Rita's Roots to leave Lowcountry - First Local CSA Program

Unfortunate foodie news today that Rita's Roots, organic vegetable farm located on Wadmalaw Island, SC, will be taking their produce North to Richmond,VA. Hard to believe that only three years ago, Rita Buchmann established the Lowcountry's first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program* on Johns Island, bringing locally-grown organic product directly to consumers. Now one of ten CSA programs, Rita's product has also been readily available at area farmer's markets and found on the menus of local restaurants. See the whole article at Charleston City Paper.

You can also find a listing of all local CSA programs and how to get involved at LowcountryLocalFirst.org. Support your local agriculture!

Vegetable of the Day: Scorzonera (Salsify)

[SAL-sih-fee]

This root vegetable is also known as oyster plant  because its taste resembles a delicately flavored oyster. The parsnip-shaped salsify can reach up to 12 inches in length and 2 1/2 inches in diameter. The most commonly found salsify has a white-fleshed root with grayish skin, though there are varieties with a pale golden skin, as well as one with a black skin (also called Scorzonera). Though salsify is more popular in Europe than in the United States, it can be found here from June through February, usually in Spanish, Italian and Greek markets. Choose well-formed roots that are heavy for their size and not too gnarled. Refrigerate, wrapped in a plastic bag, up to a week. Salsify is generally eaten plain as a vegetable, or used in savory pies and soups. 

- Epicurious.com

*Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, is a program that provides a direct connection between the farmer and the consumer.  CSA’s reconnect these relationships through maintaining open communication and distributing farming’s inherent risks.  Participants purchase a share of the season’s harvest, which ultimately supports the farm’s early season start up expenses such as seeds, irrigation, fuel, labor, and tractor maintenance.  In return, shareholders receive a weekly box of healthy, fresh, sustainably raised produce, fruits, meat, poultry or eggs throughout the season.

 - Lowcountry Local First

My Charleston Gift-Giving Guide

Giving locally-bought gifts was my mission. What I found was that in buying locally, I was much more thoughtful with each gift purchase, all while providing Charleston businesses with my own micro-stimulus.

Below is a list of the places I shopped, and the establishments I most recommend for your own gift-giving. Happy Holidays!

The Backpacker (1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC)

I sought the expertise and variety available at The Backpacker, but since moving to James Island, I wanted to be sure that they had what I wanted before going. Luckily, their website holds all of their available inventory. I was able to buy a number of gifts here, and was given great customer service. They appreciated that I went to their website and that I made the effort to shop with them again. It made me want to go back!

The Vegetable Bin (10 Society St., Charleston, SC) 

New packaged goodies including house-made buffalo nuts, banana nut chips, yogurt covered pretzels and more provided great stocking stuffers for my health conscious family members. The Vegetable Bin is my regular market for fresh, local and imported ingredients. I constantly find myself recommending it to people because you get the best of what's available, at the best price. I am no longer tempted to buy overpriced, out of season, tasteless fruits and veggies! When you think about it, what more could you want?

Charleston Cookie Co. (1750 Signal Point Rd., Charleston, SC)

I had the pleasure of trying the Candy Cane Brownies and White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies made for this holiday season by Charleston Cookie Co. I would highly recommend any purchase from local baker, Judith Moore, as it is obvious that she has more than a knack for baking and an acute taste for the classics. A perfect brownie really, the Candy Cane brownie was fudgy and moist, topped with a pink and white candy cane icing. I was worried it would be overwhelmingly minty, but was happy to find the taste as subtle as a Thin Mint. Her gifts arrived with a tasteful amount of Christmas flare and would provide a delicious solution to your gift-giving needs, from client gifts to hostess presents to supper club dessert. I am going to stay tuned to Judith's changing menu and will keep you posted with new offerings and information. Check it out at www.charlestoncookie.com. 

Monster Music and Movies (946 Orleans Rd., Charleston, SC)

Monster Music & Movies is a dying breed. It is truly one of the only music/dvd stores left in Charleston. Other than Best Buy, most national music store chains are gone as well. But in my effort to avoid online shopping, I ventured to the West Ashley establishment. I found not only what I was looking for (Inglorious Basterds), but also a heady second-hand music/movie shop, complete with well-versed, emo employees and an array of burning incense. Tacky stickers and key chains abound. As we enter this next decade, I can't help but think about the way we were all purchasing music ten years ago. What will another ten years bring? It was still nice to be able to enter a store, talk with a person, purchase a gift. That will never change. 

