Sustainability, community, and good meals are a few of the things Charleston’s “oyster queen” Caitlyn Mayer holds close to her heart.   Caitlyn + her husband, Tom, opened Charleston Oyster Farm in 2016. Today, Caitlyn + Tom run the farm with Tom’s brother, Peter. With HQ located just over the bridge on Stono River the trio work hard to provide local, delicious oysters to restaurants across the peninsula, all while minimizing food miles as much as possible.   Caitlyn explains “by being as close to our consumer population as possible, we can cut down on the amount of gas that we use. We have a really green footprint, we don’t have to use that much ice for freshwater because we can basically take them out and take them to the restaurant.”   Sustainability plays a big role not only in Caitlyn’s job as oyster farmer - also in the courses she teaches as an adjunct geology professor at the College of Charleston. Her inspiration to teach evolved from both her passion for the Lowcountry + her experience attending the College herself.   During her time at the College of Charleston, Caitlyn worked in a number of the Holy City’s food + beverage hotspots including Höm + Edmund’s Oast. From there, she developed an understanding + appreciation for quality culinary experiences. Caitlyn explains that through travel and working in food + bev there is an invaluable opportunity to learn “how all of your food has so much more of a story than you think.”     This passion for wine + food only deepened during the summer she spent on a vineyard in France. She describes how the labor, authenticity, and knowledge that goes into the food in Europe keeps people from taking a meal for granted. “It’s cool,” she says, “to be around a society that’s so passionate about where their food comes from + how they’re growing it + why it has the flavor it does.”   Caitlyn further explains how something as simple as a picnic baguette + charcuterie should be relished. The perspective Caitlyn gained from her time in Charleston restaurants + France inspires her to appreciate her meals and encourage consumers of her oysters to do the same. “It’s all about taking life as is and just enjoying the moment,” Caitlyn says. “That’s something that’s cool about an oyster... the setting you have to be in to eat it is not a fast-paced setting.”     While pairing the salty shellfish with the perfect wine can make for a fabulous evening, many consumers, even locals, forget the cultural and historical context of oysters and local oyster farming. Oyster farming is so much more than a key component of the Holy City food + bev industry. The process stands as a huge part of Charleston’s historical, cultural and economic foundation. Maintaining the rich history surrounding oyster farming was important to Caitlyn and the Charleston Oyster Farm. “That’s how Charleston was founded. Major cities were founded because oysters existed there. So it’s just a really cool part of our history,” Caitlyn says.   Consumers can see Caitlyn’s and the Charleston Oyster Farm’s devotion to respecting the culture and history of this business in everything they do. From the historic location of the farm near the old Bachman’s facility on the Stono River to the names of the oysters they harvest. The “Perky Sea Cups,” a cheeky reference to their perfectly salty and refreshing flavor, while the “Mosquito Fleet Petites” pay homage to the Gullah Geechee culture of the region, a culture that kickstarted local oyster harvesting as an industry. “It was really important to us,” Caitlyn explains, “to try and revitalize that part of our history and work in an area that’s always been in a fishing community and stay true to the indigenous peoples and their ways.”     Sharing her passion for oysters and teaching others the nature and sustainability of local oyster farming are just a few reasons Caitlyn enjoys being a part of festivals like Charleston Wine + Food. “We don’t really get to interact with the consumer, we’re just selling to the restaurant,” Caitlyn says. “That’s what’s really cool about getting to participate in events like this because otherwise we don’t know how great it is or how we’re really impacting the public.”

Enjoy this simple veggie side dish from Matt Canter of The Establishment!    

Blistered Snap Beans with Garlic, Chili and Vinegar

  1 lb green beans, stem removed 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic 2 teaspoons dry chili flakes 1/2 cup sherry vinegar Fleur de Sel, or another coarse sea salt for finishing like Bulls Bay     Use a large saute pan- or two. (Its important not to over crowd the pans with the beans as they will not get the nice browning)   Add just enough canola oil to coat the bottom of the pan and heat until smoking.   Place the beans in a single layer in the pans, toss to coat and reduce the heat to medium and allow the beans to brown.   After 1 - 2 minutes of constantly moving the beans around the pan, remove from the heat and add the garlic and chili flakes. Toss in the pan to coat.   As soon as the garlic begins to slightly brown, add just enough of the vinegar to lightly coat and deglaze the pan.   Serve hot and right out of the pan, sprinkled with course sea salt.

Enjoy these tasty treats from Greer Gilchrist + Cameron Neal of The Harbinger Cafe!    

