Let's define the word root. 

New owner Jimmy Hildebrandt is in a familiar role. He's accustom to greeting people as they walk in, talking to people as they dine at one of the booths or tables, or striking up a conversation with a regular at the bar.

This time, he gets to drive the concept of the restaurant and the impact it'll have on the community.

He and his chef, Jesse Goguen, opened Wednesday with a "Taste & Takeout" menu selection featuring appetizers and a few main courses. They will be doing this same menu next week, too. After that, they plan to roll out entrees. 

Both Jimmy and Jesse has one message for the Georgetown County residents. Root is all about community. Everyone is welcome at the table. 

Jimmy realized the price points of the past menu could not sustain viability or bring in a more well-rounded audience. There had to be dishes for everyone. Sure, there's still the dishes you'd expect a fine dining restaurant, but Root is more than that.

Jimmy met with chef Jesse and planned a menu that included tastings under $15 with plentiful portions. Their intention is to have dishes like the Crab Pretzel, the famous Brussels (new flavor twist), and Cheesesteak Egg Rolls plant themselves as customer favorites.

As of today, all three have been top-selling items and the talk of the town. In other words, sprouting out. 

One customer who saw me said he wanted people to know this place was for a wallet of every size. Thick and thin. And, it's for every person.

To further the point of growing roots, the eatery has and will use local produce and products.

​They've already used blueberries from Winyah Blueberry Farm in Georgetown and the pretzel is from ElJay Pretzels in Litchfield. The seafood is also brought in locally, some sourced from Wicked Inlet Seafood in Murrells Inlet. 

Their main items of focus, the microgreens, are from Raising Greens Farm. 

Building connections with local purveyors not only solidifies the "local roots" part of their tagline, but provides the distinct flavor and freshness you'd expect from a farm-to-table atmosphere. 

The end goals are to be a mainstay on Front Street, a gathering point for people of kind, and a key player in community involvement. Given the situation with the pandemic, the last goal is a tough one, but the eatery can do a lot from inside their walls by building a great rapport with customers who, in return, spread the word through the town and outward. 

The food is beginning of that embedding. And from what has been served so far, Root has a great chance to establish its on origin and grow beautifully inside our city, attracting people from the county, state and elsewhere.

And that, friends, is a preview of an excellent culinary harvest. 

We recently had the opportunity to visit the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach, part of Horry Georgetown Technical College, and enjoyed their inside farmers market and in-house bakery, Layers Bakery.

Students, along with chef instructors, also prepare various types of barbeque for each Thursday's event. 

Layers Bakery has student-made bread and sweet goods. They are famously known for selling out quickly. 

During Thanksgiving, the ICI's Executive Director and chef Joseph Bonaparte, along with other chef instructors and students, cooked a holiday meal with Southern roots at the famous James Beard House in New York.

Enjoy the photos and videos below. One video is from my experience that day and the other is all about what the farmers market and Layers Bakery offer to visitors. 

We want to thank Millgrove Farms, Hyman Vineyards, WK Price Farms, Blue Pearl Farms and Worley Lane Farms for being part of this.  

 
There's a restaurant on the culinary adventure of Georgetown County that has Santa Claus by the heart... and stomach. 

Big Bill's Lowcountry Barbeque has been an annual stop before Christmas for 10 years now. Each visit sees an increase in the amount of children, with their starry eyes and cemented smiles awaiting the jolly one.

Owners Bill and Sandra Blake always enjoy this time of year. 

Sure, it helps when Santa wants to hold a supper at your restaurant and visit with all the children. But, they love the family atmosphere. They love seeing the children smile. They love building relationships, like seeing the same child from 10 years ago still visiting. 

It's about the true meaning of Christmas. 

For 15 years, the Blakes, and their wonderful staff, have consistently served great barbeque with all the fixings. And that consistency has produced a loyal base.

Which is why Santa holds his suppers here in December. He knows the Blakes will have his tummy filled, but provide a relaxed atmosphere for children to see him in.

It's all about tradition.

When you walk into the restaurant, you're either greeted by Bill, Sandra or one of their staff.
And, that's still important. They remember your table, your drink of choice, whether you want the large cup (yes, they have a large cup) and your face and name. 

You become family.

So, why wouldn't Santa want to have supper here.

Remember, this is the time of year where we all slow down a bit, take it all in and count the blessings while recognizing who this is for. Jesus.

Merry Christmas to you all, and to all a good journey on the culinary adventure of Georgetown County, South Carolina. 

Today was Thanksgiving. Well, at Wedgefield Country Club's Manor House Restaurant it was. And the buffet was one to rival or surpass what could be offered on the official holiday.

Chef Matthew Branham and his staff surely outdid themselves today. 

There was an awesome salad spread for starters. The buffet included beef stew, fried chicken. fried turkey, rice and gravy, stuffing, mac & cheese, fried shrimp, squash casserole and biscuits. Loved that fried turkey with gravy. The fried shrimp was out of this world. 

