Looking for a good restaurant in Charleston, SC? Try HUSK…

Lunch at Husk Restaurant
Lunch at Husk Restaurant

If you’re looking for a nice restaurant in Charleston, I think you will be pleasantly spoiled at HUSK RESTAURANT. Voted the best restaurant in the country this year, it will be an experience. You see people dressed up, dressed down and everything in between. It’s a high class place. It’s not cheap, but it’s a nice treat! We’ve been there for lunch and also for brunch… if they ever have the cinnamon rolls when you visit… I highly suggest them… they’re tiny and delectable!

Check out their menu… it changes daily. Husk posts their daily menu on their Facebook page… check it out! Ingredients are the absolute best and all from the south, as Sean Brock says:  “If it doesn’t come from the South, it’s not coming through the door”! He means it!

Chef Brock takes pride in this restaurant and it’s evident. The management and staff are top notch, which is essential, especially if you’re voted the “best restaurant in the country”! Here’s a blip about the cuisine at Husk, from their website:

Brock brings this evolving vision of a new Southern cuisine from his successful kitchen at McCrady’s. As one of Charleston’s most decorated culinarians, he was nominated in 2008 and 2009 for the James Beard “Rising Star Chef” award and in 2009 and 2010 for the James Beard “Best Chef Southeast” category, winning the award in 2010. Most recently, he was nominated for the James Beard “Outstanding Chef” award for 2012. He was the winner of the “Next Great Chef” episode of the “Food Network Challenge” and appeared on “Iron Chef America” in December 2010, taking on Michael Symon in “Battle Pork Fat.”

Grimes grew up in the Lowcountry and knows Charleston well. He worked his way up through local restaurants before attending Johnson and Wales University. When Brock took the helm at McCrady’s he stayed on to help transform the kitchen into the most innovative in the city and now takes on the day-to-day operations at Husk. His philosophy on food closely mirrors that of his mentor, Brock, focusing on preservation techniques and the recovery of lost flavors, especially heirloom varieties of pork. Both men bring a love for the area and its history to creating the restaurant’s concept.

Diners at Husk view an open, collaborative kitchen, where chefs freely interact with their guests, and personally deliver food to tables, but the work begins well before a pan begins to heat. Brock and Grimes exhaustively research Southern food—its history and provenance—and in the process reconstitute flavors and ingredients lost to time. They grow much of their own produce on the restaurant’s garden, and concentrate on heirloom grains and vegetables that once flourished in the region, but were lost to 20th-century industrial agriculture. Then they take what is fresh and available today, or even this hour, and transform it into an evolving menu. Seasonal bounty comes in waves, however, and what they can’t use immediately is preserved, pickled, smoked, and saved.

The menu flourishes with Lowcountry ingredients, like Local Benne Seed, or Sesame, which flavors a Benne and Honey Lacquered Duck with Pickled Blueberries and Chanterelles and Crispy Pork Collar gets paired with Cornbread Purée and Greasy Beans. Other innovative examples include Sassafras Glazed Pork Ribs with Pickled Peaches and Rev Taylor Butter Beans; House Cured Country Ham Tasting with Acorn Griddle Cakes; and Rabbit-Pimento Loaf with Husk Mustard, Pickles and Rice Bread.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Holiday shopping… with the beast!

I love dog friendly stores… there are quite a few in Charleston, SC. As long as the dog is well-behaved and listens to its owner it’s a good time! This weekend is a BIG shopping weekend… this isn’t a weekend I would take Charlie shopping. It seems like there’s barely enough room for humans! We aren’t big Black Friday shoppers, the deals would be nice, but…

Hope you are either out and about getting great deals or cuddled in front of a fire somewhere with a good book! Make sure to take time for a walk/jog so you don’t slip into a turkey induced coma… ha ha…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The beauty of the greenway… Charleston!

I  would like to congratulate the City of Charleston on a job well done! The job hasn’t been completed yet, but the results are amazing. The greenway used to be a great path if you had the type of bike that could handle the ruts and rocks. However, if you have a beach cruiser, it’s not a good time… I tried once… got about 5 miles out and back… parts fell off my bike and my guts were shaken. BUT… it was one beautiful ride! Especially towards the end, absolutely amazing! We’re so fortunate to have it so close! A quick two block walk and we’re there! This section has been paved, the barrier remains until they’ve completed it. So pretty at sunset with the big old oak trees.

I love seeing so many people with grocery bags, or bags from other stores. Which means they’re utilizing the Greenway by walking/biking to the store instead of hopping in a car… great for you, great for the world. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s mighty nice. You can park at South Windermere Shopping Center, go for a walk, and when you come back, you can grab a hot drink, some delicious food at one of the many places, pop in the antique store, the dog store, the library, Half Moon Outfitters, etc. etc…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Bowen’s Island… always a treat!

Bowens Island. Now THIS is a restaurant that appears in countless magazines, has a fabulous view, fresh seafood that is SO delicious. Bowens has accolades up the gazoo. Every time you turn around there’s another article. Its funny when you go there for the first time, after reading about it you just have it in your mind as maybe a little fancy… well not fancy, but not… well, have you been there? Mostly plywood and assorted creative decor, its a place that has ATMOSPHERE with a capital A.

You can eat in the main restaurant if you’re getting seafood or steamed oysters by the tray (a cafeteria type tray, which I would say is a good many)… OR you can eat in the OYSTER ROOM if you get the ‘All you can eat’ steamed oysters. It’s a hip and happening place. Bring a camera if you go around sunset. It’s stunning!

I posted their menu back in 2011 (also have posted the 2012 menu, but that was in August and there were no oysters), give it a peek!

Hey maybe I’ll see you at Bowens? Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Cup Steeplechase NOVEMBER 11, 2012

Image: CharlestonCup.net

Have you ever been to the Charleston Cup event? If not, now is the time to get your tickets! It’s a fun, festive time! Many of the women wear hats, the tents are festive and fancy, it’s a good time! Here’s a blip from Charleston Cup Steeplechase (check out their website for more info!):

The 19th running of the Charleston Cup is scheduled to take place at The Plantation at Stono Ferry on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

Sanctioned by The National Steeplechase Association, the Cup has become one of the premier sporting events in the Carolina Lowcountry, offering spectators the opportunity to experience live horse racing at its finest.

Started by the South Carolina Jockey Club, the Charleston Cup is much more than just a horse race. The Cup is the social event of the season – and definitely not to be missed! You don’t have to be a “horse person” to enjoy all the Charleston Cup has to offer. The race weekend kicks off with the elegant black-tie Race Ball on Friday. Live music, fabulous food and a special race preview combine to make this gala party an essential element in the total Cup experience.

Sunday morning, the real excitement begins as the nation’s top riders, trainers, and owners prepare to compete for purses totaling $50,000. Over 16,000 spectators will enjoy a full day at the races with exciting steeplechase and flat races. The gates open at 9:00 a.m., and attendees arrive early with their picnic baskets packed with everything from champagne and caviar to fried chicken and cold beer. A vendor village and tailgating are in full swing by the time the paddock call rolls around at 12:00 noon.

A steeplechase race differs from a flat race in many ways. Flat racing is exciting in that it has a great deal of speed while a steeplechase takes that speed and combines it with the danger of jumping. The thoroughbreds that run in steeplechase races are three years of age or older and have been trained specifically for ‘chasing.’ Additionally, the jockeys are typically larger than ones that would participate in a flat race. The extra height is necessary in order to have a better hold on the horse while soaring over the jumps.

Whether you are entertaining clients in a private corporate tent, relaxing with friends in a reserved parking space, or just spreading a blanket out for a picnic with a view, the Charleston Cup will provide one and all with the ingredients for a fun-filled weekend.

Click HERE to get tickets!

On another note… Charlie has been with us THREE YEARS as of today! Woohoo Charlie! Love this little beast!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

CFADA Fine Art Weekend begins TONIGHT in Charleston, SC!

Laurie Meyer at CFADA painting in the park… Charleston, SC 2011
Laurie Meyer at CFADA painting in the park… Charleston, SC 2011

This weekend is one of my favorites. It’s Charleston Fine Art Dealers Association (CFADA) Fine Art Weekend here in Charleston, SC!
Tonight you can visit the galleries, meet both the local and visiting artists and tomorrow, ahhhh, tomorrow…!

