I didn’t get to go to the beach this summer, so when we found out my friend Lindsey was getting married on Sullivan’s Island this September, Mom and I planned to make a vacation out of it. Of course, all rational ideas about food flew out the window on the drive down I-26…
The wedding ceremony was Friday evening on the beach, and the weather was perfect.
I grew up with a really tight-knit group of people, so any occasion to get together always results in a whole bunch of fun.
I still can’t nail the picture jump.
At the reception, I had a couple of vodka tonics, some lowcountry boil/frogmore stew/Beaufort stew/whatever you prefer to call it, half a pulled pork slider, and a slice of amazing almond cake with coconut icing. (low light = no pictures) Isn’t this cake gorgeous? Sand and sea!
After the wedding, several of us hung out in a hotel room until the wee hours of the morning, eating chips and drinking beer and wine out of plastic cups.
Things started dying down around 2am…we’re getting old.
The next day, Mom and I did the tourist thing in Charleston, visiting the Market and not buying much; it has lost its appeal over the years. Now that I understand the difference between class and kitsch, keepsakes and knickknacks, I’m disillusioned by it. They’ve renovated the facilities since I’ve been there, though – it’s much nicer now!
Mom and I did get souvenirs – mine was this sterling silver key necklace.
We ate a late lunch at a vastly overpriced and underwhelming restaurant, A.W. Shucks – a seafood joint right next to the Market. We’ve been here a few times before, and I don’t remember being so disappointed – maybe because I’ve got some food snob in me now? Blogging has ruined me. 
I did have a couple of S.C. beers; a Palmetto Amber brewed right there in Charleston, and a BottleTree Blonde ale from Tryon, NC.
Instead of getting entrees, Mom and I split a couple of appetizers. We had the crab dip, which was cold (I had hoped for a baked dish), 50% mayo-like filler, and served with packaged crackers…
…and a sampler with 2 stuffed/wrapped shrimp, 2 slices of fried green tomato, and 4 buffalo shrimp. It was good, but neither dish was worth its price.
We split a bourbon peach bread pudding for dessert. Now THAT was good.
Later that afternoon, we made our way back to Sullivan’s Island where we had some adult juice boxes and enjoyed the beach. Really the whole weekend was a string of occasions to drink, but isn’t that what a good vacation should be about?
For dinner, we headed to Vickery’s Bar and Grill at Shem Creek.
This is another place we’ve been to several times over the years, and all I could remember was the neato inlaid design in the sidewalk made from found objects like spoons and bottles.
I wanted something in a martini glass, so I got a cosmopolitan. It was PERFECT.
For dinner, I started with a caesar salad;
…and of course, I got the shrimp and grits with sausage. Definite Charleston fare.
We split a piece of key lime pie for dessert.
On Sunday after checking out of our hotel, we drove to North Charleston where my cousins live and went to brunch with them at this awesome Irish Pub, Madra Rua.
Fun fact: my dog’s name is Madigan which stems from the word “madra” – Gaelic for “dog.” Madigan apparently means “little dog” (I’m so clever), and “madra rua” means “red dog.” Don’t say I never taught ya nothin’.
I had a “bloody Jerry” – a bloody Mary with a shot of Guinness – and an andouille sausage and cheese omelette with hash browns. Both were DIVINE.
Also involved this weekend were some muffins and cookies and pumpkin spice lattes…oh my. My body is exhibiting signs of gluten intolerance today – I’m sluggish, congested, headachey, my stomach has that fake hunger/churning thing going on, and my skin is crawling. I need veggies and protein, STAT.
When you go on vacation to the same place, do you go to the same restaurants or try new places each time? If you’ve been to Charleston, what’s your favorite restaurant there?