Gwynn's (916 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Mt. Pleasant, SC)

Gone are the days of locally-owned department stores, except for Gwynn's of Mt. Pleasant. What I love about Gwynn's is that it has all of the classics, with just a touch of the trends. Gwynn's selection includes cosmetics, clothing, shoes, and accessories for men & women. The customer service is part of the package, so you should take advantage of the knowledgeable sales associates. Whether it's for you or someone else, Gwynn's is a charming place to shop. 

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." 

-A Christmas Carol

Putting My Money Where My Mouth Is - One Foodie's Quest to Buy Local this Christmas

This year, I have been inspired. Inspired to start my own business, inspired to stay in a city that I love for no other reason but the fact that I love it, and inspired to take action on the causes that I believe in most.

This year, I have fervently embraced buying local. Nonprofit oganization, Lowcountry Local First, gets much of the credit for motivating me to consciously act on the conviction that buying locally is a selfish act really -  not only am I putting my own hard-earned money back into the community which I love and live, but as a small business owner, I am profiting from the generation of more local commerce.

So then, why wouldn't I? It's good for everybody else, too. Local farms, restaurants, small businesses of all kinds - we share this common interest in the state of our local economy. In a world where we as individuals fail to impact our national or global economic situation, we can embrace the opportunity as a community to significantly affect our local economy. Below are examples of my switch to the 'Local Mentality'.

 - Need a key made? Can of spray paint? Go to Jantzen, Hughes or True Value Hardware, not Lowe's or  Wal-Mart.

 - Want the perfect holiday card? Check out the RSVP Shoppe or mac & murphy, instead of Hallmark or online card stores.

 - Ordering a birthday cake? Need a holiday pie? Skip the Publix bakery and go to WildFlour Pastry (save money and taste heaven at the same time!)

 - Have to do your grocery shopping? Piggly Wiggly is locally owned/operated and the Vegetable Bin offers the best selection of seasonal fruits and veggies at a very reasonable price. Ted's Butcherblock sells all natural meats, cheeses from around the world.

 - Need a cup of coffee and some wi-fi? Starbucks is played out and you PAY for the wi-fi. Try one of dozens of coffee joints locally owned and operated - Alchemy Coffee, Kudu, City Lights, Kronic Coffee, Muddy Waters and more.

So, as I begin my Christmas shopping, I will document here my efforts to buy them all locally. I will do my best and let you know how I fair. Good luck and BUY LOCAL!

La Fourchette - Fine French Food in the Heart of Downtown Charleston

For Mackenzie's 25th birthday, we ventured to La Fourchette at 432 King St. A cozy French bistro, La Fourchette proved to be a worthy venue for a celebration. Most of us had not tried the restaurant before, but we were all immediately drawn to the French culinary staples.

The formage plate featured a balanced mix of French cheeses including truffled goat, brie and roquefort and served with the appropriate accoutrement. Housemade duck pate was accompanied by pickled gherkins and crusty bread. The pommes frites (fried in duck fat) were probably the most decadent and memorable selection from our first course, truly redefining the meaning to the words "french fries".

Our next course featured eggplant, red pepper, zucchini and goat cheese tortes, boeuf bourguignon and steak frites. We skipped desert, having planned ahead for our birthday girl, and indulged in a one-of-a-kind cookie cake courtesy of WildFlour Pastry. The evening was decadent to say the least, but La Fourchette is high on my list of places to return. Let me know what you try!

A 'Taste' of Local Flavor

For nearly 30 years, the Taste of Charleston has celebrated Lowcountry cuisine, featuring some of Charleston’s finest, nationally renowned chefs. This year’s event, spread out over the entire weekend, brought together more than 40 of Charleston’s best restaurants to host more than 10,000 locals and tourists alike. Put on by the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association (GCRA), the Taste of Charleston has long been lauded one of the “top 20 events in the southeast” by the Southeastern Tourism Society. The addition of three new events to this year’s schedule catered directly to visitors, enticing a weekend-long culinary indulgence from regional and national tourists. 

