April 2021
Chicken caravans and Nashville eats
Hi all —
Here’s my (try as hard as I can) monthly round-up for those of you who want to learn / keep up a little more with me and the work that I do. Hope you enjoy.
Chickens and beach parking. Welcome to my life.
This month writing was all Charleston content, which works for me!
Here in the Lowcountry, we’ve had an unusually mild spring, and that means — for me at least — it isn’t beach time for me yet. But I’ll be ready since I recently updated the Best Beaches in Charleston list for Conde Nast Traveler (Hint: if you’re planning on visiting and think you know the parking situation at your favorite slice of sand, you most likely don’t. Check this article for updated specifics as 2020 made beach access more difficult here for day trippers. )
I did take a day trip, however, in the opposite direction, out to Fili-West Farms in Vance, SC, and yes, I had to look up where that was before I headed out. I met these fine folks (but not their flocks) a few years ago, so I wanted to see how their innovative Chicken Caravan system from Australia worked in real time. I got a front row seat to all the action, including 100s of chickens expressing their “chicken-ness.” It was all for my recipe column for The Post & Courier.
And finally, I attempted to share the magic of Chez Nous in my latest column for Saveur. Sometimes I feel torn writing about places I love — I have a responsibility to readers, but then again, I sometimes wonder if the publicity will change a spot. I know that’s not the case with this restaurant (and its fabulous chef I interviewed in Episode 111), so if you haven’t been, you have my blessing to flood the reservations!
This chicken was wary of my presence. That’s ok, I felt the same way.
Episode Updates
Continued Nashville content — this destination is much more than country music, y’all — including the delightful Demi Natoli of White Limozeen, young phenom Julia Sullivan of Henrietta Red (I ate there TWICE it was so good) and pastry chef extraordinaire Lisa White of Biscuit Love.
Did you know Charleston now has a brewery district? Tradesman Brewery is smack dab in the middle of it, and that’s where Chris Winn and I sat and sipped for Episode 221. If you like beer, join us.
And with a documentary in the works and a SC Black Farmers Conference under her belt, it was time to chat with Germaine Jenkins again (she was one of my first episodes of the show!). She has transformed her life and her community, and I wanted to learn more about what’s next for the urban farm.
Other podcast episodes I like right now: The Kinseys have a renowned art collection, but I had no idea how they started or why, and This is Love shared their fascinating story and practical approach. Inspiring. Also inspiring is the dedication it takes a small group of monks to produce chartreuse, and you can geek out along with me in this episode of Liquid Gold. I dare you not to buy a bottle for your home bar after listening!
On my mind: always a million things, especially at 3 a.m. But I’m considering taking on an intern for the summer, so if you know of a college student who would like to learn about the hustle behind the mic (for college credit), send them my way. It’s more of a marketing and engagement learning moment than an audio engineering one, but I’ll share what I know.
Best thing I cooked this month: I’ve had an intermittent month of cooking (spring fever is real) but I did make a fabulous South Carolina meal that included Jimmy Red Corn Grits and Manchester Farms Quail. I didn’t truss the legs though, so they weren’t as camera ready as I thought, now that I look back on it. But they were delicious — it all was, and there’s no doubt I’m just a home cooking with my plating!
Until next time,
Steph