Taste of Hilton Head Fall 2017

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CONTENTS FEATURES 12 THE SANDBAR BEACH EATS

Your New Hilton Head Happy Place.

16 MANGIAMO

A Slice of Ohio.

22 YACHT HOP 2017

A Hand Up for Hospice.

26 UPGRADE YOUR TAILGATE

Health and Fitness Tips from Christy Baroni.

30 IN THE KITCHEN with Chef Sean Carroll of Alexander’s.

36 TASTE OF THE SEASON

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Back For Another Year of Culinary Delights.

44 GEORGIA WINE & FOOD FESTIVALS

Savannah and St. Simons Island Festivals.

54 LA BODEGA

A Band with the Beat.

56 FALL FAMILY FUN

Popular Family Fun Activities.

74 REDEFINING THE SACRED AT FARM

Just Call It What It Is – the Restaurant, Reimagined.

80 MOUTH-WATERING BLUFFTON FUN

Fall is Filled with Tasty Treats on the Mainland.

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IN EVERY ISSUE 8

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

10 A TASTE OF DINNER 46 A TASTE OF LUNCH 59 A TASTE OF ISLAND RECIPES 60 A TASTE OF BREAKFAST/BRUNCH 64 A TASTE OF NIGHTLIFE/LOUNGES 72 A TASTE OF SERVICES & SWEETS 76 A TASTE OF BLUFFTON 82 ADVERTISING DIRECTORY/MAP

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Shameless plugs are a way of life. They are front and center in about every way imaginable and I catch myself constantly using them to promote my much appreciated and faithful advertisers. Personally, I think the term ‘shameless plugs’ is a misnomer. What is wrong with spreading the word about places and things like restaurants and great food that you feel passionate about?

Given what transpired here one year ago on October 8th when Hurricane Matthew hit our beautiful Island, it is even more appropriate to give props to our local eateries, many of whom faced an uphill battle of repairs. The amount of work that has gone into getting Hilton Head and Bluffton up and running again has been amazing.

First responders, laborers from all over the country, and most importantly local residents banded together and made it happen. This is just another reason to support our own who dedicate themselves to making living and visiting here the best it can be.

Now that life is back to normal (you can barely tell there was a hurricane here one year ago), it is easy to fill you in on all of the awesome events, festivals, and activities that await you this fall. Palate pleasing festivals include The Burgers, Bacon and Barbeque Fest, the fun filled Italian Festival, Island Rec Center’s annual Oyster Fest, The Chamber’s annual Taste of the Season, Bluffton’s Seafood Fest and even a Yacht Hop. With a combination of beautiful scenery, ideal weather, and world-class cuisine, these festivals and many other events should be on the top of your to-do list.

Fall is also football season and for us football junkies there’s no better way to spend the day than watching your favorite team with like-minded fans at one of the Island’s outdoor or open-air establishments. No matter where you’re from or who your favorite team is, there’s a good chance that one of the area bars is showing your game and offering great libations and food specials to boot.

Be sure to stop by the the Salty Dog Café this fall and wish them a happy 30th birthday. The amount of frozen drinks, t-shirts, and smiles they have shared out of South Beach is quite remarkable.

So here is my final not-so-shameful plug: I challenge all of my loyal and awesome readers to enjoy all our Island has to offer this fall from festivals to fine food.

David Mudwilder Publisher 8

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TASTE OF HILTON HEAD VOLUME XII, ISSUE 3 PUBLISHER David Mudwilder ART DIRECTOR Kim Bowen CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Rob Kaufman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christy Baroni Barry Kaufman Risa Williams McMillan DISTRIBUTION Bryan Kirby TASTE OF HILTON HEAD 3 Cardinal Court #572 Hilton Head Is., SC 29926 (843) 384-2014 mud@atasteofhiltonhead.com /TasteHHI

ABOUT THE COVER

Spice up your day with a visit to !Holy Tequila! featuring award winning Mexican cuisine and over 65 premium tequilas.

Photography by Rob Kaufman.

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A TASTE OF DINNER

ALEXANDER’S RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR

Located in Palmetto Dunes at 76 Queens Folly Road adjacent to the General Store. Alexander’s, a long-time favorite of the Hilton Head Island dining scene since 1977, is an upscale seafood restaurant featuring seasonally inspired cuisine, locally-caught seafood and many locally sourced ingredients.