The dessert table was so divine. Pecan pie, chocolate delight, cheesecake and Boston creme pie were some of the choices. We tasted each and they were all so great.

Wedgefield’s General Manager and Superintendent Mitch Thompkins and his wife Jamie have a lot to be thankful this holiday season. A great restaurant, awesome chef and staff and amazing food are a few of them.

Come visit The Manor House Restaurant in Wedgefield. It's open to the public. Follow them on Facebook by clicking the button below (it will direct you to their page) as they post their menu often, with days and times they are open.

December 13th falls on a Friday. But instead of bad omens, the Georgetown Business Association will merge the day with their annual Kringle Krawl to provide a thirsty "nightmare" for attendees.

The event always has a great turnout and there is plenty of fun at each location. More, it's an exciting way to ring in the holiday with festive drink creations.

Come out and support these locations and the Georgetown Business Association. 

Click the button below to purchase lanyards. 

Front Street Georgetown is alive and well. There's a robust feel in the Fall air and it's not seasonal. This trend is here to stay.

With the official grand opening of Indigo Mercantile, depth has been added to the already vibrant city culinary atmosphere.

Now, folks have a place to stop in and quickly get some basic necessities to hold them off from a big shopping trip. Plus, customers also have the opportunity to check out some in-house prepared food items, like the already famous chicken salad.

There's specialty gourmet goods, too. 

The purpose of this mercantile store is to offer something to anyone that stops in. It's an all-around general purpose store. Not just specialty, not just basics.

Indigo Mercantile is located at 724 Front Street in Georgetown, South Carolina. More information can be found by clicking the button below to visit their Facebook page. 

Do you like sushi? We do. And we have a few spots in Georgetown County you'll be wanting to dine in at for the artfully-created, delicious dish.

There's a great spot in Murrells Inlet that not only has great sushi, but prides themselves on using fresh fish for the dish. It's Wicked Tuna and you'll have a great view of the marsh as you enjoy sushi dishes like Cherry Blossom (soy paper wrap, spicy tuna, avocado, shrimp tempura, spicy mayo, sweet glaze), Tsunami (spicy tuna, cucumber, shrimp tempura, lobster salad, seared yellowtail, spicy mayo, sweet glaze, scallions, masago) or the famous Rainbow (kani, avocado, cucumber, ahi tuna, salmon, yellowtail, shrimp). Bring some friends as these dishes are portioned well and you'll want more than just one sushi selection. 

A husband-and-wife team have been steadily making a name for themselves at their comfy and simplistic location with beautifully-created edible sushi dishes. Hayashi Sushi only serves sushi, but it's some of the best on the coast. The sushi is fresh and portioned well. They have great lunch specials and 
large specialty roll selection.

New to Pawleys Island, but not the sushi game, is Yagi Sushi and Hibachi. They have a few months under their belt, and a sushi crowd to boot. The one word that describes them is consistency. Their specialty rolls are beyond flavor town. You must try the Krak Roll, named after one of the owners, Angry Apple Roll and 911 Roll (for the spicy-inclined).

If you find yourself in the City of Georgetown and you crave sushi, have no fear. There's a great spot on Front Street that's popular amongst the locals and tourists alike. It's Rollin Local and it has great sushi offerings. The specialty roll offerings are superb. You'll love rolls like the Competition, Caribbean, Firecracker and SC Crunch. They also serve hibachi and seafood, so you can try a roll or two and get something along side. 

It's been a while since we've been to Root at 919 Front Street in Georgetown. Matter of fact, the last time we were here was when we awarded the Beef Short Ribs the Simply Amazing Dish of the Month in December 2018. 

The wait was well worth it, though. Such an awesome lunch. Our server Chris was very dutiful and pleasant. We know him from one of the sister restaurants, Caffe Piccolo. 

Our go-to dishes are the tomato basil soup and the shrimp bisque. The Mussels and Frites are superb. The sauce those mussels bath in is divine. 

​Speaking of sauce, the chicken wings had an awesome one on them. 

You'll love the shrimp and grits, too. Nice size shrimp and creamy grits, but not heavy. You can eat the whole dish and still enjoy the day.

And the crème brûlée cheesecake for dessert was a superb way to end the meal. 

Take a look at the menu below and plan your next lunch soon. 

A surreal night indeed. 

It was the last dinner service at Atlantic House Restaurant, located at 109 Screven Street and owned by Roz Wyndham. 

We crafted a letter of appreciation for her and the entire staff and presented it to her before service. I read it aloud so all could hear.

Below are photos of dishes personally prepared by Wyndham. 

The restaurant is open next week for lunch and closes permanently May 16th. 

Owners Michael Caldwell and Melanie Blackwell have been stirring up some ingredients in a frenzy motion and baking serious sweet treats the past two months. 

And the taste is reaching farther than expected.

Folks from Mount Pleasant and Charleston have taken a liking to the baked goodies offered at Indigo Bakery, located at 701 Front Street, next to the historic clock tower. 

