Charleston’s food star is shining bright, and this week, the city is illuminated with artistic revelry. Dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, poets and artists are strutting their stuff at the Spoleto and Piccolo Annual Arts Festival. And the city’s dedicated chefs work to prepare some of the most delightful regional cuisine anywhere on earth. Food is art, and I am so inspired by my first real garden this year, that I have to share the excitement that Charleston chefs bring to the table!
Chef Sean Brock, photo courtesy of Joan Perry
Southern food is rich in history and flavor already but these chefs are inspired to return the real thing back to Southern cooking. Sean raises his own hogs and grows heritage vegetables, and is supported by Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills and David Shields of the University of South Carolina. He is growing heirlooms, including sesame seeds and ‘rice peas,’ in an effort to duplicate the original flavors that made Southern food an important American cuisine. I recently listened to an interviewer talk to him on South Carolina pubic radio, and he is knowledgeable, humble and oh so passionate about local regional southern food. (Asked what the essentials were, he replied, “corn, pork and salt”, I think – and maybe bourbon :) But more than that, I heard a soulmate who is excited about homegrown radishes and beets!
Geechie Boy you-pick field, Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC
And, I understand all the excitement now as I harvest my spicy, funky looking radishes, newly pulled from my own Edisto earth. Inspired by the Local Food movement, I am sure that my organic backyard garden is not the only one sprouting this year in the USA, thanks to the leadership of Alice Waters and Michelle Obama’s White House garden, and the fine national “Local Food” movement.
But, I am honestly overwhelmed by the joy this garden is giving to me as I work to live a more sustainable, simple life here on this rural barrier island. Every day I am surprised, and every evening now, sensually pleasured by my own organically grown arugula and jalapenos and squash. The purple flower of the eggplant and the bees buzzing inside them stopped me the other evening in what Joseph Campbell calls, “aesthetic arrest” a phrase which was first used by James Joyce in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
Moi in the garden! 14x22 feet of luscious local joy!
James Joyce proposed the idea that I am serendipitously stumbling upon in every book I am reading these days, and my daily reality is confirming it. When we are in the presence of great beauty, our minds go still. We are right there, and no where else. Participating in the moment. Imagine the peace and the power – well, and the joy available to us, by being fully present to more ‘moments’ in our everydays. Here’s to eggplant, honey bees, and fresh beets! Cheers!
I was called to be an artist. And as an old old midwife said to me "If the Lord wants you to do something, you won't have no good luck' til you do." So, here I am, sharing what I love, longing to illuminate the work of art, which is everywhere.
Charleston Through an Artist's eye 
Hi Charlotte….what a “delicious” post. you are so inspiring and I thank
you for getting your word out. I am going to Asheville for the week for a
pottery workshop…Woohooo!!! You are
enticing me to make a trip to Edisto, too. Love and hugs to you, Diane
Diane! You are the best. Long to see what amazing gifts you are bringing into the world soon. Send me pictures! Hugs from the coast. xo
Sean sounds dreamy. Raising hogs and heirloom tomatoes, winning awards and hearts as he goes. I want to meet him. I have a thing for chefs. Don’t tell him that.
Me too. Let’s make a dinner of it soon:)
“Moi in the garden! 14×22 feet of luscious local joy!”
That confirms it! You ARE a giant among men :-)
Clever KK. I am laughing. Thank you for paying such beautiful attention.
Another beautiful post…. thank you Charlotte. Love the whimsy you’ve added to your luscious garden… (pinwheel, I believe? : )
Featherheart! Even writing your ‘name’ makes me feel lighter, my friend! THANK you, and yes, I am so into pinwheels of late, of every sort. The moving elements I hope will deter the deer from the garden, like scarecrows, ha. But the moving colorful circles serve for me as a version of a prayer wheels, like the Tibetans use. The saying, when they use theirs, it something like “All will be well, the force of good in the universe is there to help all beings out of every difficulty!” That works for me and my own little shiny dollar store spinning whirlygigs! Your visit is a blessing, Featherheart.
Charlotte, I’m so happy to hear that prayer wheels adorn your garden. What a beautiful thought. I have written a poem entitled, “Prayer Wheels.” If you send me your email, I will email the poem to you (as a gift to you… because your blog has given me so much enjoyment and cause for contemplation). My email address is: featherheart@sbcglobal.net
McCrady’s, FIG and Hominy Grill–three of our favorite Charleston restaurants! McGrady’s tops the list. Elizabeth (our daughter) and I met Sean Brock when we dined at McGrady’s on the last night of her summer internship at the Post & Courier in 2009. She’s interested in food writing and was thrilled to meet him. She had talked to him on the phone once while researching a story. We love the Charleston food scene–have you tried Trattoria Luca? G&M (Fast and French) is my go-to place for lunch while shopping on King Street!