7 minute read
Eat Local
Farmers Market of Bluffton
A TASTE OF BLUFFTON
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Seafood and seasons define the local palate.
Whether you’re a foodie or just in search of your next meal, Bluffton has an option that will satisfy. Stock up on local produce and enjoy prepared foods and entertainment at the Farmers Market of Bluffton every Thursday (12 p.m. – 5 p.m.) year-round. Gourmands Stock up will love the locally sourced vegetables, fruits, herbs, on local produce and fresh-caught seafood. The vibrant market also and enjoy prepared features artisan food, flowers, and plants, so it’s worth strolling through just to take it all in. foods and entertainment at the Farmers Market of Bluffton
Seasons and their bounty inspire Bluffton’s (every Thursday food scene. Local dishes you’ll want to try include 12 – 5 p.m.). Lowcountry boil, shrimp and grits, and May River oysters. Or cook up a feast in your own home—the flavors are so fresh they don’t take much preparation!
HOME COOKING
MEET ONE LOCAL CHEF WHO PROVIDES RESTAURANT-QUALITY FOOD FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY.
By Linda Lanier
Bridgette Frazier, a Bluffton native, learned to cook in the kitchen of her grandmother, Daisy Frazier. After teaching school for 15 years, she realized her calling in cooking for others and opened Chef B’s Eatz food truck and Deliciously Couture. Taste her creations by tracking down her food truck or digging into one of her catered meals.
A Gullah connoisseur, Frazier’s grandmother taught her how to prepare authentic Gullah dishes like red rice, gumbo, cornbread, and crab cakes. Her father, Oscar Frazier, the owner of a Bluffton barbecue joint, Oscar’s BBQ, taught her the art of barbeque. She attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Florida and expanded her knowledge of techniques
and cooking styles. Today, Frazier offers her customers beef bourguignon and beef tenderloin alongside regional favorites like shrimp and grits and peach cobbler.
Frazier’s red rice, an authentic Gullah dish of rice, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices—with a little pork added—is one of her signature dishes. Most people are familiar with gumbo, but her Gullah version combines okra, tomatoes, and spices for a distinctive flavor.
With so much plentiful seafood in the area, Frazier uses fresh-off-the-boat crab in her Deviled Crab, based on an old family recipe. She serves gumbo fries topped with fried local shrimp and incorporates fresh local shrimp in hibachi bowls with fried rice, teriyaki chicken, and yummy sauce. And she uses local oysters in rice perlo—“or perloo, as some people call it,” she says.
Learn more at lowcountryeatz.com or follow along on Facebook @chefeatzB.
COMMUNITY FLAVORS
BLUFFTON’S NEW EATERY COMBINES A POWER- HOUSE CHEF AND LOCAL FARMERS TO CELEBRATE EVERY PART OF THE REGION’S BEST.
By Jessie Rumbley
Around here, fresh and local seafood is a given most anywhere you go. Lowcountry Fresh Market and Cafe, which opened in spring 2021, takes it up a notch by serving a menu based on local seafood and produce alongside a marketplace of fresh fruits and veggies plus gourmet prepared foods. If you’re eating it, it came from somewhere nearby.
The concept is a locavore’s delight, proudly partnering with the Gullah Farmers’ Cooperative. On the market side, three-quarters of the shelf space features regional produce, and the rest are add-ons like prepared meals, smoothies, and baked goods. On the restaurant side, head chef Benjamin “B.J.” Dennis draws on his Charleston roots and Gullah expertise to cook up breakfast and lunch dishes that showcase the best of the Lowcountry. It’s all part of the mission, “cultivating community.” The way to any Southerner’s heart is through their stomach—the team at Lowcountry Fresh wants you to think about the folks who grow your food, too.
A farmers’ market open daily, morning coffee spot, the perfect place to have lunch with friends—Lowcountry Fresh checks every Bluffton box. Follow along on Instagram @lowcountryfresh.
The Cottage
Get the dish on great local eateries VisitBluffton.org/ food-drink
DINING IN A DAY
ENJOY EXTRAORDINARY FOOD AND DRINK IN THE LOWCOUNTRY— BLUFFTON STYLE.
