Weekend in the Low Country

Friday June 20, 2009 

My first stop after I landed late Friday night in Charleston, SC, was Diana's.

At least it used to be called Diana's. As is noted in the updated review by Michael Stern, it is now called Tropical Toast at Diana's.

What an unwieldy name! The theme here is tropical and the interior is kind of Jimmy Buffett-ish. This sign made me think I was at Hodad's in San Diego.


I started off with an appetizer of the Tropical Toast. If they think this dish is so wonderful that they decided to incorporate it into the name, I think that is a "must try".

Sorry for the lousy photo. This is basically cut up pieces of french toast along with some whipped cream on a plate. The dish itself was just fine, but maybe I was expecting more. One nice thing is that if you buy a dinner, the Tropical Toast is free.

For my entree, I went for the coconut shrimp.

As you can see, there is just some shredded pieces of coconut laying on top of the shrimp. It is also supposed to come with a pineapple glaze, which wasn't applied to the shrimp. I asked my waitress, so she went back to ask. The chef had forgot about the pineapple glaze, so she brought some pineapple sauce for me to dip the shrimp in. Not the same, but no big deal.

Lots of interesting side choices here and I settled on the red rice, which was just okay and the macaroni and cheese.

This was easily the best item I had here. This was some supremely soulful mac & cheese!

I was sitting next to the impressive looking dessert case,

so I carefully studied my options. Since it was getting very late, I got a piece of the buttercream chocolate to take back to my hotel.

I'm afraid it didn't taste any better than it looked. Another disappointment. I really have to give this place a very mixed review. They did seem to be having a bad night, but the mac & cheese was wonderful. I wouldn't mind checking out some of the other sides on a return visit.

I may be a little kinder to this place because of the service. My waitress, a UVA student from Franklin, TN, was a real sweetheart. When she told me how much she loved Pancake Pantry in Nashville, well, I was smitten! I love when a woman talks pancakes!

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1414&RefID=1414

I checked into my hotel just across the bridge in Mt. Pleasant.

Much more to come.....

Looking forward to more. That mac and cheese sure looks yummy.

Saturday June 21, 2009 

My breakfast spot didn't open until 8:00AM, so I had some time to kill. Since I was already in Mt. Pleasant, I decided to go check out a place I enjoyed very much in the past, but won't have time to visit on this trip, The Wreck. Formally known as The Wreck of the Richard and Charlene, I was glad to see it was still its old dilapidated self.

Famous (or is that infamous) for not having a sign, I was surprised to see this over the path to the left of the building.

Is that new or has it always been there and I didn't notice? I had also read in the forums lately someone saying that it wasn't as good as it used to be. I hope that isn't true.

I arrived at my breakfast spot, The Bookstore Cafe in Mt. Pleasant, just as they opened at 8:00AM. But, it is now known as Charleston's Cafe.

The strip mall location doesn't exactly inspire you, but I think I remember ayersian raving about this place, so that is good enough for me.

The specials on Saturday.


There were a lot of wonderful sounding options for breakfast. I started with the corned beef hash.

Big, spicy chunks of meat, I was very happy with this dish.

I would have really liked to have tried the tasso ham that Michael Stern mentioned in the review, but it wasn't available on this day. Knowing I wanted then to try one of the Island Potato Casseroles, I thought it would be fitting if I chose the Edisto, since that was where I was headed next. This is shrimp and kielbasa in a spicy red cream sauce, with eggs, potato chippers, onions, peppers and mushrooms.

Here it is with the top down.

Wow, this was a keeper! Even though it was a big portion size, I had no trouble finishing it. The one disappointment was that I didn't care for the sweet potato biscuit, which was a surprise to me.


At one point, I had a man who didn't identify himself come over to my table to chat. He had heard I asked about the tasso ham. He told me that if I know I am coming in on a certain day, send them an email request and they will make it for me. He then pointed out that the Loco-Noko on the specials board was because of a similar request. I thought this was a very good idea!

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1880&RefID=1820

After the very satisfying breakfast, I headed back to my hotel. At the intersection, I saw a guy sitting in the back of a pick-up truck in a lounge chair. This is despite the fact that there was plenty of room for him up front. I just had to snap a photo.


