Food & Bev

Food & Bev

Tailgating Recipes to help ring in the football season

September 4, 2016 by 1 Comment

poppers

The buzz is out there Charleston.  The smell of pigskin, house parties, tailgates, BBQ, beer and friends.  It is that time of year for Gamecocks, Tigers and Panthers or any other team that gives you goosebumps every Saturday and Sunday morning.  To help you leap into football season, we have provided three amazing recipes that will make you the life of any tailgate party.

These will surely make you the hit of the parade.  Be careful, they have a bite.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 rotisserie chicken, removed from bone and shredded

16 ounces of cream cheese, softened

1 cup of ranch or blue cheese salad dressing

¾ cup of Frank’s red hot

4 green onions, cut into ¼ inch slivers

1 cup of shredded Chedder or Colby cheese

Celery and carrot sticks

Sliced Baguette or crackers

Method: Preheat oven to 350. Mix first 5 ingredients and spread into 1 quart baking dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes and serve with veggie sticks and bread.

 

Jalapeno Corn Poppers

12 large jalapeno peppers

1 package Jiffy cornbread mix

½ of an8 ounce can of creamed corn

1 egg beaten

1/3 cup of milk

½ cup of Monterey jack cheese

Sour cream and salsa for serving (optional)

Method: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wearing latex or nitrile gloves, halve peppers with a knife and scrape out seeds. Place on a metal cookie sheet. Mix cornbread mix, creamed corn, egg and milk together until pasty and fill each halved pepper with 1 tablespoon of the mix. Sprinkle shreds of cheese on top. Bake for 15 minutes and serve warm with salsa and sour cream.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

1 16 ounce can of diced tomatoes with green chills (Rotel is fine)

1 16 ounce can of white whole kernel corn

1 16 ounce can of black beans

½ medium red onion, diced

1 fist sized bunch of cilantro

1 tsp white sugar

Method: Mix all ingredients, add salt to taste and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips or with jalapeño poppers (above)

Food & Bev

Are We Defined By Our “Charleston Food Brand”?

August 1, 2016 by 1 Comment

By Mark A. Leon

By Mark A. Leon

For generations, we have been defined by the brands we carry by our sides.  From Louis Vuitton to Prada, brands address other’s perceptions of our place in society.  That is why advertising is a multi-billion -dollar industry where creative and often neurotic minds sit in rooms thinking of ways to convince us of what to buy and what it’s implied value is to us.

Charleston is a foodie community.   There is no denying it.  In fact, we flaunt it with every chance we get.  With each new restaurant opening, an unofficial holiday is launched.  We treat dining like the rest of the country views weather.  Food is a form of celebration in Charleston.  It is our opus.  With that, we pose the question, are we defined by our Charleston food brand?

Yesterday, I went to The Bearded Café.  A friend raved about this new hip new coffee shop on Spring Street and the word in the Yelp community was a huge thumb’s up.  My experience overall was wonderful, with its quaint interior, heavenly aroma and great customer service.

I entered and the very energetic barista asked me what I like.  I said naturally black coffee.  I like good black coffee.  He recommended the drip.  I ordered a 10 ounce due to the fact that this was only a quick stop on my way to brunch.

The bill:  $3.54 before tip.

This is 48% more than a 16 ounce Starbucks coffee.  Was the coffee amazing.  It most certainly was.  As I walked with that Bearded Café sleeve and thought about Black Tap, one of my other favorite coffee havens, I realized, I was walking around with a Charleston Food brand.  Were others observing my refined taste in java?  Was it worth four dollars for a ten-ounce cup?  I don’t know the answer, nor am I ready to debate it.

Then I took a deeper thought and remembered those nights at the bar.  Laughing at Halls Chophouse, parading on The Stars rooftop, lingering outside of Husk or dining outdoors at Leon’s Oyster Shop.  Being seen is important.  Where you are seen is social status critical.  With the explosion of social media, a post from one of the top Charleston restaurants can put you on the map.

Are we aware of the importance of the Charleston Brand?  Do we consciously put on our best dress or sports jacket and enjoy an extended happy hour at the finest restaurants in town?  These are viable questions.

As this city continues to evolve into a high end dining mecca, we must stop for a moment to reflect on this.  Can this Charleston brand phenomenon affect food and beverage prices?  If you are observing the rate of food price increases vs. inflationary growth, it is already happening.

Is a shrimp and grits breakfast with a mimosa and coffee worth $32 – $36 dollars per person for Sunday Brunch the right value?  I will let you decide that.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the implied Charleston brand.

