Choose Charleston

I know we can all agree it has been really hot recently but I think it is time to try my hand at golf again.  I recently purchased a new set of irons so I am ready to see if they improved my game any. (Don’t laugh!)  Since I have not played recently, I am asking anyone who golfs to weigh in on the topic.  What is your favorite golf course in Charleston, South Carolina. Or what course offers the most value? I am sure we have many readers who are coming to Charleston with the idea of playing some golf on vaction or a business trip.  You could help them make a great choice! Over the coming weeks, I am going to write a few articles about the Charleston golf courses mentioned!

Which Charleston golf course is your favorite and why?

Hit em straight!

Get the complete recipe for Charleston Shrimp and Grits.  This is the traditional Charleston Shrimp and Grits recipe, and why would we have it any other way? If you are visiting and have never tried this dish, please do so!  I know you will fall in love with this tasty Charleston treat!  If you are a resident of the area, I am sure you have heard of alternative ways but I am just going to post the original Charleston Shrimp and Grits recipe

.Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hours, 00 minutes

Ingredients:

·         1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled, halved lengthwise, and deveined if you wish

·         Juice of 1 lemon

·         Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce

·         1 1/2 teaspoons salt or more to taste

·         1 1/2 cups stone-ground grits, not instant or quick-cooking

·         6 thick slices bacon, chopped

·         1 small onion, finely chopped 

·         1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper

·         1 garlic clove, minced

·         1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions 

·         2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

·         1 cup chicken stock

·         1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

·         1 cup (about 1/4 pound) grated medium to sharp Cheddar cheese

·         Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce

·         Preparation

·         Combine the shrimp with the lemon juice and a couple of generous splashes of hot pepper sauce. Let sit while you begin the grits and gravy.

·         Make the grits in a large heavy saucepan, first bringing 6 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of the salt to a boil. Whisk in the grits a few handfuls at a time. (They will bubble up initially.) When you have added all the grits, reduce the heat to a very low simmer and cook over low heat for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally at first and more frequently toward the end.

·         While the grits simmer, get the gravy under way. Fry the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until brown but still limp. Stir in the onion, green pepper, and garlic and continue cooking until the onion and pepper are limp, about 5 minutes. Add the scallions, sprinkle the flour over the mixture, and continue sautéing for 5 minutes longer. Stir in the stock and remaining salt and cook for 5 minutes longer. Remove from the heat while you finish the grits.

·         When the grits are thick and creamy, stir in as much of the butter as you wish, followed by the cheese. Add a splash of hot pepper sauce and additional salt if you like. Cover the grits while you finish the gravy.

·         Return the gravy to medium heat and stir in the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are opaque throughout, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately, mounding the grits in large shallow bowls or on plates and covering them with shrimp and gravy.

·         Serves: 4 (Unless you are really hungry!).

·         Credits: From A Real American Breakfast. Copyright 2002 by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison. All rights reserved. HarperCollins Publishers.

Enjoy Charleston Shrimp and Grits tomorrow morning guys! 

Have you recently visited Charleston? Did you find a great restaurant that you think others should give a try?  Dining out on a vacation can be adventurous because you are not familiar with the restaurants.  My goal is to take the guessing out of dining in Charleston for people visiting Charleston this summer.  So here is my challenge to Charleston residents (And recent visitors)!  What are some restaurants that left a great impression on you?  What are some of your favorite spots?

You can just list the name of the restaurant.  Preferably though give reasons behind the choice and also where the restaurant is located and other details that you think would be important to someone visiting Charleston, S.C.  

After getting a few nominees, I am going to try to blog about each individual Charleston restaurant!

You can nomiate by just leaving a comment to this post with the details of your favorite Charleston restaurant.

Thanks!

In my last post about gas prices and what people in Charleston are doing to combat them, I got a comment from a lady about a new website.  The name of the website is LowCountryYardSales.com.  Essentially, this is a page for people to buy and sell personal treasures.  How does this save gas?  You can drive to one location directly and buy what you want rather than driving to 15 and maybe not finding it?  I know most enjoy going from spot to spot but if gas prices are a concern, I would strongly suggest using LowCountryYardSales.com as a place for you to go and look for some bargains! 

Gas prices are soaring across the United States, including right here in Charleston, South Carolina.  I know most of my readers are located in Charleston, SC.  and that we are all feeling the pain at the pump. 

 How are you dealing with the rising gas prices?

 1.  Planning your daily required trips such as work and grocery shopping so that you go don’t waste gas?

 2.  Riding to work with a co-worker?

 3.  Buying a car that is better on gas?

 What are you cutting out of your life because of gas prices?  Vacation out of town?  Dining out less? 

 Maybe you are not changing anything at all.  If you are though, please post some comments at steps you have taken to combat the high gas prices!  I will post them later in a new article for everyone to read in a more organized matter.

Wish I would of told some of you guys before you visited Charleston but better late than never, right?  Located at 6 Chalmers Street, the museum tells the story of the Old Slave Mart that was once operating in Charleston during the domestic trade era. The Old Slave Mart features two main areas for visitors to learn about the historical trade era. 

The first area will give visitors an in-depth introduction about how domestic slave trading operated.  The second area will allow visitors to get a more up close view at the oeprations.  You will be able to see what the slaves were sold for and how slave owners viewd the slaves worth.  Also, you will learn how slavery was a key factory in the growth of Charleston and how slavery helped build Charleston to where it is today!  So if you are a local or visiting Charleston on vacation…..come learn about the Old Slave Mart in Charleston.

Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, are you prepared to make this day a special one?  If you are searching the web for last minute Mother’s Day idea’s for a Charleston mom, maybe I can help! As always, the safe bet is flowers.  Can you go wrong with flowers?  Sound like a winner! Visit this local Charleston florist then.  If you think your mom would enjoy spending the day with you, then check out The North Charleston Arts Festival.  The last day will be May 12, 2007 so you can go before Mothers Day or on the day if you would like.  Lastly, call your mom and just tell her how much you love her!

I know, you are not visiting Vegas with the big lights and non-stop gambling action.  Did you know that Charleston has a little wedding chapel though? 

Yes, you can run off with your lover and get married in The Charleston Chapel for Weddings.

Charleston Peninsula Tour’s offer exicting and informative tours of the history of Charleston.  Charleston Peninsula Tour’s has several offers including the “Original History Tour”, “African American History”, “Civil War Review”, “Architecture Tour” and “Pirate Tour Adventure”.  I have mentioned before about the downtown horse carriage rides that are offered which will highlight the history of Charleston but will not go as in depth about specific Charleston details and share stories about the above topics as Charleston Peninsula Tours will .  If you have a particular interest in any of the above topics, I would strongly recommend taking a tour with Charleston Peninsula Tours.  They offer both walking tours and tours by car with the option to customize your tour which is great for planning your Charleston vacation in advance.  Tours are a great way to learn about Charleston without reading on ChooseCharleston.com all day long!

Davidson won the Southern Conference Basketball Tournament for the third year straight.  College of Charleston beat The Citadel in the first round but ran out of steam against Elon in the semifinals of the 2008 Southern Conference Basketball Tournament. I attended all the games from Saturday until the finals on Monday night. I could have scripted how this tournament would end (Davidson 2008 Champs) but to the credit of Elon- good try! Davidson must be able to the Charleston as they are headed to the big dance once again! I hope some of my readers were able to come out to this great even in North Charleston!