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Eat & Drink

A Charleston Staple, the History of Shrimp and Grits

Featured Image: Simply Recipes

A fresh seafood staple and this soulful Southern side have historically come together to create the perfect dish that we call shrimp and grits. We all know of it as one of the South’s most delicious staple meals – but how did shrimp and grits gain its popularity in the Lowcountry?

The answer is easy. The history of shrimp and grits started right here in the Lowcountry. The fancier, more sophisticated versions of the meal that we see today were not the beginning of shrimp and grits. The meal started as an easy dish for laborers on the coast to make. Fishermen would bring the ground corn to make grits and combine them in a single pot with what they caught that day, which was often shrimp, and boil it all with some salty seawater.

With two ingredients so available to those here in Charleston, the dish easily became a cultural icon. What was originally called “breakfast shrimp” or “shrimp and hominy” in some old cookbooks, became more widely known as shrimp and grits and was adopted into esteemed, local restaurants.

Today this dish has taken many variations from the original two ingredients. World class chefs in the Holy City have made this dish their own and brought a lot of attention from national and international news outlets. The Wall Street Journal even recognized these local restaurants as must-go-tos for shrimp and grits: Husk, Early Bird Diner, Red Drum, Nana’s Seafood & Soul and The Swamp Fox.

As The Charleston Insider says “all shrimp and grits are not created equal.” Some grits are cooked in milk, some in the traditional salt water. Some dishes have bacon, some have ham. Some have cheese, some have papers. Regardless of what type of shrimp and grits you’re eating, if you’re in Charleston, it’s safe to say that it will be one of your favorite meals of all time.

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French Quarter Inn

Charleston Is Home To The Number 1 Hotel In The Country

Image Source: French Quarter Inn FB

Millions of travelers from around the world recognize the best in travel each year for TripAdvisor’s annual Traveler’s Choice Awards. This year travelers chose three different Charleston hotels as some of the top hotels in the country including the number ONE spot. That’s right, Charleston is home to the top hotel in the country.

Landing on a popular “top list” is nothing new to Charleston but having three hotels in the top twenty-five and one of those hotels in the top spot of best hotels in the country is a pretty impressive accomplishment.

So, which three hotels made the list?

Harbourview Inn

Harbourview Inn snagged the number twenty-two spot on the list of top 25 hotels in the United States. Known for its gorgeous waterfront views, Harbourview Inn is an intimate hotel offering a luxurious experience. This isn’t the first time the inn has won an award; they’ve been recognized by Travel + Leisure and U.S. News previously.

The Spectator Hotel

Previously voted the number two hotel in the country by Travel + Leisure, The Spectator Hotel landed in the number three spot on TripAdvisor’s list. Visitors love that this hotel is situated steps from Charleston’s historic city market and the beautiful decor in every room.

and saving the best for last…

French Quarter Inn

Presenting the number ONE hotel in the COUNTRY, French Quarter Inn. The inn has over 3,000 reviews on TripAdvisor with 90% of guests rating the hotel as excellent. Captivating guests with its beauty, charm, and location, French Quarter Inn is tucked away right off Market Street. They offer great service, complimentary breakfast, free bike rentals to explore the city, and treats in the lobby at all times.

With three of the top hotels in the country right in our hometown, there’s really no reason to leave. Start planning your staycation now before word spreads.

 

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charleston

New Short-Term Rental Regulations Are Beginning To Take Shape

Featured Image Credit: The Cassina Group

Short-term rentals have been a hot topic of debate in Charleston in the last couple years. Progress has been slow from the group tasked with crafting a new set of rules to govern the short-term rentals across Charleston. But now the 18 member group has been working on a proposal of what they’d like to see in a new ordinance that they will present to the city’s Planning Commission later this year.

Many of the short-term rentals in Charleston have been operating illegally under the current rules, therefore the Short-Term Rental Task Force needs to decide who should and who should not be allowed to rent under their new proposal. They are on a time crunch and hope to get the new recommendations for the proposal straightened out and ready to send to Planning Commission by September of this year. City Planner Jacob Lindsey told the task force that it might not be sent until October as they have to process the new proposals and make an ordinance draft.

Right now, short-term rentals in Charleston are allowed only in commercially zoned portions of the Cannonborough-Elliotborough neighborhood. However, this restriction has not stopped property owners in other sections of the city from participating in short-term rentals. The task force arrived at an agreement that those hoping to receive a short-term rental allowance should call the rental property their primary residence. However, they are still in disagreement on what a primary residence constitutes.

airbnb

Image Credit: Airbnb

One of the members of the task force, Ann Hester Willis, suggested that a person is only allowed to rent out a portion of their home after residing in their property for at least 275 days. Another suggestion to verify owner occupation would require the rented property to be listed as a primary residence on the resident’s tax forms. The task force members also proposed that the owners must be at their home during short-term rentals. They were also able to reach an agreement on setting a limit on the number of guests allowed in a short-term rental. However, debate over what constitutes a unit and parking requirements followed.

The task force is set to meet again on August 8th and an additional meeting is in the works to focus solely on the feedback from the community. A major concern of local Charlestonians with short-term rentals is that the sense of community and neighborhoods will be lost with so many different people coming in and out, losing consistency.

airbnb

Image Credit: Claire Haines via Charleston City Paper

The final topic of debate on Tuesday was how old a home can be to serve as a short-term rental? According to Kristopher King, the executive director of the Preservation Society of Charleston, federal guidelines state that a property must be 50 years or older to be considered historic. A task force member suggested that a three-year timeframe be used before short-term rentals are allowed on the property. While no specific age was decided, concerns were raised that the higher the age requirement, the more rentals that would be sidelined in the city. Locations like James Island and Johns Island would not meet these age requirements and some of the most supportive areas of short-term rental would be excluded.

The big increase in short-term rentals in Charleston has most definitely had a big impact and effect on the city and the community. It will be interesting to see what the task force comes out with after their meeting on August 8th and how the public will react.

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