The Bluff Magazine Holiday 2021

the bluff holiday 2021

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ON T H E COV E R : PHOTO: Catherine Hurt Photography The Estelle Colored Glass pieces (see page 49 for more) are best described as "jewels for your table."

con t en ts

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6 DIVIN E S PI RITS

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57 A VERY M ER RY BAR C ART

The Burnt Church Distillery is a stunning new

O UTDOOR LIVI N G S PACES AR E ALL AG LOW

For an easy and mobile way to kick your

gathering spot in Old Town Bluffton. Its grand

In the Lowcountry, as soon as the

ho-ho-holiday decorating into high gear,

and gothic facade provide a smooth finish of

temperatures dip below 70 degrees, we

we’ve styled three bar carts to get your

architectural and distillery elements.

fi re up the outdoor fi repits and fi replaces

party started.

We got the backstory while taste-testing

and settle in for the most wonderful

their house-made spirits.

time of the year (no humidity!). These

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Palmetto Bluff homes have cornered the

AN G EL S WE HAVE H E AR D ON H IG H

market on cozying up by the fi re.

Generosity in spirit abounds at the

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holidays. Meet fi ve Lowcountry locals

the holiday season prompts us to move

H OLI DAY G IF T G U IDE

and treasure year-round to make our

outdoor foliage in, literally.

The stress of fi nding the perfect gift can

community a better place.

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sometimes stifl e the fa la la spirit.

DECK TH E HALL S Here’s a laugh-out-loud look at why

H OST G IF TS: BAK ERY EDITION Surely your mother told you to never show

Our take? Make it personal.

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up to someone’s home empty-handed? Have

B E T TER TO G IVE THAN TO R ECEIVE

who are giving their time, talent,

73 50 YE ARS OF CH RISTMAS The quirky and onetime quaint Bluffton Christmas Parade celebrates its 50 th year

no fear: we know the best host gifts can be

We meet Palmetto Bluff’s new ownership

in 2021. The offi cial kickoff to the holiday

of the sweetest persuasion, so we visited two

group, South Street Partners, and get

season, this generations-old tradition has

Lowcountry bakeries to get the lowdown on

them to dish out their favorite holiday

some stories of its own.

the best baked goods for holiday gifting.

gifts (and childhood photos).

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78 A TRI B UTE TO SAU L S ER R AN O

TH E E TER NAL DEBATE:

Saying goodbye to a beloved Palmetto

STU FFI N G VS . DR ESSIN G

Bluff colleague and friend.

How exactly did the dressing-versus-stuffi ng regional divide come to be? Are Southern Thanksgiving dinners different than those in the North? Is it dialect, palate, or simply family tradition not to be messed with?

PHOTOS: (opposite page) Photography by Anne, Inc., (this page) Allison Lane, and Ellis Creek Photography

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&

c r e at e d b y f or t hos e w ho l ov e t h i s s p e c i a l l owcou n t r y i dy l l

{

}

PUBLISHER AND EDITOR IN CHIEF

Courtney Hampson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DESIGNERS

WRITERS

Ellis Creek Photography

Amanda Davis

Kristen Constantineau

Josh Gibson

Heather Dumford

Courtney Hampson

Catherine Hurt Photography

Katie Gates

Justin Hardy

Allison Lane

Barry Kaufman

Krisztian Lonyai

Allison Lane

ILLUSTRATOR

Photography by Anne, Inc.

Jennifer Wallace Amanda Davis

Kim Smith

Tim Wood

T H E B LU F F. CO M R E A L E S TAT E S A L E S

I N N R E S E R VAT I O N S

843-380-6856

855-740-3272

LET'S BE SOCIAL

/PalmettoBluff

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T H E B L U FP F.ACLOMME T T O B L U F F. C O M

@PalmettoBluff

@PalmettoBluff

l et t er f rom t h e edi tor

For the first decade of my life, we hung our stockings from a cardboard chimney, with care, in the hopes that Saint Nick soon would be there.

Mom’s mulled wine punch. Aunt Madeleine’s Jell-O mold (may they both rest in peace). A generations-old Santa suit. Barbra Streisand’s rendition of “Jingle Bells” and Elvis’s Christmas album on repeat.

Each year, as my parents pulled the Christmas decorations and dust down from the attic, I would anxiously await the centerpiece of our festivities: the cardboard fi replace and mantel that would settle along the living room wall. Yes, you read correctly. For the fi rst decade of my life, we hung our stockings from a cardboard chimney, with care, in the hopes that Saint Nick soon would be there.

Eventually the stockings moved to the banister and our faux “hearth” to the garbage. We always opened our stockings fi rst. And then my sister and I would get to run downstairs to see what was under the tree, allowing my father the time to get the camera (and eventually the video camera that was the size of a microwave) set up to capture the moment of delight.

While I never received the Barbie DreamHouse I wished for, I knew how lucky we were. We woke to a pile of presents and weeks of family traditions.

Keeping those traditions alive remains an important part of our holiday celebrations decades later. We still make the wine punch. We talk about the Jell-O and Aunt Madeleine and the year she busted out an interpretive dance accompaniment to her “Away in the Manger” vocals. We still have the Santa suit, a little worse for wear. And when buying my first, second, and current homes, a real fireplace was on the “cannot live without” list.

We created this issue to get you in the holiday spirit, perhaps by taste-testing the new Burnt Church Distillery’s spirits.

Or starting your holiday gift list, marking the calendar for the 50 th Bluffton Christmas Parade on December 4, or simply relaxing by the fire and procrastinating.

However you choose to celebrate this time of year, we wish you good friends, good food, and good memories.

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con t r i bu t er s

“To me, a great image captures an emotion, a mood, or a feeling; I love to discover that and to bring it out in my photographs.”

Krisztian Lonyai

1. Anne Caufmann

3. Kim Smith

Photographer, “A Very Merry Bar Cart”

Photographer, “Divine Spirits” (page 6)

(page 57)

Born and raised in Buffalo, New York,

Anne is a highly acclaimed and award-

Kim grew up around the incredible

winning

photographer.

architectural works of Frank Lloyd

For the last 15 years, she has dedicated

professional

Wright, Louis Sullivan, H. H. Richardson,

herself exclusively to wedding and

and Paul Rudolph. As an architectural

commercial photography. Anne has

photographer, she works along the East

established a thriving and successful

Coast, from New York to Miami, for

photography business, which has led

some of the most talented architects in

her to photograph clients from all over

the country and has mentored under

the world and happily capture over

superlative photographers.

300 weddings. Her passion for creating images that make clients fall in love over

“A Very Merry Bar Cart” (page 57)

2. Krisztian Lonyai 1

2

4. Kristen Constantineau Writer and stylist,

and over is her gift.

A native of Virginia (Go HOOS!),

Photographer, “Outdoor Living Spaces

Kristen moved to the Lowcountry in

Are All Aglow” (page 29)

2019 where she was the senior marketing

Longtime contributor Krisztian Lonyai is

manager for Palmetto Bluff and editor

an internationally acclaimed photographer

of The Bluff magazine. Currently, she’s

whose editorial work has been published

the owner and creative director of Lark

in magazines such as Elle, Cosmopolitan,

Creative Co., where she continues to

and Glamour, among others. “To me, a great

lend her writing, editing, and creative

image captures an emotion, a mood, or a

skills to The Bluff as a freelance writer

feeling,” he explains. “I love to discover

and stylist. At her core, she is a creator.

that and to bring it out in my photographs.”

Typography, design, styling . . . beautiful

Krisztian loves the challenge of shooting

aesthetics are her inspiration. A lover of

a wide range of subjects, but whether

the sun, water, and the laid-back lifestyle

photographing celebrities, models, or

found in the Lowcountry, Kristen lives

interior and exterior spaces, he always

in Bluff ton with her husband, their two

approaches

children, and their black Lab.

every

subject

with

his

trademark positivity and enthusiasm. The quality of his work and the beauty of his

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images speak for themselves.

5. Jennifer Wallace Writer and gift curator, “Holiday Gift Guide” (page 41) Jennifer works for Palmetto Bluff and lives in Bluff ton with her chef husband and Jack the cat. She enjoys long drives

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for great food, everyone’s dogs, vintage treasure hunting, and reselling and putting together thoughtful, curated gifts.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

Put yourself in the way of wonder and she will follow you home.

In South Carolina’s Lowcountry lies Palmetto Bluff, a protected sanctuary of natural wonder you can call home. Here, wandering at your leisure invites the biggest discoveries. Twenty thousand acres of pristine land and 32 miles of riverfront offer something for the curious-minded.

Stay for a little or stay for a lifetime, it never leaves you.

Follow our story at thebluff.com. For real estate inquiries, call 843-612-8611.

For bookings at Montage Palmetto Bluff, call 877-295-3606.

Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy where prohibited by law. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. File no. H-110005.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

WRITTEN BY:

BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY:

KIM SMITH

FOR THOSE WHO APPROACH THE ALTAR AT BURNT CHURCH DISTILLERY, SALVATION IS NEVER MORE THAN A GLASS AWAY.

