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    Hummusapien Β» Wellness Β» Lovely Meals Lately Β» Lovely Meals Lately 05-20-2020: Charleston Edition

    Lovely Meals Lately 05-20-2020: Charleston Edition

    Published May 20, 2020 Β· Modified Sep 6, 2022 Β· by Alexis Joseph Β· 16 Comments

    We drove to Charleston, South Carolina last week and it was the most lovely little escape.

    Thanks to my new husband for arranging this special spur of the moment birthday trip! It wasn't the honeymoon(s) we originally planned, but it felt wonderful to have a change of scenery and some sunshine.

    Our friend Kevin was kind enough to offer us his adorable cottage on James Island. The nine hour drive from Columbus made it an easy trip, especially since there's so much beautiful greenery along the way!

    We relaxed, ordered takeout from Charleston's fantastic food scene, soaked in the stunning terrace oak trees and lush green landscapes, and even got to experience the beach. All socially distanced and with masks when appropriate, of course!

    I hadn't been to Charleston since I was very young, so I was completely enthralled by the charm, history, scenery, food scene, and overall friendliness.

    Middleton Place

    I typically take photos of about a third of the food I eat, and I definitely honored phone free time on our getaway. I actually wasn't planning on sharing this trip at all in the beginning, so half of the food we enjoyed went unphotographed. Bliss!

    When the world is more normal, I'd love to do a full travel blog post on this gem of a city. Without further adieu, below are the places we enjoyed for takeout.

    Favorite Charleston Restaurants

    Hurilayi

    We frequented this cute Hawaiian spot several times for refreshing smoothie bowls plus delicious savory options. Jeff loved the breakfast sandwich and burrito with turkey bacon and eggs. The golden bowl with curry tahini sauce, black beans, kale, and cilantro pesto rice was my favorite.

    Don't miss the chocolate acai bowl with raw bars crumbled on top plus a drizzle of chocolate sauce. It was one of the best smoothie bowls I've ever had!

    Second State Coffee

    The best coffee! We went there almost daily and brought bags of beans home. They have two locations but we only made it to the Beaufain Street one. Don't even get me started on the lemon curb blueberry scone...OMG. Muddy Waters is another good coffee shop on James Island.

    Millers All Day

    We got takeout from this all day bistro, bakery, and bar on our last day and holy moly...literally the best cinnamon roll I've ever laid mouth on. They serve breakfast all day!

    It was so wonderfully fluffy that I couldn't stop commenting on the cloud-like texture the entire time I ate it. It's made with biscuit dough and topped with melt in your mouth cream cheese frosting. Don't miss it.

    I also got the vegetable frittata with goat cheese spread served over grits and it was my favorite brunch we had.

    Daps

    The perfect breakfast spot! We enjoyed our breakfast sandwiches in the park and let me tell you, it was one of the tastiest sammies I've had to date.

    The chickpea sausage was out of this world and the English muffin was the fluffiest bread ever. Jeff ordered the breakfast club with coffee rubbed turkey, bloody mary chips, and bacon whipped cheese sauce. Insane.

    Crust

    Shockingly good pizza with the most epic thin and chewy crust, located right by where we stayed in James Island. We shared the Margarita pizza with the shaved beet salad (bibb, arugula, cucumber, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, candied pecans and pickled onion) and we loved everything.

    One night I got the butternut squash pizza with arugula, goat cheese, mushrooms and truffle oil which was also fab but I'm a sucker for red sauce.

    Wild Olive

    Excellent dinner spot with high-end Italian food. I had the scallops with farro verde, fennel, scallion, and orange basil vinaigrette. We went here at the beginning of the trip when I wasn't taking any photos yet, but believe me when I say this place is a keeper! The patio was adorable, too.

    Stella's

    Incredible Greek food. To start, we split the dolmades (grape leaves) and Cypriot salad (arugula, grilled halloumi, fennel, mint, grilled grapes, fennel, pistachio vinaigrette). The grape leaves were much larger than normal and so flavorful.

