Dive Bars + Shrimp 

I am not a dive bar kind of gal. After over 40 years on this planet, this is one thing I know about myself. If I’m going to go out for a drink, I want to look at a gorgeous view while sipping on a pretty cocktail. It is what it is.

That said, I did have an excellent time hitting local dive bars with Jesse Blanco for this, our Thirteenth Annual Love Affair with Food Issue. According to Blanco, a true dive bar must have no food (although this is not legally possible in S.C.) and good strong drinks. As we discovered on our jaunt through six dive bars between Savannah and Hilton Head Island, they may also have no HVAC and only accept cash, and they are not likely to serve Herradura Reposado tequila. They do, however, serve up some great pizza, interesting conversation and unique characters at the bar.

Highlights of the tour for me were the pizza at Cheap Seats, Pinkie Masters bathroom graffiti about the hot fuzzy-faced bartender, and sketching our sixteenth President of the United States of America at Abe’s on Lincoln. Read all about it and see how many you’ve hit on page 30.

And speaking of bartenders, we chatted with a few of our favorites in this issue, and got their take on best pick-up lines, qualities necessary to succeed as a barkeep, and what drinks they prefer to throw back.

These pages also have some incredible shrimp recipes from Chef Lynn Michelle, starting on page 51. Michelle and Mike came over to our sales rep Kim’s house on a Friday morning and whipped up the best shrimp sliders I’ve ever had in my life. I will be making these myself with fresh local shrimp when baiting season starts September 9.

Unless you’ve been hiding from social media, you’ve probably seen multiple posts about the Hilton Head Shrimp Festival in Harbour Town on September 24. Blanco and I will both be there, so come say hello and join in the dive bar debate while you enjoy a host of shrimp dishes prepared by local chefs.

Until Next Month!