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THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT ONLY HAPPEN AROUND A FIRE. For brothers Billy and Sean Watterson, it was a campfire somewhere in the vast verdant wilds of the Midwest, and the conversation turned to what would come next for the serial entrepreneurs. Perhaps fueled by the spirits in their glass, that conversation would find the pair embarking on a journey to open a distillery. Before the logs had burned down to their embers, that expedition was underway.

Next stop: Bluffton, South Carolina, and their first inkling that maybe the lofty heights of their ambition were more than they’d anticipated. “When we first visited the construction site and saw these great steel beams . . . the architectural drawings don’t really prepare you for that,” Billy said. “That was our first, ‘Oh my God. What have we done?’ moment.”

Those steel beams now rise over a chic, metropolitan-meets-historical cocktail lounge set in the nave of Burnt Church Distillery.

For a town that just a few decades ago was graced with adjectives such as sleepy, bucolic, and rustic, it seems impossible that such a structure exists. So, you can forgive the brothers for possibly having a moment of panic seeing it rise up.

But even as awe-inspiring as this $13 million building is, it represents just the chief cornerstone of an entire gospel built around the Burnt Church brand.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

“

THE BUILDING IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE ATMOSPHERE IS

“The building is beautiful, but the atmosphere is everything,” Billy said.

it’s such an important part of our history. It needs to be talked about.”

And that atmosphere celebrates Bluff ton, past and present. That means taking the unusual step of hiring historian Melanie Marks, who dug deep into personal letters and official records to help tell Bluff ton’s story in a way it hadn’t been before. It also means acknowledging some of Bluff ton’s darker days, neatly symbolized by the piece of Secession Oak in the narthex.

But it’s more than just history. Whether it’s ensuring that the distillery will fund the Black community through the Lowcountry Legacy Fund or simply giving blue-collar Bluff ton a place to grab a sophisticated cocktail, Burnt Church Distillery has already written its own chapter in the story of this once sleepy town.

“The tree split in two on Freedom Day, and the irony of that was not lost on me,” Billy said. “I had to get a piece of that, and people had to know the story. . . . For better or worse,

“The truth is, everything here is what Bluff ton was and is. We just painted it like an artist painting what they saw,” Billy said. “It’s not that we did anything great or amazing; it’s just y’all. This is what we experienced—the greatness and the potential of this place. And that’s what we created.” 

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TASTE THE

EACH OF BURNT CHURCH DISTILLERY’S BRANDS REPRESENTS A COMPLEX BLEND OF GRAINS, FLORALS, AND HISTORY. 10

T H E B L U F F. C O M

ANITA’S CHOICE

A running theme in the canon of Burnt Church is a celebration of both South Carolina and those who fought for justice. This complex bourbon is the perfect example, mixing in Carolina Gold rice for a note of mellow sea island sweetness while tipping its hat to Charleston-born suffragette Anita Pollitzer.

JOHNNY FEVER

No muss. No fuss. No frills. This straightforward bourbon kicks with a Kentucky corn bill served up as a tribute to Burnt Church Distillery coowner Billy Watterson’s father-in-law. The most limited-run production of the distillery’s line, Johnny Fever can only be found on-site.

“Johnny Fever: before him, I was just a beer guy,” Billy said. “He turned me onto bourbon while we were out hunting pheasant.”

BURNT CHURCH VODKA

BLUFFTON WHISKEY

Carolina Gold rice adds sweetness to a robust, smoky whiskey aged in white oak barrels, charred to evoke the 1863 burning of Bluffton.

Every sip carries with it a hint of salty river breezes, or maybe that’s just our imagination.

Bluffton is, after all, a state of mind. Or, in this case, an altered state of mind.

PALMER’S STRETCH

Part of what makes Burnt Church Distillery unique is the historical insights they were able to glean thanks to rigorous research by historian Melanie Marks. With their Palmer’s Stretch whiskey, they honor the original name of Burnt Church Road and the man who inspired it. Raise a glass to George Bell Palmer, and soak in juicy notes of rye and barley.

SIN EATER

We know what you’re thinking: another cinnamon whiskey. But put aside the mental picture of frat boys pounding shots of Fireball and take a sip. You’ll savor cinnamon notes that lightly glide over a bed of smoky whiskey. Named for an obscure quirk of 17 th-century history, wherein outcast holy men would—gulp—consume the body of the deceased to absolve them of their sins, this is a whiskey that burns down to the soul.

It’s practically a given these days that if you are going to start a craft distillery, even one that hangs its hat on its dark liquor, you have to offer a vodka. As such, the clear spirits are usually the least haunting on the shelf. Not so with the vodka that bears the distillery’s name. Burnt Church Vodka carries notes of cucumber and pear, a subtle crispness that shines through in every cocktail it stars in.

DEVIL’S ELBOW GIN

Again, we see the depth of historical research that went into the Burnt Church Distillery experience with this crisp, floral-forward gin named for the historic title given to the royal barony that would become Bluffton. It only adds to the mystery that no one knows exactly why this land grant was called the Devil’s Elbow. Beyond the original, there are three other flavor remixes, with the cucumber and black pepper variation a definite standout.

SIPPIN’ SAINT

“There must have been a huge party in the 1830s, because this rector in Charleston made a declaration that ‘A sipping saint is a sinning saint,’” Billy said. “How could you not name a brand after that?” These lower-proof, flavored moonshines show some serious creativity, with sweet potato pie being one of the most unusual. When concocting the original recipes, co-owner and distiller Sean Watterson had one simple goal for the milk chocolate variety: that it taste just like an icecold Yoo-hoo on a summer day. Damned if he didn’t nail it.

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OPENING OUR DOORS IN THE LOWCOUNTRY

To learn more and receive an invitation to our open house, please call (843) 473-4266 or email us at hello@somersetadvisory.com S O M E RS E TA DV I S O RY.CO M H E L LO @ S O M E R S E TA DV I S O RY.CO M (8 4 3) 47 3-4 2 6 6

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Written by:

Justin Hardy

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American Holly

Loblolly Pine

Ilex opaca

Pinus taeda

Why do we have the urge to decorate our homes with greenery during the holiday season ?

We put out wreaths and hang mistletoe. We bring a tree, in its

of joy. Maybe it brings life and brightness into our homes when the

entirety, into the living room for a month or more. Then, sometime

days are short and cold. Who knows? Motivations aside, we use a

in January, we drag it out into the cold and try to figure out what to

plethora of vegetation to set the holiday scene, and I wouldn’t have

do with it. If you are like me, you probably have that one secluded

it any other way. Decorating is deeply important to us, and several

corner of your yard behind some bushes where the trees accumulate.

plant species are so ingrained within the holiday realm that they

Why don’t they rot?

deserve an honorable mention.

For a spell, my dear mama kept a tree in the house year-round.

Burl Ives said it best: “Have a holly, jolly Christmas. It’s the best

Instead of taking the tree down, she would replace the adornments

time of the year.” Did he use the word holly because it rhymes with

with seasonally appropriate things. Eggs during Easter. Flags on

jolly, or did he use it because AMERICAN HOLLY (Ilex opaca) is a

the Fourth. Pumpkins for Halloween. You get the picture.

staple in holiday decorating? We may never know. What we do know is that American holly is beautiful. It is a native to the southeastern

Perhaps we do these things because we need green, living reminders

United States and extremely common in the maritime forests of

of the outdoors and wide-open spaces to help mentally remove us

Palmetto Bluff .

from a conversation with stuff y, old Aunt Beatrice and her incessant

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yammering about how her deadbeat son (who was a no-show once

The bark is paper white. The leaves are bright, evergreen, and waxy,

again this year) has “really turned his life around.” Maybe the sights

which gives them an almost shiny appearance. The leaves are also

and smells of fresh, evergreen clippings provide a festive feeling

toothed. This means that along the edges of each leaf, there are

T H E B L U F F. C O M

White Spruce Picea glauca

Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora

tiny spikes. If you were to bump into a holly tree, it would be quite

Speaking of Santa, I wonder if he has ever laid eyes on an organic

painful, much like being seated next to Aunt Beatrice. The berries

magnolia flower. I would assume he has not because he lives at the

produced by a holly are as red as Rudolph’s nose, and fortunately

North Pole, and he doesn’t really leave the house until December.

for us, they show in winter months. Red, white, and green. That is as

He seems like the type who would vacation in Florida though.

festive as it gets. (But also, who names their child “Burl”?)

They have magnolias down there. Hmm . . . I’ll definitely make an inquiry at the end of this year’s wish list.

The SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA (Magnolia grandiflora) is also commonly used in holiday décor. The big, dark-green leaves, brown cones

Anytime you visit Aunt Beatrice during the holiday season, she

fi lled with red berries, and giant white flowers make it an obvious

always puts out a bowl of POTPOURRI. Potpourri is a French

choice. It is recommended, however, that you go with an artificial

word that loosely translates to “bowl of old pine cones and junk with

arrangement. For one thing, magnolias bloom in May.

synthetic scent sprayed on it.” Actually, potpourri has a fairly deep history. The original stuff would’ve been made up of a collection of

There is another issue that may give pause to bringing in the

herbs, sea salt, and clippings that had a beautiful natural aroma.

real deal. Magnolias are an ancient species (much like Aunt

Aunt B does not use that kind though. She uses pine cones with an

Beatrice). They evolved in a time before bees and many other flying

apple/cinnamon twist.

pollinators. The only pollinators that existed at that time would have been roaches and roachesque beetles. Who wants those things

PINE CONES (Pinus taeda) have many uses during the holiday

crawling around on Santa’s cookies?

season. As a child, we all made ornaments with them. I’ll bet you

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Poinsettia

Euphorbia pulcherrima

have probably made a miniature Christmas tree out of them as well.

I distinctly remember one year when my grandmother, we called her

You know. You glue those little fuzzy balls all over it, put some tinsel

Gammy, asked me to go collect hers. “Make sure you grab a pretty

on there, maybe spray it with just a little bit of white paint so that it

one,” she said. I felt a heavy burden when I attempted to choose one

looks all snowy. Ain’t it precious?

from the many beautiful plants up there. Reverend Jean Cochran saw the befuddled look on my face, pointed at one, and winked. That

POINSETTIAS (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are vastly popular holiday

was the one. If you can’t trust the preacher’s judgment, then then

decorations. They are native to Mexico and Central America.

whose can you trust?

In Mexican folklore, a little girl named Pepita was sad because she had nothing to leave at the altar on Christmas Eve. Her brother

I am not a scrooge. I love plants and holidays. I just think it is fun

reminded her that any little thing would be sufficient. With that, she

to pick apart our human quirks and cast a holly, jolly laugh at them.

picked a poinsettia and left it at the altar as a gift for the baby Jesus.

This doesn’t stop our quirks, however, from being deeply important to us and our cultures. The holiday season is a time for celebration.

Mr. Joel Poinsett is responsible for popularizing and naming the

We have made it through another year, and it is time to give thanks.

plant within American culture. He was the US minister to Mexico

We can be thankful for a colorful world fi lled with beautiful flora.

in the 1820s. More recently, I grew up attending First Methodist

It only makes sense to bring it into our most sacred place, home.

Church in Eastman, Georgia. Every year, the church would sell the congregation poinsettias to be placed at the altar. After the

Be sure to hug Aunt Beatrice tightly this year.

Christmas Eve service, you could go up to the altar and collect one

Merry Christmas.

to take home.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

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C A P T I VAT E S .

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HOST GIFTS:

Bakery Edition

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY:

Allison Lane H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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IT’S NO SECRET THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE, at best, a time of organized chaos. Idyllic memories of mistletoe and boughs of holly are tempered by shopping lists and paper cuts, the latter accumulated like gift-wrapped badges of honor. Holiday parties are in no short supply, buoyed no doubt by eggnog, spiced mulled wine, and the requisite mystery punch.

But if you peel away the gift wrap, the meticulously planned menus, and the artfully arranged poinsettias, one simple truth remains: the holidays are a time of tradition. And no tradition, value, or social custom is so ingrained in our Southern consciousness than the notion that you should never, ever show up to someone’s house empty-handed.

And while this is easy to understand in theory, what does it look like in delivery?

By definition, a hostess gift is something a host or hostess would use in the course of entertaining. Bringing food, though, runs the risk of putting your hostess on the spot and making them feel obligated to serve it.

This brings us to the crux of the matter: do you bring something appropriate for serving now, or do you rebel against the carefully penned lines of cultural icon and authority on etiquette Emily Post (who no doubt would shudder at the thought of me offering advice) and bring something for the hostess to enjoy later?

Whichever way you decide to go, the central tenet remains: if you’re attending a party, bring the hostess a gift. And since I am inclined to choose gifts of the edible variety and adhere to the notion that the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, I’ve rounded up two Lowcountry bakeries that are reshaping the cookie-cutter archetype and producing pastries worthy of any host or hostess.

The Safe Option Playing it safe might lead you down the road most taken, but for Josiah, that doesn’t have to mean boring. Go for their tried-and-true crowd-pleasers: a dozen cupcakes in an assortment of flavors, or a dozen of the BLUEBERRY VANILLA CUPCAKES (which happen to be painted on the side of their building—they’re that good). A dozen assorted cookies works great as well, but be forewarned, chocolate chip is always their most popular and tends to sell out the quickest.

Sugar Bakeshop A Charleston institution rooted in home baking, Sugar Bakeshop offers a variety of freshbaked cupcakes and cookies as well as pies and cakes made to order. All of their recipes are based on the original owner’s grandparents’ recipes, and consequently, there’s a level of nostalgia that’s as baked in as the flour, eggs, and milk.

With the goal of bringing back memories of your childhood, it’s no surprise that Sugar Bakeshop likes to keep it simple, as evidenced by their sugar cookies and vanilla blueberry cake. There is an elegance to the simplicity, and the holidays are no exception. The sugar cookies feature the trademark unassuming look, but don’t let that fool you; underneath the sugar cookie glaze is a treat so good it’ll transport you straight back to your grandmother’s linoleum-floored kitchen.

Popular options for the holidays include the aforementioned sugar cookies, which come in a variety of classic shapes and can be ordered by the dozen; the Charleston chewies, which are similar to a cookie but have crushed pecans on the top and come in a festive silver holiday tin with 16 chewies; and, of course, the homemade hot cocoa mix, featuring rich, high-quality dark chocolate cocoa powder, sea salt, vanilla bean–infused sugar, semisweet chocolate chunks, and homemade peppermint marshmallows for garnish. Trust me, this is one mix that tastes anything but prepacked.

And while all of this sounds absolutely heavenly and has likely roused many a sweet tooth from its sugar plum slumber, it doesn’t help to answer what one should bring as a hostess gift. Enter Sugar Bakeshop head baker, Josiah Albright. A home baker with a background in theater, Josiah understands the nuances of gift-giving, but with the requisite added panache one would expect from a thespian-turned-baker.

For a Foodie For the foodie in your life, Josiah recommends bringing SOMETHING SEASONAL. Ask the team what’s in season, and you’ll be glad you did. At the time of this writing, the seasonal offering was a sweet tea cupcake with sweet tea icing and a citrus filling, and it was simply divine.

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FOR YOUR

Significant Other’s Parents There’s no pressure like trying to figure out what to bring your significant other’s family, and Josiah advises planning ahead and trying to impress them. His recommendation?

Get a cake. A CLASSIC 6-INCH CAKE (their smallest) with something safe that everyone would like, for example, double chocolate, chocolate with yellow icing, or a raspberry lemon cake are all great options and will be sure to impress.

Baker’s Choice I would be remiss if I didn’t include the baker’s choice, which is, unsurprisingly, anything seasonal (as befits a selfproclaimed foodie). But his favorite favorite? The MAPLE BLUEBERRY CUPCAKE Sugar Bakeshop has in January, which tastes like a pancake. Drool.

WHEN TO ORDER

If you’re reading this, take this as your reminder to get holiday orders in posthaste. Sugar Bakeshop plans to have their Christmas menu posted around late October, which is also when they recommend placing your order. Smaller items such as sugar cookies, chewies, and cocoa powder will be in stock at the store, but they tend to sell out quickly.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

The Safe Option Odd Birds Cafe & Market When Bluffton newcomer Odd Birds Cafe & Market opened their doors in the midst of a pandemic, they had no idea what to expect. Never one to sugarcoat things (ironic given her line of work), co-owner Lynn Vinall conceded that it’s been tough, but that it’s their dream and they’re doing it. Indeed, Lynn and her best-friend-turned-sister-in-law-turned-businesspartner, Lesley, have been talking about doing this for 20 years, and after 10 months of seven-

Housemade strawberry raspberry jam and lemon curd, bottled in cute little jars and served alongside Odd Bird’s HOUSEMADE MUFFINS OR BUTTERMILK BISCUITS, are perfect for the morning. Your host will thank you when all they have to do the morning after is toast a biscuit and choose between curd or jam.

day workweeks working to define their voice, ahem, flavor, it’s undeniable that not only are they doing it, but also they’re doing it exceedingly well.

And to top it all off, Odd Birds isn’t following a clearly defined set of rules, because when you open in a pandemic, there are no rules. This freedom has allowed them to differentiate themselves from their more established counterparts and focus on what makes them, well, them.

Like Sugar Bakeshop in Charleston, Odd Birds doesn’t focus on fancy decorating. Instead, they spend their time and energy making sure the food is really, really good. And it is. Don’t expect to find cases upon cases of baked goods. Instead, expect to find a handful of baked goods made fresh and from scratch daily. At Odd Birds, it’s all about consistency and deliciousness, and it shows, er, tastes.

With popular holiday options including full-sized quiches, coffee cakes, and double chocolate peppermint tarts, Odd Birds is uniquely positioned to provide their patrons with the nostalgia of holiday favorites without the stress and worry of having to make it themselves. Indeed, while the holidays can often be viewed through rose-colored glasses, the reality can be anything but.