BREAKFAST
Begin the day at The Corner Perk Cafe with fresh-roasted coffee and tantalizing skillets, or indulge in challah French toast on the front porch of The Cottage, a charming 1868 cottage overlooking Calhoun Street.
LUNCH
In the Promenade, fresh-offthe-boat seafood abounds at Captain Woody’s and Bluffton Family Seafood House. Tempt your tastebuds with shrimp and oysters, hush puppies, and blue crabs with that distinctive delicious Lowcountry flavor.
Bluffton loves barbecue, and the tangy baby-back ribs and buttery cornbread at One Hot Mama’s are true Southern classics. Experience American-Italian cuisine at Frankie Bones with classics like steak, pasta, seafood, and their signature dish, Lobster Mac and Cheese.
DINNER
In Old Town Bluffton, FARM serves a sophisticated take on Lowcountry classic cuisine. The menu evolves seasonally and features freshcaught seafood and local produce. Enjoy tavern style food and awardwinning craft beers at Southern Barrel Brewing Co., or sit back with a classic cocktail at Burnt
Church Distillery. Truffles Cafe’s
chicken pot pie and southwestern salad are local favorites, and fried chicken to wild caught tuna are on the menu at Chow Daddy’s. A special evening calls for a first-rate wine list and exceptional service. Sophisticated and lively, The Bluffton Room offers tableside preparations of prime filet and she-crab soup. Or try The Pearl Kitchen & Bar for specialties like Wasabi Crusted Big Eye Tuna.
LIVE MUSIC
At the Roasting Room, settle in with an espresso or a glass of bourbon—choose from 160 on the drink menu—and enjoy the live music.
Bluffton’s thriving oyster industry means it’s practically mandatory you try the local specialty while in town. Here’s a cheat sheet to tasting an oyster in three stages.
SALINITY: The first and sometimes primary flavor. A fully saline oyster can be described as briny. An oyster with minimal salinity can taste flat, sweet, or almost buttery.
TEXTURE: An oyster’s texture should be soft and fleshy, crisp on the palate.
FINISH: The last flavors you’ll commonly experience after tasting an oyster include mineral, metallic, melon, cucumber, and with earthy hints.
WHAT’S BREWING
Sip and Selfie Snap a picture of your pint and tag us on Instagram @ExploreBlufftonSC.
Sip the spirits of the Lowcountry.
In the Lowcountry, a “cold beer” used to be any basic brew in a can. Luckily, those days are long gone, and Bluffton boasts its own craft beer and distilling scene today. From a refreshing pilsner to a hearty IPA and even locally made whiskey, there’s something on tap for everyone.
BURNT CHURCH DISTILLERY
120 Bluffton Road New to Bluffton is this expansive distillery and tasting room, where you can find “completely unique” whiskey and bourbon. Every offering has an anecdote and bit of folklore. Make yourself comfortable in the Sanctuary Tasting Room and sip Bluffton Whiskey, Burnt Church Vodka, or Devil’s Elbow Gin. Choose flights or cocktails, and a non-alcoholic special is always on the menu. Gather with friends for an “out of the ordinary” experience—and check out the mouth-watering gourmet pies at Pizza Co. Afternoon music in the courtyard adds to the fun.
SOUTHERN BARREL BREWING CO.
375 Buckwalter Place Boulevard This long-loved brewery, located in Buckwalter Place, has year-round staples, seasonal selections, and limited runs all on tap. Don’t miss one of Southern Barrel’s signature creations brewed in old wine and spirits barrels for a unique flavor.
RIVER DOG BREWING CO.
591 Browns Cove Road North, Ridgeland Handcrafting beers since 2012, this brewery in the Riverwalk Center is known for the Riverwalk Empire, a rustic classic pilsner, and Lowcountry Ambrosia, a superrefreshing brew with the sweetness of honey (try it on a hot summer night).
LOT 9 BREWING CO.
258 Red Cedar Street, Suite 14 Bluffton’s first nano-brewery is all about celebrating the culture of beer itself. Come for the atmosphere but stay for, of course, the beer, all brewed in small batches, from classic ales to experimental sours.