What we like about coming in here is its welcoming atmosphere. The colors and design just relax you as soon as you walk in. Once you order a brownie or "Dad's Favorite Cookie" and go to leave, you do a double-take and realize there's time to sit right here and enjoy these treats inside the bakery.

More, both Michael and Melanie come from behind the counter and interact with their guests. It really feels like being inside the kitchen of a long-lost family member and taking in the great hospitality offered through conversation and food. 

Go by and visit with them. Grab a brownie or a cookie. Inquire about the cakes. You'll love just being here. 

I know you've ridden by 2008 Highmarket Street where the bus stop is located in the complex building. There's also a hidden culinary treasure there, too.

Taste Lounge has been consistently turning out "great food' for years. But, did you know Owner Demerrio Greene prides himself on cooking with love - and making sure the food is right the first time?

First, let's remind you this is the same Taste Lounge that has just begun selling its famous Honey Jerk Sauce. You better grab yours because it truly is lip-smacking good. 

And, from what I was told, it's not the last sauce you'll see. Stay tuned. 

If you are looking for a chill place to dine and get your grub on, I recommend a stop here on your culinary adventure of Georgetown County. 

​Let's share with you some tempting dishes.

What you see above is called Annie Village Crab legs. This dish is one the most popular on the menu. It comes with two crab leg clusters, two cobs of corn and sausage. Get this, it's all drizzled in garlic butter. And, yes, I licked the crab legs. It's that good. 

The butter has time to penetrate into the crab meat and gives it a flavor. Same for the sausage and corn. And it's a meal portion. You'll not be disappointed if your stomach is seeking to be filled up. 

Some of the best fried shrimp in town. We only had a tasting while in house, but ordered three fried shrimp baskets to go. Now, these alone are mouth watering, but when you had the honey jerk sauce, oh.my.goodness.

Check out some more photos below and plan a visit Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

We first wrote about Bearded Butcher in late October 2018. A visit has been in order, but figured it would be best to do so after the holidays. But, when we walked in, it was like the holidays never ended. 

Plenty of people were checking out the offerings from Owner Jeremiah Holladay and his staff. And there's lots to check out, folks. 

Holladay is striving to bring top, quality meats cut in-house and packaged professionally. More, he wants to bring back the old butcher-customer relationship. 

Bearded Butcher serves a few restaurant owners in Georgetown County, but would like others to know he's here for them. It's becoming more frequent for customers to ask where their food comes from. So, when a diner asks where their steak came from, you couldn't ask for a better response than your local butcher. 

The butchery is located at 408 South Fraser Street in Georgetown, S.C. Go by and tell'em we sent you.

If you're looking for a nice, quiet evening out to enjoy some great food with amazing ambiance, look no further than The Humble Crumb Cafe & Pizzeria. Located at 2521 Highmarket Street in Georgetown, you'll find a small, but pleasant building that houses some fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes.

Owners Steve and Lin Wisikoski have striven to bring unique tastes to the area for years. 

Take a look below at some of their dishes and plan on stopping by to enjoy firsthand. 

Yes, we finally made it to the new restaurant Root, located at 919 Front Street in Georgetown. Very awesome ambiance and decor. 

Take a look at the marvelous dishes had tonight for dinner. 

Starters:

Meatballs & Grits
tomato-based over creamy Anson Mills polenta with burrata cheese, Pecorino and basil

Mussels Alla Root
steamed in a tangy broth with fresh herbs, crispy bacon and grilled bread
- you must soak the bread in the broth!

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Entrees:

Tilefish 
over risotto with crab and shrimp

Beef Short Ribs
red wine-braised over Anson Mills polenta, roasted root vegetables, gremolata, local greens and gravy

Mushroom Ragu
roasted wild mushrooms simmered in a black truffle marinara and tossed with pappardelle pasta and Pecorino Romano

If you drive down Indian Hut Road too fast in Georgetown, you'll miss it. 

However, there is a lit sign pointing at the building from the road to help slow you down. And, yes, you should slow down, stop and eat at Janette's Super Burger!

For many years, this restaurant had been closed. But, due to demand and a willingness to serve the community, Janette's has been open since August of this year and is serving those famous super burgers she's known for.

The recipe has been passed down and staff are living up to the burger doctrine! We stopped in and decided to tackle the famous double cheeseburger. 

Once inside, we were greeted with "Hello, ya'll! Come on in and have a seat. Take a menu and come up to order when ready!" It's one of those greetings that warms your soul and let's you know you're in for a treat. Then we read the menu...

"Where Family and Friends Come to Dine"

Once seeing that, and looking at the close-knit folks inside, we knew this was going to be great. Not only that, there were a few folks we knew, and were related to, who came in while we dined.

It's a small dine-in area. Only a few tables inside with a small little bar you can sit at and look out the window to watch people pull up. Do not let the thought of being  cramped deter you from a superb meal here! 

The double cheeseburger lived up to the famous accolade, friends! Definitely a good one here! 

Come by 1473 Indian Hut Road and enjoy some great food with great people! Call ahead at 843-833-8345 if you need a to-go order!