For a Foodie For the discerning eater in your life, Lynn recommends

Which leads us to our point: this holiday season, take the pressure off yourself, and let the people

a FULL-SIZED QUICHE. Same idea as the safe option:

who do it well do it for you. Hostess gifts are no exception, and Lynn has recommendations for

your host can throw it in the fridge, and when they’re

every situation. The overarching theme? Bring something the host can use the next day.

nice and tired the morning after, cut a slice, toast it, et voila—you’re now the MVP (most valuable partygoer).

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FOR YOUR

Significant Other’s Parents Odd Birds and Sugar Bakeshop both agree that when it comes to your significant other’s family or parents, you have to impress. Go with the HOUSEMADE JAM OR CURD, which is easy to carry and will be there when they’re ready to use it. But be forewarned, it’s so good that it won’t last long.

Baker’s Choice SALTY MALTY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. A mixture of dark and milk chocolate with a malted milk powder and malted chocolate inside, these elevated chocolate chip cookies are the best you’ll ever eat. Not a chocolate fan?

Lynn also recommends their PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES, which are made with a special peanut butter “crack” that has the texture of toffee.

WHEN TO ORDER

Odd Birds needs at least two weeks’ notice and plans to announce their Christmas offerings after Thanksgiving.

But it’s my opinion that the earlier you can get your order in, the better. Odd Birds might be the new kid on the block working to grow their following, but with such an array of mouthwatering offerings, they won’t be for long.

So, repeat after me, “I will not show up empty-handed, and I will make sure to place my holiday orders early.” There.

You’re on your way to holiday bliss. 

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

“The Nationals” Silver Award • 432 LightHouse & Finalist Awards • Pinnacle Award Finalist & Merit Winner • Small Business of the Year • Numerous “Best Builder” awards

25 YEARS OF BUILDING EXCELLENCE H2BUILDERS.COM 843.815.GOH2 (4642)

written by:

BARRY KAUFMAN illustrated by:

AMANDA DAVIS

AMERICAN HISTORY, CULTURE, AND CULINARY TRADITIONS come to a head, as they always do, at the dinner table.

t the age of 58, with a heart condition threatening to end his life at any moment, celebrated novelist John Steinbeck set out to find America. One of the first things he noticed was that the plural America of his youth, one in which the cadence of life and the words you used were defined by the region you call home, was just as close to fading away as he was.

“It seemed to me that regional speech is in the process of disappearing, not gone but going,” he wrote in his travelogue, Travels with Charley. “Forty years of radio and 20 years of television must have this impact.”

Fast-forward to the modern era, and you now have 90 years of television homogenizing the rich tapestry of American speech, erasing idioms such as New England’s “dropped egg,” the Midwest’s “on pump,”

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

and the South’s “table tapper” (three terms that mean, respectively, a poached egg, something bought on credit, and an amateur preacher in their original parlance.)

But somehow, a handful of subtle regional differences have survived. Depending on which side of the Pennsylvania–New Jersey border you’re on, a group of people might be yinz or youse. Down here, they are y’all, which is, of course, the correct way to address a group.

Going to a barbecue means burgers and hot dogs up north and pulled pork down south (which is another point in Southerners’ favor).

And it may be helpful to consult a map before ordering an elongated sandwich, which can travel under the aliases sub, hoagie, grinder, hero, or Italian, depending on geography.

Which brings us to one of the deepest gulfs in American regional speech: stuffing vs. dressing.

On a purely superficial level, both words describe the same thing. Everyone has their own recipe (and everyone’s recipe is the best recipe there is), but universally, you take some crumbled bread; toss it with some melted butter, celery, and herbs; and bake it until you have the savory side dish that is all but mandatory at Thanksgiving.

And yet in the North, you’ll call this mouthwatering side dish stuffing. In the South, despite the name also referring to a salad topping, it’s dressing. So why does your position relative to the Mason–Dixon Line matter? Is this one of those simple mistranslations?

Whereas the difference between pop and soda, lightning bugs and fi refl ies, or sneakers and tennis shoes may come down to simple geography, there is an added twist when it

comes to stuffi ng versus dressing: it’s not just where you are; it’s how you do it.

Ah, but his mother’s recipe only muddies the waters.

“I’ve never said stuffing in my life,” Jamie Deen said. As one of the “and sons” in Savannah’s famed Lady and Sons, he speaks from a position of authority. While people across the world fi rst learned about the joys of Southern cooking from his mother Paula’s TV appearances, he learned it at the dinner table.

As someone who has extended the appeal of Southern cooking outside our region, Paula Deen offers recipes for both stuffi ng and dressing on her website. Her “Classic Cornbread Dressing” uses the Southern staple of cornbread as a base with bacon grease an acceptable substitute for butter, while her “Southern Cornbread Stuffi ng” replaces the cornbread with white bread and saltines.

And yet somehow, as with so many things in this great melting pot of America, it’s something we all agree on—or at least agree to disagree. Whether you cook it in a pan or in a bird, with bacon grease or butter, the end result is the same. It’s the side dish that always threatens to steal the spotlight. It’s the great common denominator that brings us all to the table together.

So clearly the differences between stuffi ng and dressing run far deeper than just the name. It’s not just about where you’re from.

We like to think even Steinbeck would be glad to see one regional idiom standing strong, long after he was gone. ✧

“Dressing comes in a pan. Stuffi ng is dressing that is stuffed in the cavity of a bird,” he said.

“I think people that do that . . . bless their heart is what we say. As long as you use my mom’s recipe, you can call it what you want.”

It’s not just about what you do with it. It’s not just about what you make it with. It’s all of these things.

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citadelatpalmettobluff.com

Outdoor Living Spaces Are

All Aglow Written by: Courtney Hampson

Sitting by a fire ignites all the senses. The crackling of the logs,

The temperate climate of the Lowcountry means outdoor

the smoke filling the cool air, the embers floating to the stars.

living is in full swing once the dog days of summer dissipate,

When the air begins to chill in the Lowcountry and autumn

and these Palmetto Bluff homes have cornered the market on

rolls into the holiday season, sitting around the fire is tradition.

cozying up by the fire. Take a look.

PHOTO: Krisztian Lonyai

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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Vinson Road Neighborhood: Moreland Village Architect: Pearce Scott Architects Builder: Shoreline Construction Design Notes: A contemporary take on traditional tabby, this outdoor fireplace and surrounding space were designed to connect the main residence and carriage house on an alley-loaded homesite. The shoulders of the fireplace are concrete forms designed to match the stucco in the tabby. The hearth is absolute black granite that’s been honed for a dramatic look.

PHOTOS: Provided by Shoreline Construction

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

The Tabby Process • After the chimney is wrapped in an ice/water shield, the builder applied metal lathe and a scratch coat of mortar.

• Then, a very heavy one-anda-half-inch coat of Ivory Buff mortar mix is added.

• Next, they placed large oyster shells and #3 size shells in the mortar mix.

• Those shells are then covered with another layer of Ivory Buff mortar.

• When it is almost dry (same day), the entire chimney is lightly pressure washed to expose the shells but leave them encased in mortar.

• Finally, the builder cut level and even expansion joints with a saw to give it a halfinch “grout line.”

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Mount Pelia Road Neighborhood: May River Forest Architect: J. Terry Bates & Associates Builder: Richard Best Custom Homes Design Notes: Here, an extra-large firepit with enough room to squeeze in a dozen Adirondack chairs also features a cast-iron custom cooking surface perfect for oyster roasts. With views of the May River and the ever-changing colors of the marsh grass, this is a space made for settling in.

PHOTOS: Krisztian Lonyai

Hearth Street Neighborhood: South Wilson Architect: Wayne Windham Architect Builder: Richard Best Custom Homes Design Notes: Through a quaint iron garden gate, this stately, two-story outdoor fireplace emerges, eclipsing the roof and making the sight line soar. The brick is laid in a herringbone pattern to add visual interest in lieu of a mantel.

PHOTOS: Krisztian Lonyai

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Old Landing Road Neighborhood: Moreland Architect: Pearce Scott Architects Builder: Luxury Simplified Design Notes: The home was largely inspired by the historic Seven Oaks house in Old Town Bluffton.

The rear porch was designed for fun and entertainment within a classic Southern porch. It’s large enough for comfortable living and dining and flows out to the small pool at the porch level.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

PHOTOS: Ellis Creek Photography H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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PHOTOS: Josh Gibson

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

StallingS Island Street Neighborhood: South Wilson Architect: Court Atkins Group Builder: Simpson Construction Design Notes: The full height of the rustic cut limestone fireplace is the centerpiece of a vaulted outdoor living room. The fire bowl gathering area is designed with a large sugar kettle, giving the space the interest of an acquired piece with its own history.

It also ensures that the firepit is large enough for everyone to gather.

Gameland Road Neighborhood: River Road Architect: Pearce Scott Architects Builder: On-Site Development Design Notes: The contemporary design of the black-and-white carriage house plays backdrop for this pictureperfect firepit. She is small, but the modern touches are mighty.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

PHOTO: Krisztian Lonyai

Behind The Design View recently completed homes through the eyes of our Design Team.

