home.
Produce
This one’s a no-brainer. Charleston has a rich agricultural
history and heritage to match just about anyone in the county. From the
sprawling plantations of the past, to the small, organic operations of present,
Charleston has seen its fair share of amazing produce. Instead of going to the
grocery store for your next round of fruits and veggies, head to one of the
many farmers markets spread out over several locations in the city. You’ll find
fresh produce, grown right here in Charleston at a price comparable, or
cheaper, than your local supermarket. Another option is to sign up for a
harvest share with a local CSA farm. You’ll get seasonal produce delivered to
convenient drop off locations weekly, at a very reasonable price. Check out Andy's in depth article on CSA's for more info.
Seafood
In my opinion, seafood is the single most under-utilized
resource in the area. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rolled my eyes when
I see Alaskan King Crab legs, the size of a baseball bat, towering out of one
of the floor coolers at a local supermarket. I understand the draw of stuffing
your face with 20 lbs of butter meat, but I was simply taught better. Drop a
piece of raw chicken, attached to a string, off of any saltwater dock in
Charleston and you’ll pull up some of the most beautiful Atlantic blue crabs
you’ve ever seen. Cast a net off the same
dock and catch enough shrimp for a cocktail in a
single throw. Don’t even get me started on oysters. Contemplating spending $15
for 6 gulf oysters on the half shell? They’re selling the saltiest, most
delicious, fresh, local caught, Bulls Bay oysters right down the street, at
your local fish market, for about $35 a bushel!
Ok, I’m done venting, but I really wanted to drive home the
point that we need to start taking advantage of our vast seafood resources. Charleston
seafood is some of the best in the country, with a unique flavor profile
unmatched by anything I’ve tried elsewhere. The next time you’re at the seafood
counter, at your favorite supermarket, ask them what’s local. Or, head over to
one of the fish markets in town, like Crosby's, and ask what’s fresh. Get a feel for when
certain things are in season, so you’re always eating fresh, locally caught
product. Or, even better, try to find a public dock, or boat landing, and have
a go at bagging your own catch. There’s nothing more satisfying than taking
home a bucket full of crabs you caught earlier that day and sitting around a
big table covered with newspaper to share them with your friends and family.
Beer
There are plenty of cities and towns that put out great craft
beer and Charleston hangs with the best of them. Over the last several years,
the city’s list of breweries has steadily risen to a point where we now have an
excellent selection of local, quality brews to choose from. Westbrook, HolyCity, Coast & Frothy Beard are just a few of the names many Charlestonians
have come to recognize as a proud representation of the art that is American
craft beer. If you’re looking to switch it up from our old pals Bud and Miller,
head over to Charleston Beer Exchange on Exchange St., downtown. There you’ll
find a great selection of local offerings and an extremely knowledgeable staff
to guide you in the right direction. Total Wine in West Ashley also offers a
great selection of local names on tap, at their really cool growler station.
You can also head straight to most of the breweries themselves. Many offer
tastings and tours on various days and times throughout the week.
Bread
Bread isn’t the most popular item around this time of year,
with a lot of people shunning it completely; in an attempt to get that beach
bod ready for summer. After about a month of torture, most people finally cave
in, though, and gorge themselves with all the carbs necessary to ensure they’ll
almost certainly be wearing that little black one piece number again.
No matter! Bikinis are for losers anyways. Feel free to
gorge away on some of the delicious breads and baked goods available from
Charleston’s excellent community of bakers and bakeries. Have you ever had a
perfectly cooked, juicy burger ruined by it being placed on a flat, flavorless,
texture-less grocery store brand bun? Put that same burger on a Saffron Bakery
made brioche and tell me it doesn’t take things to another level. Choosing the
right bread for your next dish can mean the difference between eternal
damnation and everlasting glory. Such things should not be taken lightly.
There are so many alternatives to the classic white sponge that
there’s really no excuse for you to be purchasing your weekly bread rations
from the grocery store. Crispy, airy, delicious loaves can be had at various
locations across the city. Looking for the perfect baguette to accompany your
Sunday pasta dish? Skip the hard tack you usually buy at the grocery store and
head over to Baguette Magic on Folly Road. Enjoy a local craft beer and pizza
from EVO Pizzeria and Craft Bakery, in Park Circle, and take home a delicious
loaf of Rustic Sour Wheat for amazing grilled cheese sandwiches the next day.
Honorable Mentions:
Sea Salt
Have you ever been swimming in the ocean and accidentally swallowed
a mouthful of sea water? Did you find it oddly pleasant? If so, some sea salt
from Bulls Bay Saltworks is the thing for you. Using salt collected from
evaporated sea water right out of Bulls Bay, in Awendaw, this husband and wife
operation is shelling out some amazing products, made right here in the Lowcountry.
Spirits
Looking for something a little stronger? Charleston also has
several distilleries, producing fine spirits, sure to take the edge off. Kick
up your next batch of sweet tea with a splash of Firefly Distillery’s Sweet Tea
Vodka. Or, grab a bottle of Hat Trick Extraordinarily Fine Botanical Gin from
High Wire Distilling Co. and mix it up with some Charleston Bloody Mary Mix for
a different twist on a Sunday brunch favorite.
Honey
For a taste that is truly unique to the area, pair your next
cup of tea with a spoon or two of locally produced honey. You can find Bee City
honey, made right around the corner in Cottageville, at just about any grocery
store in Charleston. The honey is extremely floral and absolutely delicious.
For something a little different, check out the Smoked Carolina Honey from Holy Smoke. I had the pleasure of coming across this very unique product at a recent
event and was really impressed with the idea. Grab some of their smoked olive
oil while you’re at it.
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