Tomorrow (Saturday, November 3rd) you can watch them paint from 9AM until Noon in Washington Park. Nothing gives me greater joy than to watch an artist I admire paint a fabulous painting while I’m standing there with a cup of coffee in my hand, hee hee… It amazes me how everyone approaches a painting differently, yet they all end up so wonderful! I just cannot wait!

Paintings will be auctioned off Saturday night and  benefits go towards helping local schools provide art supplies…

Hey! Maybe I’ll see you there? I’ll be one of the ones with a camera around my neck! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Marc Dalessio!

“Street in Korcula” by Marc Dalessio – Image: Ann Long

First, I want to mention the obvious. The look of my site has changed a wee bit. I think I have made it cleaner and easier to read. You aren’t on the wrong site, it’s me… I’ve just changed things a bit, let me know how you like (or don’t like) what you see! Personally, I love the orange vs. the red… but that’s me! My goal was to make it clear so you can see all that’s going on! Ok, enough admin stuff… on to the post!

Marc Dalessio is quite the artist AND quite the traveler. His website is so interesting, he shows his paintings, gives tips, talks about upcoming workshops (Swiss Alps!), check it out! He’s got lots of cool tips (i.e. what he does with his brushes when done painting). Definitely interesting whether you’re an artist or not! I was reading about where he lives between Florence, Italy (oh!!) and Zagreb, Croatia and travels quite a bit of the time to places all over the world, then I saw he was having a show at the Ann Long Fine Art Gallery (Charleston, SC) for the month of November 2012! So… if you’re in the area, you know where to go to see his work in person! From Ann Long Fine Art:

What’s so fascinating is that for each group of paintings you can see a clear difference in the color palette. For example, Italy the colors were much warmer. Marc has a clean painting style, I don’t know how to explain it… like his brush never gets dirty or mixed with a color he doesn’t want it to get mixed with. Hmmm, must be nice, ha ha…

Here’s a blip about Marc from the Ann Long Fine Art Gallery:

Marc Dalessio, born in 1972 in Los Angeles, California, is a naturalistic painter who at a young age has established himself as one of the foremost plein-air painters working today. 

Marc’s artistic training began at the University of California at Santa Cruz where he majored in biology and fine art. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1992, he moved to Florence, Italy and trained as a portraitist for four years under Charles Cecil at his atelier. Charles H. Cecil Studios is a school of fine art that offers a thorough training in the traditional techniques of naturalistic drawing and painting. Upon completion of his first year, Marc was awarded a full scholarship, and after finishing the full course, he became an advanced painting instructor at the school. 

Articles Featuring Marc Dalessio
American Artist, 12/09 (pdf)

Currently the landscape painting instructor at the Florence Academy of Art, Marc keeps a studio in Florence, Italy but travels for much of the year. Recent painting expeditions have included Greece and Albania, Morocco, Rajasthan, Sicily, Kenya, and the Caribbean. His works are in private collections worldwide.

Did you check out the article that was in American Artist? Very good! – Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy Birthday to the love of my life!

There is something about becoming comfortable in your own skin. In my opinion, turning 50 affords you that luxury. A luxury you say? Yep, a luxury! By age 50 you’ve become your own person who can be happy with the little things in life, you don’t worry so much about what others say and do. You learn that it’s not WHAT YOU HAVE it’s WHO YOU HAVE BECOME. It’s a lesson that can’t be learned in your 20’s, 30’s and even 40’s. I think at age 50 the lightbulb goes off and you finally ‘get it’. We are grateful for our health, thankful for our family’s health and blessed to have each other. Life. Is. Good.

Fred is the sweetest husband in the world. I wanted to spend lots of money have a big party to LET HIM KNOW how much I love him, how happy I am that he’s finally as old as I am (hee), I wanted to CELEBRATE HIM… BUT… I also want him to be able to retire one day, so I have restrained… (IT. WASN’T. EASY!) Bless me, hee!

Now here’s a photo of a kid who loves his cake! A kid, who is still a kid at 50 and STILL loves his cake. He just doesn’t eat it often, but when he does, he gets this big brilliant smile, oh how I love that smile!

I know I’ve posted this photo before, but I love it, and I love you Fred! Hope you have the best 50th birthday ever, and here’s wishing you FIFTY MORE!!

