THE SOUTHERN FORK EXPERIENCE: CHARLESTON

Immersive Culinary Travel in the Jewel of the South Carolina Lowcountry

October 3-6, 2024

Charleston, SC has been a seat of Southern culture for close to 500 years, but defining it can be as mercurial as the tides. So we start at the table with the ingredients that built it -- seafood, rice, corn, and pork -- and use those as a jumping off point to dig into a delicious region beyond the restaurant reservations.

Our travel companions are those who don't mind getting their hands dirty, yet also like to dress up for cold martinis and caviar. That contrast is the essence of Charleston, and we’re so excited to invite you to taste it all and meet our friends along the way.

Your Obsessed Storyteller
Stephanie Burt
Executive Producer and Host of The Southern Fork podcast

Steph moved to Charleston in 2005 to cover the city for the Post and Courier, and she’s still finding new reasons to celebrate the unique culture more than 16 years later. She shares her love for the Lowcountry through her writing and audio work, and her enthusiasm for the region is infectious. Learn more about Stephanie.

The Experience

All culinary professionals have been featured previously on The Southern Fork podcast. 
Let’s Dig In.

Thursday: Welcome Happy Hour at Chubby Fish
Settle in in style with a private, family-style welcome dinner from the folks of Chubby Fish and some Shem Creek fisherfolk who supply their superb offerings. We’ll have great shrimp and fish dishes, wines to accompany, and you’ll be at your lodging in plenty of time for a good night’s rest in anticipation of the days ahead.

Friday: Oysters and the Magic of the Salt Marsh 
The salt marsh is the engine that fed Charleston’s ascension to wealth, status, and culinary stardom, but tides and time wait for no man. 

Highlights

• Get out onto the creeks and experience oyster harvesting at low tide alongside lifelong oystermen on Bowen’s Island

• Enjoy a Lowcountry locavore wine lunch and oyster roast with Chez Nous at a private residence on the banks of a tidal creek 

• Spend one-on-one time with Charleston resident Mary Edna Fraser, a preeminent American artist whose mission is sharing sacred wild places

Saturday: Pigs & Punch
Pigs and corn are natural partners in Southern foodways. The scent of smoke often curls around a whole hog cooking over glowing coals, and in celebrations, those tending the fire welcome others close with the South’s favorite corn-based spirit -- bourbon. 

Highlights

• Fill up on hog barbecue from Pitmaster Marvin Ross with all the traditional sides

• Spend an afternoon with a private tour and plenty of tasting of High Wire Distilling, named one of the best bourbon distillers in the country

• Hang with the locals in a side lot party at The Royal American

Sunday: Sure, Charleston Grew Rice, But Really, Rice Grew Charleston
The tidal creeks and rivers created rich farmland for many crops, but during the antebellum period, Charleston became known for one crop -- rice, and specifically a variety of rice called Carolina Gold, once so sought after, it was shipped to Asia.

Highlights

• A private tour at the International African American Museum 

• Enjoy boiled peanuts, sparkling wine, and tomato sandwiches with The Lee Brothers in a tucked away private French Quarter courtyard at Hagan Fine Art

• A collaborative chef’s dinner with wine pairings at The Grocery featuring Chefs Kevin Johnson and Roosevelt Brownlee, “Jazz” Chef who fed Nina Simone, Muddy Waters, and many more

• Special guest Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills
   

While you’re free to lodge where you like, each day we will be meeting at a central location to begin our jaunts.

All In-town transportation included, along with plenty of food and beverages at each event and along the way.

The Why

• Travel shouldn’t harm the people and the places you’re going to see.

• Food is an access point to something bigger than just what’s on the plate.

• Sharing an experience builds community, if just a little. And it fuels connection, if just a little. That feels good.

• Storytellers have something to say and even more to share, so we should let them.

• The ultimate luxury is access.

• The best travel aims to get out of the head and into the senses.

• The soul of a place sits at the table, and there’s always a seat for you.

LIMITED TO 16 TRAVELERS

$4,000 per person

Yes, I’m ready to reserve my Southern Fork Experience: Charleston spot!

Interested, but have a few questions before you commit?
Fill out this inquiry form to connect with our travel team, and we will be in touch ASAP! Can’t wait to see you in Charleston soon.

P.S.

• This excursion dives deep into Charleston’s culinary heart, so while we welcome vegetarians, we cannot accommodate any additional dietary restrictions or preferences at this time. 

• Monies go directly to the Lowcountry businesses featured. We are proud to support our friends and neighbors.