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A Journalist's Guide to Food on the Road
Mission:
One of the benefits of spending so much time on the road is that I get to try food from every part of the country and the world. My work has taken me to war zones around the globe, where I’ve sampled mystery meats I can’t identify to this day. I’ve eaten while submerged in a fast attack nuclear submarine traveling under the Arctic ice pack, had dinner with Fidel Castro and eaten barbecue with Ronald Reagan. While covering political campaigns and other domestic stories, I’ve worked in every state in America, sampling food from Michelin-rated restaurants and small town diners. My goal is to use my experiences to create a resource for other traveling journalists – or anyone who appreciates good food and wants some tips on where to get it!
Latest Entry
Charleston, South Carolina: Traditional Southern comfort food
I recently spent some time working in Charleston, South Carolina and had the opportunity to try quite a few of the area’s restaurants. From hole-in-the wall eateries to historic fine-dining establishments, Charleston-area restaurants have a common theme: traditional Southern comfort food. I had some great fried chicken, mac and cheese, grits, biscuits, and other Southern staples. I’ve included overviews of a few of my favorite places below.
Latest Entry
Charleston, South Carolina: Traditional Southern comfort food
I recently spent some time working in Charleston, South Carolina and had the opportunity to try quite a few of the area’s restaurants. From hole-in-the wall eateries to historic fine-dining establishments, Charleston-area restaurants have a common theme: traditional Southern comfort food. I had some great fried chicken, mac and cheese, grits, biscuits, and other Southern staples. I’ve included overviews of a few of my favorite places below.
Hominy Grill
207 Rutledge Ave.
South Carolina 29403
843.937.0930
www.hominygrill.com
Cusine: Southern American
Shrimp and Grits from Hominy Grill
This is one of my favorite places in Charleston. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I prefer breakfast or brunch. It’s a large restaurant with a patio, but it still gets crowded because it’s so popular. (It’s a bit of a tourist destination.)
The owner is a fairly famous chef. He used to work in another restaurant where shrimp and grits first appeared on a restaurant menu. He brought the recipe to Hominy Grill and it’s now their signature dish. They also make great biscuits and bread. They have separate breakfast, lunch and dinner and brunch menus.
They are open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 9pm; Saturday from 9am to 9pm; and Sunday from 9am to 3pm. They only take reservations for dinner, so get there early for the best chance at a table without a long wait.
Mosaic Restaurant
1150 Hungry Neck Blvd.
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843.388.1490
www.mosaicedibles.com
Cusine: American
Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese from Mosaic
Mosaic is located in a shopping center in Mount Pleasant, SC. It’s a bit of a drive from Charleston, but the food is very good and the prices are much better than in the tourist areas.
I love their Fried Chicken with Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese. (The Mac and Cheese was a past winner of the Charleston Mac-Off – a competition between about 30 local restaurants to see who has the best mac and cheese in Charleston.) I also enjoy their signature Penne Pasta.
There’s a lot more on the menu and it’s all good. They are open Monday to Friday from 11am to 9pm and on the weekends from 10am to 9pm.
Ms. Rose’s Fine Food and Cocktails
1090 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
Charleston, SC 29407
843.766.0223
www.msroses.com
Cusine: Southern Eclectic
Buttermilk Marinated Crispy Fried Chicken with Tabasco Honey Sauce from Ms. Rose’s Fine Food and Cocktails
This restaurant is located away from the downtown tourist spots. They have a large menu and everything is good. One of my favorite meals in the city is their buttermilk marinated, crispy fried chicken with a Tabasco honey sauce. It’s served with a side of mac and cheese.
Old Village Post House
101 Pitt St.
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843.388.8935
www.oldvillageposthouse.com
Cusine: Southern American
This restaurant is part of an historic inn in the middle of the Old Town section of Mount Pleasant. It is the type of restaurant you would picture when you think of Old South dining. They serve dinner after 5:30pm daily, but I always go for the Sunday Brunch (10am to 2pm). The last time I was there I had the Berries and Cream French Toast. The meals are good, but a bit pricey.
39 Rue de Jean
39 Johns St.
Charleston, SC 29403
843.722.8881
www.39ruedejean.com
Cusine: French Bistro
Located in the downtown area of Charleston, this restaurant has a nice, full menu containing well-prepared French bistro food. It’s moderately priced and gets very positive reviews. They are open Monday to Saturday from 11:30am to 11pm. There is a smaller menu for lunch (11:30 to 5:30pm), but the prices are smaller as well.
Bertha’s Kitchen
2332 Meeting St.
Charleston, SC 29405
843.554.6519
Cusine: Soul Food
If you are looking for true soul food and don’t mind getting it at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the outskirts of town, this is your place. Reviews are universally good for the fried or baked chicken, fried pork chops, mac and cheese, cornbread and red rice.
They serve the meals on Styrofoam plates and offer plastic utensils. If you are looking for the real down-home Charleston experience at a bargain basement price, check out Bertha’s. It is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 7pm.
Past Reviews
Explore other reviews, organized below based on geographic region.