Sunday, October 31, 2010

Good Eats... Charleston Style!

This post is dedicated to one of my favorite hobbies (no, not that one), a hobby I happily indulge in as much as two, or three times a day! Really! If you know me at all, you know that I love to cook, and especially to eat. And I abso luv southern cooking, and fresh, local Seafood.
Happily for me, Charleston SC has plenty of both! In fact, if you Google "Restaurants Charleston SC" you will get "about 688,000 results". Wow! Talk about a town that just loves it's food,and this one has to make anybody's short list. Forget any of the fast foodss, and don't bother with any chains, and you still could eat at a different restaurant, for every meal, for quite a few years. And we have certainly had some of the best dining in our careers.
In no particular order (what, you think I really can remember any particular day?) I'll share some our more memorable times when we gathered around the table and had a good nosh. Let;s start with Hanks a premiere Seafood Restaurant with an unassuming name. Go ahead and nose around that previous link, especially the photos. They will show you a bit about the decor and the food. It's ok, I'll still be here when you get back. This is the one meal where our entire family somehow managed to assemble, and what a joy it was! Yes, Hanks is also the most expensive eatery we've been to, but every once in awhile, you just hafta give yourself a treat. Even more of a treat was that Barb's sis and hubby graciously picked up the entire tab! The waiters all wore white jackets, the atmosphere was top class without being snobby, and every dish was superb. Our waiter was from Connecticut (is anyone here a native?) and had some wonderful wine, and food suggestions. But far more impressive than any wine, was a perfect Martini, and perfectly served! Vodka for me (none of that bum Gin belongs in a Martini glass) with no more than 2 drops of Vermouth, served up (never on the rocks, that would be an insult) and teeth cracking cold. Ah, civilization at it's finest! And yes, fresh, local Seafood certainly is the order of the day. And today this order is done Southern style, which means interesting ingredients and a rich taste. All around the table our family was ooohing and awwwing and sharing and smiling. Really rather amazing that eight people as diverse as my family, with far ranging views on anything, could all agree that this is simply the best seafood any of us have had in an age. But such is the delight that is Hanks. And if you are thinking that you don't like Seafood, you simply haven't had it done properly. I seriously doubt that anyone could walk away from here without a full tummy, and a smile.

And at the other end of the spectrum would be the Voodoo Tikibar. fun and funky, and a low impact on the wallet. They feature such exotic items as Lobster corn dogs, Tater Tots with truffle, and even  Duck Sliders!? Yes, Duck Sliders, and they are yummee! Go ahead and look around the link, it's definitely drool worthy. And yes, the Martini's are great here too. Best of all, it's a five minute drive from our condo. Of course, downtown is only a ten minute drive, so we're in an ideal location.
Well kids, Charleston is famous for fresh, local seafood, especially She Crab Soup, and Shrimp and Grits. What, you say, in the world, is a She Crab Soup? Simple really, you use the roe, or eggs, from Ms. Crab and put into a very rich, creamy chowder, and use sherry to finish it off. It's not really yummee, it is incredible! After having sampled this delish delicacy all over town, we have firmly decided that the best of the best is to found at Toast. And about those Shrimp and Grits, well, here's what the menu says, "Sauteed shrimp, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and sausage with garlic, deglazed with white wine and served with thyme cream sauce over grits". Again an item not to be missed!
Think I'll end this blog (I saw you nodding off back there) with a last review, of Vickery's Shem Creek, a casual dining eatery on the wharf with an open air deck, and an intimate interior. The service was prompt, the food delish, and we enjoyed muchly!
On a sadder footnote to this particular blog, we just found out that one of our extended family just had to put their Yellow Lab to sleep. GoodBoy Ben suffered from an injury, and simply couldn't recover. Since I do know that Ben enjoyed shrimp, and eating in general, I am dedicating this post to his memory.  Ben, you are now happily woofing in the Elysium Fields and merrily bouncing along...

2 comments:

  1. Oh you've got me wanting to plan another road trip. SC, here I come... Maybe in March or April. :)

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  2. If you come to Charleston and wish a 'home base' the condo we are renting is a wonderful way to go.
    http://www.vrbo.com/213949 everything (literally) is minutes away. Too many wonderful places to eat.

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