Alexander’s will be offering dinner nightly from 5 p.m. -10 p.m. with early dining from 5 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.AlexandersRestaurant.com or call (843) 785-4999.

A LOWCOUNTRY BACKYARD

Located at 32 Palmetto Bay Road in the Village Exchange.

Capture the true essence of the island while enjoying local and regional inspired cuisine featuring owner Dave and Raina Peck’s family recipes. Choose from Potato chip meatloaf, Charleston fried green tomato sandwich, shrimp & grits, the Bischick and a wide selection of other lowcountry favorites.

Dine in or outside in the comfortable backyard. Experience the island, love the food! Serving lunch Monday - Friday 11 a.m. 3 p.m., Saturday 12 - 3 p.m. and dinner 4:30 - 9 p.m., Monday - Saturday and brunch on Saturday 9 - 12 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Call (843) 785-YARD (9273) or visit us online at www.hhbackyard.com.

AMIGO’S CAFÉ Y CANTINA

The original Amigo’s is located at 70 Pope Avenue in the Circle Center. Quick, casual and healthy Mexican food prepared fresh daily. Featuring the best burrito outside of Baja, quesadillas, tacos, amazing BBQ chicken salad, Jimmy’s World Famous Margaritas and ice cold beer. This local favorite has been serving islanders and visitors for over 20 years. Dine in or take-out available. Open for lunch and dinner, Monday thru Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call (843) 785-TACO (8226) or online at www.amigoscafeandcantina.com.

ANNIE O’S SOUTHERN EATS

Located at the corner of Arrow and Target Road. “All-Natural” makes the difference! Serving All-Natural proteins including Grass Fed Beef, Pastured Pork, Free-Range Chicken, CageFree Eggs and Wild/Sustainable Seafood. The Southern inspired menu offers traditional Southern favorites featuring All-Natural products because “It just tastes better”. Enjoy indoor seating and the newly created outdoor deck and garden seating. Open Monday thru Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call (843) 341-2664.

AUNT CHILADAS EASY STREET CAFE

Located at 69 Pope Avenue. With a tag line of “Not your everyday Mexican” one can only imagine what a familyfriendly, fun restaurant Aunt Chilada’s is to both locals and

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visitors alike! Located on the south-end of Hilton Head, visit Aunt Chilada’s for fresh margaritas, fajitas, unique tacos and even crab legs! The huge, covered outdoor patio is perfect for all gatherings. Kids menu available. Take-out and party platters available. Open seven days a week. Happy hour at both bars from 4 - 7 p.m. A member of the Coastal Restaurants and Bars family of restaurants. Call (843) 785-7700 for reservations or visit auntchiladashhi.com. #auntchiladashhi.

THE BIG BAMBOO CAFE

Located upstairs in Coligny Plaza, Oceanside. A 1940’s themed restaurant with reasonable prices and huge portions.

Our extensive menu features steaks, award-winning ribs, local seafood, burgers, salads, fresh fish tacos, pizza and more. Fantastic kid’s menu available. Early Bird menu from 4 5:45 p.m. includes entree, house salad or soup of the day and a glass of house wine or house beer. Serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and dinner from 4 until 10 p.m., Monday thru Saturday. Call (843) 686-3443.

BIG JIM’S BBQ, BURGERS & PIZZA

New restaurant located in Palmetto Dunes at the Robert Trent Jones Clubhouse. Big Jim’s features BBQ, gourmet burgers and grilled pizza plus fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks & slow-smoked ribs. Enjoy big screen TV’s and expanded outdoor seating overlooking the golf course. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours are 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Happy Hour every day 4 until 7 p.m. and seasonal (continued on page 14)

WORLD FAMOUS Charbar Co. is well known locally for their delicious gourmet burgers and competitive spirit when it comes to the burger craft. Their burgers are freshly ground every day composed of a secret combination of prime cut steaks, and when coupled with the rest of the scratch made ingredients, you can taste the difference. Their culinary team has won every “Best Burger” award up for grabs, every year, back to back, since they opened in 2012. After conquering the burger game on the island for a few years, in 2014, Charbar took their delicous burgers on the road and claimed the top spot at a big burger competition in Florida,which qualified them for a spot at the World Burger Championship that was hosted in Las Vegas.