Are we being praised for our linkage to certain food brands or violated?

Food & Bev

A Night at O-Ku – Restaurant Review by Featured KitchyLiving

July 29, 2016 by 0 Comments
By Sarah Snyder: AKA KitchyLiving

 

How it took me this long to visit O-Ku, I’ll never know…But miso happy that I finally paid them a visit!

Sushi, sashimi, cocktails. What’s not to love? Located on Upper King just 3 blocks from Marion Square, the restaurant is conveniently close to the heart of the city. The interior of the restaurant consists of  exposed brick walls and intimate mood lighting setting the tone for a relaxed, urban feel. The friendly hostesses and servers provide patrons with an inviting and exuberant experience from start to finish.

 

After seeing reviews on Yelp about the crazy wait times and packed happy hours, I knew I had to come early. So my friend Leila and I arrived promptly at 4:50pm. Yes, 10 minutes before they even opened their doors. And let me just say, our devious tactic worked and we were able to snag a spot at the sushi bar before the crowds swarmed. Within 15 minutes of them opening, tables were filling up and by the time we left, all the tables were full. Granted we went on a Friday at 5pm, which is Happy Hour. But at O-Ku, Happy Hour is a lot more happy than most places. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5-7pm customers can get ANY sushi or sashimi for 1/2 price and cocktails are $3 off their list price.

Their cocktails are prodigious! With a considerable list to choose from, we decided to follow our server’s suggestions and order their Brown Derby cocktail and Berry Lemonade. We were not disappointed. They change their cocktail menu often which I think says a lot about their bar service and their ability to make a high quality craft cocktail. With change comes great expertise.

But enough about the cocktails, let’s discuss the food. I’m not much of a sashimi kind of girl. I stick with sushi and not the wimpy California Roll or Philly Roll, but spicy is my go-to. Spicy fish of all shapes and sizes and I’m there. However, because I was ordering with my friend who does not share the same affinity as me for spicy foods, we decided to compromise. We ordered the Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll, the Firecracker Roll, the Scallop Roll, and the Kani Crown Roll.

My Definitive Ranking of…

Sushi Rolls:

  1. Firecracker Roll
  2. Scallop Roll
  3. Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll
  4. Kani Crown Roll

The Firecracker Roll was my favorite because of it’s complex flavor, spice, and overall depth. If I hadn’t had this roll first, I would have thought the rest of the rolls were incredible. But because I started my meal with this over-the-top in.cred.ible roll, all other rolls were going to pale in comparison. Consisting of crab salad, avocado, and asparagus which is then tempura fried and topped with spicy fish, a serrano pepper, and eel sauce. This roll alone is enough to coax me back to O-Ku.

The Scallop Roll was a close second because of the layers of flavor it boasted. Consisting of panko fried scallop, crab salad, avocado, cucumber, tonkatsu sauce, and wasabi aioli. Naturally as a Charleston native I had to order the most southern sounding sushi roll on the menu. Throw a scallop or shrimp on sushi and I’ll come running!

The Spicy Tuna Crunch Roll was crunchy, slightly spicy, and utterly simple. Consisting of spicy tuna, cucumber, crunch, and eel sauce. I liked that the roll was effortless and not rampant with ingredients and flavors. But I was underwhelmed by the lack of spice. I don’t know if that’s the gold standard for their rolls, but next time I’m requesting more spice. The eel sauce on top of the roll was exceptionally tasty though.

The Kani Crown Roll was honestly pretty bland tasting and didn’t leave much of an impression on my taste buds. It tasted good, but the flavors were sort of muddled together and didn’t allow any of the ingredients to shine. Consisting of blue crab, spicy tuna, asparagus, cilantro aioli, wonton, and eel sauce. You would think the spicy tuna would have been more pungent and that the cilantro aioli would mesh beautifully with the blue crab and the asparagus, however that was not the case. I was disappointed in that roll, however maybe it was just a fluke.

Overall, our experience was matchless! Our server was knowledgable and affable. Our food was extraordinary and our cocktails were strong and refreshing. I hope to make another trip there before I leave so I can try the famous Potato Roll.

Xièxiè* for a fun night, O-Ku!

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Food & Bev

Charleston, SC Named One of the Best Cities for Brunch in the US

June 30, 2016 by 0 Comments

Brunch in Charleston has become a way of life.  It is a weekend ritual that seems like it is as old as the colonization of this community.  Its culinary rewards are a sensation to our appetites and an event we look forward to as early as the beginning of each week.  Whether you are a foodie or not, brunch has become an unofficial holiday and one we love.

