Charleston, South Carolina
What's Hot in the Holy City
With its enchanting gardens, vibrantly painted Georgian houses along Rainbow Row, blue-green water, and carriages clacking across cobblestone streets, Charleston remains one of the country’s most captivating cities.
I’m an impossible Southern romantic and a hopeless lover of history who drifted into the city’s magical spell. I was caught off guard, seduced, and remain forever fascinated. Charleston isn’t a town only a Southern girl would appreciate, as is proven by the millions of tourists who make their way to the city year after year. Southern hospitality reigns supreme, and the beauty of its cobblestone streets will stop you dead in your tracks.
The city’s vibe ebbs and flows with the tide. I love to wake up to one of Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits. Located in the City Market at 188 Meeting St. it will wrap you in a warm buttery hug. It’s a small grab-and-go eatery with a variety of piping hot biscuits you will love. For any of you who have never heard of this Southern delicacy, it’s a comfort food where lines often stretch around the block at breakfast. Buttermilk, ham and cheese, or cinnamon - breakfast just can’t be any better.
Exploring the city market in search of treasures is always on my to-do list, and having she-crab soup on the porch at Poogan’s Porch, 72 Queen Street is the place to go to people-watch and reflect on the Charleston of days long ago. Sitting there you will begin to think Rhett Butler will stroll onto the porch at any time.
The restaurant is a monument to Poogan, the fluffy down-home Southern porch dog everyone adored.
A walk down Church Street and over to Legare reveals secret jasmine-scented gardens, pristine ninetieth-century well-preserved mansions with intricate iron gates and alleyways that glow beneath gas-lit lanterns. Elegant verandas cooled by centuries of river breezes offer respite from the mid-day heat.
Hospitality thrives along these hallowed streets. History echoes through 18th-century homes along the Battery, which feature ancient live oaks adorned with Spanish moss. Charleston’s roots run deep into history on a peninsula flanked by the great Ashley and Cooper Rivers.
There is a passion for food in this part of the world - the history of the food, the culture around the creation of each dish, and how it is presented. Food is a way of life here and I think so many of us take for granted how fortunate we are to have access to these delicious plates.
During my latest adventure to FIG at 232 Meeting Street I discovered an Italian dish - delightful in every way! Reservations are required in this upscale bistro setting. It’s a top culinary destination on my list. Chef/Co-Owner Mike Lata takes local ingredients and turns them into dishes that deserve to be on the front covers of magazines. He creates with what’s available and takes inspiration from all corners of the globe. Once you experience dinner there you will be haunted forever by its memory.
White-gloved ladies and men in seersucker suits and charming bow ties uphold cherished traditions. But underneath its sleepy charm, a dynamic food scene reflects its English, French, and West African roots. It’s undeniable. In Charleston, a white chef’s coat has some real cashe’.
South of the Broad, the southern tip of the peninsula, where stately historic homes with walled gardens line shady streets, pop into Gaulart & Maliclet, a tiny French bistro, 98 Broad Street. Authentic, fresh, and fabulous French cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and a glass of French wine that is affordable - enjoy!
Once you’ve walked and need to sit a spell, grab a cocktail at Blind Tiger Pub, or order ceviche and oysters at 167 Raw, 193 King Street.
The best way to see Charleston is on foot. Be sure to pack your walking shoes and enjoy the city at its best.
When hankerin’ for fresh seafood, head over to Hank’s Seafood at 10 Hayne St. in the historic district. Seafood doesn’t get any better!
Where do you like to go when visiting the city? Many of you are foodies and we'd all love to hear about where you enjoyed a great meal or where you plan to go on your next visit. This is a newsletter for you where you can chat with others and feel free to share what you like or don't like. I'd love to hear from you!!!