Last updated on April 27th, 2018
Mr. Fox and I had a great time in Charleston, SC, last weekend. We visited historic sites. We shopped on King Street. And, together with our friend and ex-neighbor Sue Chiafullo, who now lives in the area, we ate and drank our way through the city.
Actually, this was my third trip to Charleston in 15 years. I love the city’s historic houses and antique shops as well as its myriad eateries. The city has become is a real food mecca.
Our weekend went something like this:
On Friday, we had drinks (Tito’s Cosmos) at Hank’s…
And dinner at Anson. There, I swooned over an appetizer of Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimiento Cheese and Bacon Jam, and marveled over the mysteries of a main course called “Chicken Under a Brick.” See the restaurant’s full menu.
Saturday brought us drinks at The Vendue, which offered a brilliant blueberry cocktail that I hope to reproduce for you in the near future…
And dinner at Magnolias. If you visit this restaurant, I beg you to order the “Down South Egg Roll” as your first course. The roll is filled with collard greens, chicken, tasso ham, red pepper purée, spicy mustard, and peach chutney. I’ve never put anything better in my mouth. Ditto for my main course: Bourbon Fried Catfish!
Sunday was memorable for brunch at Husk. We were only able to eat there because Sue made reservations two months (!) ahead of time. Well, well, well. I wanted to order everything on the menu. Instead I settled for some rich and comforting Country Fried Steak with Farro Piccolo, Roasted Sunchokes, Turnips, Asparagus, Green Garlic, and Pan Jus. (I also tasted a forkful of Mr. Fox’s rapturous Hoe Cake with Candied Pecans. That’s another dish I’d like to recreate for you.)
After brunch, the Fox and I relocated from Sue’s beautiful house to the equally beautiful Market Pavilion Hotel on East Bay Street. It’s an elegant place with tons of old world charm and a friendly staff that aims to please. The bedroom was so attractive and comfortable that I wanted to stay there forever.
But I did leave our bedroom in order to visit, for the third time, The Nathaniel Russell House on Meeting Street. It’s just one of many drop-dead gorgeous homes that The Historic Charleston Foundation has purchased, saved, and intelligently restored.
Sunday dinner was at Slightly North of Broad, which, despite its acronym “S.N.O.B.,” is not for food snobs. There, I ate only half of my main course: lackluster Shrimp and Grits.
On Monday morning, we joined some of Mr. Fox’s family members at Hominy Grill. The place is incredibly popular, and you can’t make reservations there, so the wait time — in pouring rain — was 40 minutes. Too bad for me! I had to grab a cab to the airport. Meanwhile, Mr. Fox and family gave this restaurant rave reviews.
Oh well. There’s always a fourth trip to Charleston!
xKevin
Paula says
Oh my loveliness!! We will be spending a day in Charleston in July! Thank you for sharing all these beautiful and yummy looking places!! Lucky dogs, we will bide our time as we can only spare the day, but we are soooo lookinh forward to it! Fried green tomatoes….
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Paula — Hospitality is alive and well in Charleston. Enjoy your day there!
Jon Beattie says
Hi Kevin, I wanted to drop by and tell you I loved yet another of your recipes, golly they just work as stated!!!! ( Lemon Curd ) .
We’ve not been to Charleston I quite some time and I think we went ga ga for a restaurant called 82 Queen. That may tell you how long ago.
We may visit after our Myrtle Beach week the first of June , and thanks for the great notes on restaurants!! We do like to eat vicariously, haha.
Hi to the Mister !!
Jon
Jon Beattie says
Hi Kevin, I wanted to drop by and tell you I loved yet another of your recipes, golly they just work as stated!!!! ( Lemon Curd ) .
We’ve not been to Charleston I quite some time and I think we went ga ga for a restaurant called 82 Queen. That may tell you how long ago.
We may visit after our Myrtle Beach week the first of June , and thanks for the great notes on restaurants!! We do like to eat vicariously, haha.
Hi to the Mister !!
Jon
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Jon – I’m so glad the Lemon Curd worked out for you!
Cindy Lewis says
Don’t miss Calhoun Mansion!
Jan says
Whenever I’m in Charleston I always try to save time to take tea at Charleston Place, so refined and elegant.
Janis says
Charleston is such a great place to visit. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
Anne-Marie Beckett says
I love your news letter every week. It is as if I am spending time with my very best friend. Every article is interesting and a great inspiration.
Maralee A Thompson says
Now I need to go back to Charleston!! It is 27 degrees here in Kansas. City. Winter be gone!!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Maralee — I’m with you. Cold here, too!
Anne says
Of all the email I receive, I always look forward to yours! Thanks for sharing your life and cooking and stories with me. If I may so forward, hugs to you and Mr. Fox
Carolyn Contois says
Ive been thinking about retiring down there, have some friends that relocated there and love it…thanks for the food tour….guess I wont be hungry!
Susan says
Oh my!! My niece went to the College of Charleston. To this day we thank her for choosing such a wonderful city to go to school — so we could visit! Have been to every place you mentioned. Some twice. Hank’s is a particular favorite as is Hominy Grill! We went to Magnolias for her graduation celebration!! Fig is another fabulous spot you’ll have to try on your next visit.
Karin Hamann says
I can’t wait for the “recreated” recipes!
Tim says
Love you Kevin. Thanks for all you do
Meredith Hill says
Thank you for sharing Charleston with us! Our son moved to Charleston for his job and we are visiting him for 4 days in June. Can’t wait!!
Lolie says
Hi Kevin,
I’m a Charlestonian and would encourage y’all to break out of the norm and visit some new venues! Downtown is the Oyster Bar which (as a native) is fabulous, Fleet Landing is such a delightful view of the water and to die for fried shrimp…. continue on and try out California Dreaming, their salad & croissants is what they’re known for & their fried flounder is awesome, also nearby is the Variety Store…great waterfront view….breakfast is awesome as is everything you might order there. So a few places off the beaten path….I have lots more for the asking!!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Lolie – Okay, I’m asking. Will be good to know your recommends for my next trip to Charleston!
Julie R says
Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos and details of your’s and Mr Fox’s latest trip. I have never been to SC. , but it looks like a beautiful place to visit and live . I noticed blues skies in the photos. I sure hope we get some of that soon here in MI. Over the weekend we had lots of rain and a little snow. Woke to see ice covered branches on trees Sunday. So I enjoyed the virtual get away trip through your photos Kevin, where the sky was blue.
Julie R says
Also want to add to my comment above that I look forward to seeing your recreated recipes from your trip. I was getting very hungry reading about what you ate on your trip.
Marye Downs says
Loved seeing your trip. I’ve been to Magnolia’s it was great! Can’t wait to make the blueberry cocktail you mentioned in the post.
Teal says
As a Charlestonian myself, I also second the recommendation of FIG (“food is good”) restaurant next time you are here. I hope you went to the rooftop bar in your hotel. It is divine, although expensive. SNOB was great for many years after it opened, but has been subpar in recent years. Magnolia’s remains a delicious meal for all these years. Too bad you missed Hominy Grill…I love it. So, keep it on your list. I am glad you had a great trip to our fair city.