Food Traveler Magazine Summer 2013 | Page 22

Seafood Hotspots Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Lowcountry South Carolina I Charleston n the Lowcountry, history is not relegated to a plaque on a landmark. Instead, it is a sense of place—a connection to the past—that lives in the hearts of locals, is apparent in regional traditions, graces the facades of homes, punctuates the vernacular and seasons the food. While the Charleston area is indeed a veritable living museum, it is also a bustling epicenter of culture, invigorating outdoor activity and sumptuous dining that welcomes close to four million visitors annually. 20 FOOD TRAVELER | SUMMER 2013 One of the best ways to experience the Charleston area’s heart and soul is to be immersed in the authentic Lowcountry cuisine culture, a fare that has evolved over the past 300+ years and is known for iconic dishes like shrimp and grits, she crab soup and benne wafers. For a destination its size, the Charleston area boasts an incredible number of culinary luminaries, including the three consecutive James Beard Foundation Best Chef Award winners: Chef Robert Stehling Of Hominy Grill (won in 2008), Chef Mike Lata of FIG (2009) and Chef Sean Brock of McCrady’s and Husk (2010). Chef Craig Deihl of Cypress was a semifinalist in 2012.