Shorelineconstructionsc.com/behindthedesign

Currents We are proud to introduce FURNISH by Shoreline, a full service interior design firm for the discerning Lowcountry home owner.

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Explore a handful of our current projects and the features that make them special.

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Holiday Gift Guide

Written and sourced by:

Jennifer Wallace & Courtney Hampson IF WE HAVE SEEN ANYTHING IN THE LAST YEAR, it’s that we’re putting less value on things and focusing more on time spent with the people (and pets) and at the places that bring us peace and joy. We have prioritized relationships and well-being and placed greater value on making memories and creating traditions.

As you start your holiday shopping list, we’ve rounded up a unique cadre of Southern makers who are crafting bespoke products that are both personal and perfect for creating deeper connections with your inner circle.

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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Smithey Ironware Charleston-based Smithey Ironware was an idea hatched in a woodshed as the founder focused on restoring beautiful old cookware pieces, which he would then gift to friends and family. Today, Smithey’s handcrafted cookware is an heirloom gift that will be passed down for generations.

Creating conversation and community through a shared meal has never been more important, and cooking in cast iron will never lose its luster.

SMITHEY.COM

Daughter Handwovens Daughter Handwovens is making beautiful linens in Savannah, Georgia. Their textiles are 100 percent cotton, and they use no chemicals in crafting their products.

DAUGHTERHANDWOVENS.COM

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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Selina King Jewelry Selina King’s stunning jewelry line is bold and beautiful, but her customdesigned pieces that reimagine heirloom stones are the showstoppers.

SELINAKING.COM

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

Happy Hinson For the mixologist on your list, the Happy Hinson bar caddy is a bespoke carryall that is handmade by a small woodshop in Georgia. Visit PW Short General Store in Savannah, Georgia, to purchase.

PWSHORT.COM

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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Christina Jervey A unique and most personal way to wear the love or memory of a person or pet, Christina Jervey’s custom fingerprint (or nose prints for dog lovers) necklaces are equal parts stunning and special.

CHRISTINAJERVEY.COM

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

Estelle Colored Glass Cheers to the holidays and the new year with Estelle’s vintage-inspired, handblown glassware. We suggest the coupe glasses for a holiday toast or jewel-toned cake stand to elevate holiday decorating and entertaining.

ESTELLECOLOREDGLASS.COM

7th & Palm Bluffton artist Andrea Smith’s original art and illustrations don her collection of stationery and greeting cards. 7th & Palm’s subscription series delivers a surprise collection of carefully curated greeting cards and stationery to your favorite person’s doorstep each month.

7THANDPALM.COM

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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BUILDING TO A HIGHER STANDARD P.O. Box 902 • 33 Boundary Street • Bluffton, SC 29910 • 843.757.8220 (office) • www.genesis-construction.com

give receive Better to

than to

South Street Partners, new owners of Palmetto Bluff, share their story and holiday favorites.

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

49

“

”

Time, in many cases, is more precious than money.

“Time, in many cases, is more precious than money.” Wise words

Jordan and Will eventually returned to the States. Will joined

from Patrick Melton, managing partner of South Street Partners, the

Hillwood, a leading real estate developer owned by the Perot family,

Charlotte- and Charleston-based private equity firm that acquired

and Jordan went to work with Discovery Land Company, where

Palmetto Bluff in June.

Patrick was a partner. Hillwood and Discovery were partners on a number of deals, so Jordan and Will—and now Patrick—continued

Patrick married his college sweetheart, and together they have

to work closely despite being at different firms.

two daughters. His time away from work is filled with soccer and basketball, and he knows all too well the challenges associated

While at Discovery, Patrick and Jordan were involved with the

with getting kids to look up from electronics and engage with the

development and operation of roughly a dozen high-end, master-

important people in their lives.

planned golf course communities, including Mountaintop Golf & Lake Club in Cashiers, North Carolina, and Baker’s Bay Golf &

“It’s our goal to create an environment where people can connect

Ocean Club in the Bahamas. The vast portfolio meant that Patrick

with their families,” Patrick says.

and Jordan were spread across the country: Patrick was traveling to the West Coast every week, leaving behind his young family in

His partners are also busy raising young families, yet their

Charlotte; Jordan was based in Scottsdale, Arizona, later moving

relationships go back decades.

to Mexico.

Jordan Phillips and Will Culp claim the longest connection, born

And then the Great Recession hit. But even with the economy

four days apart and growing up as best friends in High Point, North

spiraling downward, Patrick and Jordan found a backer that was

Carolina. They were freshmen roommates at the University of North

willing to get them set up on the East Coast. “So, we left Discovery

Carolina, where they met Chris Randolph, who made his way to

and got South Street going,” Jordan says. “Chris Randolph was our

Chapel Hill from Long Island, New York.

first call.”

Patrick, a few years their senior, is another North Carolina native

South Street Partners was founded in 2009 and based in Charlotte.

and UNC alumnus.

Chris remained in New York for the first few years to raise a steady stream of capital for the young firm’s investments in the Southeast. Will,

“We’re business colleagues with a common vision and goal, but first

by this time, was back in Charlotte working for Crescent Resources and

and foremost, we’re friends,” Will says. “We have dinners together,

keeping in close contact with his college friends and former colleagues.

our kids are friends, our families vacation together, and that helps

By 2012, he was solidly in the fold as the fourth partner.

breed our culture into our properties. We’re a family, and we operate our company as such.”

“Over the last decade, we’ve put together a pretty sizable business,” Chris says. “We now have over a billion dollars of assets under

Jordan and Will headed to Asia together after college graduation

management.” Their largest investments prior to Palmetto Bluff

to begin their careers in the private equity industry. Chris followed

include The Cliffs, which is seven club communities in the Carolina

a similar path back to New York. “After school, I went to work for

mountains; Kiawah Partners; Kiawah Island Real Estate; and the

Summit Capital Management, a family office/private equity firm

Kiawah Island Club.

focused on opportunistic real estate investments.”

Since the acquisition, South Street has been hard at work on the long-

50

“There, not only was I able to work on acquisitions and asset

term plan for Palmetto Bluff. While much has been accomplished,

management, but also they gave me the opportunity to raise outside

there is still much to do. We look forward to sharing the plans in the

capital to invest in our deals.”

next issue of The Bluff.

T H E B L U F F. C O M

phillips

Jordan

What is the best gift you have ever given (at the holidays)?

An engagement ring! I proposed to my wife Meg, in New York right before Christmas. It is a wonderful holiday memory.

What is the best gift you have ever received (at the holidays)?

My wife saying “yes” was certainly a good one. A memorable gift I received as a child was a backpack leaf blower, which I desperately wanted as I was very into yard maintenance at a young age. Probably a dangerous gift for an 8-year-old, but it worked out, though I have lost a bit of my passion for yard maintenance.

Favorite holiday tradition?

Decorating our tree. Each year everyone in our family gets one new ornament that represents something we’ve done that year.

Favorite holiday song?

“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon is one that comes to mind. While it might not be as cheery as some holiday songs, it is one I really like.

Favorite holiday memory?

Two of our three children were born during the holiday season.

It is always a super festive time at our home. Celebrating birthdays and the holiday season makes for an action-packed month.

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

51

randolph

Chris

What is the best gift you have ever given (at the holidays)?

A painting of Clemmie, one of our two yellow Labs, I gave my wife by a very talented young artist named Teil Duncan.

What is the best gift you have ever received (at the holidays)?

Coincidentally, Audrey also gave me a painting of Clemmie that same year by a different artist.

Favorite holiday tradition?

My new favorite holiday tradition is hosting both my family and my wife’s family at Kiawah together for Christmas and New Year’s.

Favorite holiday song?

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Ella Fitzgerald.

Favorite holiday memory?

White Christmases growing up in New York.

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

culp Will

What is the best gift you have ever given (at the holidays)?

Favorite holiday tradition?

Individual portraits of my three kids that I

tradition is to get a Christmas tree and decorate

gave to Kelly. The kids were 10, 7, and 5, and the

the house. It marks the official beginning of

portraits turned out awesome.

the holiday season for us. It’s truly magical to

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, our family

see the excitement and belief the kids have this

What is the best gift you have ever received (at the holidays)?

time of year.

As a young kid, all I wanted for Christmas was a

Favorite holiday song?

hamburger. Strange, I know. And on Christmas

Anything that’s country Christmas music.

morning, Santa had left me a McDonald’s hamburger. Certainly, a gift that has stuck in

Favorite holiday memory?

my mind over the years. On a more serious note,

Honestly, it’s just spending time with family and

Kelly gave me a watch with my kids’ and her

friends. It’s the best time of year for sure.

initials engraved on the back. It’s a very special item to me, and I wear it every day.

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

53

melton Patrick

What is the best gift you have ever given (at the holidays)?

chocolate and then head to the tree lot to

I gave my wife, Spencer, a chocolate Lab puppy

and enjoy a big spread of party food while

the fi rst Christmas we were married. That has

we decorate the tree by the fi re and listen to

been a hard one to top.

