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When I emailed local Cicerone, professional beer tour guide, and all-around lover of suds Coby Glass to advise me in a simple beer pairing matter for National IPA Day, I had no idea that I was setting myself for an afternoon of hands-on beer education. Expecting a reply along the lines of “She-Crab soup goes…

As COVID-19 brought Charleston’s world-renowned restaurant scene to a grinding halt back in March, local diners started to get anxious. Living in one of the most foodie-friendly cities in the country tends to spoil you a bit. Menus featuring seasonal produce from nearby farms or seafood caught from local waterways abound around these parts, as…

In the heart of Charleston’s historic French Quarter neighborhood, State Street (named Union Street, before simmering years of pre-Civil War conflict prompted a name change in 1860), had already seen plenty of history before 46 State was built as it stands today. As was the case in every bustling city of the colonial American settlements,…

“This okra is cooked perfectly, and I’m pretty snobby about my okra,” quips food celeb Padma Lakshmi to Bill Green, chef and co-owner of the Gullah Grub restaurant of St. Helena Island, in the fourth episode of Padma’s newest show, “Taste the Nation”. Through the series, Padma explores the multicultural, multi-ethnic origins of America’s favorite…

Like many Charlestonians that have been here since college days, I’ve got a bevy of friends that work in Charleston’s substantial service industry. I can count rickshaw riders, hotel employees, tour guides, museum docents and more among my longtime buddies in town – but many of my very closest and oldest friends are in the…

Summer 2020 has proven to be extraordinary in more ways than one. COVID-19 has changed how we’re eating out, and the Black Lives Matter movement has us thinking about all the remarkable Black-owned and operated restaurants in and around the Palmetto City. If you’ve seen Chef KJ Kearney’s #BlackFoodFridays posts, maybe you’ve already come across…

The smell of summertime in South Carolina is distinctive, and, it should come as no surprise, deeply entwined with the smell of food. The smoky scent of a neighborhood barbeque immediately calls to mind school-free days of childhood, Fourth of July parties, swimsuits, and outdoor play. Southerners lucky enough to have grown up with a…

Here in Charleston we are spoiled. Truly. With the temperature here, we are able to indulge in fresh market produce a large part of the year. Because of our warm southern coastal climate, our growing season starts in early February and lasts until mid-December, giving us on average a whopping 317 days of growing! Naturally, the farmers market is a big deal around here. Visitors and locals alike love to indulge in seasonal fruits, vegetables, honeys, jams, artisan baked goods and handcrafted treasures. While the Charleston farmers market on Marion Square is the largest and most well-attended market, we have more than one market to choose from! In fact, almost every day of the week you can find a local farmers market to enjoy. Here in Charleston perusing local markets is just part of the Lowcountry way of life. While the opening…

Welcome to the first installment of our series that focuses, each season, on a different exciting ingredient that’s being utilized in restaurants and bars around Charleston! Sea Beans (a.k.a. Salicornia Virginica), are our first Ingredient Spotlight – specifically, sea beans grown by lowcountry hydroponics star, Heron Farms. Sam Norton, a College of Charleston biology grad,…

With the thriving, hip vibes of Upper Kings Street in Charleston, it’s easy to forget that this historic area is one of the oldest in the city. Dated at nearly 200 years old, this street crosses through the Charleston peninsula and was one of the main thoroughfares when the city was established in 1670. Named after King Charles II of England, this street has deep roots in the city’s beginning stages. In fact, many of the side streets surrounding King Street are named after prominent families who lived in the area during the establishment of the city. From even the very early years of the city, King Street was known as a commercial and retail corridor and it has maintained that tradition with a live-where-you-work atmosphere. Many retail spaces have residential spaces on the upper floors, a nod to the…

Visiting Charleston in Winter: 5 Best Activities You Can Do Charleston is one of those charming cities where history is ever-present. Visiting in the winter is definitely a great way to experience a unique look into South Carolina’s oldest city. Perhaps you’ve found great vacation rentals in Charleston but are still clueless about what to…

We are all about travel here at Charleston Culinary Tours. There isn’t anything better than experiencing a new location through the cuisine, culture, people and historical sites unique to that area. Helping visitors experience the best that Charleston has to offer is at the heart and soul of Charleston Culinary Tours. Our experienced and friendly tour guides not only treat our guests to the best eating there is in the Charleston area, but their friendly conversation and historical knowledge is the icing on the cake! While we have had to put our tours on hold for the time being as our country recovers from the effects of Covid-19, we haven’t stopped making plans for things we’ll have in store for you when businesses and restaurants are able to reopen. We are committed to supporting and helping local businesses recover. In…