For the first time, the Taste of Charleston offered a full weekend of events that included a local Iron Chef competition and a downtown art walk, but it was Sunday’s main event at Boone Hall Plantation that drew huge crowds. Visitors poured into Boone Hall to take advantage of the first-rate food and live entertainment, set amongst one of Charleston’s most historic backdrops. Fine representations from Charleston’s best restaurants offered visitors a true “taste” of Lowcountry cuisine and a chance to sample local fare without the huge impact to their wallet.

Live music and good libations may be enough to draw a steady crowd to Taste of Charleston on a muggy October day, but it is the food that keeps people coming back year after year.  Standouts included seared duck with broccolini in a fig-wine reduction from the Library at Vendue Inn as well as the Maverick Southern Kitchens menu, which featured a vegetable tart with pickled shrimp and beef sliders done right. Most notable though was the abundance of fresh ingredients – much of what has recently been available at the farmer’s market presented itself in many of the restaurants’ tastings. Local event-goer Lindsay Branciforte said, “To be able to create so many small plates at such high quality is truly a testament to these restaurants, and all with the historic Charleston experience of Boone Hall Plantation. The only thing lacking about the Taste of Charleston is the parking.”

The Taste of Charleston also serves as a forum for the GCRA to give back to the community in which it thrives. The GCRA represents the largest private sector employer in the tri-county area and serves as the voice of the Charleston Area food industry. The Taste of Charleston and the annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival, both sponsored by the GCRA and held at Boone Hall Plantation, raise funds for local charitable organizations such as the Hollings Cancer Center and Charleston County Schools enrichment programs. For more information about these events, visit www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com. 

Recession Savvy Foodie

If there is an upside to the nation's economic woes, it is that locally, businesses are embracing unprecedented customer service and benefits, offering pocket-friendly deals to customers in order to maintain their bottom line. This is no where more evident than in the food &  beverage industry. Many of Charleston's best restaurants and specialty stores are modifying their businesses to best serve their customers. 

Tristan's Dinner Incentive Card offers half price on any bottle of wine on Monday/Tuesday nights (under $75) in addition to their new (and affordable) bar menu and Sunday brunch. They have a new chef and everything we tried recently was tasty. 

Red Drum Gastropub (Coleman Blvd.) has added a Margarita Madness happy hour on Thursdays as well as a Sunday Brunch. The Red Drum never disappoints, and the brunch menu is cheap and diverse with plenty of Chef Berryhill's signature Southwestern touch.

Fish Restaurant is doing half price wines on Monday and "Mercy of the Chef" night on Tuesdays - 3 courses for $25, 5:30-8:30pm.  But as long as you go early, they have a deal every day of the week. 

Oak Steakhouse even has a Sunday Brunch, and recently held a recipe contest awarding one local talent a night at Oak for two. 

I have also noticed a serious surge in wine, sake, fondue and sushi tastings, in-store cooking demos and foodie classes- from Queen St. Grocery, Caviar & Bananas, Avondale Wine & Cheese, Ted's Butcherblock, Bull St. Gourmet and the like, you can sample new and different store pairings for a nominal fee ($10). I want to try the sushi tasting at Caviar & Bananas next. Who's with me? 

So, I say thank you, recession. For forcing businesses back to their customer base, and for breeding new and innovative ideas. I look forward to reaping the benefits.

Local Produce - Charleston Farmer's Market

The Charleston Farmer's Market definitely has the widest variety of heirloom tomatoes that I have ever seen in one place. Along with good-looking green bell peppers, and some of my summer favorites including fat, juicy peaches and scuppernongs/muscadines!

If you have never heard of a scuppernong/muscadine, it's a type of grape, except about 100 times more delicious. The skin is thicker than a grape, so you put the stem end in your mouth and pop it open, sucking out the fruit which is a really rich, sweet flavor that makes them popular for jams/preserves. You can eat the skin if you like which I do occasionally, but it tends to be tart. These were local, which was impressive considering their short growing season. They are indigenous of North Carolina and only grow in extreme heat and humidity (hmmm, sounds familiar).