Christmas music. It defi nitely gets us all in

fi nd the perfect tree. Then, we come back

the Christmas spirit.

What is the best gift you have ever received (at the holidays)?

Favorite holiday song?

Several years ago, my parents surprised all

“Jingle Bells” and “White Christmas.”

of their grandkids and gave our whole family a trip to Disney World. It was fun to be able

Favorite holiday memory?

to go back with my brothers as adults and

My older daughter, Sydney, was born on

experience it again with our own children.

December 19, and we brought her home from the hospital on Christmas Eve. That was

Favorite holiday tradition?

We have a decorating tradition that we look forward to each year. First, we drink hot

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T H E B L U F F. C O M

a very special Christmas.

KS

INTERIOR DESIGN

THE PROMENADE | BLUFFTON, SC | 843.757.2529 | www.ksmid.com

A Very Merry

Bar Cart It’s beginning to look a lot like . . .

Because if there is one thing I’m not, it’s a minimalist—

cocktails! The holiday season presents all the

especially at Christmas. I like gold and glam, I like

excuses to decorate. Enter the holiday bar cart.

cozy and rustic, and sometimes I’m partial to a bit of

Not only does it combine all the season’s favorite

whimsy and fun pops of cheery color.

things

in

one

convenient

location—cocktails,

Christmas décor, and lots of pretty little touches—but

That’s right, three holiday bar carts to get you in the

also it’s a great way to add storage, function, and style

spirit. Overkill? Maybe. Tons of fun to decorate and

to your home during holiday festivities.

an easy way to serve your guests? Fa la la la la!

Available in a range of styles, colors, and materials,

Baby, it’s cold outside. (Okay, maybe not in the

bar carts have certainly become a trendy décor item

Lowcountry, but we can imagine.) So, come on in,

in recent years. Vintage gold and glass, contemporary

and eat, drink, and be merry while you serve yourself

Lucite, coastal rattan, wood, metal . . . the options for

from one of our three very merry bar carts—where

storing drink ingredients and serving cocktails are

serving style is just as important as serving drinks.

endless. And while the term “bar cart” is anything but glamorous, simply add in a few key barware pieces, seasonally appropriate drinks, garnishes, and holiday

TIP: Bar carts aren’t just for cocktails! The holiday

décor—and you’ve just elevated your bar cart from

season involves lots of merrymaking, so up the cozy

boring and functional to festive and sophisticated.

factor for your guests (and add an element of fun!) by transforming your bar cart into a serving station

And I don’t know about you, but I love a gorgeous and

for holiday beverages and beyond. Try swapping the

functional bar cart. So when it comes to styling a bar

cocktails for a dessert bar, a gourmet coffee station, an

cart for the holidays, I couldn’t decide on just one!

apple cider and doughnut cart, or a hot chocolate bar.

Written and styled by: KRISTEN CONSTANTINEAU | Photography by: PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE, INC.

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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golden glam One look at this bright and colorful bar cart and you’ll be gliding along with a song of a wintry fairyland.

Start by toasting the holidays with these fun red ornament glasses before grabbing a jolly Santa plate with some cinnamon bourbon pecan popcorn. We’re sure it’ll be the perfect ending of the perfect day.

Gold Dot Stemless Champagne

Large Gold Candlesticks

Santa Dessert Plates

Flutes, Scout Southern Market, $14.00

(set of 2), Emily McCarthy, $70.00

(set of 4), Emily McCarthy, $24.00

Decorative Resin Deer Antler,

Silver Pillar Candles,

Cinnamon Bourbon Pecan Popcorn,

Scout Southern Market, $85.00

J. Banks, $22.00

Emily McCarthy, $22.00

“Sleigh all day” Ornament Glasses

Brushed Gold Ice Bucket,

(set of 2), Emily McCarthy, $42.00

Emily McCarthy, $44.00

holiday playlist selection:

"Santa Baby" H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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cozy chic For those chilly nights when Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, grab a cocktail and cozy up next to this classic and homey bar cart (that is just plain delightful). From the traditional tartan plaid accents and green felt Christmas trees to the copper mugs, faux fur rug, and soft flickering glow from the black fig vetiver–scented candle, you’ll be channeling your inner Nat King Cole in no time.

Reindeer Wine Holder,

Apothecary Guild Black Fig 3-Wick Candle,

Stemless Wine Glass with Gold Leaf,

J. Banks, $53.00

J. Banks, $153.00

Emily McCarthy, $18.00

Matches Cloche,

Glass Dog Decanter,

Copper Moscow Mule Mugs,

J. Banks, $39.00

Scout Southern Market, $98.00

Amazon, $26.00

Gold Chevron Glass,

Lucite Tray,

J. Banks, $23.00

Emily McCarthy, $110.00

holiday playlist selection:

"The Christmas Song”

commonly subtitled as

“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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festive fun Perfect for a night in with the girls (or anyone really), this chic holiday bar cart gives us all the heart eyes. Gold, silver, and bronze take center stage, while subtle greenery, hints of festive red, and classy crystal decanters increase the luxe factor, making it quite the festive showstopper.

Large Gold Candlestick,

Twist Ice Bucket,

Vodka: The Essential Guide for

Acacia with Bronze Foil Bowl,

J. Banks, $28.00

J. Banks, $175.00

Vodka Purists, J. Banks, $14.95

Emily McCarthy, $38.00

Medium Brass Candlestick,

Twist Ice Tongs,

Whiskey Master Class,

Marble Coasters (set of 4),

J. Banks, $24.00

J. Banks, $45.00

J. Banks, $26.99

Emily McCarthy, $24.00

Small Brass Candlestick,

Merry Berries,

The Craft Cocktail Party,

Golden Fir Celebration Flute,

J. Banks, $19.00

J. Banks, $9.00

J. Banks, $26.00

Emily McCarthy, $18.00

Small Clear Decanter,

Sparkling Cocktails,

Gold Pillar Candles,

Hammered Gold Cocktail Shaker,

J. Banks, $69.00

J. Banks, $9.95

J. Banks, $22.00

World Market, $16.99

Large Clear Decanter,

The Bar Book,

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe Napkins,

J. Banks, $89.00

J. Banks, $19.99

Scout Southern Market, $10.00

holiday playlist selection:

"Sleigh Ride” H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

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We Have Heard on High Written by: Illustrated by:

There are angels walking among us.

They are the folks who do the work that saves lives, that builds communities, that renews our faith in humanity.

They’re the ones you rarely hear about because they don’t do good work for the recognition—they are too busy organizing and mobilizing others to even consider the concept.

We put the call out to the Lowcountry to help us give these community keystones their proper due, and we received well over 100 nominations. The six angels we’ve chosen only agreed to the attention to shine the light on their causes and the folks who need help the most.

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

65

You may find her organizing back-to-

Eleven years ago, she turned her focus

school supply drives or hiding 8,000 eggs

toward the kids, and that resulted in the non-

for Bluffton’s kids to get a little Easter

profit organization Back-to-School Funding.

candy. If there’s a high school hoops game,

The goal was simple: to give underprivileged

Sharon is the human mascot, broadcasting

students the tools they needed to stay

on Facebook Live to show off her beloved

nourished and focused on their education.

Bluffton Bobcats. And if there’s a lowincome family that needs assistance or a

“It’s incredible what can get done when you

spiritual flashlight to see a better future,

just ask. I never did; I was too proud. But I

she is ready to empower her new friends

googled how to write a sponsorship letter,

with knowledge.

and when that fi rst business came back with a donation, I just kept asking,” Sharon said

This is the 62-year-old version of Sharon

of her fundraising beginnings. “We started

Brown that the Bluff ton community has

that fi rst year with 63 backpacks fi lled

known for the past two decades—the tireless

with supplies. I’ll never forget that. It felt

activist and champion with a seemingly

amazing.” This year, with needs higher than

boundless well of energy and compassion.

ever with the pandemic, the program gave out 563 backpacks.

Even in her worst moments, ask her how she’s doing, and you’ll get, “I’m always

“I share my story with those who ask, but

wonderful and blessed.” That’s because the

I’m 20 years into a fabulous rebirth, and

Bluff ton native knows what the other side

I want others to know there’s a path,” she

of wonderful looks like. Following the loss

said. “I respect my sobriety; I am anyone’s

of her mother as a teenager, Sharon says,

designated driver that needs it because I’ve

“I descended quickly. I was 13 and a drug

been there. I do for others to honor my Lord

addict and alcoholic. I was so lost, in so

and to help build up my community and to

much pain.”

make sure the kids know a better life.”

When she began to turn her life around, she

And those kids don’t just include her daughter,

started as a school volunteer at Michael C.

Sable, and granddaughter, Amirah, either.

Riley Elementary School. When Bluffton High School opened in 2004, principal

“At last count, I have 1,352 kids. Every one

Aretha Rhone-Bush asked Brown to be

of those high school kids, they’re my babies.

her volunteer coordinator and help as her

I’m no-nonsense; I have no time for

office manager. She has been a full-time

disrespect or drama. I love them like my

employee at the school for the past decade.

own, and they’re going to love me. Most of

“You can pretty much get in any door by

them just don’t know it yet.”

volunteering. I learned that quick.”