Whether it is a couple, family, friends, a fried green tomato benedict, shrimp and grits or mimosas, we flock on Saturday and Sunday to enjoy this Charleston tradition.

We have even compiled a resource guide with menus and links to some of the best brunches in the area to help you plan your next outing or serve as a check list if you want to try them all:  Charleston Brunch Guide

The fine folks at FindTheHome used Yelp and a 2014 American Community Survey data to determine the best brunch cities in the United States. SFGate compiled an analysis tool to sum up the best cities.  We are proud to say, Charleston is #3 on the list.  Congratulations to the chefs, owners, patrons and tourists that have put our brunch on the map.

Details of Analysis

The data scientists at FindTheHome, a real estate intelligence site powered by Graphiq determined the best cities for brunch based on data from Yelp and the 2014 American Community Survey

SFGate.com then created a comprehensive rating that accounts for quality, popularity and quantity. The “Breakfast Score” equally weighs the following data:

  • Density of 4+ Yelp Star breakfast establishments
  • Reviews per restaurant, normalized
  • Number of breakfast and brunch restaurants per 10,000 people

Only cities with a population over 100,000 people and at least 50 breakfast or brunch restaurants were considered in this analysis. Restaurants needed at least one Yelp rating to be included. The following list of top cities for brunch is ranked from lowest to highest “Breakfast Score.”

Note: Because some cities are simply more active on Yelp than others, the analysis used the number of reviews at chain restaurants (IHOP, Denny’s Starbucks and Applebee’s) to normalize the “reviews per restaurant” figure across locations.

10.  Washington D.C.

Breakfast Score: 73.8
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 0.8
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 174.0
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 2.8
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in Washington: 175

Population: 633,736

9.  New Orleans, LA

Breakfast Score: 76.3
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 1.7
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 128.0
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 3.3
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in New Orleans: 121

Population: 368,471

8.  San Diego, CA

Breakfast Score: 77.9
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 1.1
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 184.9
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 2.1
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in San Diego: 287

Population: 1,341,510

poo7.  Denver, CO

Breakfast Score: 84.0
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 1.1
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 282.1
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 2.4
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in Denver: 155

Population: 633,777

6.  San Francisco, CA

Breakfast Score: 85.1
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 1.8
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 168.9
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 3.6
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in San Francisco: 298

Population: 829,072

5.  Paradise, NV

Breakfast Score: 86.0
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 0.9
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 272.4
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 3.3
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in Paradise: 74

Population: 223,182

4.  Minneapolis, MN

Breakfast Score: 90.0
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 1.5
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 299.1
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 2.9
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in Minneapolis: 114

Population: 394,424

3.  Charleston, SC

Breakfast Score: 94.6
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 1.9
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 226.1
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 4.5
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in Charleston: 56

Population: 125,458

2.  Berkeley, CA

Breakfast Score: 95.3
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 2.0
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 209.1
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 4.5
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in Berkeley: 52

Population: 115,688

1. Portland, OR

Breakfast Score: 95.9
Density of 4+ Yelp Star Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 2.2
Reviews per Restaurant, Normalized: 248.0
Number of Breakfast Restaurants per 10K People: 3.7
Number of Breakfast Restaurants in Portland: 220

Population: 602,568

Enjoy brunch y’all.

 

Food & Bev - North Charleston, SC

From Cupcakes to Tapas: Welcome to Butter

June 19, 2016 by 0 Comments
By Rebekah Phillips
By Rebekah Phillips

What do cupcakes and tapas have in common?: Butter

In Charleston, we love food- and sharing. If you’re looking for a new place with shareable plates, visit Butter in North Charleston. “People don’t know what tapas is,” laughs April Robinson, owner, explaining her biggest challenge.

Four months ago, April shut the doors to her then cupcake bakery. She remodeled and reopened as a tapas restaurant. Wait- tapas? “I like to have a variety of things.  When I go out to eat I want the chicken, fish, beef, and two desserts.” Her solution: small plates.  “Tapas encourages conversation, April says, “It’s how I like to entertain- food, wine, family.”

Walking into Butter feels like walking into a casual, modern, version of Marie Antoinette’s castle. Even the décor suggests a variety of flavors. Soft lighting and romantic patterns evoke the butterflies of a first date, while the Pandora station builds an atmosphere reminiscent of a family dinner. “I wanted to bring downtown to North Charleston… but leave some of it downtown,” she explains.

