After Hurricane Katrina slammed into Hayley Smith’s hometown of New Orleans when she was in middle school, her family relocated to Charleston. As the daughter of a restaurateur, Smith grew up in and around the food and beverage industry.Destined for a career as a bartender, Smith worked in dive bars through college and beyond. Then eight years ago, in 2017, one of her … [Read more...]
New & Noteworthy: Latest Places to Grab a Bite
Whether looking to simplify dinners with pre-prepared meals, searching for a taste of the Mediterranean or taking the family out for a sweet treat, life in Mount Pleasant and the surrounding East Cooper area just got a whole lot tastier with these new and noteworthy establishments. BUCK’S DELILike many busy families, Christian and Gail Buck found preparing home-cooked … [Read more...]
Happy (Hamby) Thanksgiving: Hamby Catering & Events
Thanksgiving in the Lowcountry is a scene straight out of a Southern storybook: children running in the yard, cousins tossing a football under the oak trees, the game humming in the background and family gathered around a table piled high with seasonal favorites. The air smells of roasted turkey and sweet potato casserole, and laughter carries from room to room. But while the … [Read more...]
Recipes to Remember: Christmas Cocktails to Make Spirits Bright
Top Hat Wine & Liquor has become a go-to stop for locals and beach-bound visitors heading toward Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms. With regular tastings, staff picks and their loyalty rewards program, Top Hat makes discovering your next bottle approachable without the island markups.The owner, Todd Weiss, has poured his energy into creating a liquor store that feels … [Read more...]
Feast Mode: Thanksgiving Recipes to be Thankful For
With Thanksgiving close enough to smell it, staff members at Mount Pleasant Magazine including brand ambassador Stacey McLoughlin and sales consultant Shari Sebuck shared their favorite holiday recipes. Shari’s Roast Turkey (16 servings) INGREDIENTS:12-pound turkey (fresh or defrosted) 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup dry sherry 2 tablespoons dry sherry (basting sauce) … [Read more...]
Feeding The Soul: Chefs Transforming The Senior Dining Scene
“This could be someone’s last meal. Make it the best one you’ve ever cooked.” That’s the daily mantra for chef Chris Meyer of Merrill Gardens in Mount Pleasant. For chefs like Meyer, Jacob Schor of Wellmore of Daniel Island and Steve Klatt of Franke at Seaside, preparing food for residents in senior living communities no longer consists of the bland casseroles and overcooked … [Read more...]
La Hacienda: Family, Flavor, Friends
La Hacienda is a beloved family restaurant with multiple locations and a 30-year legacy, serving authentic flavors with a side of fun and true hospitality. Here in Mount Pleasant, “LaHa” has built a reputation not just for great food, but for welcoming customers like family whenever they step through the doors.The North Mount Pleasant location underwent a full remodel and … [Read more...]
Pride Tomato Pie: A Classic Culinary Rivalry
We all know the fiercest rivalry in the South is between Clemson and the University of South Carolina on the gridiron. For the same bragging rights, there’s another hotly contested battle simmering in kitchens across the country: Who makes the ‘real’ tomato pie, the North or the South? Much like Tiger orange or Gamecock garnet, these pies represent two different styles, each … [Read more...]
Food On Wheels: Catching Up With Cachita’s Kitchen
The old saying, “When you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life,” rings true for friends and soccer mates Erik Hernandez and Jose Cruz. After two decades of dreaming, planning and saving for the day when they would be able to combine their individual talents for business and cooking, the duo launched Cachita’s Kitchen in 2020, and since then the venture … [Read more...]
Behind the Bar: Nate, Your Neighbor’s Favorite Bartender
In 2014, 18-year-old Nate Lewis y Arbona found his way into the food and beverage industry when he landed his first job as a host at Buffalo Wild Wings in Columbia, Maryland. Interacting with so many people felt awkward in the beginning, he said, since he had been homeschooled. It wasn’t long, however, until the shy, quiet young man blossomed into an outgoing and friendly host … [Read more...]