Chef Frank Lee Celebrates Release of “The S.N.O.B Experience” Cookbook

November 3, 2016

Founding Chef Frank Lee of Slightly North of Broad (SNOB), Charleston’s beloved classic bistro-style restaurant, has announced the release of his cookbook, “The S.N.O.B Experience.” The cookbook is a compilation of SNOB classics, long-running seasonal plates and many of the side dishes and sauces that played foundational roles in establishing the restaurant’s loyal following since it opened its doors in 1993. More than just a cookbook, “The S.N.O.B. Experience: Slightly North Of Broad“ shares insight into Chef Frank Lee’s role as a pioneer who led the initiative to forge personal relationships with local farmers, making him a trailblazer in Charleston’s culinary community.

A sampling of recipes from “The S.N.O.B. Experience: Slightly North Of Broad” include:

Beef Carpaccio
Roast Leg of Lamb with Dad’s Mint Vinegar
Softshell Crab

“The SNOB Experience is the culmination of my 23-year career standing at the stove at SNOB and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share our tried and true recipes with our loyal patrons,” shares Chef Frank Lee. “As much of a storybook as it is a cookbook, my hope is that guests will gain a glimpse into the heart and soul of SNOB and be inspired to recreate the restaurant’s experience in their own kitchens surrounded by friends and family.”

“Chef Frank Lee’s loyal following at SNOB is a direct result of his extraordinary career marked by creativity, leadership and a passion to make patrons feel welcomed,” Bill Hall, owner of Hall Management Group. “We’re ecstatic to have the cookbook as a way to celebrate his over two-decade long dedication to SNOB and we’re honored to have him as a member of our team at Hall Management Group.”

Pre-order “The S.N.O.B. Experience: Slightly North Of Broad” on Amazon.

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Note: this post features affiliate links, which means if you purchase this book from this post, I get a little money to keep running my website and eating at delicious restaurants

Quote of the Week

Happy Halloweekend!

October 28, 2016

Hope you all enjoy your Halloweekends as much as we’re planning to!

This week’s quote comes from Ogden Nash and I think it’s a perfect representation of how I expect my weekend to go.

“Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker”
-Ogden Nash

¿Por que no los dos?

Charleston Restaurant News

Artisan Meat Share Introduces “AMS at Home” Program

October 27, 2016

Now bring all the meaty deliciousness of Artisan Meat share right to your home with the new AMS at Home program. From football tailgating to birthday parties, any get-together is better with sandwiches, BBQ, burgers, and more from Charleston’s tastiest destination Artisan Meat Share… right in your own home. The AMS at Home offering provides a variety of choices for any type of celebration with catering options.

For outdoor hangouts, grilling and BBQ stations are available and manned by the Artisan Meat Share team right in your own backyard. Plus, a selection of AMS’ top-rated sides, a la carte sandwiches, charcuterie boards, wings, and more amp up cookouts, house-warming parties, baby showers, luncheons – anything that requires craveworthy eats. Artisan Meat Share now turns any home gathering into the ultimate feast. Why not give guests the food they really want, with the expert AMS team at the ready.

Inspired by Cypress’ innovative Artisan Meat Share program – which has produced recipes for over 90 different types of charcuterie and cured meats – the 1,100 square-foot butcher and sandwich shop offers options for all palates including selections of James Beard-nominated Chef Craig Deihl’s well-known artisan meats, an array of hearty sandwiches, freshly butchered meats and house made condiments. Featuring items such as the Pate Melt, Knuckle and Breakfast Sandwiches, and tasty meats, including Mortadella, Beef Speck, Cypressata, Ham Hocks and more, Chef Deihl uses the freshest ingredients from the Lowcountry’s top farms and purveyors. Named one of bon appetit’s Top 50 Best New Restaurants in 2015, Artisan Meat Share continues to be welcomed by locals and critics from around the country.

Charleston, SC Restaurant Reviews

Coda del Pesce

October 26, 2016

There aren’t a lot of things that will convince me to drive 40 minutes out to Isle of Palms in the offseason, but I’m about to add Coda del Pesce to the list of things that make the cut. The adorable and artfully designed restaurant is cozy without feeling cramped and OMG those views of the ocean. It doesn’t get any better than this.