66

T H E B L U F F. C O M

As a child, Rick Patel knew his father, Dinesh, as “a farmer with an epic heart, always giving to others fi rst.” And the lessons he learned by watching his father made a mark.

Rick met his future wife, Vaishali; moved to Hardeeville at age 23; and with the tutelage of his father-in-law, opened a gas station in Hardeeville in 2006. He made a decent living but never thought of expanding until he tried to help his nephew by partnering on another station in 2013. “He backed out of the deal, but that rejection, it just sparked a fi re.

I’d never really thought about expanding until then. I got a taste for helping others, and I knew I could help my family and others by just pushing hard forward.”

Over the next five years, Rick bought three more gas stations, a pharmacy, a liquor store, warehouse space, and a grocery store, building a staff of close to 40 employees. He was providing jobs but always wanted to do more.

So, he founded The Patel Foundation, intent on giving back to the community that had given him so much. In 2019, when a tornado hit upper Jasper County, he organized folks to deliver meals, water, and groceries to those displaced by the tragedy. He used his network

pilot program focused on fi nancial and life

of suppliers to put together a food drive last

skills and problem-solving. “College is not

year—that never stopped—and to date has

the path for everyone, but education in any

provided over 800,000 pounds of groceries

and all forms; it’s the key. To be able to think

to area families.

for yourself, fi nd solutions in any situation.

Teaching yourself core truths like hard work,

And now, as the father of two (son Ayaan, 8,

dedication, and persistence. When you can

and daughter Aanya, 12), he has turned his

do that, you’re never stuck; you’re always

focus to educating area youth, launching a

moving forward,” Rick said.

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

67

Following the loss of her father, Sgt. Ralph

the kids. The admitted technophobe got

Nichols, in 2013, Erin Lawson decided that

help to launch a Facebook page three years

she would honor her father rather than let the

ago, which has helped bring in honorary

loss defi ne her.

elves as far away as Switzerland and helped her connect needs with giving elves all

“He loved Christmas. He’d get hired to play

throughout the year.

Santa all the time, and we kids would always be his elves. It’s my fondest memories ever,” she said of her dad. “He just gave to so many.

He’d play claw machine games to win prizes to give to kids at Christmastime. Every thought, every cent, was for us and others.”

In 2016, after learning of a friend fighting cancer and struggling to pay for medication and gifts for her kids around the holidays, Erin decided to put her childhood training to real-world use. “I started asking neighbors.

I said, ‘I’m Erin, your neighborhood elf.

Can you help?’ And pretty soon, people were coming out of the woodwork to help. It was amazing to see the outpouring of love and caring. It made me get out of my head, out of the telenovela that is my life, and really carry on my dad’s mission in life.”

Last year, Erin and her volunteer army of Facebook friends and local businesses gave

Erin turned her fundraising efforts to helping

Christmas to 114 “adopted” kids and teens.

the underprivileged children often missed by

This year, she hopes to expand the giving,

even the most generous local organizations.

perhaps even give up her notebooks for an

“A lot of the kids, they hit age 12, and it’s

online spreadsheet. And now her children,

like we don’t think they need a Christmas

19-year-old Colleen and 8-year-old Nicholas,

anymore. Sometimes it’s as simple as them

are helping to lead the Elf Brigade.

needing a brush or shampoo just to keep up their hygiene. But they still need Santa, and

“It’s defi nitely easier to look down on those

so I became Erin the Elf to help.”

struggling, but the heart of this area, it amazes me every time,” Erin said. “I don’t

At fi rst, she started taking requests, writing

have much, but I’m going to give what I have.

names in her spiral notebooks and asking

It’s what my dad did, and it’s all I know.”

friends to help buy three gifts apiece for

68

T H E B L U F F. C O M

“He is so kind, so humble, but he has just such

And his fans have followed his lead. A tip

a huge heart,” Gizzel Olivera said of her early

jug on Luis’s counter is fi lled rapidly and

impressions of the man who would become

regularly, with the monthly proceeds sent to

her husband. Both are immigrants—she from

help desperate families in town and in his

Honduras in 1990 and Luis Figueroa from

native Mexico.

Mexico in 2004.

“They are genuine, honest, humble, hardworking “We wanted the same things; both of us had

business professionals who continue to put

giving in our blood. He made me laugh, and

others before themselves,” said CrossFit843

he just worked so hard,” Gizzel said. Luis

owner Martin Catalioto.

runs the nutritional shake stand inside of CrossFit843 while Gizzel runs the in-gym

The couple wake up regularly at 4:00 a.m. to

spa 25 feet away. He has become the area’s

make food for their Savannah sojourns and to

pied piper of fitness mixes, with a clientele

make ceviche that they sell at the gym to help

who has followed him from Hilton Head to

fund the next mission. “This work, it’s tiring

Bluff ton. English is his second language, but

but gives us boundless energy at the same

he communicates most through his actions.

time,” Gizzel said, earning a wide smile and nod from Luis. “People want to give. They get

The couple have become known for their

caught up in their own circles and lives, so

unwavering commitment to helping the

they don’t always know where to start. We’re

homeless and families in need, both in the

just giving them a starting point.”

Lowcountry and around the world. They collect clothes, blankets, food, and shoes to

To date, the couple have helped more than

hand out to homeless families in Savannah’s

350 families with their constant in-person

Forsyth Park once per month.

and online fundraising. Gizzel said they are focused on starting a formal organization

CrossFit members tell of the duo fi nding

through their church, a 501(c)(3) they hope to

mattresses, baby clothes, and supplies for a

call “God Moved My Heart.”

single mother in need and of how Luis and Gizzel gathered donations to furnish another

“There are always people to help. The people

woman’s entire home and took care of her kids

here, they are incredible, such a warm, loving

while she was in the hospital. The recipients

community,” Gizzel said. “This will keep

of their goodwill are usually strangers—they

growing. He won’t stop; we simply can’t.

hear of a need and set out to fi nd a solution.

We will never say no to someone in need.”

“I truly believe this is a calling, that this is our purpose on this Earth,” Gizzel said. “We don’t have much, but Luis, if he has $100 and you need it, he will give it you.”

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

69

Underpaid. Underappreciated. Burned out.

wall in her office. “It started as a way to break

Mariah Bowen knew all of these words

the ice, make the kids who were nervous

associated with education, and it didn’t stop

talking to a counselor feel comfortable coming

her from going to USC for her teaching degree.

to the office,” she said. The idea evolved into

But being in a classroom still didn’t feel like

providing snack bags for underprivileged kids

the right fit.

during school vacations, ensuring they get some level of nourishment in the weeks off.

“I just enjoy that one-on-one connection so much more,” said the May River

“These kids, they are all incredible in their

High School social worker, now in her

own way. They just need the support, the

fourth year at the school. “I want to really

people in their corner, to get beyond the

understand why students are who they are,

roadblocks in their life,” she said. “This is

what’s impacting them, and how I can help.

a team approach, the PTO, the staff. I like

I never had that mentor growing up, that

facilitating in making good happen. And

someone I could talk to, to help me navigate

I love the challenge of building trust and

all the drama teens encounter. So, I wanted to

relationships with these kids.”

be that person.”

The self-described military brat had many School parents and families flooded us with

different homes growing up, following her

praise for Mariah , so thankful she is that person

dad’s posts. He was born in Moncks Corner,

for their kids. “She goes so far beyond ‘the job’;

so she always dreamed of being back in

she is just an amazing person,” said May River

South Carolina.

High School parent Julia Lanzone. “She’ll drive students home from school if needed.

“I could have never dreamed of Bluff ton and

She organizes meals for underprivileged kids

May River. It’s been a gift from God to have

during the year, is always getting uniforms

earned this job and to have found my adult

for those who can’t afford them. Students with

hometown. It’s detective work, figuring out

medical issues, she’s there for the kids and

kids’ problems, the why behind it all and all

the families. Angel lists for kids at Christmas.

the things that impact kids in today’s world of

I just marvel at her dedication. We are blessed

social media. But I’m relentless in letting them

to have her in our corner.”

know that when they’re ready, I’m going to be in their corner.”

Mariah is quick to deflect credit, pointing to Julia and the PTO’s help in executing all of her

John Lennon said, “When you do something

ideas. “I ask for help, and we have an amazing

noble and beautiful and nobody noticed,

network of donors. I enjoy connecting those

do not be sad. For the sun every morning

in need with the folks who want to help. And

is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the

there are so many helpers here; it overwhelms

audience still sleeps.” How wonderful to know,

my heart sometimes, in a good way.”

especially in this time of giving, that there are people throughout our community taking care

70

T H E B L U F F. C O M

The 30-year-old has become known as the

of others and being the helpers. Perhaps this

“Snack Lady” among school families, thanks

holiday season we will all consider how we can

to the bins full of snacks stacked against the

pay it forward. ✻

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50 Years

Christmas

DON E DIFF EREN TLY IN BLUF FTON

Written by: Tim Wood Photography courtesy of: Dianne Reynolds's Archives

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

73

W

hen I fi rst moved to Bluff ton in 2004, I was a bit lost. The job I’d

This year, Bluffton will celebrate the golden anniversary of a

moved south for did not work out as planned. The silver lining:

simple idea. Back in 1971, then-mayor Grady Messex thought the

that job brought me to the 29910 often, and my wife and I thought it was

1-square-mile town needed a little pick-me-up, so he called on the

a good place to land while we decided if we were staying down south or

one person he knew he could trust to nail an epic undertaking like

returning to New England.

a Christmas parade.