With over 50 entrants that year, Charbar’s Dirty South Burger (shown here) placed them into the top 16 contestants, but that was as far as they went, with a restaurant from London, England taking the top honors in 2014.

Fast forward to 2017 and the Charbar team is at it again.

Recently voted Hilton Head’s “Best Burger” again for the fifth year in a row and fresh off their first place People’s Choice victory in Charleston at the Bands, Burgers and Brews burger competition, the Charbar team is gaining momentum with no signs of slowing down. They are now headed back to the elusive World Burger Championship again this November to take another shot at the coveted “World’s Best Burger” title and compete against the top 50 burgers in the world.

Fortunately for their restaurant patrons, over the next few months Charbar will be featuring their potential 2017 World Burger Championship contenders as head to head weekly specials in bracket style elmination leading up to the big competition so guests can vote on their favorites. One can only imagine what they’ll come up with in their pursuit of the world’s best burger, but sign us up for taste testing as the specials unfold! Keep your eyes on their facebook and instagram pages, as they will be tapping the local community for feedback on the most popular burger creations in preparation for the big event! Follow the action online via #CharbarTakesOnTheWorld, Facebook.com/CharbarCo and on Instagram @CharbarCo! PARK PLAZA - HILTON HEAD

CALL 843-785-CHAR (2427)

OPEN FROM 11:30AM-10:00PM DAILY TASTEOFHILTONHEAD.COM

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The

SandBar

Beach Eats The Sandbar Beach Eats, located in Coligny Plaza, is a cheerful new addition to our Island paradise where the feel and flavors of the Caribbean meet Hilton Head and the sun is always shining. Come by bike or come by limousine. Arrive in your flip flops or your stilettos. There are no pretenses at The Sandbar where everybody is your friend. Just open since Memorial Day, this place boasts a good attitude along with a great location and delicious food and drinks. Don’t wait to wade your way to The Sandbar as it is sure to be your new happy place.

Erika Waronsky, owner of The Sandbar, is not someone who just woke up one day and decided to open a restaurant. She has been in the business and worked for the same Coligny restaurant since arriving for a summer jaunt with her sorority sisters from West Virginia 18 years ago.

She had been thinking about starting her 12

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Your New Hilton Head Happy Place

BY RISA WILLIAMS MCMILLAN PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

own place for many years, so when the restaurant she worked for did not open after Hurricane Matthew, Erika was gifted the opportunity by the fates.” After the hurricane, I didn’t know what to do with myself,” she said. “The only job I have had in my entire adult life was gone.” She spent the next few months looking at a vacant location in Coligny and trying to envision the dream of owning her own restaurant coming to fruition. For Erika, it was a matter of seeing the forest through the trees. “The space was dark and brown. It was the complete opposite of what I wanted which was light and bright, clean and comfortable.” Then there was

the issue of going out on a limb with two young daughters at home. “Sometimes things just have to align and push you in the right direction even if you are a bit nervous about it. I finally thought, if you are going to do this, just Do It!”” The name and concept behind The Sandbar were born from Erika’s happy place – the May River sandbar in Bluffton.

“When you go there, you are instant friends with everyone. That is what I envisioned my restaurant being,” she said. Erika added the Beach Eats to the name to connote eats from all coastal regions, Miami to Montreal, Cuba to Jamaica.

To go from concept to realization of her dream took six months. She deliberated over every painstaking detail from the color scheme to style of fans. The result is nothing short of spectacular. The lower portion of the interior walls are redone

with a rustic shiplap while the bars, indoors and out, are made out of 200 year old Savannah Pine that came out of the Savannah River. The light fixtures above the bars are mini surfboards that were cleverly engineered by Erika’s husband with recessed lighting and hang down to bring the beach to the bar.

The color scheme is bright and cheery – blues and whites. The perfect bar stools -- which took her three months to find - - are ones that you could plant down on for the day and never feel uncomfortable.

“I want you to walk in here and have a good feeling, stay all day, and then leave with a better feeling,” Erika described.