**Heaven**

I’ve recently started to get a lot more into seafood, and seafood lovers will definitely be pleased with anything they order at Coda. Coda del Pesce (which translates to “tail of the fish” in Italian) is helmed by Chef Ken Vedrinski (also of Trattoria Lucca downtown), and you can rest assured that everything coming out of this kitchen will be fresh, flavorful, and perfectly done.

So pretty and blue and pretty!

Being an adventurous and indecisive eater, I decided to go with chef’s 4-course tasting menu, which features dishes both on and off the menu and offers a truly unique dining experience. I love ordering this way, as it forces me out of my comfort zone and helps me expand my culinary horizons. The first course was a crudo quartet, featuring 4 different cuts of fish prepared completely differently. Crudo is one of Chef Vedrinski’s specialties, so it was unsurprising that it was completely delicious.

4 fish are better than 3 fish.

Next up, a shrimp spaghetti with whole wheat pasta, fresh artichokes, and lemon in an anchovy sauce. I was concerned that the anchovy sauce would make it super fishy and salty tasting, but instead it was like a really deeply flavored garlic-butter-lemon sauce. It was a dream.

I usually avoid things with anchovies in them, but this was too tasty to pass up.

For the main entrée, Chef prepared a triggerfish scallopini with potato and onion. I loved how the fish was wonderfully crispy on the outside and perfectly moist and flaky on the inside. Basically exactly how you want a piece of fried fish to taste. The accompainaments were also delightful, and the potatoes practically melted in your mouth. The lemon sauce was perfect with the fish and I kind of wish they’d bottle it and let me put it on more things. It’s that good.

That sauce, tho.

For dessert, I had just enough room in my stomach for Chef’s butterscotch budino with dark chocolate shavings. It was decadent but I was very thankful it was on the lighter side after such a heavy meal. I highly recommend this dessert!

I mean, as light as can be with a dessert.

TL;DR: If you love Italian food and seafood, it really doesn’t get any better than Coda del Pesce. Plus, you really can’t beat the gorgeous views of the Atlantic ocean right from the dining room. It’s totally worth the drive to IOP.

Coda Del Pesce
1130 Ocean Blvd
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
(843) 242-8570

Featured Foodie

Featured Foodie: Basil & Bubbly

October 24, 2016

October’s featured foodie is Marianne Rogers of Basil & Bubbly one of my favorite foodies and person to splurge with on lavish meals at Zero George.

This Liquid Parmesan Tortellini is just a sneak peak into the evening I spent at Zero Restaurant and Bar last night with @queenofthefoodage . You’ll have to wait for November to read about the rest ( on skirt! Mag’s blog )

A photo posted by Basil and Bubbly ?? (@basilandbubbly) on Oct 15, 2016 at 9:46am PDT

How did you get your start?

I’ve always loved cooking and food, and have been everything from a professional cheese buyer to a coffee roaster to a cashier in a grocery store. When I moved from a food-based career and went back to school for software development, I wanted an excuse to keep cooking. Of course, I’d cook at home, but I wanted the accountability of a posting schedule. I also wanted to showcase my software development skills by creating my own website.

Ultimately, the accountability failed, and I was too busy with my day job to keep up with it. Once things calmed down though, I’ve been really excited about it though, and that was over two years ago! Now it’s less about making sure I’m still cooking and being creative, and more about sharing my recipes with my friends, family, and readers.

Fun story about this picture: Marianne and I were both up for an award based on Instagram photos. She won with this pic and I am TOTALLY NOT STILL BITTER ABOUT IT

What’s your favorite thing about being a food blogger?

Generally, I hate other people and am perfectly happy sitting in my living room, drinking champagne while watching Netflix with my husband and cats, but even I have to admit, I have met so many cool people through my food blog, so I guess that’s my favorite thing AND a really surprising thing! It’s cool to meet someone and instantly know that regardless of what other differences we have, we all have this bond over great food. It’s an art, and it’s fun to appreciate it with others.

