Food has a unique power to evoke memories. The smells and tastes connect to some of our most deeply held emotions, including comfort, nostalgia, excitement, and love. Food is also one of the most easily accessible ways to get to know a place when travelling. Equity Estates invites you to immerse yourself in the unique flavors of your vacation, one destination at a time.
- Destination: Coastal South Carolina
- Number of restaurants: 300+
- Famous for: Classic Southern food, BBQ, Lowcountry cuisine, and shrimp and grits
The Coastal Carolina region is home to Gullah-Geechee and Lowcountry cuisine, showcasing the seasonal produce, grains, and fresh-caught seafood of the area. Dishes like she-crab soup, purloo, deviled crab, and shrimp and grits are synonymous with South Carolina, and find their place on the table alongside classics such as buttermilk biscuits, hushpuppies, Southern fried chicken, and the mustard- or vinegar-based Carolina BBQ.
A trip here means a taste of West African culture married with the flavors of the southern Atlantic coast and food that’s often simply prepared but with incredible depth and richness.
Four regional favorites
If you find yourself visiting Charleston or the Palmetto State’s barrier islands, these are a few of the not-to-be-missed local favorites that are worth seeking out, as well as some of the best places to find them:
The She-Crab Soup from Palmetto Café is well-known. You can even attempt it at home by following their popular recipe. But for a simple version that packs a ton of flavor, make sure to try the she-crab at Long Island Cafe. Thick, cream-based and filled with crabmeat, crab roe and a touch of sherry, it’s deliciously rich and one of the best bowls of soup in the city.
Shrimp and Grits is exactly what it sounds like: delicious, sautéed shrimp, typically cooked with cream, butter and just the right amount of seasoning, served over a bed of warm, stone-ground grits. Look for this just about anywhere around town and along the coast, but if you get the chance, be sure to check out the dish at the Salty Dog Café near Seabrook Island where it’s finished with Andouille sausage and a delicious bacon gravy.
Deviled Crab may be one of the most popular crab-based dishes in the region, and every restaurant has their own way to make and serve it beyond the standard crab meat, celery, onions, and breadcrumbs base. For no-frills deliciousness, pay a visit to The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene a super-casual restaurant with an outdoor porch overlooking Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant. Their deviled crab platter is about as down-home and authentic as it gets and comes with red rice, slaw, hush puppy, and a fried hominy square.
Seafood Purloo is a Gullah-Geechee dish combining shrimp, oysters, and crab meat with smoked sausage, okra, peppers, and rice for a super-savory (and filling) taste of Lowcountry flavor. You’ll find it on menus at several restaurants along the coast, but one of the best is served at Gillie’s Seafood near Folly Beach. The restaurant also offers a full menu of seafood baskets, specials, and homemade regional sides, so you can try a little bit of everything while you’re there.
Dining in downtown Charleston
Consistently ranked high on annual “best of” dining lists from Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, and other respected publications, historic Charleston shines like a beacon, inviting visitors to tour the city not just for the sights, sounds, and history but also for the food.
Stroll the historic Charleston City Market and have lunch at 167 Raw Oyster Bar off of King Street. They fly in their seafood fresh from Nantucket and are known for their pastrami swordfish sandwich and lobster roll. You can also enjoy an upscale meal of seared scallops in the garden-inspired dining room at nearby Palmetto Café.
The city’s award-winning Peninsula Grill, tucked away in a lovely courtyard garden in the heart of the historic district, is considered by many to be the crown jewel of the local dining scene. Decadent treats like seared foie gras, oysters, and caviar are offered as starters, while entrees such as the rosemary short rib with sweet potato hash and the savory double-cut pork chop complete the experience. Afterwards, save room for a slice of their world-famous, twelve-layer ultimate coconut cake.
Private chef experiences
In addition to the amazing dining options available on the barrier islands and around Charleston, a stay in an Equity Estates home also comes with access to unforgettable private chef experiences and a fully stocked kitchen with your choice of food and beverages (including local specialties, if you’d like).
Your Destination Manager will arrange for a private chef to come in during any part of your stay to create the meal experience of your dreams. In our Coastal Carolina homes, Chef Joe Dimaio has been cooking for Equity Estates investors for over four years — for intimate meals, large dinners, and special occasions.
“After an initial pre-trip introduction, you’ll have a phone call with Chef Joe to go over your requests for the meal, with dates and details confirmed before you travel,” says Destination Manager, Chelsea Lanahan.
Then, during the dinner, you can sit back and relax while he prepares, cooks, and serves a seafood or Lowcountry menu based on your preferences and dietary needs. Shrimp and grits or deviled crabs are two options, of course, though Chelsea says Chef Joe’s pork belly and Caribbean-inspired Rasta Pasta get a lot of requests.
Investors rave about the in-home private meals in their Equity Estates residences, with many recommending starting the trip with a private chef dinner so that you can enjoy the leftovers during the rest of your stay.
About the local Equity Estates homes:
Our Coastal Carolina residence, located less than an hour’s drive from downtown Charleston, is a spacious, four-bedroom beach house with magnificent views of the ocean from the main living area, master suite, and large covered porch. With a fully stocked chef’s kitchen, multiple outdoor living spaces, a private heated pool, and an elevator, it’s the ideal home for a family getaway or a food-and-fun vacation with friends.
Our Isle of Palms home is a custom-built, six-bedroom beach house, just 30 minutes from the food and fun of downtown Charleston. With ample outdoor living space—including multiple porches, a grill and sunbathing area, and a private pool—as well as its prime location just steps away from the sand, it’s a great home-away-from home for anyone looking for laid-back beach time to balance out their culinary adventures.
