It is perhaps the simplest and most iconic shorthand for the inimitable lifestyle we all enjoy here in the Lowcountry. Picture a group of hungry friends waiting patiently around a table covered in newspapers, the first alluring scent of spices on the wind priming their taste buds to the utmost anticipation. And then, the crescendo, as the chef of the party overturns a bucket onto the paper, issuing forth a cascading bounty of sweet corn, savory sausage, hearty potatoes, and tantalizing shrimp.
Freshly steamed Lowcountry Boil from Sweetwater Steamer.
It’s more than just a meal. It’s more than a gathering. It is, perhaps, the most sacred tradition of the Lowcountry. Sitting at the intersection of our famed hospitality, our culinary renown, and our natural bounty of delicious ingredients, Lowcountry boil is as emblematic of our coast as salt air and sunshine.
Patrick Coughlin understands more than most how our traditions tend to create experiences. As owner of Lowcountry Watersports and Pirates of Hilton Head along with his wife, Monika, he’s seen how families return year after year to board the same vessel and relive their happiest memories with every voyage.
Sweetwater Steamer offers the option of calling ahead to have your bucket steamed and ready to go when you show up.
When Coughlin saw businesses in other parts of the world offering a “take and bake” option for their own local cuisine, he saw immediate opportunity.
“I knew something like that would be perfect for us, because Lowcountry boil is such a staple here,” Coughlin said. “It’s really part of the culture. With Pirates of Hilton Head and Lowcountry Watersports, Monika and I are all about creating an experience. That’s what we wanted this to be.”
And while he didn’t necessarily have the culinary background to see this idea done correctly, he happened to have some friends who are among the area’s foremost experts.
What you get at Sweetwater Steamer is a bucket containing everything you need to easily make Lowcountry boil for a crowd – fresh ingredients and custom seasoning blends all ready to go.
“Sally and Lynden Zuniga were members of the Carefree Boat Club which we owned at the time,” Coughlin said. “We knew they would be the right people to partner with because they have that knowledge and we share the same values.”
The Zunigas were already serial restaurateurs when they met the Coughlins. The owners of Tio’s Latin American Kitchen, with popular locations on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, they had at that time recently taken over ownership of the famed Fiddler’s Seafood Market and Restaurant. The time was right to join forces.
Lowcountry Boil is always a crowd-pleaser, and a great way to feed a crowd!
The Coughlins had the vision, the Zunigas had the know-how, and in their partnership, they created something amazing. Sweetwater Steamer was an immediate hit, with the business essentially tripling in volume during its first two years in business.
“We really thought it was going to be all visitors, but it turns out we have a good percentage of locals,” Coughlin said. “I thought it would become a new tradition, but it’s taken hold much quicker than we thought. We’re seeing people come in for a bucket every month.”
The Coughlins had the vision, the Zunigas had the know-how, and in their partnership, they created something amazing.
The premise is, on its face, deceptively simple. What you get at Sweetwater Steamer is a bucket containing everything you need to easily make Lowcountry boil for a crowd – fresh ingredients and custom seasoning blends all ready to go. You just add two cups of liquid (water if you want, beer or wine if you’re feeling really festive). They also offer homemade butters, sides, cornbread, and desserts so there’s no extra trip to the store.
“We like to keep it simple but offer the best produce and ingredients,” Coughlin said “We’ve really dialed it in with our vendors so they know the high standards we’re looking for. We don’t have a wide array of offerings, so we need to do this one thing perfectly. We use local sausage, domestic shrimp, and we have our own custom blend of spices. We also do custom spicy and garlic butters, and sometimes people come in just to buy that.”
The whole underlying philosophy is to give people an experience, one that lets them connect with a time-honored Lowcountry tradition. And if you’re not the type of person who likes the tradition without the work, you can even call ahead and have your bucket steamed and ready to go when you show up.
Orders are picked up at Sweetwater Steamer location at 37 New Orleans Road on Hilton Head Island.
“We make it simple to order in advance online, but you can come to us with a request to feed a party of 25 and we’ll have something ready for you in half an hour,” Coughlin said.
How else can you feed the entire group, create an unforgettable experience, and take part in a timeless Lowcountry tradition all in one bucket?
Order your next celebration at the store, 37 New Orleans Road on Hilton Head Island, online at sweetwatersteamer.com, or by calling 843-715-3110.