Truly, a "Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas, anymore" moment!

Much more to come.....

You are killing me with the shrimp and kielbasa dish.

Classic picture of the guy in the truck. I'm surprised that wasn't a beer in his hand.

Oh my gosh YUM! did you eat all the potatoes from the cb hash 1st or did they only give you the one?

I'm just relieved he wasn't swinging a confederate flag from his lawn chair. :) I bet he has boiled peanuts at his feet.

I know what's coming next Cliff, but I think you stayed right next to Melvin's and I'm curious to see if you squoze it in.

quote:

Originally posted by HotDogHead

Classic picture of the guy in the truck. I'm surprised that wasn't a beer in his hand.

That makes two of us. No doubt, it would have been an even better picture that way!

Nancypalooza-
I did see Melvin's, but I didn't eat there. There are so many places to eat in this area, it would take me at least a week to hit them all.

I am looking forward to your report from here, This is in the top 5 areas in the country for me. I LOVE the LOW COUNTRY.

quote:

Originally posted by AHI MPLS

Oh my gosh YUM! did you eat all the potatoes from the cb hash 1st or did they only give you the one?

Good eye! No, it only came with one potato, which I thought was a bit odd. But the corned beef was so good, there was nothing to complain about. Thanks for bringing that up.

CK-
I agree.....this is one of my favorite regions of the country, too. And I have no idea why I hadn't been here in four years. I won't make that mistake again!

Hopefully, I won't let you down with the report.

My waitress, a UVA student from Franklin, TN, was a real sweetheart. When she told me how much she loved Pancake Pantry in Nashville, well, I was smitten! I love when a woman talks pancakes!


BB - She probably knew you hung with WJ anf TTM!

quote:

Originally posted by ChiTownDiner

My waitress, a UVA student from Franklin, TN, was a real sweetheart. When she told me how much she loved Pancake Pantry in Nashville, well, I was smitten! I love when a woman talks pancakes!


BB - She probably knew you hung with WJ anf TTM!

UVA coed! We didn't have those back in my Cavalier days, but I'm guessing that she can talk bourbon as well as pancakes!

MetroplexJim-
Hmmmm.....she did tell me she was a religious studies major. I will let you decide from there. The last thing I said as I was walking out the door, "Go Wahoos!"

CTD-
Everything I know about chatting up the pretty waitresses, I learned from wanderingjew and Travelin Man!

I really enjoy reading your trip reports Buffetbuster. I've never left a comment though, and now I'm obliged to do so... Now that you've brought up UVA!
Go Wahoos, don't forget to get our orange and blue Cavalier shirt if you are ever in town.

That Island Potato Casserole sure looks good! Great photos and commentary; I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Oh that shrimp with Kielbasa looks like something I've got to try someday!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by nitb4tempest

I really enjoy reading your trip reports Buffetbuster. I've never left a comment though, and now I'm obliged to do so... Now that you've brought up UVA!
Go Wahoos, don't forget to get our orange and blue Cavalier shirt if you are ever in town.

Thank you for reading my trip reports and I'm really glad that you decided to comment. Even though I didn't got to UVA, it is a school I hold in high regard. That might have something to do with two of my favorite Steelers (James Farrior and Heath Miller) being graduates. But.....

I am a Clemson guy. You won't hold that against me, will you?

Saturday June 21, 2009 cont.

Now the comes the depressing part of the trip.....

I made the short drive over to Edisto Island. I had called earlier in the week to Old Post Office restaurant, but the number was disconnected. So, I was expecting to find bad news. I pulled up at the address to find this.

There is an art gallery/store next door and I went in and inquired about the Old Post Office. The woman there told me they were no longer in business and a new place was opening in September. Too bad, from reading the review, I was really looking forward to eating here.

My next stop was George & Pink vegetable stand. It was fairly easy to find, as this sign

directs you down this dirt road.


I had only driven a short distance when I spotted something unusual in the middle of the road. It was some kind of pig. By the time I got closer and got my camera out, it was already heading into the brush. I was able to get this photo, though.

I was told by my dining companions later in the day that they are fairly common around here.

