The first time I was ever introduced to organic alcohol was a few years ago when I was in college. My best friend’s older sister is a bartender, health guru, workout queen, fitness model….let’s just be honest, she is a total babe. She introduced me to an organic vodka which I ended up buying because I thought the bottle was really pretty but I wasn’t actually a fan of the taste. However, I never really thought much about drinking organic alcohol. Eating organic produce is a no-brainer for me, its something that almost comes as second nature. Yet, it was not until my personal trainer started talking to me about drinking organic alcohols that I really became aware of what I was putting into my body. After almost giving up on my quest to find an organic alcohol that I was a fan of, I just recently became introduced to TOPO Organic Spirits.
Coming straight out of my home state of North Carolina, TOPO spirits are the only fully local and USDA certified organic distillery in the South. Created in Chapel Hill, they have whiskey, gin, and vodka. In addition to having numerous awards, TOPO’s ingredients are are locally sourced in North Carolina! I mean WOW, talk about being 100% North Carolinian! On top of that, TOPO is also the only green distillery in the nation!
Because I am a gin girl, I figured why not share with you a few facts about this wonderful TOPO Piedmont Gin. Not only does it have 6 different awards, including a double gold medal for the fifty best gins in 2014, but it is a gin that goes down very smoothly! Upon tasting, you will receive a note of cucumber along with other touches of citrus as well as cardamom. It is a new twist on gin and is definitely worth trying!
Rather than coming up with my own craft cocktail, I kept it classy and opted for a gin and tonic. However, rather than serving it with a lime wedge, I chose to pair the drink with a cucumber slice. If you want some creative recipes, check out their website and take a peak at their suggested recipes. I must say that while I am mainly a Hendrick Gin girl because of the cucumber notes, I have now become a TOPO girl that will keep her eye out for it when at a bar! Now go ahead and check this deliciously organic stuff out!
It is a well known fact that Charleston has great food, and for those of you who did not know that, now you do. Thus, if I didn’t eat my way around the city it would have been a complete shame and almost a waste of vacation, in my humble opinion. I am lucky enough to say that I have a few connections when it comes to this city. I have a great family friend who was one of the best chefs in the city and sent me here with a list of places that I just HAD to try. Knowing that I have a weak spot for trying anything and all things local, he directed me to restaurants that really showcased the local produce that this wonderful area has to offer.
The South Carolina Lowcountry is a a geographical and cultural region along the coast that was once known for its agricultural wealth in rice and indigo. With its rich diversity in seafood from the coastal estuaries, Charleston has a huge Caribbean and African cuisine influence. Some of the most common dishes are She Crab soup, Gumbo, Brunswick Stew, Shrimp and Grits, Crabcakes, Oysters, Frogmore Stew….the list goes on and on.
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Knowing that Charleston was a place where I could get fresh raw oysters, my first stop was at a restaurant called 167 Raw. Known for their raw bar (duh) and fresh seafood market, this restaurant is run by some of the cutest young males that are friendly and very knowledgable about their fresh produce. While this is a first come, first serve restaurant with maybe about 18 seats, it is a fast paced restaurant that was well worth going to. It was here that my family and I enjoyed a dozen oysters from PEI, Virginia, and Maine as well as Little neck Clams, Lobster Rolls, Tuna Burgers, Fried Oysters, Tuna Poke, and the Fresh Ceviche of the day. We sat right in front of the chefs who were friendly and took their time to get to know us a little before suggesting what we might want to eat. While there is sure to be a little wait at this quant little spot, it is definitely worth it!
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Because I have been coming to Charleston as a child, I knew that one of the best streets to go to in search of great food was King Street. King Street is the shopping meca of Charleston and it is here on Friday and Saturday nights where you will see it come to life with young college kids from the College of Charleston. It is also on this street where you can find Virginia’s on King. Virginia’s is a restaurant that specializes in the Low Country cuisine, but in a more refined manner. It was here that my mother and I spent our lunch time enjoying some She Crab soup and fried oysters. When one orders She Crab soup, it should always look orangish and have a nice little hint of sherry in it. The reason that it is colored orange is due to the orange roe that is incorporated into the soup, leaving a nice tint to the creamy dish.
One of my favorite restaurants that I have been coming to ever since I was in high school and perhaps my mother’s favorite Charleston seafood spot is Fish Restaurant located on North King Street. This swanky little restaurant is known and rated very highly for its fresh and seasonal innovative seafood dishes that highlight the finest local ingredients of the area. Because we ended up going on the night that they debuted their new fall menu, we were very eager to try what they had in store for us. Their dim sum is a great way to start the meal because you get a little taste of everything that they have to offer, but my favorite part of the meal was by far their snapper dish. Served with roasted spaghetti squash, butternut squash bread pudding, bok choy and onion consommé, this dish was to die for. Most importantly, it filled us up without making us feel weighed down for the rest of the night. If this is a place you would like to visit, I would recommend making reservations a week before coming because it is often times fully booked.
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While Charleston is a great place to spend time and visit, if you get tired of the city feel and want to spend time on the beach, drive over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge into Mount Pleasant where you can find the beach and Mount Pleasant Farmer’s Market. Held every Tuesday afternoon, this Farmer’s market has everything from homemade pickles to freshly fried pork rinds and cracklin. It is also here where you can find homemade pastas by Rio Bertolini. Handmade in the heart of Charleston, this stand has all different sorts of pastas, ravioli, pierogis, and sauces to offer. Definitely worth stopping by and taking a look!
Even though I only listed off only a few of the restaurants that we ate at, these were the ones that left a lasting impression on me. There is nothing better than going to a restaurant that sources all of their ingredients from the local area. This is something that is becoming more and more mainstream in today’s society, and it is something that we should all be aware of when dining out!
MyFood MyWay 