I feel like this is a pretty accurate depiction of our personalities.

You’ve definitely been to more Charleston food trucks than I have. What are some of your favorites?

I have an unhealthy obsession with Dashi. Everything they make is amazing. EVERYTHING. Recently, I’ve been a fan of getting two tacos: one chicken, one pork belly. I don’t even like pork belly usually, but they cook it perfectly. If you’re trying them for the first time, those tacos are what I’d recommend trying.

I also really like Immortal Lobster; their Connecticut Roll is gloriously sinful. I recently had that and some mid-range sparkling wine for dinner — it was divine: a perfect pairing.

If you’re ever in West Ashley, Auto Bahn is parked in front of Tin Roof full time now. It’s hard to beat their Low ‘n Slow Banh Mi. I wish they were still on the road, but there is something nice about knowing exactly where to get a killer Banh Mi all the time, too.

Unsurprisingly, I prefer the Maine roll.

What’s one of your biggest “wins?”

It’s really cool to be scrolling through your Facebook feed or on Pinterest, and see that someone else thinks enough of your work to share it. Recently my Corn Pudding was featured in Elle Decor, which was wild to me! I’ve also been featured in BuzzFeed, Country Living, Brit & Co, and POPSugar. Each time someone new features me, I’m absolutely over the moon.

The famous corn pudding!

What are you really craving right now?

Beef Wellington and a Rye Manhattan from Zero George. Nachos and a Frozen Irish Coffee from Home Team. No, maybe the Nachos and Skinny Pineapple Margarita from Taco Boy. Champagne. Seared Scallops. Burrata. Not together. (Maybe together).

This is an impossible question. I can’t possibly narrow it down. Wait, bucantini with heavy cream and pecorino romano.

Foodie Friends 4 Lyfe!

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Events Guides

Halloween Round Up: 2016

October 21, 2016

What will you be dressing up as this year? Sexy Ken Bone? Your favorite Pokémon? One of the few remaining living characters on Game of Thrones? Whatever you decide, it’s important to pick the perfect location for your Halloween shenanigans. Here’s a list of where you can go to get your spooky party on for Halloween in Charleston.

Thursday October 27th

Upper Deck Tavern

No Cover
Downtown Charleston
10 pm – 2 am

DJ Lazer Cat brings special guest DJ’s to get your Halloween Weekend started! Put on your best costume but be prepared to work it out on the dance floor.

Friday October 28th

Bay Street Biergarten

$50
Downtown Charleston
10 pm – close

Freddy is back and on October 28^th he’ll be haunting your dreams and our dancefloor as DJ Rehab rocks the house with your favorite 90’s hits. We’ll have you covered from Backstreet to Britney while you enjoy an ALL-INCLUSIVE evening of drinks, dancing and appetizers.

Rock your best 90’s gear, throwback costume or whatever helps you rock your body right because you know we’ll have a gift card for the best outfit in the building. Are you original?

Cocktail Club

No Cover
Downtown Charleston
9 pm – 1 am

Join The Cocktail Club for a Miami Vice Halloween Party on Friday, October 28 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.!

Stop in for cocktail specials, a prize for best costume, and live music fromBrent Pace Music. This is not a ticketed event, everyone 21 and older is welcome!

Frothy Beard Halloween Costume Party

North Charleston
7:30 – 10:30 pm

Join us at the brewery for a costume party, Friday October 28!

Food Baby Food Truck will be serving up great food and we have the best BOO-ze in town.

Stereo 8

James Island
7 pm – close

Saturday October 29th

2Nixons & Proof

No Cover
Downtown Charleston
6 pm – 1 am

Celebrate Halloween with us at Proof! Costumes are optional–but 2Nixons will give out a free bowl of ramen to our favorite costume.

5Church Charleston

No Cover
Downtown Charleston
10 pm – close

5Church’s All Hallows Eve event will feature D.J. Taylor Rowland and a costume contest with the winner receiving a $200 gift card.