George & Pink

had a lot of wonderful looking fruit and vegetables for sale. Unfortunately, I was rather limited in what I could buy, since I was flying home the next day. I did purchase a couple peaches and a bag of boiled peanuts. Since I did not eat them until later that night, I will post that photo then.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Duke, the dog mentioned in the review.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1601&RefID=1552

I headed to Edisto Beach to find Ruby Seahorse Grill. I had called this place last week also to find the number disconnected. That is because the building is now McConkey's Jungle Shack.

Not looking good for the home team at this point.

So, for lunch I settled on Pavilion, a restaurant that extends out over the water.


Since I was a few minutes early, I had some time to kill. No problem, with a beach like this to walk on.

Saturday afternoon in the middle of June and the beach is that empty? That struck me as rather odd.

Pavilion opened at 11:00 and I ended up at the table with this view.


Ready to eat after the disappointments, I ordered the she-crab soup

and the fried flounder sandwich.

Everything was good, but I especially enjoyed the shoe string sweet potato fries.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1589&RefID=1537

There was one more place in Edisto Beach listed on Roadfood, so I decided to find it. Well, I couldn't. So, I went into the visitor's center and they told me that the Edisto Beach Cafe had also gone out of business.

I drove around the island and checked out the natural beauty of the place.



I really did like this small cemetary outside of a church.


Before I left Edisto Island, I had one more stop to make.

More to come.....

So many places closed, that's sad.

klands01-
Agreed. I would much rather post food pictures than ones of empty buildings.

Oh My! She Crab Soup is one of my favorite things.

I just love that picture of the dirt road. (I also like the others)

I was visiting a friend in Moncks Corner, SC when a funny thing happened.

My friend got a call about a wild pig that got hit by a car. She immediately called another friend.

Seems they really do eat Road Kill!

Cliff! Omigod that's awesome! I've been going to the Congaree Swamp for ten years or more and I've never seen a feral pig. I know they're common but they are really hard to physically see and even tougher to photograph because they pretty much stay out of people's way. I've heard them but never seen them. Congratulations!

You know, Edisto is tough to keep a restaurant in, I would imagine, because it is pretty remote to the heavier traveled touristy areas. You have to mean to get there. And although a lot of units get rented as weeklys, it's probably a heavier-residential community. It's not nearly as busy as, for example, Tybee in Georgia. Of course I think that's why a lot of people like Edisto. Beautiful pictures Cliff.

Saturday June 21, 2009 cont.

Po Pigs Bo-B-Q

was easy to find, since it was right on the main road, next to a convenience store. Cool sign!

You got to love the curly tail coming out of the Q.

For a place called Po Pigs, this piggy sure does look sophisticated.


You can order off of the menu

or just hit the buffet.


Since I wanted to try as many things as possible, I decided to bust the buffet. Here is my first plate:

Starting from the left, that is baked beans, green beans, pork, macaroni & cheese, red rice and a piece of chicken. I sure do wish I could give you a better report, but the food was not very good at all. The green beans and mac & cheese were practically tasteless and the red rice tasted hard and old.

The one item I did like was the pork.

And it was greatly enhanced by having four different bbq sauces on the table to try.

I liked them all, but my personal favorite was the Orangeburg Sweet.

My next plate was to check out the hash.

The yellowy one in the back is the regular hash, while I was told the one next to it was the liver hash. Ort, where are you when I really need you? I tried both and liked them just fine.

The people at Po Pigs were friendly enough and it does have real nice Southern 'q atmosphere, but they need to have better sides.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1604&RefID=1554

Since I now had mustard bbq sauce on my shorts, I headed back to my hotel to change.

More to come.....

quote:

Originally posted by Nancypalooza

Cliff! Omigod that's awesome! I've been going to the Congaree Swamp for ten years or more and I've never seen a feral pig. I know they're common but they are really hard to physically see and even tougher to photograph because they pretty much stay out of people's way. I've heard them but never seen them. Congratulations!

Nancy, did you just call me a feral pig?

I had no idea that getting a photo of one was something special. Honestly, I was much more excited about getting the photo of the guy in the lounge chair in the back of the pick up!

