When I was on social media yesterday before heading out to dinner, a post popped up that stopped me in my tracks. It really floored me. Atlantic House Restaurant announced they were closing. For good. And while this may be a quick response to the announced closing, I had to express my utmost respect and appreciation for one of the greatest restaurants this town has ever seen. That includes the staff, too. Owner Roz Wyndham is no stranger to the restaurant industry. Remember Roz's Rice Mill Cafe? It was located in The Hammock Shops in Pawleys. She was earning accolades left and right there. And the food was quoted good enough to make you move to Pawleys Island and eat there everyday by Southern Living magazine. But when she moved to Screven Street, she was able to focus on her passion for creating awesome dishes. I wanted a smaller restaurant where I could get back to my true love-cooking and being with customers and less time being a manager of a business. ![]() And you did exactly that. Even winning the People's Choice Award for the 2013 Taste of Georgetown. The quaint ambiance of the restaurant welcomes you in like a breath of fresh air. The food is cooked to order. The offerings are unique and plentiful. And there's still time to enjoy the food. May 16th will be their last dinner serving and the last lunch served will be on May 16th. I cannot express how thankful I am to have experienced the tastes offered here and the people met. Shawn has been a consistent, stand-up host and server. Always on point with delivering a great experience. And Roz is and always will be a good friend. I remember when my daughter played softball for the high school and my wife and I had to work the concession stand one night. I reached out to Roz and asked her if she'd be willing to make her famous chili for hot dogs. She lit up like the 4th of July. Happy to do so. I was so excited, I made a print out and posted on the outside of the stand to exclaim where this chili proudly came from. Made it a point to refer people to the restaurant to try more dishes. And there are more stories about Roz and her giving back to a community she loves. But, she and her staff need to know they were loved, too. Not only for the food. For providing a pleasant, safe escape from the hustle and bustle of the world. A warm smile and embracing hospitality. Thank you, Atlantic House Restaurant, for contributing to the culinary adventure of Georgetown, S.C. You could not of asked for better weather on Sunday, March 10, 2019. The temperature was pleasant and the sky featured a happy sun. This was the day we attended the Charleston Wine & Food's Culinary Village. And to call it a village is hitting the nail on head. It's a melting pot of chefs, flavors, personalities and all-around excitement. Located in Marion Square, the Culinary Village is the heart + soul of Charleston Wine + Food, and the 2019 menu is bigger and better than ever before. Opening Friday of festival week at Opening Ceremony and continuing through Sunday, an all-inclusive daily ticket guarantees five hours of tasting, sipping, chef demos, live music, retail therapy, and more. Whether a first time attendee or a Wine + Food veteran, the Culinary Village must be on your festival week itinerary. It truly was the heart and soul of the event. Looking at the map doesn't do it justice. But, it does provide the essential layout for you to plan your culinary attack of the food and wine offerings. There were many features we appreciated. The sectioning of the park, the wristbands, the main stage. But, there was one feature we loved. The chefs were given intervals. The booths remained the same, however, the chefs interchanged after 2-3 hours to allow them not to burn out and to give all chefs a role and attendees the chance to taste an abundance of flavors. And the time frame was perfect. There's a lot to enjoy, but you do have time to see it all. And we did. Like meeting Chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite from three successful restaurants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, one being DanDan. These guys were a hoot. Their tasting was a mouthful of scream. Excellent flavor combinations. While there were quite a few guest chefs outside South Carolina participating, the state had its best of the best representing, too, with outstanding tastes. Marc Collins Chef Award Winner Kelly Franz, executive chef of Charleston's Magnolias, was presenting smiles along with her comforting food offering. It it was homey, fitting for the village theme. (For a full listing of chef awards given out at the opening ceremony, visit here.)
The village is a run like a well-oiled machine. It has a great flow and although the sticker shock of pricing and massive amount of activities may intimidate, rest assured the tickets are worth the price and you'll leave wishing you had more time - even if you been to all the village had to offer. We highly recommend this annual event to any foodie looking to add a culinary adventure to their portfolio outside of Georgetown County. You'll love the food, smiles and friendly faces from all over the culinary map. Plan now. March 4-8, 2020. |
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