843 Korean BBQ & Sushi

No Cover
North Charleston
9 pm – 12 am

Dress to Impress to enter a Costume Contest!
DJ!
Photo Booth!
Glo Bar!
Drink Specials!
Costume Party!
Prizes!!
Come join us for a Black Out Halloween Party!!! And get your picture taken!!!

The Cedar Room

$10
Downtown Charleston
10 am – 11:30 am

Join The Cedar Room for a special Halloween themed yoga class led by Elli Rictor! Come dressed in your best costume and win a prize of a $250 gift card valid at any Indigo Road restaurant.

Bites and $5 seasonal blended juices will be available from Mercantile and Mash.

Bring your own yoga mat, towel and water bottle.

Craft Conundrum

No Cover
West Ashley
6 pm – 10 pm

It gets better every year! Don’t miss Craft Conundrum’s 3rd Annual Halloween Bash & Costume Contest! There’ll be a ton of candy, craft beer specials, and a costume contest with a GRAND PRIZE of a $300 Craft Conundrum Gift Certificate!

Pep Rolls will be hangin’ out from 5-9pm and we’ll have everyone’s favorite crazy rock band, Kids on Acid, set up kicking out the jams from 7-10pm! It’s time to get creative and bring your A-Game! Enjoy a fun Halloween party, great food, beer, and music at your favorite little neighborhood spot. See y’all then! Winner will be announced at approximately 10pm. Small prizes will be given randomly for costumes we find to be extra fun or creative. Go crazy!

Faculty Lounge

No Cover
Downtown Charleston
10 pm – until

Halloween Dance party at Faculty Lounge!

FILL Restaurant & Piano Bar

$10 – $25
Mount Pleasant
9 pm – 2 am

On Saturday, October 29th FILL will host an Early Dinner Dueling Piano Show at 6:30pm and an adult Halloween Party starting at 9:00pm. VIP and General admission to the Halloween Party include an Hors D’oeuvre buffet, entry into a costume contest, drink specials and an all night Dueling Piano Show. Additionally, hundreds in cash and prizes will be given away!!!
FILL is currently taking reservations for VIP seats and tables which offer full-service and include a free drink.
The VIP ticket is priced at $25 per person | General admission is $10.

Ghost Monkey Brewery & Rebel Taqueria

No Cover
Mount Pleasant
11 am – 10 pm

On October 29th we’re teaming up with Ghost Monkey Brewing for a Halloween Costume Bash like no other.

We’ll be serving up some of our amazing tacos to be paired with drink specials, live music, and of course costume prizes.

Think you have the best costume in the house? Judging for the costume contest will take place from 7-8:30pm. Come dressed like your interpretation of a Ghost Monkey and receive a special treat from our bartenders.

Mount Pleasant Towne Center

No Cover
Mount Pleasant
12 pm – 4 pm

A day of festivities, including trick or treating, jump castle, face painting, balloon animals, train rides and more family fun.

Enter our annual pet costume contest sponsored by Hairy Winston Pet Boutique: registration starts at the store at noon and is only $10 per entry with all proceeds to benefit Pet Helpers. Categories include Best Duo, Most Trending, Best Homemade, Best Inanimate Object, Best Superhero and Best Overall. Hairy Winston and Mount Pleasant Towne Centre gift cards to the winner of each category – plus bragging rights of course!

Art-vark Palette, a local Mount Pleasant art studio, will be offering a fun,free art activity to all the kids: a hand print animal drawing – you will be amazed at all the animals that can be made out of a child’s hand print!

Redux

$60
Downtown Charleston
7 pm – 11 pm

The results are in and you’ve been committed to Briarcliff Manor this Halloween weekend. On Saturday, October 29th all of our patients will be strapped in for a night of beats from DJ Clev Starr, an open bar brought to you by William Wolff Whiskey and PBR and a few other surprises only the doctors know about. But don’t fill up on beer & spirits, Platia Food Truck will be onsite slinging delicious Greek eats (cash or card accepted).

If you make it out alive, we invite you to join us at the official after party at Republic Garden & Lounge (462 King Street) where your Asylum ticket will get you to the front of line and no cover charge.