LOLOL. No sir, I would never do such a thing. Although I think it might be a major program at your alma mater. (rim shot!) ;)

It may just be that I am a lame-o at having seen them, but I know a lot more folks who have heard and not seen one than folks who've seen one. Usually by the time you've spotted one it's started moving away from you at a pretty good clip. It's as fast as pork can get.

Wild pig is good eatin'. What a great trip. Thank you

Just for the record, another old Wahoo checking in.

Okay, what on earth are you thinking?! "Sorry for the lousy photo." HUH?! That first food photo was excellent. (Really BB, dear, what ARE you thinking?! Or did you change the photo?!)

Funny how you said there was only coconut on top of the shrimp, looks to me like they were battered with coconut too?! Or am I mistaken??

All looks great. That cemetery was so pretty I turned around and went back for pics. I'll throw a couple in for fun...


That's the same cemetery & the church next to it (which was great, you must've liked it BB!).

Nearby, you likely drove right past the sign for the "Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge", so you didn't know its HQ is an old plantation! Very cool! For a photo of it, see the old trip report from last fall:
http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23070&whichpage=1

Great stuff, as always, BB!

p.s. I forgot to say... still no pie?! I think you have slyly switched from pie to cake, considering what I saw on the baseball thread. Hmmmm.

Livin HIGH in LOW country.

Hopefully new Roadfood opportunities will open in the closed restaurants.

Great trip, thanks for sharing.

Joe

cecif-
Thanks for posting the beautiful photos and the link to your trip report. Oh, how I wish I had more time to really do Edisto Island justice, but I had people to meet for dinner.

I must have taken at least 20 photos of that Tropical Toast and I wasn't happy with any of them. Although that isn't a horrible photo, it sure isn't my best.

No pie on this trip, either. I know what is going on? Will you settle for lots of puddin'?

What a great trip,BB.Absoluetly love following along with you!!!

The best part...two weekends in a row!

Saturday June 21, 2009 cont.

One of the main reasons for this trip was to eat at Sweatman's BBQ, outside of Holly Hill. I have only been here one time before and that was in 1999. This was very soon after I bought my first Jane & Michael Stern book. Along with the late great Mendenhall Hotel Revolving Tables Restaurant in Mississippi, this place convinced me how special these Roadfood restaurants are and how much I enjoyed seeking them out.

As an added bonus, my friend Lisa, her husband Tim and daughter Carly agreed to drive over from Columbia to meet me. They moved to SC from Pittsburgh in 2004 and haven't been very impressed by the local bbq. But then, Lisa was born in Memphis, so you know what type of 'q she is used to.

I arrived right before the designated time of 4:30, but Lisa called to say they were slightly lost. This gave me some time to snap some photos of the outside.



Notice the limited hours they are open. In the tradition of the classic South Carolina "pig pickin", they are only open on Fridays and Saturdays.

I also had time to snap some more photos on the inside.


Even the reserved sign is shaped like a pig!


My friends arrived and we got in line. Note of warning..... Sweatman's doesn't take credit cards, which my friends found out! By the way, they no longer have the policy that if this is your first visit here, you get two trips to the buffet and if you have been here before, you only get one. It is now, the more typical, go as many times as you want.

You can order off the menu,

but the buffet is the way to go.

I really love this photo of the little girl in the buffet line.


There aren't a lot of choices here. But you can get hash,

ribs,

white and dark pork, pickles and cole slaw.


The barbecue sauce of choice in this area of the country is the yellow mustardy sauce.

It reminds me of a more vinegary honey mustard salad dressing. I know it isn't for everyone, but I absolutely love it! They do also offer, what they called a "ketchupy bbq sauce", but I had no interest in trying it.

Here is my first plate.

As you can see, I let the sauce get away from me a little bit.

I wish some of my photos of the pork itself had come out better, but the pork is outstanding. The dark is especially moist and piggy flavored. I would have no problem eating it sauceless. I am less impressed by the ribs. Both the hash and cole slaw also get big thumbs up from me. Lisa, Tim and Carly also really enjoyed their food very much.

Sitting in a tree surrounded house, this is a more polite bbq parlor. The dining room is pleasant and comfortable.


Another nice touch is that, since everyone is drinking the sweet tea, they just put an entire pitcher on your table.