The exterior was also completely redone from the pavers up and will surely prove to be one of the best people watching venues on the Island as it sits right on Pope Avenue across from Coligny Beach. In order to battle the outdoor elements, a completely covered bar was built with a high roof so the sense of being outdoors is not lost. The outside is colorful with lots of blues and plenty of landscaping and flowers. Look for the fall months to be full of tailgate parties with the outdoor grill fired up, beer and food specials aplenty, and the nine televisions humming with college and NFL games.

If you think she spent a lot of time on creating a welcoming ambiance and atmosphere, wait until you taste the food.

Everything from the breads to the sauces is fresh and homemade. The presentation of their dishes, like the ceviche, is as bright and cheerful as the restaurant itself. The Jerk recipe alone took three months of experimentation to get it perfect. “We wanted to be authentic and follow a theme. At the same time, we tried to pinpoint something that everyone in the family would enjoy and we wanted it to be affordable,” Erika said. Their most popular appetizers are the New Orleans style Chargrilled Oysters topped with pecorino pepper butter and the Mexican Street Corn Dip which is infused with corn, queso fresco, jalapeños, chipotle, and cilantro, served warm with chips. If you are a Conch fan, try their fritters or Caribbean Conch salad

and for a light refresher after the beach there is the ceviche bar.

The main menu includes a good variety like tacos, sandwiches, and Beach Eats Plates and there are plenty of healthy salads and vegan and gluten free dishes.

There are 5 different made to order tacos – steak, jerk, veggie, pork, and fish with wonderful toppings and sauces to infuse more flavor. Sandwiches range from burgers to coconut shrimp, Cuban, meatloaf, and grouper. For a bit heavier fare, some of the plates include a ‘Jamaican me a Jerk Lobster Tail’, “Secrets in the Sauce” Ribs, and Fish or Shrimp and Chips. There is a Kid’s menu that hits on all the favorites but there are also healthy sides for the little ones like fresh vegetables and apple sauce. If you have room for dessert, the banana split should hit a soft spot in your heart and palate and the fried dough Sand Dollars will have you heading back to the beach in style.

The bar menu, like the food, is all made from scratch – no bar mixes involved. “We thought through every drink. The piña colada is from our own base and we use fresh fruits and juices.”

Look for a lot of mules on their fall drink specials menu and there are lots of craft beers and a full wine list to choose from as well. Take the fact that all the cocktails are made from scratch and with the freshest of ingredients, stir in the generous 16 ounce glass in which they are served at an affordable price, and you have the mixings for a perfect cocktail.

As a footnote, I have it on good authority that the daiquiris are amazing!

An article about The Sandbar would be derelict if it did not mention the staff.

Erika’s eyes lit up when speaking about them. “I would not be here without them,” she noted with a bit of a tear in her eye. “They are part of my family and their loyalty and longevity is huge.” She has been working with both the kitchen manager and prep lady for 17 years and

the bar manager for 10. She has a crew of college kids that come down in spurts and “take a chance on me.”

The Sandbar is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Just look for the blue umbrellas in the corner of Coligny Plaza on Pope Avenue right by the circle. Check their website, sandbarhhi.com for a full menu listing and visit them on Facebook. Look for a slew of great fall specials and live entertainment and don’t miss out on catching a football party. Future plans include catering, festivals, Farmer’s Markets, a take-out window, and giving back to the community.

THE SANDBAR BEACH EATS 101 Pope Avenue, Coligny Plaza 843-342-SAND (7263) sandbarhhi.com

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live entertainment. Take out and catering available. Call (843) 785-1165 or www.palmettodunes.com/big-jims.

BRITISH OPEN PUB

Located in The Village at Wexford and Sheridan Park in Bluffton. Authentic English fare served in an attractive pub-style atmosphere with golf art, memorabilia, and the only bar by Titleist. Great nightly specials including BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Prime Rib, Live Lobster, Fish and Chips, 1/2 lb. Angus Burgers, Lobster Pot Pie and more. Full bar, extensive wine list and beers, ales and stouts from around the world. Kid’s menu available.

Serving daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Brunch served Saturday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call Hilton Head (843) 686-6736 or Bluffton (843) 815-6736.