April wants her menu to be locally sourced and true to southern taste buds. Right now, the menu boasts braised beef and sweet potato grits- April’s favorite thing on the menu. Customers enjoy a lobster-tail corndog served with a sweet and spicy Lowcountry sauce made with heirloom tomatoes.

The cupcake hasn’t been lost, however.  April features eight cupcakes a week- changing with the seasons. Currently, her menu favorite is a peach-cobbler-filled cupcake. She also has a banana-hummingbird cupcake, combining bananas, pecans, and pineapples, topped with a cream-cheese frosting.

Note: the tapas are meant for sharing, but maybe keep the cupcakes for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

Food & Bev

Spring into Summer with some great healthy recipe options

June 15, 2016 by 0 Comments

Here are some easy to prepare healthy recipes that are perfect as we dive into the hazy days of Summer in Charleston.

If you try some of these out, please comment with your success stories.

Lemony Orzo Pasta Salad with Cucumber and Feta

Total Prepare Time:  15 Minutes

Calories:  352

Ingredients

  • 1 -1/2 cups dry orzo pasta
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, or just enough to lightly coat the pasta
  • juice and zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 large English cucumber, seeded and chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo al dente according to package directions (about 9 minutes). Drain the pasta, let cool for a couple of minutes, and toss with the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, cucumber, herbs and feta.
  2. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve chilled or at room-temperature. Can be made up to a day in advance and kept in the refrigerator.

 

Pasta Salad with Lemon Chicken

Preparation Time:  45 Minutes

Calories:  443

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 8 oz whole wheat bow-tie pasta, (or rotelle, fusilli or macaroni)
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1 small eggplant, sliced
  • 3 tbsp basil, chopped
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
  • 1/4 tsp thyme, dried
  • 1/4 tsp rosemary, dried
  • 1/4 tsp oregano, dried

Instructions

  • Slice the eggplant into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Sprinkle with a little salt and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse and gently pat dry.
  • Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente, according to package directions.
  • While pasta is cooking, cut the chicken into thin strips, then add the chicken to a bowl with lemon juice, basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper. Leave to marinate for several minutes.
  • Preheat oven to broil. On a lightly greased baking sheet, lay eggplant and chicken slices. Broil on high for 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and brush eggplant and chicken with 1 tablespoon olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with garlic. Return to oven for another 3 to 5 minutes, until done.
  • Add chicken, eggplant, pasta, arugula and tomatoes to a bowl and mix. Toss with liquid from the chicken and eggplant pan, then season with black pepper. Serve hot for dinner or chilled for lunch the next day.

 

Greek Pasta Salad

Preparation Time:  30 Minutes

Calories:  480

Ingredients

  • 2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 2 small cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp red-wine vinegar
  • 8 oz whole-wheat farfalle, or similar-size pasta
  • 1 15-oz can chickpeas, rinsed
  • 1 medium cucumber, seeded and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/3 cup quartered pitted Kalamata olives
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano, or 2 tsp dried

Instructions

  • Put a large pot of water on to boil.
  • Combine tomatoes, garlic, oil and vinegar in a large bowl; let stand while you cook the pasta.
  • Cook pasta in the boiling water until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again.
  • Add the pasta to the tomato mixture along with chickpeas, cucumber, feta, olives and oregano; gently toss to combine.

Tip: Make-Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

 

Roasted Tofu & Peanut Noodle Salad

Preparation Time:  40 Minutes

Calories:  443

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 1 14- to 16-oz package extra-firm water-packed tofu,, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 6 oz whole-wheat spaghetti
  • 1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 3 cloves garlic,, minced
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
  • 6 cups thinly sliced napa cabbage
  • 1 medium orange bell pepper,, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup thinly sliced trimmed snow peas

Instructions

  • Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Put a large pot of water on to boil for spaghetti.
  • Combine lime juice, soy sauce and oil in a large bowl. Stir in tofu; marinate, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes.
  • Using a slotted spoon, transfer the tofu to the prepared baking sheet; reserve the marinade. Roast the tofu, stirring once halfway through, until golden brown, 16 to 18 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain.
  • Whisk peanut butter, 3 tablespoons water, garlic and ginger into the reserved marinade. Add the spaghetti, cabbage, bell pepper and snow peas; toss to coat. Top with the tofu.

