Posts Tagged ‘Charleston’

Charleston

Filed Under: Life, Travelon August 29th, 2010

The one bad thing about my job, well I guess it’s the good thing about my job too, is that it never stops. After spending a week in Charleston I had eaten and drank my body weight in pig, butter, bourbon and all things southern. All for research of course. I knew when it was time to go home.

The wonderful thing about Charleston is that everything is do-able in a week. Actually, you could do it in even less time but you’d be eating and drinking so much I hardly imagine it would be enjoyable. The culture is so rich, and the food is richer.

Craft beers and water at The Blind Tiger

The plan was to relax, eat good food, drink, and try not to melt (from heat). As much as I appreciate all the historical aspects, I learn best in bars. Quote me on that: “I learn best in bars.” Possibly my book title? That being said most of this so-called research was conducted doing just that, eating and drinking.

The first evening kicked off with seafood at S.N.O.B. which stands for “slightly north of Broad [St.]” and ended with the most delicious chocolate bread pudding. A dessert that wasn’t matched for the rest of the trip and was the last stop I made before heading home … they were out.

The next day I proposed a happy hour bar crawl, figuring this was the best way to eat and drink on a budget while getting to see everything. It’s also a great idea for someone like myself that’s hardly ever satisfied with eating everything at one spot. How often does a restaurant have a wine/drink list, excellent food, dessert, and a cool vibe? You’d be surprised, not that many.

The problem was I didn’t eat much prior in the day, which if you know me, leads to one thing, low blood sugar. That version of myself isn’t pretty. I wouldn’t be friends with her.

That being said about halfway through the bar crawl, after hitting up The Blind Tiger (had to, as homage to my neighborhood spot), Pearlz Oyster Bar, and Vendue Rooftop, my partner and crime and I stopped at Moe’s. A local joint with lots of on-tap beers and bar food. Not so classy, but it had to be done.

The following day we divulged in BBQ tacos at my favorite downtown Charleston BBQ joint and ate enough cornbread to suffice until dinner. Following meals included Cyrpress, lost hopes of bread pudding as good as the first night at High Cotton and Blossom, and an afternoon boozy lunch at Fleet Landing where we sat on the water and ate seafood.

There was hardly room for dessert as we finished up on the last day before boarding the plan. Somehow I managed a slice of key lime pie though …

Southern Break

Filed Under: Workon June 7th, 2010

Last week to celebrate my Mom’s birthday, our family went down to our house in Charleston, SC. There is no city in this country as charming as Charleston, part of me wishes that I was Southern. There’s just something very romantic about being a Southern Belle … too bad I’ve got a mouth of a sailor (or should I say Chef) on me sometimes …

Yes, people walk slow, talk slow, and enjoy a more leisurely pace than uptight North Easterners but there’s something truly wonderful about the South. The food being one of them.

So while I do not have my computer with me today (ah! I know, I’m the world’s worst food blogger) I will update with pictures and stories tomorrow. Let’s just say there was lots of butter, booze, and BBQ.

Today I will be at home in New Jersey, baking and prepping for a graduation celebration I’m catering for in California on Sunday. Unfortunately, I will just be shipping these items to California, not visiting …

The rest of my week will be spent catering for Eat Catering NYC on the site of an HGTV pilot. It’s going to be a long week, but despite the long hours, lack of sleep, and the constant unpredictability of being a chef, I’m really looking forward to it.

Am I crazy to already be cooking at 7 am this morning? Don’t answer that.