CAPTAIN JOHN’S GALLEY AT THE SALTY DOG CAFE

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Enjoy seafood right out of the ocean and onto your plate while overlooking beautiful Braddock’s Cove. The legendary captain serves up fresh seafood, steaks, pasta and more in this fun, nautical atmosphere. Early bird dining special, 10% off from 5 until 6:30 p.m. Full bar and kid’s menu available. Call (843) 671-CAFE (2233) for seasonal hours.

CAPTAIN WOODY’S

All New Location at 6 Target Road on Hilton Head and in Bluffton at the Calhoun Street Promenade. A local favorite for over 30 years! Great seafood and more in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. Serving a wide variety of fresh seafood, great signature sandwiches (Grouper melt & PoBoy’s), soups and salads all at affordable prices. Fantastic outdoor deck and bar. Open daily from 11 a.m. til 10 p.m., bar until late. Call (843) 785-2400 or (843) 757-6222 or online at www.captainwoodys.com.

CAROLINA CRAB COMPANY

Located in Palmetto Bay Marina, just off Helmsman Way. With a pet-friendly patio and bar as well as indoor dining, Carolina Crab Company offers an array of fresh seafood, burgers, crab legs, Lowcountry boil and daily Chef specials. Open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. Happy hour at the bars daily from 4 - 7 p.m. Enjoy water views from the outside bar. A member of the Coastal Restaurants and Bars family of restaurants. Call (843) 842-2016 for reservations or visit carolinacrabco.com. #carolinacrabco.

CATCH 22 FRESH SEAFOOD & GRILL

Located at 37 New Orleans Road in Orleans Plaza. Serving the freshest and best seafood along with USDA prime steaks, pasta, chops and the best bone-in filet. Fantastic specials and delicious menu choices make us a favorite with locals and visitors alike. For Early Bird specials call for hours and reservations.

Wednesday and Thursday 10% discount on dinner at the bar, (continued on page 18) 14

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BY TOS BARRY KAU

BY R F OB KAU MAN FMA N

PHO

A SLICE OF

OHIO

t d ou d e t r n ta o’s s food a m a i n g ia Man t Ital hern How ke grea the sout ion. a t to m d up as keye na n c wou al of Bu t capi

Even outside the Buckeye state, Archie Griffin’s shadow looms large. The only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football history and the only player to start in four Rose Bowls, he’s made his mark on his sport and holds a special place in the hearts of Ohioans everywhere (and they are everywhere).

So you can imagine what it meant

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for Mangiamo’s, the island’s go-to pizza place for Ohio State fans, to get name checked by the legendary No. 45 in his final interview as president of the Ohio State Alumni Association.

“Just recently I traveled to Hilton Head to visit a group of alums there… We met beforehand at a place down there called Mangiamo’s, which is an Ohio State

bar and restaurant,” said Griffin in the interview. “It was a ball. When you see that kind of enthusiasm, at a place almost 700 miles from our Columbus campus, it’s pretty doggone special.”

For Mangiamo’s owner Brian Bambeck, whose walls show him posed for photos with an all-star lineup of Buckeye greats, it’s a standout moment.

“I was blown away by it. As soon as it came out I had people texting me left and right asking if I’d read it,” he said.

It should come as no surprise, though.

After all, Hilton Head Island has always been an unofficial colony of the state of Ohio dating back to the 1970s. And for those ex pats driven south by frigid Ohio winters, Magniamo’s has become their capital.

And to think, it all started with one flag.

“When I first opened, I had one Ohio State flag and one TV. Just a little 2x3 flag,” Bambeck said. And then the memorabilia started coming in. Some was Bambeck’s, some was donated by his fellow Buckeyes who had been itching for a place to call their own. “The more I

put up, the more people liked it, so I put up more stuff.”

Soon, Mangiamo’s had become the official headquarters for the many Buckeyes of Hilton Head Island. It probably helped that in his first year of operation, Ohio State posted a perfect 14-0 record, including an improbable Fiesta Bowl win over Miami to secure a national championship.

Bambeck remembers that day well, partially because it was his first day off after opening the restaurant. “I opened on July 8 and was there every day for six months. I didn’t care – I was going to that game,” he said with a laugh.

His old location was packed that day, as evidence by the many photos now gracing the ceiling of the Buckeye Room.