Tabbuli

No Cover
Downtown Charleston
9 pm – 12 am

The most decadent Halloween Party in Charleston is at Tabbuli this year, and you’re invited!

Fire Spinners
Drag Show
Costume Contests with prizes & SO much more.

Music by: Breakthrough & DJ Trevor D

Taco Boy

$5
Downtown Charleston
6 pm – 12 am

Taco Boy Downtown’s biggest fiesta of the year is happening Saturday Oct 29! Get your costumes ready because we’ve added an additional category to our epic contest: Best Couple Costume!

We’ll have DJ NattyHeavy keeping you dancing all night.
Best individual costume wins $1,000 CASH
Best group costume (3 or more) wins $500 Taco Boy gift card
Best couple’s costume wins $250 Taco Boy gift card

21+ and $5 cover after 6PM

Sunday October 30th

Bar Mash

No Cover
Downtown Charleston
4 pm – 2 am

Join us for tiki cocktail specials, a live DJ and a costume contest in celebration of All Hallows’ Eve! The event is free and open to the public. See you there!

Tin Roof

No Cover
West Ashley
4:30 pm – 12 am

If you don’t know already: you pick a band, for 15 minutes you be that band and play that songs at this show. I’ll keep who’s in what band a secret (you can talk about em if you want).

Lineup:
Beck
Blink-182
Miles Davis
Drug Church
Kevin and the K-Tels
Kleenex
LCD Soundsystem
The Mountain Goats
Nine Inch Nails
No Use For a Name
The Police
Wire
Xiu Xiu

Monday October 31st

Tin Roof

$7
West Ashley
8:30 pm – 12 am

The creative minds over at BigBadBetter present, “The Wicked West (Ashley) Masquerade”, West Ashley’s official Halloween Party, hosted at the Tin Roof! (Thanks Tin Roof!)

This Hallow’s Eve is going to get EXTRA wild, with music coming from our favorite funk family: The Night Caps AND Charleston’s only live improvised Hip-Hop Band: The Boom Bap Crew!

It’s a Masquerade party so bring a mask! Plus there is a CASH PRIZE for the dopest Masquerade Mask!

Shoutout to our sponsors for making it live! JYVE providing the bands,Pabst Blue Ribbon providing swag and beer, and also Three Olives Vodka!

Charleston Restaurant News

Halls Chophouse Named #4 Restaurant in the US

October 19, 2016

This week, TripAdvisor announced its 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards for top restaurants around the world, naming Halls Chophouse as the #4 Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the US. Since it’s one of my favorite restaurants, I’m hardly surprised, but I am super excited for the Hall family!

“We are humbled and honored to be recognized as one of the top fine dining restaurants in the country by TripAdvisor,” states restaurant Owner Bill Hall. “We look forward to continuing to provide our guests with exceptional customer service and cuisine.”

TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Awards were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews for restaurants, gathered over a yearlong period.

A full list of TripAdvisor’s 2016 Travelers’ Choice Award winners can be found here.

Charleston Restaurant News Events

CO Introduces New $3, $4, $5 Happy Hour

October 14, 2016

This past Monday CO rolled out a new happy hour menu that builds off of their popular $4 menu. The new menu will give guests the opportunity to enjoy more delicious options at two new prices, $3 and $5, as well as $4.

To kick things off, guests can pay for a happy hour dish with an Instagram picture Monday Oct. 17 – Friday Oct. 21 from 4pm-7pm. Guests must tag CO using @eatatCOchs and also use the hashtag #COhappyhour to redeem their free happy hour dish of their choosing.

New Menu:

$3 category:

steamed edamame
pork belly bun (single)
pork and crab spring roll (single)
mango summer roll (single)
fresh fruit infused sake

$4 category:

shishito peppers
edamame gyoza
beef & kimchi dumplings
yellow curry (chicken or tofu)
draft beer
select wine

$5 category:

malaysian chili wings
chicken katsu banh mi slider
tuna tataki
signature craft cocktail

2 Comments

Charleston Restaurant News Charleston, SC

2 Charleston Area Chefs Chosen as Contestants on Top Chef Season 14

October 13, 2016

The secret is out! 5Church’s very own Partner and Executive Chef, Jamie Lynch, and Warehouse Bar + Kitchen’s Emily Hahn were selected as contestants on Top Chef Season 14, which was filmed in Charleston earlier this year and is scheduled to debut on December 1, 2016!

