Behind the bar of the Palmetto Breeze there’s Blair Nottingham, whose story is as layered, complex and bold as the cocktails she crafts. With roots in New Hampshire, Nottingham started bartending at the young age of 18 and quickly grew her love of hospitality and people. “My family was always entertaining,” she remembered. “I was helping out at events at my house with my … [Read more...]
Meet the Chef: Alec Gropman, Bodega’s Flavor Boss
Chefs are skilled and talented culinary craftspeople who create flavorful masterpieces. They are the visionaries who set the tone for the entire restaurant. Long Island native and Chef Alec Gropman, a senior partner and executive chef at Uptown Hospitality Group, is behind the food and beverage departments of restaurants such as Uptown Social, Share House, By The Way, Bodega … [Read more...]
A Fiesta of Flavors: Catrina’s Tacos & Tequila
Located just off Clements Ferry Road, Catrina’s Tacos & Tequila feels like walking into a fiesta. It’s vibrant, colorful, full of life — like someone bottled up the spirit of Día de los Muertos and poured it into the walls. Murals adorn the walls, with smiling Catrina dolls tucked into shelves, and those rich, festive touches that capture your attention. Somehow, it’s … [Read more...]
Behind the Bar: Jennifer Ouellette, LoLA’s Queen of Libations
We’ve highlighted bartenders in our Behind the Bar series for more than two years, featuring a diverse range of bartenders from various backgrounds. Our latest expert mixologist, Jennifer Ouellette, tends bar at LoLA’s Mount Pleasant location. Ouellette has 10 years of bartending experience, starting in Sumter, South Carolina, an Air Force town where a 23-year-old Ouellette … [Read more...]
New Fare: Crowd Pleasers for Your Palate
Mount Pleasant’s continuous growth and expansion in population and development has in turn provided us with new places to visit and enjoy. Here are some of the latest spots that are now open and ready for you to experience in your area. Catrina’s Tacos & Tequila Clements Ferry Road is booming with new apartment buildings, medical campuses, restaurants and retail. The … [Read more...]
Seewee Restaurant: Down Home Cookin’
Off the southbound lane of Highway 17 on the edge of Awendaw sits an old rustic building that was constructed as a general store in 1929. Local Mary Rancourt purchased the business in 1960, and around 1995, she converted it into the Seewee Restaurant. Over the decades, the establishment has become a local treasure because of the beloved family who runs it, the food and the … [Read more...]
Reeling It In: The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene Seafood Catches High Praise
On Sept. 21, 1989, Hurricane Hugo slammed onto the shores of coastal Carolina. When the eye passed over Shem Creek, the water kept rising until it covered 8 feet of shoreline. Encroaching winds ripped a derelict North Atlantic-style trawler called the Richard & Charlene from its mooring at the Wando Dock and hurled it across a neighboring dock and into an icehouse. Its … [Read more...]
Balance is Key: Tasteful Tips for a Healthier Lifestyle
In our quest for better health, the interplay between food and medicine often sparks heated debates. While diet undeniably affects our health and can play a role in managing or preventing disease, it’s important to remember that food is food, and medicine is medicine. Viewing food as a replacement for medical treatments or relying solely on supplements oversimplifies the … [Read more...]
Meet the Chef: Austin Blake at SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar
SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar offers an upscale coastal Italian dining experience with an extensive wine list and certified sommeliers to help you find the perfect pairing to accentuate any dish. They serve lunch, dinner and brunch, and boast a wide selection of wines from Italy and around the world. Shrimp radiatore, grilled octopus and eggplant parmigiana are just a few … [Read more...]
Behind the Bar: Chandley Thompson at Heavy’s Barburger
A local family-owned establishment, Heavy’s Barburger is a nod to founder John Haire’s grandfather, who earned the nickname from family and friends in his hometown in northwest Florida. With two locations including the original in downtown Charleston off Morrison Drive, Heavy’s Barburger is a neighborhood bar and burger joint serving fresh, prepared daily burgers, chicken … [Read more...]