Teeny, tiny restaurants - H & R Sweet Shop

H & R Sweet Shop & Soul Food, Mt. Pleasant, SC 

I didn't actually eat at the H & R Sweet Shop because my walks are normally timed for when most businesses are closed. That trick has saved me a lot of money through the years but I wouldn't mind returning to eat one of their burgers and enjoy the ambiance. There is a fun write up in the Moultrie News from 2017:

The "H" stands for Harriet and the "R" is for Raliegh "Pat" Johnson, Sr. In 1947 Raliegh Johnson was discharged from the army and returned to Mount Pleasant where his father, Peter Johnson, owned a strip of land on the north side of Royall starting at Morrison and extending to the playground. Peter Johnson, Sr., bought the property from the school district for $150 in 1903. The Inflation calculator indicates that $150 in 1903 equates to $1,574 today. However, that amount of money was quite an investment in those days. In 109 years the property has not been out of family hands.Years ago the Sweet Shop brought in jazz performers to entertain patrons in the club room in the rear. "Oscar and Fabian Rivers brought their Chicago-based band to Charleston," says Raliegh, and they performed here. Also performing were Nita Nelson with Donald Fields on drums, with Jack McDuff and Joy Pryor. All of this occurred when jazz was practically dead in this part of the country.Raliegh Senior's brother Peter started the P.S. Johnson Funeral Home, now called Johnson and Hall, located on Venning Street. Together, the Johnson brothers were successful entrepreneurs in the area, and they were instrumental in the rebuilding of nearby Friendship A.M.E. Church. The Quaker Church of Philadelphia had operated a mission and a freedman's school on this land during Reconstruction. As years progressed, parcels of land were sold off to families who could afford it. The Johnsons have jealously guarded their inheritance and it appears that the H & R Sweet Shop and Major's Hats and Suit business is on track to see its 100th anniversary.Raliegh, Sr., was both a cook and a barber in the U.S. Army. In 1947 he engaged a contractor to build the block and stucco building that you see today. On one side, Raliegh operated a barbershop and on the other, a full-service ice cream shop and diner. For a while Raliegh was the only licensed barber in Mount Pleasant. In the 1960s before desegregation, the Sweet Shop was a beehive of activity for the African-American community, and Raliegh was known to help a lot of people out when they got into a jam, financially.

Neighborhood Taste Tester

Pasta Salad at Mellow Mushroom, Charleston, SC   

I was invited to taste the new catering menu at Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Avondale tonight. Not a bad way to spend the evening! This is a trend I'd like to continue! Although Mellow Mushroom is primarily a pizza restaurant they have delicious salads, sandwiches and appetizers. From this selection my favorite was the chicken salad sandwich - no doubt. Thanks Mellow Mushroom!

NICO's on Shem Creek

NICO Oysters & Seafood, Mt. Pleasant, SC     

I've had many a good meal prepared by Chef Nico when he was at Fish Restaurant. Now he has opened his own restaurant on Shem Creek called NICO's Oyster & Seafood Restaurant. This evening was a celebration and the restaurant was packed with friends wishing him well and celebrating the opening.

Check out the details and menu here: NICO.

The parking lot was packed but my understanding is that free valet parking will be a regular option. Congrats Nico and team!

Pancito & Lefty guest chef dinner

My friend English and I were lucky participants in a dinner at a Pancito & Lefty - a relatively new restaurant on upper King St. last night. This was my first visit and it was for a dinner presented by a visiting chef from El Destilado in Oaxaca, Mexico. The temperature was perfect for outside dining, each dish was creative and delicious, our companions all clever and interesting people. What a fun treat. Put it on your list!

El Destilado's Head Chef Julio Aguilera and his team are coming directly from Oaxaca to collaborative with P+L's Robert Berry to present creative reinventions of classic Mexican dishes. The dinner will be preceded by a tasting of rare agave spirits not available in the U.S., hosted by El Destilado's co-founder and mezcal expert, Jason Cox.

Grilled cheese for the win!

Cory's Grilled Cheese

Who doesn't like grilled cheese? It is the ultimate comfort food and no matter how easy it is to make yourself, it can still be tempting to order a really good version in a restaurant. Did you know we have a grilled cheese sandwich restaurant? Yes, we do! 

Cory's Grilled Cheese is in the James Island Shopping Center tucked away beyond the recently renovated Harris Teeter. They serve every version of grilled cheese sandwich you can imagine as well as letting you create your own. Fun fact - owner Cory has a tattoo of a grilled cheese sandwich on his arm. Funner fact - they host hard metal bands after hours as well as open mic and acoustic nights. It is definitely a character spot. 

Eating in R Kitchen - West Ashley

R Kitchen, West Ashley, Charleston, SC  

I whine and complain every time there is a list of new restaurant openings and none of them are in the part of town I live in now, West Ashley. Waa, waaa...... I have however been aware that R Kitchen was opening in the former Livelihood Cafe on Ashley River Road just around the corner from me but hadn't seen any sign that it was clearly open yet. It is!