*Provided by Cafewell.com

 

Food & Bev - Lifestyle - Photography

Are you a passionate Southern Blogger? – Join the Blog Society

June 3, 2016 by 2 Comments

Are you a Southern blogger with a passion for food, fashion, architecture, history, shopping, entertainment or just love to share your experiences with the rest of the world?  We have a society for you.  One that builds community and provides deeper exposure of your message.

Learn more about The Blog Societies today.

MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES:

What we look for in our Members
Quality photographs that are either a) original and done with a high quality camera or b) quality photographs that are properly credited. Please do not send in your application if you are only posting Instagram or iPhone photos, photos taken of you by yourself (aka selfies) or solely photographs of other people’s work.  Photos must be large (600px or wider), high quality and in focus.  We also look for a large amount of original photos from our applicants. Photography is our most important guideline for our applicants to meet and to see examples of what we look for, you can view our latest posts on The Blog Societies.

In addition to great photography, it’s imperative that the majority of your content easily falls into one of our categories of EAT, DIY/HOWTO, WEAR or LEARN.  We also look for bloggers who have had consistent posting (roughly 3 times per week) for several months. We are unable to extend memberships to those who have started a blog and do not have some content history to review (we suggest a minimum of 6 months of content). Please ensure that your ABOUT page has a large (preferably over 500 pixels wide), high quality photograph of you so that we can feature you as a potential MEET. This is typically the page we head to first to get to know our applicants for review, so make sure it’s top notch!

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP:

  • Listed on The Blog Societies site for all members and brand resources to view/contact
  • Opportunity to submit content to be featured on the site and promoted across social media
  • Exclusive invitations to events from city/state meet ups to brand events
  • Invitation to apply to the annual Blog Societies conference
  • Exclusive invitation to work with brands on collaborations
  • Access to The Blog Societies Pinterest member board
  • Access to private forum for members to network, learn and connect

Application Link – Register Here

Recap – Third Annual Southern Blog Society Conference – Charleston, South Carolina

Food & Bev - Lowcountry

Get to Know Your Charleston Food Trucks – Directory and Resource Guide

June 1, 2016 by 6 Comments

They are mobile.  They are delicious.  They offer food from around the globe.

But, where are they?  That is the question each and every one of us deal with at some point.  We find our favorite food truck at the Farmer’s Market or the corner of Spring and King or The Barrel and then after we indulge in foodie delight, we turn our heads and they drive away.

What if there was a directory of the area food trucks?  Great idea.  You have spoken and we have answered.

Food trucks are part of who we are and it is time we share the love with everyone.  Bon appetit.

Charleston Daily Food Truck Resource Directory

Cast Iron Food Truck – Burgers, Sandwiches and Southern

Roti Rolls – Asian-Fusion, Caribbean and Indian

Auto-Banh Food Truck – Vietnamese Sandwiches

Avila – Venezuelan

Bac’n Me Crazy – American, Burgers and Sandwiches

Banani – Dairy and Dessert

BKed – Sandwiches, Sweets and Treats

Braziliannuts Food Truck – Brazilian

Charleston Caribbean Creole – Caribbean, Creole, Cuban and Cajun

Charleston Choo – Sandwiches and Southern

Dashi – Asian Fusion and Latin American

Diggity Doughnuts – Breakfast

Dulce Truck – Coffee and Beverages, Desserts and Ice Cream

Fauzia’s Kitchen – Turkish and Afghan

Food Baby – American, Southern, Organic/Natural

Food Box – Southern

Gidget Gourmet – Specializing in Gourmet Catering, Corporate Events, Birthday Parties, Weddings, Special Events, Hand Tossed Pizzas, LowCountry Boil, Oyster Roasts, BBQ

Hot Links – Hot Dogs and Vegan

Juice Joint – Smoothies, Juice and Beverages

Just Eat This! – American (Traditional)

King of Pops – Charleston – Ice Pops

Korki’s Kafe – American (Traditional)

Lavanta Coffee – Coffee and Beverages

Low Country Street Eats – BBQ, American and Southern

Lowcountry Festival Foods – Sweets and Treats, Shaved Ice, Coffee and Beverages

Mac Daddy – Mac n Cheese and Comfort Food

Outta My Huevos – Breakfast

Pacha Mama Arepas & Tostones – BBQ, Latin American, Spanish and Colombian

Pink Bellies – Vietnamese

Platia – Greek, Fish & Chips, Coffee and Beverages

Pure Fluff Company – Sweets and Treats

Rebel Taqueria – Mexican

Roadside Seafood – Seafood and Sandwiches

Sassyass Coffee – Coffee and Beverages

Short Grain – Japanese and American (New)