The sweet tea is also outstanding and near Beacon Drive-in quality.

I had a wonderful time seeing old friends and we ended up talking for over three hours. With frequent returns to the buffet line in between, of course. Dessert here is banana pudding, a real bargain at .60 cents.

This is world class banana pudding. CajunKing, you would love this stuff! I ate two there and grabbed a third for the drive back to Charleston.

I really love Sweatman's and I'm glad it lived up to my memory. I would give the food a 9 and the atmosphere a 10. I have six bbq parlors I have visited, that I consider the absolute elite level places. Those are Lexington #1, Skylight Inn, Cozy Corner, Clark's Outpost, Louie Mueller's and Smitty's. I would put Sweatman's just a notch below those six.

I had given some serious thought to going to another restaurant late Saturday night, but I was spent. I was quite happy to relax in my room the rest of the night, snacking on the goodies I bought at George & Pink.


More to come.....

It looks kinda like your pork was covered in that banana pudding.

Great trip report! I'm hungry right now, but since I'm in downtown Los Angeles at this moment, there's no quality BBQ in my immediate future.

Question: I'm unfamiliar with the hash you've shown in a couple of different photos. It doesn't look like any hash I'm familiar with ... looks more like some kind of gravy. Can you explain this type of hash to poor ignorant me?

quote:

Originally posted by The Travelin Man

It looks kinda like your pork was covered in that banana pudding.

Thanks for the idea, I will try that next time!

BB

I sat in that same exact table @ the pavilion!!!!! The beach house I had rented was just down the way (walking/stumbling) distance.

SC used to be a no open pour state and only served alcohol in those little airplane sized bottles, man did we get toasted.

I am sorry to see that so many RF places have closed down in EB. I really enjoyed my stay there could have been the food or the alcohol or the company

That nana puddin looks awesome, I haven't been to sweatmans in several years. I really enjoyed my time there. I am not really too big on mustard based que sauces, but their sauce had a good flavor.

catosaurus

SC BBQ Hash is sort of like BBQ stew without the veggies (if that makes any sense)

The meat is simmered in the mustard based sauce, until extremely tender and then served over rice or with white bread.


Here is my low country hash recipe, it may give yo a better idea of what it is

3 to 4 lb. pork shoulder
cold water
dash black pepper
dash salt

Sauce

Medium onion, chopped
2 TBSP butter
4 TBSP vinegar
2 TBSP brown sugar
4 TBSP lemon juice
1 Cup chili sauce
chopped parsley
1 TBSP dry mustard
3 TBSP worcestershire sauce
4 TBSP prepared mustard

Instructions

Place pork in a large saucepan with enough cold water to halfway cover it
Add salt and pepper
Bring to a boil, then simmer until well done
Remove from pan, cool, then remove all fat and bones
Shred the lean meat and set aside while preparing the sauce

Brown the onion in the butter
Add vinegar, brown sugar, lemon juice, chili sauce, chopped parsley, dry mustard, worcestershire
sauce and prepared mustard
Simmer for 30 minutes

Add the shredded meat and simmer this mixture for another hour

Serve with white bread or serve over cooked hot rice.

catosaurus, barbecue hash in the South is typically what your cook does with the leftovers, so in polite places like Sweatman's and in Don's recipe, it only calls for trims from the shoulder or ham or whatever they're barbecuing. But at a pig pickin' or a home cook's hash might include organ meats chopped fine. That's why in the South you say you gotta know who made the hash, or who washed the chitlins. It's what you did with the rest of the pig when you were too poor to just throw it away, and it's often what the children ate, thus the rice or white bread to stretch it. I don't think I ate anything but hash until I was grown. Again, poor people food. If you're thinking about corned beef hash or roast beef hash it's really not the same thing. It's almost always wet and gravylike, but the underlying notion--using something you can't serve otherwise--is the same.

Nancy

Hey in the south we use every part o the pig cept the squeal.

I provided my "Yankee" version for those of that persuasion

Thank you to Nancy and CajunKing for providing informative answers to catosaurus' excellent question. I should have realized not everyone was familiar with hash. Knowing that it is whatever is leftover from the pig, this is one of those foods you probably don't want to think too much about while you are eating. It sure is good over a bed of rice, though.