A few weeks into living here, on the first Saturday of December, we went to the Bluff ton Christmas Parade. Right then and there that I knew I had found my people. Not only were we staying here, but also my wife and I knew this would be our adult hometown, where we wanted our kids to grow up and

FOR 50 YEARS, THE BLUFFTON CHRISTMAS PARADE HAS SHOWCASED THE GOOD, THE SILLY, AND THE PERSONALITY OF THIS TOWN.

where we wanted to dive cannonball style into the community. The eclectic floats, the excitement and energy, the overwhelming shows of giving and togetherness on display that day—we just knew: this was our tribe.

74

This is my falling-in-love story, but I know it’s far from unique.

Dianne Reynolds was known as a connector of people around town

For 50 years, the Bluff ton Christmas Parade has showcased the good,

(her husband, Cecil, served as both the police chief and the fire chief

the silly, and the personality of this town. It has served as an annual love

of Bluffton, at one time). She took the task of starting the parade as

letter to its people, a raucous and ear-to-ear, smile-inducing good time.

an honor and a sacred responsibility.

T H E B L U F F. C O M

“The kids of this town especially needed some holiday fun. We had all the

When town officials were looking for a new organizer, they turned to

Scouts (Cub, Boy, and Girl) marching, kids wrapped in gifts, antique cars, horse

recent European transplant Babbie Guscio, a creative and vivacious soul

and buggies,” Dianne said of the parade’s humble beginnings. “We went to

whose joie de vivre stood out in a town with a then-population just over

Town Hall after; the kids got fruit and nuts and pictures with Santa.”

400 residents.

Dianne invited Brantley Harvey to be the first parade grand marshal—

“We lived in Paris for six months. My husband, Don, and I thought it

a man who would later go on to become South Carolina’s lieutenant

would be forever, but it was just too expensive,” she said. “Then we found

governor. Over the first few years, Dianne’s persistent invites combined

Bluff ton, and it truly was the next-best thing. I instantly fell in love.”

with the draw of the May River and the Lowcountry attracted many rising politicians.

Babbie would go on to open The Store in 1978, a fixture on Bluffton’s Calhoun Street for “funky and fabulous finds,” as she puts it.

“David Beasley rode in the parade before he was governor. Strom and Nancy

She later founded the iconic Bluffton Village Festival, but the

Thurmond came every year and were so appreciative to be included,” said

Christmas Parade was truly the first place she got to imprint her unique

Dianne, who organized an army of volunteers to create an event that locals

signature on an event.

quickly insisted become an annual holiday staple.

“I said, ‘Y’all don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.’ I loved the Dianne continued growing the parade as organizer through 1975 and

parade, but I wanted to show off more of the characters around town.

continued volunteering with the parade committee into the early 1990s.

I asked if I could loosen things up a bit, and they agreed.”

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

75

During Babbie’s time as organizer, the parade earned national

Babbie spent plenty of postage courting celebrities, including The Lone

recognition as one of the most eclectic parades in all of America. One

Ranger and wrestler Lash LeRoux. She always invited the president

sign of the approach that skewered conformity: there wasn’t just one

and has pleasant rejection letters from the likes of Jimmy Carter. But

Santa in the parade, but often a dozen. And most would get dressed in

she did draw the mayors of five different Blufftons from across the US

the meat cooler at Scott’s Meat Market. “It was the most central staging

to the parade one year. “They came from everywhere, and we had a

area,” she said, “right close to the start of the parade, but there were

grand ol’ time. I mean, why not shoot for the moon with some crazy

some bare-bummed Santas in that cooler for sure.”

ideas?” Babbie said. “It’s the end of the year, a time to salute surviving another year, get excited for the next one, and just always let loose.

I mean, it was anything goes.”

The tone was often set by those labeled dignitaries, including former

“IT WAS THE MOST CENTRAL STAGING AREA, RIGHT CLOSE TO THE START OF THE PARADE, BUT THERE WERE SOME BARE-BUMMED SANTAS IN THAT COOLER FOR SURE.”

76

T H E B L U F F. C O M

mayor George Heyward riding on a garbage truck dressed as a buzzard in ladies’ stockings (the bird was a town mascot he set as mayor and a sight that often infuriated fellow former mayor and much more prim and proper Leslie Marmaduke Teel).

And town folk have gladly followed Heyward’s lead. School teacher

still fostered a family-style Mardi Gras vibe with a few more limits

Cyndi Price started the Bluff ton Ladies Drill Team, a crew of

and rules.

women sporting power drills while performing dance routines; the mid-’80s brought the Baby Brigade, a group of dads

“The local marching bands, the outfits, the zaniness and happiness,

pushing babies in decorated strollers. There have been golf

it’s everything that Bluff ton represents. I am so proud to be part of a

carts, pirate ship floats, and the Bubba Ballet troupe, a bunch

town that has earned a national spotlight celebrating eccentricity with

of burly dudes dressing in camo and pink tutus dancing to

this event,” said current mayor Lisa Sulka. “We’re so excited to hit this

The Nutcracker. And then there’s the candy. Halloween, eat your

milestone. While we are implementing additional safety precautions,

heart out. Literal tons of confections have been thrown from floats to

we promise to give our residents and guests a day of fun, candy, and

onlookers through the past five decades.

many Santas.”

Babbie was the ringleader for 15 years until she “couldn’t get away with doing it the way [she] wanted to anymore.” The town grew, and

Mark you calendars for the 50 th annual Bluff ton Christmas Parade on

though the cultural tides turned a bit more buttoned-up, town officials

December 4. We’ll see you there. 

H O L I D AY 2 0 2 1

77

A T R IBU T E TO SAU L SER R A NO Written by: Courtney Hampson

In the summer of 2018, Palmetto Bluff chef Saul Serrano and Conservancy director Jay Walea joined me in New York City for a media

CHEF SAU L’S PIR LOU Yield: 8 servings

event that Palmetto Bluff was hosting. Saul cooked a Southern-inspired meal for 30 New York–based media, and they raved about his food, his stories, and his energy.

• ½ cup unsalted butter • 1 head garlic

In the remaining 36 hours we squeezed in four dinners (no joke, we had

• 1 whole white onion (rough chop)

two dinners each night) and Saul and Jay became fast friends. They talked

• 1 cup celery (rough chop)

about food the entire trip and debated their respective recipes for “pirlou” in the car back to the airport. I quietly listened to these new friends discuss this quintessentially Lowcountry dish and turned around in my seat and said, “This is going to be a story in The Bluff magazine one day.”

Six months later, and after a 90-degree August photo shoot in which I made them wear fl annel, the story appeared in the 2018 holiday issue with Saul, a native Californian, exclaiming, “When I discovered pirlou, it was a game changer for me.”

As this issue was going to print, we learned of Saul’s untimely passing. I am heartbroken, as is Jay, and all of Saul’s Palmetto Bluff extended family.

• 1 cup green bell pepper (rough chop) • 4 bay leaves • 1 tbsp thyme (fine chop) • 18–20 fresh mussels (scrubbed and debearded) • 1 cup parsley (chopped) • Juice of one lemon • 2 tbsp blackening spice • 1 lb. smoked sausage (rough chop) • 2 cups tomatoes (seeded and diced)

This throwback to the 2018 holiday issue is a testament to Saul and the impact he had. This holiday season, I invite you to make Saul's pirlou, gather around the table, and appreciate those you love.

• 6 cups chicken stock • 18–20 little neck clams (cleaned and scrubbed) • 20 shrimp (16/20) • ½ lb. lump crab meat • 3 cups Carolina Gold rice Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat, then add garlic, onion, celery, green bell pepper, bay leaves, and thyme.

Sauté 7–10 minutes, constantly stirring with wooden spoon.

Once vegetables are nice and translucent, add sausage until brown, which will take 7–8 minutes. Then, add rice—this is crucial to make sure the rice picks up the fat from the veggies and sausage. Once you get a nutty smell from the rice, add tomatoes, blackening spice, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, reduce to low, and cover for about 15 minutes. Then, add clams and cook for 5 minutes. Add mussels and cook for another 3 minutes.

Then, add the shrimp, stirring well to incorporate, and cook for about 7 more minutes. Remove from heat and let sit for about 10 minutes covered. Uncover and add crab. Finish with chopped parsley and fresh lemon juice. Please enjoy with a nice ice-cold beer.

78

T H E B L U F F. C O M

Chef Saul (right) and Jay, in the kitchen with their respective pirlou dishes.