For The Love Of Food
Whenever someone is cooking for me and they ask if there are any victuals I don’t like, my standard answer is, “No! That’s the problem.”
Perhaps that’s why the September issue is one of my favorites. It’s been the Love Affair with Food issue for as long as I can remember. One of the highlights this month is a feature on Okan, the new Old Town Bluffton hotspot with an African-inspired menu curated by Chef Bernard Bennett. For a decidedly metropolitan vibe and a menu that expands your horizons, check out this new eatery on the corner of Calhoun and Bridge Streets.
Skillets Café & Grill celebrates 30 years this month, and we celebrate them on page 68. The statistics on restaurants as successful business ventures are not good. Eighty percent fail within the first five years, which makes this milestone nothing short of impressive. Fun fact: The owner of Skillets, Amie Baima, was on this magazine’s very first cover, which happened exactly 17 years ago today. She has special events planned the week of September 14-18, so head down to Coligny to help her commemorate almost one-third of a century serving hot coffee, delicious skillets with a side of sass.
Speaking of Coligny, Rock N’ Ribs returns for its second year in Hilton Head Island’s downtown. From October 19-22, you can “put your dancing shoes and stretchy pants on” while participating in a full schedule of events that are focused on barbeque and live music. The headliner is .38 Special, with an opening act by local favorites, Cranford Hollow. Check out Barry Kaufman’s story on page 49 to get all the details and information on where to buy tickets.
On page 81, our resident foodie Jesse Blanco (although I’m pretty sure he doesn’t abide the term), pays a visit to Sprout Momma Kim Tavino’s new location on Arrow Road in the house that Signe built. I popped in to photograph the two of them and was bummed I already had lunch plans. Everything looked incredible!
A few more highlights include a visit to the local food truck scene by Liz Mayhew (page 61), a fashion spread tying in the restaurant scene (page 30), and an article on Le Cookery, where you can get all the things you need to prepare a feast and make it pretty at home (page 52).
We also looked at where food originates with articles on Hardee Greens Vertical Farms (page 56), and raising chickens to produce your own farm-fresh eggs in the backyard (page 27).
We hope you enjoy all things culinary this month. We’ll be back in October with another favorite of mine, The Arts + Music issue, which we are currently working on with everyone’s favorite entertainers.
Be well. Go eat something!
Maggie Washo, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief