Where food and history meet
As originally appeared in the Charleston Post & Courier, 7/22/16. (Editor’s note: South Carolina Chef Ambassador Forrest Parker, most recently of Old Village Post House, sent this report from Iowa.) by Forrest Parker It’s a testament to seed savers’ enthusiasm that when David Shields posted on Facebook a speech he planned to deliver at …
Continue reading "Forrest Parker’s Dispatch From Seed Saver’s Conference"
Today marks the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Fort Moultrie. In the American Revolution, this pivotal moment became embedded in the DNA of our Palmetto State. Though I have written about this previously Here and Here, there's still something that resonates within myself, within so many of us that call South Carolina home. Recounting the battle …
"In fetid darkness still to live and run-- And all for nothing it had ever done Except forget to go in fear perhaps. No one would know except for ancient maps That such a brook ran water.” Robert Frost Researching a history of James Island, I ran across this on the Charleston Museum site, that …
As I was digging around this week researching for my upcoming "Ghosts of Charleston Restaurants Past" project, I found myself digging through the City of Charleston Tour Guide Training Manual, compiled and edited by the Historic Charleston Foundation. Any would be tour guide wishing to be licensed by the City of Charleston is required to …
Jadie from over at Boone Hall Farms stuck his head in the kitchen with one of the biggest, happiest poinsettias I'd ever seen. "Hey man," he says, "I brung ya some Christmas spirit!" This time of year, red or white poinsettias become ubiquitous. Tradition states that in 16th century Mexico, an impoverished girl named Maria was inspired by …
On Tuesday, I was called to the SC Governor's Mansion to be recognized as a 2016 SC Chef Ambassador.
"Among the many rich blessings especially given to the South, there are but few, if any, that stand out more prominently than the cow pea..." George Washington Carver On Sunday, I had the great pleasure of assisting in an historic tasting of 20+ varieties of cowpeas at the beautifully preserved WIlliam C. Gatewood house on …
Continue reading "Cow Pea Receipts in the Home of Nat Fuller"
Yesterday, I posted links for anyone in the community affected by this weeks' flooding. But as the floodwaters begin to recede, we begin to assess the extent of the damage done. It's become immediately apparent that our Lowcountry local partner farmers, fisherman, and delivery agents have all been affected by the flood as much as …
As we're digging out and cleaning up after a pretty hairy weekend it's natural as leaders, chefs and hospitality providers that we focus on getting our operations back up and running. It's easy to get sucked down the rabbit hole of apprehension and the unknown if we look up for a second and try to …
Continue reading "Please Share: Available Assistance & Resources for Those in Need"
I met a lady named Vertamae Smart- Grosvenor once at a nice restaurant in a Charleston alley. My wife and I were attending a Southern Foodways Alliance event- one of those gigs where they ply you with local goodies and screen a Joe York documentary. Vertamae grew up in rural Hampton County, SC. Her parents moved …
Continue reading "Verta Mae Grosvenor: The Griot Who Played Goddess"