Tahini Peanut Oak Cookies

2 cups rolled oats 1/4 cup and 2 TB peanuts ¼ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt 1 tb chia seed ¼ cup chopped dried apricots ¼ cup tahini ½ cup maple syrup ¼ cup almond milk 1 tsp vanilla   Topping: Cinnamon sugar Chia seeds   Toast the oats and the peanuts for 10 minutes in an oven at 350. They can share a tray. In a food processor pulse 1 cup of the oats and ¼ cup of the peanuts into a flour (do not pulse the remaining 1 cup of oats and 2 TB peanuts).   Add all of the dry ingredients into a bowl from the oats to the chia seeds (including the oat/peanut flour and the reserved oats and peanuts).   Mix in the chopped dried apricots and use your hands to incorporate them into the flour so they don’t clump together.   Add in the wet ingredients from the tahini to the vanilla.   Using a scoop or your hands create even balls and place them on a parchment lined baking tray. Use the palm of your hand to push them down so they resemble flat discs. Sprinkle the tops with cinnamon sugar + more chia seeds.   Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.   Allow to cool and enjoy!

Celebrate Chinese New Year with this dumpling recipe from Shuai + Corrie Wang of Short Grain and the soon-to-open Jackrabbit Filly! You can see them during Charleston Wine + Food at Hipster Cocktail Party + Southern Renaissance.    

Dumplings

5 cups napa cabbage, finely chopped & lightly salted 1/2 lb ground pork (or ground chicken works) 2 teaspoon minced ginger 1 stalk scallion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon dark Chinese cooking wine or sherry 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil 2 teaspoon lite soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon cornstarch Pinch of white pepper 1 pack “Twine Marquis” brand dumpling wrapper, “Shanghai style” thickness (Leave at room temperature over night the day before you make the dumplings, this will make the wrapping part much easier)   To make the filling, first take the salted cabbage and drain all excess water, make sure you get as much water out as you can or else it’ll make the filling watery. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well, making sure not to over mix. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before making the dumplings.   To make the dumplings, have a small bowl of water to help seal the wrapper. Put one sheet of wrapper in the palm of your hand, and place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the middle. Slightly dampen the edge of half the wrapper, making sure that it is damp but not wet - too much moisture will make a messy dumpling! Fold  the wrapper close and press the edges making sure there are no air bubbles in the middle where the filling is, and give it a good pinch. Repeat until all fillings are gone. Pan fry in oil or boil in water until wrappers are translucent, then enjoy!  

Dipping Sauce

   

[embed]https://youtu.be/-0F07sa_LY8[/embed]   This year’s campaign tagline was Experience Our Story. It’s all about people. They’re who we are and at the center of everything we do. Their stories influence our story. Their stories are our story. This year’s campaign told the stories of a diverse group of food and beverage talent that individually and collectively have shaped + influenced the story of Charleston’s culinary + hospitality community. Each one of these individuals featured in our campaign represents the ideas + values of Charleston Wine + Food.   Their stories – where they came from, how cooking makes them feel + what food means to them, and how they would want their stories told to the world - were interpreted through doodles + illustrations that embellished their portraits.      

Rodney Scott

James Beard Award winner Rodney Scott is one of the most recognized names to come out of the Holy City, with his whole hog barbecue becoming synonymous with Charleston's food scene. Rodney's story is one rooted in the South as he learned to love the art of smoking meat in his hometown of Hemingway before bringing his talents to Charleston.      

Carrie Morey

Charleston's resident biscuit queen Carrie Morey was no stranger to the culinary world after growing up watching her mother run a successful catering company. Tapping into her family's traditions + recipes, Carrie opened Callie's Hot Little Biscuit to share her love for cooking with the world and give them a little taste of true southern cuisine.      

Caroline Woodruff

Caroline Woodruff has made her mark on both the Holy City and Charleston Wine + Food, taking home the title of Iron Mixologist during the 2018 festival. For Caroline, being behind the bar gives her a chance to make meaningful connections with her customers and pour out a little fun to brighten up anyone's day.      

Morgan Calcote

Morgan Calcote is a freshly-minted James Beard Award winner after building the carefully curated wine program at Charleston favorite, FIG. Behind each glass of wine is the story of a grape and its journey from vine to bottle, and Morgan's passion for telling those stories resonates in each perfectly paired glass served in the quaint dining room she helms.      

Cynthia Wong

Cynthia Wong quickly established herself as one of the best pastry chefs in Charleston. In 2018, Cynthia decided to follow her passions and open up her own ice cream company. Life Raft Treats has become a local favorite for those looking to save their day with a unique, hand-crafted sweet treat.      

Ruchi Mistry

Along with her husband Tom, Ruchi Mistry opened Huriyali Gardens in Charleston's North Central neighborhood to prove food can be used to nourish both the body + the mind. Priding herself on her commitment to sound ecological practices, Ruchi continues to celebrate the vibrance of flavorful food sourced from the earth, satisfying both our stomachs + our souls.      