So Don do you ever make hash the 'old school' way, even just for your family?

Really, hash is one of those dishes a cook can show off at, because you're basically making something from not much. I can remember being told to have some hash when I wasn't feeling all that well and didn't want a big supper; it's a comfort food for people who grew up with it. As I recall, Sweatman's example was quite good. I'm so sorry I didn't get to meet up with you Cliff; it looks like you had a delightful time.

Okay, one more thing about Sweatman's. You'll notice they really don't do a lot of sides; they keep it to what they can do well. That's a sign of a great barbecue buffet. Cliff now I want you to try Duke's in Orangeburg or Walterboro, and Shealy's, and give me a comparison.

Nancypalooza-
It would have been great had you been able to join us. But, we will have other opportunities. My friend Lisa is really nagging me to come visit her in Columbia, so I will have to make a point to do that. I told her if she can get Gamecock football tix this Fall, I am there!

I do like the fact that Sweatman's doesn't make a lot of sides. You are there to eat bbq and that is what they do. Look how poor my sides were at Po Pigs earlier in the day.

I have been to the Duke's in Walterboro twice, but not for many, many years. I loved the place! They definitely have a much bigger selection on the buffet, though. I told Lisa, when I come down, they have to take me to Shealy's!

BB - When sweet tea is the preferred beverage, do you usually find unsweetened tea also?

I usually make hash with leftover butt or shoulder now, If I have the scraps from a whole piggy then yes I like using it all. Not os much on the organ meat though

There are folks who are discriminating with the organ meat, and folks who aren't at all. It can make it taste funky.

CTD yes, typically. You might have to ask for it and it might be in a very lonely pitcher off in the corner. There are too many folks with diabetes in this part of the world to not have it at all.

Gregg
Our experience makes the availablity of unsweetened tea as an option to the 'normal' sweetened version fade the further south you go. Here in Louisville, at non-national chains, I would guess it is about a 75% chance you can get non-sweet as an option...and many places will ask which you prefer. By the time you get to Nashville, my guess is a lot fewer places will offer the choice and south of Tennessee it would be a rare foodstop that served non-sweet. At least that has been our experience. perhaps the choices vary more as you travel down I-95 along the east coast. West of the Mississippi, grab the little bags of sweetener, as most places seem to serve non-sweet.

Nancy & Al - Thanks for the information...I appreciate it!

I swear bb, I don't know how you manage to travel so much and hit so many places to eat! Good for you.....and as always another great trip report and pics.

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster
Everything I know about chatting up the pretty waitresses, I learned from wanderingjew and Travelin Man!

Whoa, wait a second there....I think TTM deserves sole credit for that.....

I'm so jealous that you got to Sweatman's. As you know I really, really really wanted to get there this past February but i now realize (and should plan in advance for this) that the airlines have been consistently "screwing me over" for the last 3 out of 4 trips I've taken.

As always, a suprb report and great photos. it is always a pleasure to read about one of your trips. hope you will make it out to the west coast. We'll try to add some more reviews so you can continue to up your total.

So BB, was this AFTER the baseball trip with WJ and TTM? You are the BAAAADDEST man in Roadfood! Thanks for providing a wide open window into a world and cuisine I know next to nothing about. Oh, how I wish we had those Sweatman's prices in NYC!! Love the "dude" in the lawn chair, just truckin' along, good buddy! No pie, eh? We'll need to remedy that this fall. You really must come to the Pie Social in Brooklyn in September. There are usually about 40-50 different kinds of pies there each year!

Sunday June 22, 2009 

My favorite spot in Charleston is the Battery. Located at the end of the peninsula, it is a great place to walk or just relax near the water. My plan was to grab a couple snacks and eat them on a park bench. So, my first stop was Cafe Cafe.

They are apparently a sister restaurant to Diana's, which I ate in two nights earlier. There wasn't a lot to choose from, but there was a fine looking chocolate cake sitting out, so I asked for a piece of that. When I got to the park and picked my box up, it was soaked as was everything else around it. They had covered it with whipped cream, which made a ridiculous mess.

