Last week, we blogged about some of our favorite Charleston items to take home for gifts or souvenirs. Here are three more to add to your shopping list. Share with us about your favorite Charleston mementos.
A few years ago, Ryan Eleuteri, owner of The Charleston Beverage Co., set out to create the perfect Bloody Mary. The result is Charleston Mix, a collection of premium ingredients that have been native to Lowcountry pantries for centuries (sea salt, rice vinegar, tarragon, Worcestershire sauce). Try it original or in bold & spicy for an extra kick. Price: $9.95 | Available at grocery stores and restaurants and online at charlestonmix.com.
Charleston’s rice history stretches back to 1685 when a merchant ship paid for repairs in Charleston with a bit of rice seed from Madagascar. Dr. Henry Woodward planted the seeds here, launching Charleston’s 200-year history as a leading rice producer in the United States. At the turn of the century, rice cultivation ended in the Lowcountry because of a weak market and competition. Carolina Plantation Rice has revived the rice by devoting a portion of its acreage to the cultivation of “Carolina Gold” rice. Price: $9.32 per bag | carolinaplantationrice.com
If you enjoyed eating all our fine food while visiting Charleston, now you can try your hand at Southern cooking and create your own Charleston-inspired dishes. Pick up a copy of “Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking” by Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart (Gibbs Smith, 2012). The book has 600 recipes, hundreds of photos and step-by-step techniques for making everything from biscuits to fried chicken. Pick up a copy at Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King St. | bluebicyclebooks.com