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y ! !

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Coastal Carolina Fair begins TONIGHT!

Image: Coastal Carolina Fair

Well, it’s that time of year… the cool weather has arrived and to celebrate the Coastal Carolina Fair rolls into town! The fair opens today, October 25th through Sunday, November 4th, 2012! Hey, did you realize that the fair will be open TWO Sunday’s this year? First time ever! So get out and enjoy!

Here’s the Entertainment Lineup (via Coastal Carolina Fair’s website):

Lakefront Stage


Day Date Performer Time
Thursday
Oct 25, 2012
7:30
Friday
Oct 26, 2012
8:00
Saturday
Oct 27, 2012
8:00
Sunday
Oct 28, 2012
5:00
Monday
Oct 29, 2012
7:30
Tuesday
Oct 30, 2012
7:30
Wednesday
Oct 31, 2012
7:30
Thursday
Nov 1, 2012
7:30
Friday
Nov 2, 2012
8:00
Saturday
Nov 3, 2012
8:00
Sunday
Nov 4, 2012
4:30

 

With plenty of rides, food, entertainment, as well as a host of competitions (horse, art, pageant) I think you’ll find yourself quite entertained! Check out their website for Gate Hours and Ticket Prices!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston, SC voted #1 tourist destination in the WORLD as well as the United States!

Readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine have awarded Charleston, SC the number one tourist destination in the world as well as in the United States… Here’s a blip from an article written by Warren Wise in our local Post & Courier newspaper, click HERE to read the entire article:

Charleston on top of the world in tourist ranking

Last year, Charleston was flattered. This year, it’s on top of the world.

Readers of Conde Nast Traveler not only named the Holy City the No. 1 tourist destination in the U.S. for the second year in a row, but also the top travel city on the planet.

“It was a giant surprise for us,” said Helen Hill, executive director of the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s an honor to be in the Top 3, but to be No. 1 twice in the U.S. is unbelievable and to be named No. 1 city in the world, you can’t do any better than that.”

Last year, Charleston came in third in the world, behind Sydney, Australia and Florence, Italy.

KUDOS Charleston! This is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, art galleries, beaches, shops, you name it, we have it! If you’re looking for a vacation destination, look no further!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Image: CondéNastTraveler.com

To do in Charleston… CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION!

OK, I’ve lived in Charleston for over 23 years now and I just made it to the Charleston Tea Plantation a few months ago! It was a wonderful place to visit! We visited during our staycation this summer. The grounds are stunning. You can watch things happening… all in our little Charleston! Literally a few minutes away, Charleston Tea Plantation is located right off Maybank Hwy on Wadmalaw Island. Visiting a tea plantation doesn’t seem like such a big deal until you realize that Charleston Tea Plantation/American Classic is the only place in North America that produces black tea commercially. It’s fascinating AND bonus… you can sample all the teas… and they have a wonderful gift shop!

This was one of my treasures from the gift shop… that and the peach flavored tea, a favorite in the summer for iced tea. You can buy this tea at some grocery stores under the AMERICAN CLASSIC name!

Look at these gorgeous old oak trees, they are all over the places. I wonder to myself… where are all the artists?? What a great place to paint! This is one place to bring a camera, that’s for sure! Lighting isn’t great, it was mid day and very hot, but you get the idea… those trees are gigantic!

Tea plants everywhere… more on the process in a future post, it’s so interesting!

From The Charleston Tea Plantation’s website:

ABOUT US

The Charleston Tea Plantation is located on historic Wadmalaw Island in the heart of the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The history of the Island dates back to mid-June of 1666 when it is believed that Captain Robert Sanford and the crew of the Berkeley Bay landed on the shores of what is now known as Rockville, South Carolina. On June 23, 1666, he and his crew claimed the land for England and the Lords Proprietors. Today, Wadmalaw is considered to be one of Charleston’s most unspoiled islands. It is approximately 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. The Island’s only connection to the mainland is a bridge that crosses over Church Creek.

Home to The Charleston Tea Plantation, Wadmalaw provides the perfect environment for propagating tea. With its sandy soils, sub-tropical climate and average rainfall of 52 inches per year, Wadmalaw possess idyllic conditions for the Camellia Sinensis plant. This plant is currently used to produce both black and green teas and exists in over 320 varieties on the 127 acre grounds of the Charleston Tea Plantation.

