A foodie break to South Carolina

South Carolina - foodie break to Charleston

While I'm over here in the US I'm keen to explore as much of this country as I can. I've not set myself the challenge of getting to the rest of the 52 states, but I'm absolutely going to do a trip a month somewhere. 

So Tuesday morning off we head to South Carolina and to the city of Charleston. A mere 90 minute flight, and we touch down in the very calm and green SC. Our base for a few days was Hyatt House on King Street, a street lined with eateries, drinking holes and shops. Result. 

We optimistically set off to get 20,000 steps in discovering the city. But shit this is a hot city......before we collapsed of heat exhaustion we managed to walk the length of king street ending up in the very pretty White Point Gardens with views out to Oyster point and Ashley River. Mum and I took in some shops - the allure of air con you understand. Then time to discover some of the foodie spots the city is famous for.

We had an early reservation at FIG ( food is good) a restaurant which focusses on local produce and is very very tricky to get a table at. From the start it was obvious we were in for a treat. Our waiter with his very smooth southern accent charmingly described all the dishes. On this recommendation we ordered - chicken liver pate, cottage cheese and aubergine and I had snapper tartare to start. All stunning. Mains we all ended up ordering suckling pig 🐷. The meal was a treat, and I really don't remember service and hospitality as friendly as this. We loved it.

The next day, a plan was hatched involving an early start to avoid the afternoon heat. We discovered the wonderful local market. The gorgeous houses on rainbow row. We walked out onto the lovely pier in the French quarter. Food choices included a BLT from the wonderful Hot Little Biscuit on king street, ice creams from Jeni's also on King Street. In the evening we strolled to Hominy Grill a delightful old house with lovely staff. We embraced traditional southern food - I had fried chicken and ribs, mum had shrimp. 

This place has left us all wanting more - I can't get those hot little biscuits out of my mind.

We slept: Hyatt House, King Street

We snacked: Jeni's ice cream, King Street 

We dined: FIG http://eatatfig.com/press/, hominy grill http://hominygrill.com

We lunched: hot little biscuit http://calliesbiscuits.com

The oldies take Miami

The Oldies take Miami

So a month into my adventure and I'm feeling like a local already. Perfect timing then for the oldies to come and visit. In theory I'd be able to show them all the sights. The only problem is I've realised I'm already miami lazy. We could go into the new science museum that opened this week but then again there's a pool right downstairs.....you can see the dilemma.

Dad though is wise to me, so after him banging on about me using public transport more - we find ourselves on the metromover station ( which is right at my apartment building) heading towards midtown one sunny afternoon. The metromover is in fairness to it quite cool - it's free for a start - but it's also relatively pointless given it doesn't really go that far.....still anything for an easy life. It wasn't dad's fault that no trains came and we ended up in an uber after all......

That has been pretty much the only blip so far though to our mini holiday in Miami. We've discovered the shops, swum in the always gorgeous Caribbean and been doing our best to beat Gilly and Tina in the weekly fitbit scores. We've enjoyed burgers in my neighbourhood cafe Friends, had breakfast at News Cafe on Ocean Drive - and spent lazy mornings poolside.

Next stop Charleston, it's fair to say I'm looking forward to getting back to Miami in a few days. I've fallen in love with this sunny, fun city - my ego even got a boost yesterday when I was ID'd for buying beers in the supermarket. Beachside living works for me 😀

We drank: Friends cafe in Brickell

We breakfasted: News Cafe, Ocean Drive - good people watching

We dined: American Harvest in Brickell City Centre, Bocce in Midtown - a polpo style Italian - gorgeous