Even in a food-centric town such as Charleston, South Carolina, it’s not every day that a famous Food Network star is a stone’s throw away shooting her very own show for a famed chef-driven network.
Read MoreSummer in the Lowcountry has certain festivities and foods that we all look forward to year after year, and ice cream is undoubtedly one of them
Read MoreCharleston has a way of inspiring – of drawing a person into its beauty and its charm. It is a rare mix of old and new that lights inspiration and passion in the hearts of those who love this city. Among cobblestones and ironclad fences and in the crispness of winter passing met with that hint of humidity, I recently walked the streets where Matt and Ted Lee, James Beard award-winning authors and hometown heroes, described their childhood.
Read MoreMany moons ago while still living in Myrtle Beach, my now-husband and I woke up one morning thirsty… for Bloody Mary’s. And not just any Bloody Mary, but the BEST. And preferably in a town we hadn’t been living in for 5+ years.
Read MoreWho doesn’t love a great happy hour? Reasonable—if not downright insane—prices on our favorite cocktails and bites, socially acceptable hours for every adult to be out, and the chance to gather with friends.
Read MoreSimply stated, etiquette is being considerate. Good manners make another person feel cared for, loved and appreciated. If you strive to use proper etiquette, you will always be thinking of the other person in all situations. These fundamentals of etiquette remain the same as always, even as we navigate the “new normal” of 2020.
Read MoreMere months ago, one could venture to Harold’s Cabin for a drink and a bite on any given evening and the mood was likely to invoke a different time: namely, Charleston in the 1930s, when the original Harold’s Cabin was just as neighborly and welcoming.
Read MoreSummer’s not over, friends! Grills around the country are still firing up every night to charr, smoke and BBQ some of the best meats and veggies in the land. One of the most popular invitees to the backyard grill is the lowly hamburger; the paper plate tester; the white shirt distresser. In its most basic form, the burger is simply ground meat and bread. With care, even in its simplest form, the burger can be glorious—tender, juicy meat; springy, not too dense bread.
Read MoreNestled halfway between Charleston and Myrtle Beach lies an unassuming, quaint coastal town absolutely brimming with all of the charm of the South. Though it’s not as flashy as some of its counterparts, historic Georgetown was one of the first cities settled on the Carolina coast, and it has become a must-visit spot for both vacationers and locals, thanks to abundant waterfront shopping, dining and outdoor activities.
Read MoreWith the right ingredients and enough passion, a great meal can come from a kitchen of any size. Big doesn’t always mean better—but functional? Now that can make all the difference in the world to a chef, and even more so, to a home cook.
Read MoreDraped in Spanish moss along the Atlantic Ocean stands Beaufort, South Carolina. It’s been called the cousin or litter sister of its neighboring Lowcountry towns Savannah and Charleston—both of which are only a little over an hour away—and for good reason. It’s undeniably charming yet smaller, making a day or two adventure in Beaufort the perfect amount of time to soak everything up without feeling rushed.
Read MoreFor folks in the Lowcountry, food is the focal point of any gathering, and desserts deserve special attention and fore-thought. In fact, most people recall joyful memories when reflecting on holiday gatherings, with desserts as a generous slice of that nostalgia.
Read MoreLast December, I watched the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life” for my first time (no, really!) and was particularly captivated by an early scene, where our protagonist meets his bride-to-be at the soda fountain. I found myself filled with what I figured was misplaced nostalgia, thinking to myself, Gosh, wouldn’t it be nice to sit somewhere on a Saturday, passing the time with a cheeseburger, a milkshake and a pleasant conversation, in between holiday shopping?
Read MoreSweet tea is a demarcation line for Dixie, much like “Hey y’all!” or the Piggly Wiggly. If a restaurant server asks whether you want your tea “sweet or unsweet,” you know you are solidly below the Mason-Dixon. Despite its celebrity status within the South, sweet tea has a muddled heritage. Sweet tea is not like a MoonPie, which is solidly from Chattanooga. Or Elvis Presley, from Memphis by way of Tupelo. We know their backstories. But where did you come from, Sweet Tea? Who are your people?
Read MoreNashville Hot Chicken is a well-known cuisine, but a brief synopsis of the backstory involves a roaming boyfriend and a girlfriend who unsuccessfully tried to get a little revenge on her beau by serving him some extremely spicy fried chicken. The revenge failed and the boyfriend loved it; he even opened up a shop serving the chicken. That shop, Prince’s Hot Chicken, still exists today and is considered the originator of the style.
Read MoreLocated on the Southern end of South Carolina’s famous “Grand Strand,” Pawleys Island is known for more than just pristine beaches, sandy dunes and iconic rope hammocks. Because it is quieter and less populated than many other neighboring coastal towns—even offering a bit of intriguing local “ghost lore”—this barrier island, merely one square mile in size, is an ideal spot to spend time with family and friends for either the day or a whole vacation.
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