I'm not much for whipped cream myself, but this didn't ruin the cake for me. It just made it a lot less photogenic. I did dump all the whipped cream I could in the garbage can and ate it that way.

Trust me.....it tasted better than it looks. I also enjoyed a fine banana nut muffin.


I spent the next hour or so, walking around the Battery and the nearby streets.





As much as I enjoy the Battery, the restaurant I wanted to eat breakfast in was opening at 8:00AM and I had expected there to be a line. I arrived at Hominy Grill

at 7:50AM and was the sixth person in line. That gave me plenty of time admire this sign on the side wall.


You know how sometimes when you walk in to a restaurant and just know you are in for a really good meal? This is one of those places. Located in a bulding that used to be a barbershop, the poles on the inside are still here.


Here is a blurry photo of the specials available that morning.


Liver pudding, Ort! Once again, where are you when I need you?

This was a tough decision, but the mushrooms and pimiento cheese sauce in the hominy egg casserole leaned me in that direction. I got the sunflower toast on the side.


Everything on that plate was top notch, yet still could not match the amazing bacon.

Double thick bacon, this is as good a bacon as I have ever had!

Dessert choices were plentiful,

but how could I pass up homemade chocolate pudding?

Devilishy thick and rich, this competed with the banana pudding at Sweatman's for best dessert of the weekend.

http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1866&RefID=1799

Full after another saisfying meal, it was time to do some sightseeing.

More to come.....

BB - As I read the Specials list, i was torn between the Crab Stuffed Omelette and the Mushroom and Hominy Egg Casserole...your choice looks great!

I would have been swayed by the Shrimp Burger, but I would have had a tough time turning those two down as well. Nice dessert choice too. I haven't been to the Hominy Grill in like 8 years, I gotta go back.

CTD-
The crab stuffed omelette would have been my second choice for breakfast at Hominy Grill. But once again, I figured that if they are so proud of the hominy that they put it in the restaurant's name, then that is something I must try. I do get the feeling, though, that absolutely everything is good there.

As for your sweet tea question, I am finding it more and more in the South that you will be asked if you want your iced tea sweet or unsweet. If they don't ask you, you will get sweet. At home, I always get my tea unsweet and don't add anything. But there is just something about being in the South that makes me want to drink the sweet stuff while I am visiting. Maybe it is a "When in Rome", kind of thing.

What dessert would you have chosen?

NancyPalooza-
Had I been eating lunch, the shrimp burger would have been an easy choice. That just didn't sound like breakfast to me. But then again, some might not think chocolate pudding is breakfast food, either.

I'm thinking of the old Bill Cosby routine about feeding his daughters chocolate cake for breakfast. ;) You didn't ask me but I would have had a hard time turning down either of the pound cakes. I bet the lemon-ginger is to die for.

It might just be anecdotal, but it really seems to me that sweet tea is getting indiscriminately sweeter here too. There are places--and they often tend to be chains--that the tea is so sweet as to be near undrinkable. I find myself ordering water to thin it real often, or just sticking to unsweetened. When it makes your teeth hurt, folks, it's too sweet.

quote:

Originally posted by Nancypalooza

I'm thinking of the old Bill Cosby routine about feeding his daughters chocolate cake for breakfast. ;) You didn't ask me but I would have had a hard time turning down either of the pound cakes. I bet the lemon-ginger is to die for.

It might just be anecdotal, but it really seems to me that sweet tea is getting indiscriminately sweeter here too. There are places--and they often tend to be chains--that the tea is so sweet as to be near undrinkable. I find myself ordering water to thin it real often, or just sticking to unsweetened. When it makes your teeth hurt, folks, it's too sweet.

I'm a sweet tea drinker, my Mom not so much. She orders her's "half & half".

quote:

Originally posted by buffetbuster

Sunday June 22


Here is a blurry photo of the specials available that morning.


Liver pudding, Ort! Once again, where are you when I need you?

This was a tough decision, but the mushrooms and pimiento cheese sauce in the hominy egg casserole leaned me in that direction. I got the sunflower toast on the side.


Everything on that plate was top notch, yet still could not match the amazing bacon.

OK
You are definately my brother from a different mother, that would have been my choice for breakfast too.

Ok CK, which dessert would you have ordered?