This morning I hung out with my friend Nancie Mc Dermott who is the author of 13 cookbooks. We had breakfast at the Back in the Day Bakery and chatted with Cheryl Day.
At Back in the Day Bakery, I enjoyed a strawberry muffin with a rosewater glaze.
Speaking of strawberries, The Grey has a strawberry fried pie.
I have to make it this summer, but I make a red, white and blue chicken salad with blue cheese, red onions and strawberries.
The brief respite in 90 plus temperature is over in Savannah. The heat wave is back but it’s is officially the first week of summer, so that’s what’s up.
What is also up is a fun and busy weekend and week of things to do in sultry Savannah.
Friday 6/24:
Saturday 6/25:
06/23 -07/03 Beer and Burger Week
For 10 days, there will be special beer and burger at restaurants around Savannah. From June 23rd to July 3rd, 25 Savannah restaurants will be offering a beer and burger special.
El-Rocko Lounge is the new hot bar in Savannah. I stopped by last Friday on its opening night. It’s retro decor and delicious cocktails are worth a visit. I had a cocktail with Campari and it was delicious. It is the type of place that I would expect to hear the entire Daptone Records catalog. El-Rocko will also host live music shows, so it is a nice addition to Whitaker Street.
My new favorite place for people watching is the Top Deck Bar at the Cotton Sail Hotel. The crowd is a mix of bachelor parties, southern belles, fancy tourists, and seersucker-wearing frat boys.
Jelinek Creative Spaces hosted Savannah Bazaar this past Saturday. It was fashion-themed with a fashion show. I took some photos.
I will be performing on May 17th at Crash Comedy at The Sentient Bean. Crash Comedy is a fun monthly comedy show of sketch comedy and storytelling.
The 100 Black Men of Savannah held a joint mixer with Urban Savannah this week, and I attended the event. It was held at The Florence which has a lovely rooftop that’s great for socializing on a spring evening.
Urban Savannah’s mission to cultivate and support black-owned businesses in the city. I met John Voner, the president of Urban Savannah last fall at GeekEnd.
The 100 Black Men of Savannah’s mission is the mentor kids, provide education support and help high school kids envision the possibility of a graduating from college. Harold Oglesby (pictured above) spoke about the need for more male mentors. BTW, tonight (April 9th) is the night of the 20th annual gala which will be at the Marriott Riverfront.
I brought my camera and took some photos of some of the attendees. There were professionals who worked for the city, attorneys, business owners and more. Everyone was super friendly. I plan to get more involved in the community this year.
This blog is a local food and culture blog. Though I may report some news, it is not nearly as good as Orange Street News. I read about the local blog and newspaper run by nine-year-old Hilde Kate Lysiak yesterday, and she has inspired me to step up my blogging.
Anyway here’s a quick round-up of local Savannah news.
There’s a new restaurant in Starland. The Vault opened a week ago to an enthusiastic and hungry audience. Bill Dawers went and he wrote his first impression.
PJ’s Thai on Abercorn has closed. I was looking at the sign when a man who’s working there told me that a new pizza place will open in the same corner spot. I hope it is not a chain restaurant.
Is the number 14 CAT bus ever going to go down Broughton Street again? Also, why would anyone park illegally in front of the bus for noontime mass at St. John The Baptist cathedral. This past Monday, a bus was pretty much stuck because of cars parked on Abercorn in front of the church. I had to get out and walk.
I overheard some business people (they were wearing ties) walking along River Street and someone said “35 to 40 on Broughton St” was talking about square rent prices for retail. If that’s the case, that would explain the recent openings of Tommy Bahamas, Club Monaco and Michael Kors.
BTW, I am an aunt again. I have a beautiful nephew that was born last week. He’s a happy spring baby.
Happy Spring! I went to the Forsyth Farmer’s Market over the weekend, and I bought some yummy produce. This morning, I use the kale and scallion to make an impromptu green and healthy casserole.
First, I added oil to the casserole dish and preheated the dish. They I added garlic, chopped onion and one banana pepper to the dish. Then I drained and rinsed one can of Northern white beans. I also chopped a few scallions and then added feta cheese, cheddar cheese and two tablespoons of heavy cream.
Then I pulled out my spices. I added black pepper, paprika, garlic salt, and oregano. I added the kale last after sauteeing the kale in water and one clove of garlic. Lastly, I had some leftover rosemary focaccia that I got from Back in The Day Bakery. I broke off a few pieces and threw them in. The result is a very delicious and inexpensive casserole that can either be a side or an entree.