    For dinner, I ordered Yia Yia's skillet of gigantes (giant beans), kale, roasted garlic capers, cherry tomatoes, olives, and pita, which I absolutely loved! It was packed with flavor and super satisfying. Jeff got the braised lamb shank with brown butter noodles and he throughly enjoyed it.

    Glazed Donuts

    My gal pals sent us these fabulous donuts for my birthday and it was the best surprise! They have super interesting and delish rotating flavors of all natural donuts plus vegan and gluten-free options, which happened to be my favorite! Lemon pistachio...be still my heart.

    The Daily

    A sweet little café with lots of coffee drinks and breakfast options. Great avocado toast on sourdough plus egg sandwiches.

    167 Raw

    We were told this was the spot for seafood on popular King's Street. We strolled by and grabbed a lobster roll on a buttery bun that did not disappoint. The highlight was actually the pre-bottled frozen blueberry basil + ginger kiwi drinks!

    Gnome Café

    An 100% plant based spot with coffee and so many breakfast and lunch goodies. The biscuit sandwich with hemp sausage was insanely good. We also got the cinnamon pancakes which tasted amazing but had a slightly gummy flavor.

    Xiao Bao Biscuit

    I read a bunch of sites recommending this unique Asian-inspired spot in a converted gas station. We enjoyed it for sure, but the food is very spicy and pretty oily. I'd like to go back when the full menu is available. I did however love the okiyomiyaki, which is a cabbage pancake that I tried on my trip to Japan.

    Favorite Charleston Activities

    Middleton Place: This was truly one of the most beautiful, serene places I've ever visited. We felt like we were transported to another world of breathtaking landscapes at the National Historic Landmark.

    Typically Middleton Place offers tours through the grounds and historical homes, but none of those were options. We still had a wonderful time simply walking around and soaking up the sights.

    Walking around King Street and The Battery: There is so much rich history in Charleston and just walking around gazing and the gigantic homes is a day-long activity. King Street has tons of shops and restaurants that under normal circumstances would be super fun.

    Isle of Palms Beach: This beach was about 20 minutes from where we were staying, but since Folly Beach wasn't open yet, we opted for this location to see some waves. It wasn't very crowded which made social distancing super easy, and it felt incredible to have sand on our toes.

    Charleston Restaurants We'd Love to Visit Next Time

    We got a lot of recommendations from friends, but given the current climate of restaurants, we weren't able to get carryout from everywhere we'd hoped. Below were some other recommended spots!

    Fig (James Beard winner), Leon's Oyster Shop, Obstinate Daughter, Butcher & Bee, Poogan's Porch (classic Southern food), Basic Kitchen, Chubby Fish, Edmund's Oast, The Grocery, The Gin Joint (cocktails), The Macintosh, The Darling.

    Have you been to Charleston? What are your go-to spots?

    About Alexis Joseph

    Oh HEY there! I'm Alexis Joseph, food writer, blogger, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), new mama, and co-founder of local restaurant group, Alchemy. I use my passion for cooking and wellness as fuel to help others ignite a more freeing and happy relationship with food. Learn more about Alexis!

    5 Secrets to Delish, Healthy Lunches

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    1. Paige Gibbons says

      May 23, 2020 at 9:11 am

      Charleston is my favorite city! We always stay on Seabook Island and it's so relaxing. You hit a lot of great foodie spots. Be sure to check out Butcher & Bee next time. No trip to Charleston is complete without a stop at Jeni's for ice cream and Brown Dog Deli for lunch!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 24, 2020 at 10:26 pm

        Love it! I need to look into that island. We have Jeni's here in Cbus, too πŸ™‚

        Reply
    2. Susannah Cahillane says

      May 20, 2020 at 6:44 pm

      You hit so many of the great places! We just moved here and are vegan, so it is sometimes hard to be in such a foodie city as a vegan. We started a vlog called the Chubby Vegans to make it more fun where we visit Charleston breweries and restaurants to see what vegan and beer options they have. Check it out for your next visit! We need to get more videos up, but there are a few great places! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZtQEMfAoGSBL1ftOeBucA/videos

      Reply
    3. Kori says

      May 20, 2020 at 3:47 pm

      Okay, I already have been dying to visit, but now it is a MUST! While you couldn't do all the tourist-y things, your trip looks so stellar. All of the food is epic-on-epic, and you two are adorable!!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 21, 2020 at 3:32 pm

        Thank you, Kori! We can't wait to go back again.