Shuai + Corrie Wang

Shuai + Corrie Wang are some of the leaders of the emerging renaissance in southern cuisine. Fusing together traditional Chinese recipes with their love for the ingredients found in Charleston's vibrant landscape, this dynamic duo is changing the way people think about Asian cuisine and leaving their mark on the Holy City's culinary community.    

Keep it simple + fresh with this Lobster Gnocchi recipe from Drew Hedlund of Tradd's!

Ingredients

3 oz Rio Bertollini's lemon basil gnocchi

2 oz cooked cold water lobster meat

1 tsp oven dried tomatoes

1/2 tsp preserved lemon

1/4 cup lobster stock

2 Tbs butter

1 oz arugula

Parmesan reggiano

 

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

  Place butter in a sauté pan and melt over medium heat until lightly brown and foamy.  

Add gnocchi to boiling water. When they float to the top, cook for 1 minute more.

  Using a slotted spoon or spider, gently transfer the gnocchi to the pan of melted butter to brown lightly.  

Add lobster meat, preserved lemon, and oven dried tomato to sauté pan. Heat through and season with salt and pepper.

 

Add lobster stock and reduce until the liquid is gone.

 

Add arugula to sauté pan and cook for around 5 minutes, until the leaves begin to wilt.

 

Toss and serve with parmesan reggiano on top.

'Tis the season for cheer + treats! Enjoy a holiday classic with this Chocolate Caramel Yule Log recipe from Pastry Chefs Anne White and Elizabeth Skelton of Mercantile and Mash.    

Meringue Mushrooms

  4oz/120g whites, room temperature 2 Tbs cocoa powder + more for dusting Pinch cream of tartar 3/4 cup/140g granulated sugar 1 cup/140g powdered sugar, sifted 1/4 cup Ghiradelli semi sweet or dark chocolate chips (this is the “glue”)   Preheat the oven to 200°F.   Put the whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment and whip on high speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar. Gradually add the granulated sugar and whip until stiff peaks. Fold in the sifted powdered sugar.   Pipe the meringue mushrooms onto a Silpat using a piping bag fitted with a medium round piping tip. Pipe “kisses” for the stems, pulling the bag up sharply at the end to make a sharp pointy tip. For the caps, keep the tip 1/4” up and make filled circles.   Bake immediately in the oven for 1 hour. Turn off the oven and allow meringues to sit overnight in closed oven. Do not open the oven at all once the meringues are in it.   Assembly: Poke holes in bottom of the mushroom caps with a toothpick or a paring knife. Dab a bit of melted chocolate into the hole. Take the stem of the mushroom and place the pointed end into the chocolate and hold still until chocolate is firm enough to stay into place.    

Caramel Sauce

  1 cup heavy cream 1 cup + 2 Tbs granulated sugar 3 Tbs light corn syrup 1 tsp sea salt Water as needed 1½ Tbs unsalted butter   Heat the cream to until steaming. Set aside.   Place the sugar, corn syrup, salt, and enough water to make a wet sand texture in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until combined. Without any further stirring, cook the mixture to a medium amber color. Watch carefully as it can burn quickly. Turn off the heat and add the hot heavy cream in a slow, steady stream, while whisking constantly. Be careful as it will bubble up. Add the butter and whisk until all is combined. Set aside.    

Chocolate Sponge Cake

  Cocoa power 4 oz/120g 64% chocolate 6 eggs, separated, room temperature 6 Tbs./80g granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract ¾ tsp. cream of tartar 1/8 tsp. kosher salt   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 18 inch x 13inch rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, line it with parchment paper, and spray the parchment. Lightly sift cocoa powder over the parchment.   Melt the chocolate and set aside to cool.   Combine the yolks and 1/4 cup/50g of the sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment and whip it on high speed until the mixture turns a light yellow and thickens enough that when you lift the whisk over the mixture, the mixture forms a ribbon as it slowly falls back onto itself, about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla extract. Add melted chocolate in a steady stream, whipping until just combined. Set aside.   In a new, absolutely clean bowl, use a clean whisk to whip the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and whip the whites to soft peaks. Gradually add the remaining 2½ tablespoons/30g sugar and whip the whites on high speed until medium/stiff peaks form. Gently fold 1/3 of the whites into the chocolate mixture. Repeat twice more. Don’t over mix.   Spread the batter into baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the cake springs back when touched. Take the cake out of the oven and cover it with a slightly damp kitchen towel.  