Chicken liver is something that both Southern black people and Jewish people have in common. When I was a kid, I hated liver, whether beef or chicken. Beef liver with rice and gravy, and onions was one of my Dad’s dinner staples. Sidenote: My Dad is the primary cook in the family. My mom is great at making three things: pancakes, fried pork chops and fried chicken.
I became enamored with liver when I started eating foie gras and pate at fancy restaurants and going to fancy parties in New York. However, I don’t eat duck foie gras, and I don’t miss it. Chicken liver pate is delicious and inexpensive. You can make it at home.
The Grey has chicken liver on the menu. They have an appetizer of chicken liver mousse with a dash of sea salt and toasted Pullman bread from a local bakery, Back In The Day Bakery. I love it. The mousse is smooth and delicious. For only six bucks, it is a delicious bite to enjoy before dinner and/or drinks.
The construction on The Vault Kitchen and Market on Bull Street is coming along. I would bet that it will be open by spring. It would be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
I am loving the Meyer lemons that I am getting from the Forsyth Farmer’s Market. I add a slice to my drinking water, squeeze juice on my baked chicken or just eat them like a grapefruit.
Allegiant Air is a low-cost airline that is expanding flights out of Savannah. There are four new routes with direct flights to Savannah. Tell your friends and family who live Baltimore, Indianapolis, Lexington and Pittsburgh.
The Savannah Cheese Club is having a fun event at Lulu’s Chocolate Bar on Thursday, January 28th. It is their first award party. Stop by for $5 Champagne Night and tasting of Lulu’s (42 Martin Luther King Blvd) distinctive cheese board. There will be a drawing for a chance to win a Lulu’s Gift Card and other raffle prizes. [Gnatty Savannah will sponsor a raffle prize.]
The PULSE art and technology fair will be at Telfair from January 27-31st. Passes are free to members, and non-members pay only $15. During the Pulse Art Fair, there will also the second annual GIF Festival. Check out the five reasons to attend Pulse.
Monday, I said that the month is over. Well, it is January 13th, so I am half right. It’s only 63 days to St. Patrick’s Day.
What’s going on in Savannah right now?
Improv Session Tonight at The Vineyard
I will be speaking at a Content Marketing workshop for small businesses at Creator’s Foundry on January 14th.
The Florence just started lunch service this week which will be from 11AM-2PM. BTW, Hugh Acheson talked to Celeste Headlee about home ec and the importance of culinary education.
The Grey will host Sunday Supper on January 17th ($40 per person). Sunday Suppers will be held the third Sunday of the month. Make a reservation. BTW, Chef Mashama Bailey shares her Savannah with Garden and Gun.
MLK Day celebrations start this weekend.
The next Savannah Bazaar is Saturday, January 30th.
Dressing is the ultimate Thanksgiving side. On Thursday, there will be macaroni and cheese, potato salad, candied yams and cranberry sauce. However, dressing is the main side to go with the Thanksgiving turkey. It has to be right. It can’t be too dry or too salty. Plus, it must be seasoned properly. Stuffing or dressing, that is the question. It’s kinda like the debate between pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie. I prefer dressing. Stuffing is stuff you might stick in a turkey. It is the stovetop dreck that is high in sodium but low on flavor. Dressing is a side dish, a Thanksgiving staple. In the South, it is typically made old bread or cornbread. The vegetables used are up to the cook.
My friends in New York love my dressing. One friend requested that I make it for Easter, and I have brought my dressing to a few potluck dinners. Now that I live in Savannah, I make a dressing that incorporates local food and flavor.
Inspired by the vegetables I got from Forsyth Farmer’s market, I decided to make an Italian flavored cornbread dressing. From the farmer’s market, I used red and yellow peppers, fresh basil and Vidalia onion. Then I went to my local grocery which is walking distance from my place. I bought Italian sausage, chicken broth and Jiffy cornbread mix there.
Eating local also means going to locally owned business. There’s an amazing takeout place called 520 Wings. According to local Savannahnians on Yelp, the garlic parmesan wings are the best wings in town.
Now that I have all the ingredients, I got to work. First I made the cornbread the night before so that it was completely cooled. Then I roasted the vegetables in the oven and cooked the sausage in a saucepan. As the vegetables and the sausage were cooking, I took the cornbread and cut in the big chunks. Then I place the pieces in a casserole dish. Then I added the chicken broth and the vegetables. Next I added the Italian sausage after making sure that any grease has been drained. Using a big wooden spoon, I mix all the ingredients together. Then I added the chicken parmesan wings and basil on top.
Have a good Thanksgiving!
P.S.Check out Michael Twitty’s hilarious post on how to navigate Black Thanksgiving when you are not Black.