        Reply
    4. Trista Johnson says

      May 20, 2020 at 2:56 pm

      My brother moved to Charleston about a year and a half ago and I have already visited twice! (I live in MA). I ADORE Hurilayi. My favorite thing to do is go there for breakfast and then walk around Hampton Park. I also enjoyed matcha at the daily my first visit! And Basic Kitchen should definitely be a priority when you go back! We ate there this time and it was amazing. My brother also reserved us a dinner at R. Kitchen this year... it's a tiny hole in the wall spot that does a special menu each day and serves two dinners- at 5 and 8- and it's like a four course feast. The chefs tell you all about how they made each dish. I think with your food background and restaurant work you would love this experience!! They can accommodate vegetarian and GF too if needed. It was divine. I'm so glad you were able to have a little getaway and that you enjoyed Charleston! Reading this makes me excited to go back again soon (hopefully!!)

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 21, 2020 at 3:34 pm

        We were so bummed that Basic Kitchen wasn't open because so many people recommended it! I love the sound of R. Kitchen. We will totally hit that up next time!

        Reply
    5. Trista Johnson says

      May 20, 2020 at 2:50 pm

      Yes!!! Hurilayi!!! My brother moved to Charleson a little over a year ago and I have already visited twice. My favorite thing to do is go to Hurilayi for breakfast and then walk around Hampton park. BLISS!! Also, the last time I went, I went to Basic Kitchen - highly recommend for your next visit! I also enjoyed The Daily for matcha on my first trip there :). I love Charleston and really love that my brother lives there now so I have a reason to visit!! Glad you had a nice trip! Such a thoughtful surprise!

      Reply
    6. Nicole says

      May 20, 2020 at 1:38 pm

      My fiance and I went for his 30th birthday a couple years ago, and it was such a treat! We loved Low Tide Brewing and Obstinate Daughter - seriously amazing and highly recommend! Obstinate Daughter was his "official birthday dinner" so we did cocktails, dessert - the whole big thing. I also really enjoyed Poogan's Porch and Muddy Waters coffee!! Ugh, can't wait to go back.

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 21, 2020 at 3:34 pm

        So fun. Muddy Waters was great too, I need to add that in!

        Reply
    7. Sarah says

      May 20, 2020 at 1:26 pm

      I’m so glad your got to get away! I admire your positivity in the face of having to change so many of your valued plans. Happy belated birthday, and keep on celebrating life!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 21, 2020 at 3:32 pm

        Thanks so much, Sarah!

        Reply
    8. Erin says

      May 20, 2020 at 1:07 pm

      Charleston is one of my all time favorite places, and I go once a year to visit family. My go-to places:
      1. Huriyali - best smoothie bowl I've had, totally agree with you2
      2. Kudu Coffee - best almond croissant and lattes
      3. Verde - huge salads
      4. Tu - cool small plates
      5. Callie's Hot Little Biscuit
      6. Black Magic Cafe - great food to pickup and take to the beach
      7. Carmella's for dessert
      8. Lost Dog Care
      9. Taziki's for Mediterranean
      10. Charleston Farmers Market - amazing breakfast burritos
      11. Tricera Coffee - great breakfast sandwiches
      12. Five Loaves Cafe for lunch
      13. Taco Boy for mexican

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 21, 2020 at 3:35 pm

        We went to Taco Boy! We had margaritas on the patios and it was so fun. I didn't love the tacos but the relaxed vibe made up for it πŸ™‚ I heard about Black Magic Cafe--that one was closed, too! Can't wait to try some of your other recs next time!

        Reply
    9. Whitney Long says

      May 20, 2020 at 11:42 am

      I have not been to Charleston, but we have friends that went recently and were telling us how incredible the food is, in addition to the scenery!

      Reply
      • Alexis Joseph says

        May 20, 2020 at 12:26 pm

        Seriously beautiful!

        Reply

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