The Plantation sits right off Maybank Highway. Driving down Maybank is like taking a step back in time. Wadmalaw has not and cannot be commercially developed, therefore much of the land remains untouched. The Island is also home to other unique and historic attractions such as Irvin-House Vineyards, the only domestic winery in Charleston, South Carolina as well as theAngel Oak, a Live Oak tree that is believed to be over 1,500 years old.

Open 7 days a week, with the exception of a few holidays, the Charleston Tea Plantation is the perfect place to take a day trip. Bring the family, pack a lunch and enjoy the beauty of the tea fields. The experience is not only educational but more importantly one-of-a-kind. You will learn first-hand how tea is made during an informative Factory Tour. You can also take an enjoyable Trolley Ride through the tea fields, shop our unique Plantation Gift Shop and help yourself to all of the iced American Classic Tea you can drink.

Please feel free to call us for more information or questions-843-559-0383.

Another bonus!  If you aren’t in the area, check out their online gift shop (photo above) – NEAT stuff I’m telling you!

Hey, I think it’s tea time! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo Weekend: Charleston… a walk downtown…

For those of you who aren’t from Charleston… these shots are taken near Hominy Grill. Now if you’ve been to Charleston, SC you’ve most likely been to Hominy Grill. Nice restaurant, great breakfast, haven’t been there for dinner, but I’m sure it’s all good! If you take a walk around that area you can see the most amazing things. For instance, this house. You wouldn’t believe how narrow it is, but how incredibly charming is it? It’s quite like a treehouse! And lucky for them, they can walk to Hominy Grill!

This also happens to be very near the Ashley Hall Private Girl’s Day School. A prestigious school in Charleston that dates back over 100 years! Their grounds are beautiful from what I could see!

Look at this unique building on the Ashley Hall campus! I believe it’s called the Shell House? Very interesting! Take time to walk around and see what YOU discover!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

39 Rue de Jean, a fabulous Charleston restaurant!

My birthday was back in August… it fell on a Sunday this year, so Fred and I went to Rue de Jean for brunch. Let me tell you. WE. WERE. IMPRESSED. The service, the atmosphere, the food, the experience, it was all fabulous. We had the BEST coffee, wonderful food, and they brought me a dessert with a candle for my birthday! Oh, not any ole dessert, this was so special I can’t get it off of my mind, ha ha… POTS DE CRÈME AU CHOCOLAT  – when you go, order it! Trust me, you will have a big smile on your face! I mean LOOK at this! Pure delight in every way!

Even the simple things had that classy French twist…

A glimpse into the restaurant… they also have an upstairs. Check out their website, and their MENUS! I know where you’ll be soon!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Shrimp Boats at Shem Creek Park

Shem Creek Park is a wonderful place to take a stroll. Located right at, well… Shem Creek (Mount Pleasant Seafood, Vickery’s, all the seafood restaurants, etc.) it’s a lovely dock and it’s long enough to take a nice stroll and snap LOTS of photos! Especially at sunset!

The temps should be getting a little cooler now making it more bearable! Enjoy and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

 

Resurrection Fern – I thought I was losing it!

One morning a friend and I were walking our dogs as we normally do… we were talking about the ferns in the trees. It seems they were so lush and green and now they were dying. In the photo above you can see the top ferns are starting to turn brown. That night my husband and I took the dog around the blog. I was telling him about the ferns in the trees turning brown. We looked up, and there they were, as lush and green as ever.  Ok… did I just dream that my friend and I had talked about the ferns turning crispy brown and dying in these large old oak trees? Google saved my sanity! I Googled “Resurrection Fern”… it wasn’t my imagination WOOHOO, the ferns turn brown and appear to be dead. When it rains they’re rehydrated and turn a lush green without a speck of brown! It is the most amazing thing! I read a neat ARTICLE that explains it. Apparently there is a special protein the resurrection fern has called DEHYDRIN which allows it to become lush and green only hours after receiving rain/water! These ferns last up to 100 years!

How cool is that? Can you believe that it goes from lush and green…

To crispy and brown… and back again as soon as it rains!

Amazing! Catch you back here tomorrow!