Chef Jamie Lynch currently divides his time between 5Church’s three locations in Charleston, Charlotte and Atlanta. Extremely creative, passionate, personable and high in energy, Chef Jamie is a New York native who began his career in the restaurant industry when he was only 16 years old. A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in Burlington, Vermont, Lynch went on to train under the highest caliber of chefs possible including Michael Mina at Aqua in San Francisco and Daniel Boulud, Andrew Carmellini and Charlie Palmer in New York City. Chef Jamie moved to Charlotte in 2002 and continued to perfect his craft at such restaurants as Barrington’s and Blue Restaurant before opening 5Church Charlotte in 2012 with Owners Patrick Whalen, Alejandro Torio and Ayman Kamel. Chef Jamie went on open 5Church’s second location in Charleston in November 2015 and third location in Atlanta in June 2016. Lynch has since garnered many prestigious accolades, including being named Charlotte Magazine’s Best Chef in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Chef Emily Hahn is the Chef at Warehouse Bar + Kitchen and has been cooking in the South for eleven years. Her culinary career began at Mamma Zu in Richmond, Virginia, working directly with Ed Vasaio. After three years at the helm of Mamma Zu’s kitchen, Hahn moved to Vermont to attend New England Culinary Institute. Upon graduating, she made her way to Charleston to work under James Beard Award winner, Mike Lata, at FIG Restaurant. Hahn’s passion for foods of different cultures and travel soon led her to Patagonia, Chile, to work at one of the top-rated fly fishing lodges in the world, Martin Pescador Lodge. After returning from Chile, Hahn took a part-time position at Warehouse and eventually took the lead in the kitchen as the Executive Chef, all while growing her empanada business, Empanada Mamma. Her cuisine is bright, flavorful, and elevates simple ingredients in inventive ways. In 2015, Hahn was named one of Charleston’s “Rising Star Chefs” by FOOD & WINE Magazine and Eater Charleston’s “Chef of the Year.”

Charleston, SC Featured Foodie

Featured Foodie: Lumpia Dad

September 23, 2016

There’s a shameful lack of quality filipino food in Charleston. But luckily, this month’s Featured Foodie, Jakie Blunt AKA the Lumpia Dad, wants to change that, one batch of lumpia at a time.

Photo: provided

I got to sample some of his homemade lumpia (made from a generation’s-old family recipe, and let me tell you: this stuff is delicious!

Festive plates not included.

When you contact Jakie, he gives you a whole batch (your choice of pork or beef), which he delivers frozen. You then take them home and cook them yourself in a little oil. It’s very easy and they make a great appetizer or snack! Jakie recommends you serve them with Mae Ploy Sweet Chili sauce (I didn’t have any of that, so I used some pepper jelly I had in the cupboard and it was also delicious).

Easy peasy!

In his own words:

“The lumpia recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. For me (and I imagine many other Filipinos) Lumpia isn’t just an awesome snack; it’s a way of life. My mom had 9 brothers and sisters so growing up in that kind of environment, there were a lot of cookouts. I can still remember gigantic bowls with Lumpia filling and family members of all ages sitting around the table rolling Lumpia and having a good time. I identified early on that Lumpia meant community. It meant bonding with your elders, getting and giving life advice, and hearing all of the latest gossip.

Provided

My mom shared the recipe with me when I was in my early 20s. With a family of my own, I took great pleasure in bonding with my daughter and wife, teaching them the techniques my mom taught me. When we moved to South Carolina I noticed that the availability of Filipino food was scarce and I couldn’t live without my Lumpia. So I decided to bring the spirit of community and bonding through Lumpia to the lowcountry!”

Order your own lumpia by contacting Jakie on Facebook or via email at: lumpiadad@gmail.com

4 Comments