Blog a la Carte

News came last week that Travel + Leisure magazine named the Skull Creek Boathouse's Marker 13 Buoy Bar one of the top 30 outdoor bars in the country.

The Lowcountry has a few similar spots, so I thought I'd pose a question: What's your favorite outdoor bar?

The Jazz Corner is mainly known for its music, but you could argue that the food is just as good.

The invasion continues! Sweet Frog is the fifth self-serve frozen yogurt shop to open in the area this year. The shop is next to the Mellow Mushroom in Park Plaza on Hilton Head Island. Check out its Facebook page here.

Hilton Head Health, the island weight loss and health living center, opened up its Culinary Arts Center last year, inviting the public in for hands-on cooking classes. We did a story about them when the center opened.

Now they've teamed up with Hilton Head's Le Cookery for a new series of classes. From a release:

The Music to Your Mouth culinary festival isn't until November, but it's roster is already full with award-winning chefs.

Orchid Paulmeier of One Hot Mama's and The Lodge was close to becoming a Food Network Star. And she still might make it on TV yet. 

I spoke to Orchid yesterday at the premier party for her new show on WHHI. The Restaurant Show features Orchid interviewing local chefs about what they make and how they make it. Check out a few clips here.

"It's a great opportunity to get out there and enjoy being a foodie," she said. 

Michael Cirafesi is venturing out on his own. The former executive chef at the highly regarded Michael Anthony's restaurant on Hilton Head plans to open Ombra Cucina Rustica in early August in the Village at Wexford.

The menu will feature classical Italian cuisine with some modern, innovative flair, he said.

Cirafesi and his business partner, chef Nunzio Patruno of Philadelphia, bought the space where Lowery Group restaurant Antonio's used to be. They're in the process now of gutting and refurbishing the interior.

I spoke to Southern cooking queen Paula Deen this morning about the blood drives at The Lady & Sons, Uncle Bubba's Oyster House and the Inn at Ellis Square on Friday. This is the fourth time she's worked with the American Red Cross for these blood drives, recently expanding it to the three locations to accommodate the interest. (Click here for details.)

Plums restaurant will be the latest restaurant to showcase the Sustainable Seafood Initiative with a dinner.

The Beaufort location will hold its annual Locally Grown Wine Dinner at 7 p.m. June 12. This time, sustainable seafood is featured. Get the menu here.

In talking to folks for my story next week about the new High on the Hog BBQ Festival on Lady's Island (June 8 and 9), I caught up with local barbecue champ Michael Harmon today. His team, Palmetto Smokehouse, came in third earlier this year at the S.C. Barbeque Association state championships. Now, he's branched out into the restaurant business.