There is a mysterious system of texting the chef to see what opening they have and then bingo, you are in. There is a long counter and Ross, the chef cooked up an incredible dinner for us. There were five courses and bottles of paired wines on the counter. He had had an incredible day full of disasters beyond his control but he was funny and magically presented delicious dishes for us. We had a compatible group. My son joined me, and there were six others in our seating. We had a wonderful time full of laughter and tasty treats. Thanks chef!

Edit: When you are ready to make a plan, text Chef Ross at 843-789-0725 to ask about reservations. They seat at 6 p.m. and/or 8 p.m. Mostly about $45 for dinner with choices of drink pairings. It was a lot of fun. It's the yellow house on 1337 Ashley River Rd. 

New Vegan Cafe - Gnome Cafe

Gnome Cafe, Charleston, SC 

I finally made it to Charleston's new vegan cafe - Gnome Cafe. I had my eye on the restaurant because my friend Saramel is one of owner/managers and I pass it every time I drive into town on Cannon St. It is painted black with a white gnome logo design but inside everything is fresh and white and green.

I made a quick connection with my facebook friend Jo who owns the Bead store just down the street and we found Saramel on duty bright and early in the cafe and it was filling up quickly. I am not vegan but found plenty of items I'd be happy to try. I ordered the breakfast burrito with tofu scramble, guacamole, potatoes and mango salsa. It was tasty and delicious and we shared a cinnamon roll.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I just made pralines (to give as gifts, naturally) and left a generous amount in the pot to scrape and lick so I am off to put myself into a sugar coma. Yum!

Chez Nous!

Mine, mine, mine! Chez Nous, Payne Ct., Charleston, SC

How does that look? Just a little bit tasty! It's tiny, it's hidden, it only has two appetizers, two entrée choices and two desserts but Chez Nous is always a treat. On the way out take a look through the open window to see Chef Jill Mathias looking like she is preparing your dinner in a painting.

A brunchie good time!

Edmond's Oast, Charleston, S.C.

It is in the high 60's, bright and sunny and everyone in Charleston went out to brunch. At least I did and now I need a nap. I finally got to Edmund's Oast and am blown away by the bright new buildings on Morrison Dr. Edmond's Oast has plenty of parking and new outdoor dining. The food was delicious(smoked pork loin & brie sandwich with peach jam, oh my) and I found these two photo ops to share.

Carmella's Cafe & Dessert Bar

Carmella's Cafe & Dessert Bar, East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

Next time you are in wandering around town and feel like a little sumthin' sumthin', don't have dinner reservations and don't need a full meal, pop into Carmella's Cafe & Dessert Bar for ice cream, petite sweets, meat and cheese plates and/or a glass of wine. I didn't get a picture of the ice cream because I was invited to the soft opening event and it was packed with happy people eating everything in sight. Thanks Brian!

French Cafe in Mt. Pleasant

Saveurs du Monde Cafe. Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I don't spend much time exploring the nooks and crannies of Mt. Pleasant but I was invited out to a French Cafe by the name of Saveurs du Monde for lunch on Friday and stood there in a bewildering area of shops, apartments and future wine bars thinking "when did this happen"? I tell ya, if you blink around Charleston lately everything changes. The shopping and dining area was in the same neighborhood as Franke at Seaside retirement complex and I thought how nice it would be for seniors to be able to walk out of their apartment and have attractive shops at their doorstep. Disclaimer - I may have been super impressed because it was a late lunch and I was very hungry.

We had a delicious light lunch but I drooled all over the pastry case so take a napkin if you go. Check out the pictures on their web site and bring me back something delicious.

100 Best Restaurants in the South

Charleston, S.C.

I pulled the Charleston restaurants listed in Southern Living magazine's top 100 places to eat in the South listing. I am doing very well. I haven't got into Edmond's Oast or out to Sullivan's Island to the Obstinate Daughter yet, but I've been fortunate enough to enjoy the rest of the list. Yum, yum, yum. We are spoiled in Charleston.Southern Living magazine's top 100 places to eat in the South

 Chez Nous

Cypress

Hominy Grill

Husk

Macintosh

The Ordinary

Two Boroughs Larder

The Obstinate Daughter

Edmond's Oast

McGrady's

 FIG

Teeny, tiny and tasty!

Chez Nouz, Payne St., Charleston, S.C.

I had such a perfect dinner last night at Charleston's new French Restaurant Chez Nous. Set in a tiny little renovated house on Payne St. off Coming St., we didn't even see a name on it but it is worth finding! The space is charmingly decorated the food was delicious. Art Mag has a nice write up.

I had the eggplant drizzled with honey and the snapper and tastes of the other dishes. Co-owner Fanny Panella posed for a photo for me and I could see chef Jill Matthias busy in the kitchen. They were kind enough to let me snoop around even though I just had my little pocket camera with me.