Caramel Mousse

  3 *silver strength gelatin sheets 1 Tbs/15g cold water 1 cup/235g caramel sauce 3 egg yolks/55g yolks 6 Tbs/75g granulated sugar 1½ /45g egg whites Pinch sea salt 1cup/205g heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks   Combine the gelatin and water in a double boiler and heat until the gelatin melts. Heat the caramel to 100°F, add the gelatin mixture, and stir. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.   Make a double boiler with the bowl of a stand mixer and a saucepan. Combine the yolks and 1 heaping Tbs/15g of the sugar in the bowl and whisk them over barely simmering water until the mixture reaches 145°F, about 7 minutes. Transfer the bowl to a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment and whip them on high speed until the mixture is cool. Set aside.   In a new, absolutely clean bowl, combine the egg whites, salt, and remaining 5 Tbs/60g of sugar, place it over the saucepan of barely simmering water and use a clean whisk to whip the mixture until it reaches 160°F, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bowl to a stand mixer fitted with a clean whip attachment and whip on high speed until cool, about 5 minutes.   Fold the egg yolk mixture into the caramel mixture. Gently fold in the whites in thirds. Fold in whipped cream in thirds. Cover and refrigerate until set and ready for use. *Professional chefs use gelatin sheets instead of granular gelatin. They are available online.  

Chocolate Icing

  1 cups/4.5 oz cocoa powder 4 1/3 cups/20 oz powdered sugar 16 oz unsalted butter, softened ¼ cup whole milk   Sift the dry ingredients together.   Put the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat it on high speed until light yellow, about 8 minutes. Beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, alternate adding the dry and wet ingredients. Set aside.  

Assembly

  Remove the towel from the cake   Spread the mousse over the cake, leaving the cake bare for the last 1½ inches the short end of the baking sheet. Pick the cake up by the opposite end of the bare cake and use the parchment to help you roll it evenly, peeling back parchment as you roll. Place the cake seam-side down.   With a serrated knife, cut ¼ inch off of the end of the cake on a bias. Pick up this piece and place it on the side of the “log” to resemble a tree branch. Refrigerate for 1 hour.   Use the chocolate icing to ice the log and use a fork to make it textured.   Dust the meringue mushrooms with cocoa powder and place around/on the yule log.   For a pop of color, roll cranberries in sugar and place around the yule log.

For Nick Stella, sandwiches have always been a family affair. Following his time at the College of Charleston, he decided to make the Holy City the next home for Circe's Grotto, a mom-and-pop shop serving up some of the city's best sammies. We chatted with Nick to find out how Circe's came to be + why simple food is sometimes the best food.    

How did you get your start in the restaurant business?

 

My mom has been in the food business for over 40 years, I've been with her for 30 of them, so I guess you would say osmosis. I moved to Charleston from Scituate, MA in 2008 to attend College of Charleston. From then, a second location for Circe’s Grotto started brewing in our mind. I knew Charleston needed a good mom-and-pop sandwich shop, who doesn’t like a good, fresh sandwich? After I graduated from the College of Charleston, I went to Rincon, Puerto Rico not knowing what the next step was in life. Soon after, a friend in the real estate business called and said he had acquired the perfect spot for Circe’s Grotto in Charleston. I moved back to Charleston, we signed the lease, and started building our second Circe’s Grotto. We used the same concept of the one up in Scituate, MA, just a simpler version, minus the bakery aspect. We wanted to offer the city a good sandwich with fresh ingredients that your mom would make you at home.

 

Where did the name ‘Circe’s Grotto’ come from?

   

Why did you want to bring Circe’s to Charleston?

   

Why sandwiches?

 

What’s the secret to the perfect sandwich?

   

If someone’s visiting Circe’s for the first time, what do they have to try?

     

Gather around the table and enjoy this delicious dish from Anthony DiBernardo of Swig & Swine.

 

Corn Pudding

2  8oz packages of cream cheese 6 eggs 2 cups heavy cream 1 cup sugar 3/4 cups self-rising cornmeal 1 tablespoon salt 2 teaspoons black pepper 1 onion julienne 1 jalapeño diced (your preference on seeded or not) 1.5 pounds shredded cheese 8 ears of corn, kernels removed   Let cream cheese soften. Sauté onion, jalapeño, and corn until soft. With a mixer or by hand, whip cream cheese and eggs until combined and smooth. Add heavy cream, sugar, cornmeal, salt, and pepper, mix until incorporated. Fold in corn, onions, and jalapeños. Turn into a greased baking dish and bake at 325 uncovered until set, approximately 30 – 45 minutes.

It's all the goodness of Thanksgiving without the guilt! Nick Wilber of Basic Kitchen is sharing his secret to creating the perfect vegan green bean casserole!