Charleston restaurants have long been one of the top destinations for culinary delights in the US, and with the recent selection of Husk in September 2011 issue of Bon Appétit magazine, which names HUSK restaurant in Charleston, S.C. as, “The Best New Restaurant in America, ” and features Executive Chef Sean Brock’s cuisine on the cover was the icing on the cake. And to go along with that accolade 3 Charleston Chefs are recent James Beard award winners and 3 more have been nominated for this years awards. So whether your enjoying fine dining at one the many Charleston restaurants that are in beautifully refurbished 1800's buildings or dining outdoors on a secluded patio or piazza it doesn't take long to understand why so many Foodies say Charleston is the ultimate destination.
To bear witness to that fact one of Charleston's visitors favorite restaurants is 82 Queen just celebrated it's 30th year in the same location 82 Queen Street in the downtown historic district. Serving up tasty Lowcountry cuisine has
been the responsibility of partner and longtime executive Chef Steve Kish who now is in charge of day to day operations. I attended to 30th anniversary party a couple of weeks ago and and during the final toast Steve Kish exclaimed " Long live the Queen, 30 more years"
and I have no doubt that will come true.One reason is new Eecutive Chef Steven Lusby who was recently Crowned champion of the Iron Chef competition during the Southern Living "Taste of Charleston" held at beautiful Boone Hall Plantation is very capable of carrying forward that same receipt for success .This years celebration of Lowcountry Cuisine featured 50 of Charlestons Best Restaurants, showcasing samples of there signature dishes. And the weather this year was perfect, which help to set an all time attendance record.
Another recent event was the 29th Lowcountry Oyster Festival also held at Boon Hall Plantation which by the way is one of Charleston's best locations for holding large outdoor events. This year the Oyster Festival also had record attendance, I think they are still counting how many people consumed the roughly 80,000 pounds of Oysters. The event, which is billed as the largest oyster festival in the world is just one more example of how Charleston loves to celebrate its rich culinary history. So, while I'm on the subject of celebrations there still a little time to make plans for the biggest food event of the year. Named as one of the nation's top food and wine festivals by Forbes Traveler Magazine the BB&T Wine and Food festival promises to be bigger and better than ever with an unprecedented number of culinary celebrities set arrive in town to participate in the seventh BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival which runs which runs March 1-4 is in its seventh year.The festival is attracting leading chefs from the South and beyond, many of them James Beard award winners, Acclaimed New York City chef Andrew Carmellini is the headliner for the $1,000-a-ticket Food + Wine With a View dinner in a private penthouse.
So whether you come to enjoy fine dining or Lowcountry casual, or to revel in the culinary delights of one of Charleston's many festivals, once you come you will come back!
The Buzzmeister