Slider Box – Burgers and American (Traditional)

Sweet Lulu’s Bakery on Wheels – Desserts, Cupcakes and Cookies

Towin’ The Dough – Pizza

 

scoops

 

Food & Bev - Mount Pleasant, SC - North Charleston, SC

8 Great Charleston Area Wine Bars

May 24, 2016 by 1 Comment
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Charleston, South Carolina offers a taste of elegance and charm.  With a soft gentle breeze off the marina, a sun that provides a breathless IMAX experience with each departure from the sky, Charleston brings a taste of the finer things in life to the forefront.  With that distinction, comes great responsibility.  To offer a great glass of wine in a traditional and inviting sanctuary is one of the pleasures our locals and guests look forward to.

We felt an obligation to education and inform by providing you with information on some of the best wine bars in the area:

Get your pen, paper and palate out and plan a night of relaxation, great conversation and a wonderful glass or two of vino.

Great Charleston area Wine Bars

  • Bin 152 – 152 King Street, Charleston, SC – Monday – Sunday 4:00 PM – 2:00 AM
  • Ardoa Wine Bar – 1960 Riviera Drive, Suite D, Mount Pleasant, SC – Monday – Wednesday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM / Thursday – Saturday – 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM / Closed: Sunday
  • Langdon’s Restaurant and Wine Bar – 778 South Shelmore Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC – Monday – Friday 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Lunch) / Monday – Saturday 5:00 PM – ? (Dinner) / Closed:  Sunday
  • Bistro Toulouse – French Cuisine and Wine Bar – 1220 Ben Sawyer Boulevard, Suite I, Mount Pleasant, SC – Dinner (Tuesday – Sunday): 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM / Lunch (Tuesday – Friday): 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM / Brunch (Sat & Sun): 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
  • Avondale Wine and Cheese – 813 Savannah Highway #B, West Ashley, SC – Sunday – Friday 2:00 PM – 11:00 PM / Saturday 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM / Closed:  Sunday
  • The Wine Bar – 664 Long Point Road, Unit G, Mount Pleasant, SC – Monday – Saturday 4:00 PM – 11:00 PM (Until Midnight Friday and Saturday)
  • Accent on Wine – 2 Locations – 132 South Main Street, Summerville, SC / 1056 E. Montegue Avenue, North Charleston (Park Circle) – Monday – Thursday 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM / Friday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM / Closed:  Sunday
  • Sauer Grapes Wine Shop – 885-C Island Park Drive, Daniel Island, SC – Tuesday – Saturday 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Special events and times can pop up)
  • Charlestowne Tobacco and Wine – 189 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC – Monday – Saturday 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Until Midnight Friday and Saturday) / Sunday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Note:  There are some amazing fine and casual dining restaurants with superb wine selections.  Do your research, but remember, relax and enjoy every sip.

 

 

Food & Bev - Lowcountry - North Charleston, SC

Charleston Guide for All Personality Types (Adrenaline, Creative, Foodie, Learner, Music)

May 16, 2016 by 1 Comment
By Mark A. Leon
By Mark A. Leon

What is your personality type Charleston?

Are you a:

  • Adrenaline Junkie
  • Creative Genius
  • Foodie
  • Lifelong Learner
  • Music Maniac

No matter which category you fall into, we have you covered.  Here are a few tips and links to help you feed your passion.  Because in Charleston, passion fuels excitement.  Let’s make your Lowcountry experience exciting, memorable and fruitful.

The adrenaline junkie is always on the go.  They love the outdoors, sports and keeping active.  It can be a jog or bike ride or kicking back a few beers at a sporting event.  What does Charleston offer for the adrenaline junkie?

The creative genius is a snob; a creative artsy snob.  Not a bad thing.  They appreciate all the creative talents in Charleston.

Foodie.  Oh, the foodie.  A true culinary connoisseur.

The lifelong learner has a constant thirst for knowledge and information.  We have a bit of that.

There is so much more, but since you are a knowledge sponge, we will leave some of the additional research to you.

The music maniac.  We love the true music aficionado.  They feel it, understand it and appreciate it.  Here are a few venues to light your fire.

There you have it.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie, creative spirit, foodie, learner or music maniac, here is a taste for all the incredible options in Charleston, SC.  Bring an appetite for fun and excitement.