Shingler's List: charleston

This last weekend we went to Charleston with Mom and Dad to visit Levi and celebrate the January birthdays. Mine is the 14th, Mom's the 27th and Dad's the 31st.

I am going to apologize in advance for the crappy pictures. I didn't want to haul my SLR down there and I forgot to charge my little camera so these are all phone pictures. Of course, I still can't get them to save after I have rotated them and the quality is bad. But, it is better than nothing I guess...

We started at Fuel on Friday as it was next to Hominy Grill.

This guava mojito was delicioso. Not too sweet or minty - perfect!

Can you believe I have never eaten here before? Even if I moved back to Charleston, it would take forever to get to all the restaurants. And, I'd be broke. :)

Boiled peanuts to start

Dad got the purloo with sausage, ham, shrimp and fried chicken

I got the sesame-crusted catfish with fried grit cakes, sauteed okra and a geechee peanut sauce

The catfish, okra and sauce were amazing. I think my herbed cheese grit cakes are better than these though.

Brad got the pecan-crusted pork chop

Levi got the special - a bog with some wild game (duck, rabbit, ??) and jasmine rice croquettes. With collards and the grit cakes

We stayed at the Fulton Lane Inn right on King. It was a great little place!

On Saturday, we walked around downtown. The Battery. The weather was fantastic!! Clear, sunny and not too cold at all.

Brad and me with a massive live oak. I want one or ten...

Mom and Dad with one of the cannons.

All the oaks in the park.

Brad and I took Mom and Dad to the place where Brad proposed. The pineapple fountain at the park on the Cooper River.

For lunch, we went over to Sullivan's Island for some BBQ. (This is another place I had never eaten.) The one in West Ashley is the game-day headquarters for UGA's alumni association and game watching. And Packway Handle plays there a fair amount.

I got a Goose Island winter ale. Goose Island is brewed in Chicago and we always had it when we went to see Megan and Adi. You don't see it much around here at all.

Brad with a Hometeam Gamechanger.

My pork platter. Those beans were for real!

We then went to Patriots Point so Dad and Brad could tour the USS Yorktown. Mom and I skipped. I have been on it several times. Kiawah actually had their employee Christmas parties on it because no other place was big enough!

We ventured to North Charleston after that for some outlet shopping and the boat show. Alas, we do not have a new boat. :(

We went to Pearlz in West Ashley for dinner. I really wanted to go to Al Di La but with it being Avondale's Restaurant Week, they were booked solid. Pearlz was great though. I love their corn fritters!

After dinner, we walked over to Voodoo for some cocktails. Levi and Dad sipped some tequila and Brad and I enjoyed the house margaritas.

They have this 32 oz rum punch that they set on fire. We were really jazzed to see it but, then, weren't very impressed with the flame. Ha.

Brad and I joined Levi at Gene's across the street after Voodoo.

We played some mean Jenga. Levi is contemplating his move here. It ended being the last one of our best game. 25 levels!

On Sunday, we had brunch at Fat Hen. This is just about a ritual for us when we are in town.

Levi has a friend that works as a cook there so he sent us out the house-made charcuterie to start. Pate, mousse, salmon, beef and sausage. Yum.

We also ordered the cheese platter and smoked salmon.

Brad had the duck bbq.

Mom had the creme brulee french toast.

Levi had the sausage and french toast sandwich.

Dad had the duck and apple sausage gratin.

Sweet potato biscuits

I got the two eggs any way. They have switched up their grits and they were scrumptious!! Best eggs I have had in a while too. Oh, and the local apple cider was amazing. They actually ran out so I was glad I ordered it first thing!