manhattan’s Lower East Side opened to numerous accolades, but in 2015, Simmons turned her attention back to her home state. As well as the company's lineup of successful restaurant concepts, it also has its non-profit arm, Feed the City . “We’ve been heads down focused on a vision for the next generation restaurant group — one built on equity, inclusivity, fairness and opportunity,” says Simmons. Initiatives include community feeding, a hospitality workforce development program and providing livable-wage jobs for employees, demonstrating that feeding people extends well beyond the restaurant and into the entire community. DiscoverSouthCarolina.com 41
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