As Thanksgiving approaches in West Columbia, food comes to mind. Some like turkey, but not always. It’s a good time for the family to create the meal together, or you can eat out because the Lizard Thicket in West Columbia will be open. Regardless, it’s a great time of the year for sharing.

“I’d rather have ham than turkey,” said West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton. He said ham offers some benefits that last longer than Thanksgiving day.

“You can take the ham you have left and freeze it,” said Horton. I like to have ham sandwiches later and ham salad.

And it’s not just the ham that Horton is partial to.

“I’ll take the ham bone I have left and make a vegetable soup,” he said. “When it’s getting cold, like it is now, I love vegetable soup. It’ll help keep you warm.”

Horton said he has a specific method he uses every time he cooks a ham.

“I bake it in the oven, 35 minutes for each pound the ham weighs. I put it in at 325 degrees,” Horton said.

In addition to ham, Horton said he likes traditional side dishes with the Thanksgiving meal.

“I like sweet potato souffle,” Horton said. “And I like traditional dishes, like butter beans and other vegetables at Thanksgiving.”

Horton’s wife, Kay, passed away in August. He said it was a custom for him and Kay to go to Chester to Kay’s uncle’s for Thanksgiving. He runs a restaurant.

“I’ll be going up to Chester again this year, too,” Horton said. And for more than just the food.

“Thanksgiving is a special day. We have so much to be thankful for in West Columbia, in the state, and in the country,” he said. “It’s also such a wonderful time to be with family and friends.”

Another West Columbia resident is S.C. State Treasurer Curtis Loftis. He grew up in West Columbia. His family roots run deep and that is apparent at this time of the year. Loftis said it is a time of gathering. Al Loftis, brother of Curtis owns Al’s Upstairs in West Columbia.

“I join my entire extended family at my parents house where we have an old fashioned, southern Thanksgiving meal,” Loftis said. The whole  Loftis family gets together for the day to spend time with each other. Loftis said all of his siblings come and bring their spouses, and all the kids in the family.

“The house will be packed,” said Loftis. And there will be lots to eat, but the Treasurer does look forward to one item.

“My favorite dish is my mother’s macaroni and cheese,” he said.

Many West Columbia families follow traditions that go back generations. But the professionals also look forward to turkey day as a chance to show off their culinary skills.

If you would rather someone else do the cooking, Lizard’s Thicket is open 6 a.m.-until- 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Bobby and Anna Williams opened their first Lizard’s Thicket restaurant in 1977. They have two in West Columbia. They know something about cooking a turkey.

“We cook a traditional turkey,” said Bobby Williams, who is also the father-in-law of Mike Davis, owner of Terra in West Columbia.
Williams said he cooks a Butterball turkey seasoned with salt and pepper. The bird is placed in the oven in the oven at 350 degrees, 15 minutes a pound.

Williams also said the dressing is important part of the Thanksgiving meal.
“For the dressing we use cornbread, sage, bell pepper, onions and chicken broth,” he said.

Some other West Columbia restaurant owners stay home on Thanksgiving.

Trip and Marila Trubyfil are the owners of Cafe Strudel on State Street in West Columbia. In the last year, the Trubyfils also opened a Cafe Strudel in Lexington. Trip said Marila makes the turkey on Thanksgiving, and it’s a very special recipe.

Before cooking, she soaks a 10-12 pound no-hormone turkey overnight for 12-to-14 hours. Trubyfil soaks it in an apple cider, peppercorn, sea salt and water brine. The recipe also includes a rub of butter and sage, she said.

Trubyfil said she cooks the turkey slow, five-to-six hours at 275-to-300 degrees. She said she adds mac and cheese to the meal, using her mother’s recipe. Trip said the Trubyfil’s invite lots of company to show thanks for all they have.

Regardless of status, amateur or professional, Thanksgiving is a special time for all in West Columbia. The food is good and the company is better. There is no better way to give thanks.