Discovering Charleston’s Culinary Scene with Author Holly Herrick

When asked to describe the culinary scene in Charleston, S.C., Holly Herrick, author of Charleston Chef’s Table: Extraordinary Recipes From the Heart of the Old South, uses three words: pure, unfettered and delicious.

“For many, the culinary scene in Charleston is surprising because it’s more diverse than they think,” she says. “It’s a great, delicious melting pot that’s still growing.”

While the heart and soul of Charleston is southern, the city’s culinary roots can be traced back to the Colonial era.

“The dishes reflected the bounty of the earth and sea by using available produce and seafood. Today, that trend is coming around again – everything old is new. Chefs are creating dishes closer to the roots of Charleston’s culinary history.”

The 208-page book highlights over 60 restaurants throughout the city with a recipe specific to each restaurant.

When doing the research, she said her main mantra was didn’t want anyone to go anywhere bad.

“I wanted to make sure that selected good places that will be around and that appeal to people.”

When it came to selecting the dish for the recipe, it was a little tougher.

“The dishes run the gamut,” says Herrick. “I would say about 20 percent are signature dishes. Others are what I consider to be the one that shines, meaning this is the dish that you immediately think of when you think of the restaurant.”

“I selected a representation of dishes that reflect the personality and style of each restaurant. And that are easy for everyone to recreate at home.”

You’ll find such recipes as Virginia’s on King’s (map) She-Crab Soup and Bertha’s Kitchen’s (map) fried chicken. And that’s just the beginning. The cookbook is a must-have for not only the budding chef, but also for those who are interested in Charleston.

“I have a lot of respect for the large pool of culinary talent here,” comments Herrick. “For a city of its size, Charleston really has its own culinary personality.”

photo credit: Cover shot, courtesy of Wagstaff Worldwide