The original location on Main Street was just a single dining room and patio, a far cry from the sprawling space Mangiamo’s now occupies across the street, with a massive main dining room, large outdoor patio and a private “Buckeye Room” event space. Which works out, because Bambeck has added quite a few more pieces of Buckeye swag to the walls. Jerseys, photos, flags, pennants – it’s a sea of scarlet and grey.

Inside the Buckeye room, in a tight grid that wraps around the windows, you’ll find every Sports Illustrated cover ever graced by the mighty Buckeyes – except one. (If anyone out there has a spare copy of the 2010 Big Ten preview issue, Bambeck wants to talk to you).

“This was a vision I had,” Bambeck said, indicating the memorabilia-strewn walls of the large space he moved into six years ago. “They wanted me to put windows along the walls in the main dining room and I just said no. Because first, I wanted to decorate those walls and second I didn’t want sun on the big screen.”

But even with the disproportionate number of Buckeyes on Hilton Head Island, a restaurant couldn’t see the kind of growth Mangiamo’s has based on football Saturdays alone. Even those who don’t bleed scarlet and grey line up for the pizza and pasta that were Bambeck’s raison d’etre before that flag brought in

all those Buckeyes.

The menu has stayed more or less the same since Mangiamo’s launched with the intention of simply being an Italian restaurant, although one new addition has proven itself a gameday favorite.

“This summer I started smoking my own chicken. It’s absolutely delicious,” said Bambeck. The result is a robust wing menu with a dozen different flavors plus new options like the smoked chicken penne bake. That adds to an already carefully crafted menu of pizza and pasta prepared with homemade ingredients and oldfashioned culinary knowhow.

Make no mistake – had Bambeck not hung up that flag, Mangiamo’s would still stand out from the crowd based on its food alone.

It would just be a little easier for Michigan fans to enjoy.

“We have one (Michigan fan) who comes in a lot,” said Bambeck. “He figured out if you sit at the center seat of the bar, you can keep looking straight ahead and not see any Ohio State stuff.”

Which should prove something to those who aren’t fans of The Ohio State University (hey, nobody’s perfect). If a Michigan fan is willing to walk into the official Ohio State bar just to enjoy some

mouth-watering pizza, pasta and wings, you know it has to be good.

Find out yourself by stopping by 2000 Main Street or visiting hhipizza.com.

DISCLOSURE: The author of this piece is a 2002 graduate of The Ohio State University and unrepentant homer when it comes to his Buckeyes.

MANGIAMO

2000 Main Street 843) 682-2444 hhipizza.com TASTEOFHILTONHEAD.COM

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Saturday and Sunday 1/2 price bottle of wine (under $100) with 2 entrees. Happy Hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Open daily for dinner from 5 p.m. Call (843) 785-6261.

from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Semi-private parties are accepted.

Call (843) 785-9277 for reservations or check us out online at www.charliesgreenstar.com.

CHARBAR CO

CQ’S RESTAURANT

Located in Park Plaza right outside Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head. A local favorite serving award winning gourmet burgers, sandwiches, salads and more! We feature specialty craft beers, wines and a music collection spanning the decades in a relaxed indoor/outdoor environment. Voted Hilton Head Island “People’s Choice Best Burger”, 1st Place Winner of Burgers & Brews 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016!

Come enjoy our large outdoor patio with a fireplace and the only outdoor bar in Park Plaza! Kids menu and takeout available. Happy Hour specials daily from 4-7 p.m.! Serving daily 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Call (843) 785-CHAR (2427) or visit us online at www.Facebook.com/CharbarCo!

CHARLIE’S L’ETOILE VERTE

Located at 8 New Orleans Rd., just off Hwy. 278. The only restaurant on the Island that writes its entire menu daily based on the freshest local seafood available. Our epicurean dinner menu offers an array of Fresh Fish, Rack of Lamb, Filet Mignon and many other delights. Our wine list, The Best of Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence”, offering half off all bottles of wine under $100 on Monday nights. Serving dinner Monday thru Saturday from 5:30 p.m. and lunch Monday thru Friday

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Tucked under the oaks in Harbour Town, CQ’s signature dishes embody Executive Chef Jimmy Corbett’s passion for the best produce and cuisine from the Lowcountry bounty. Guests can gather at the bar and lounge to enjoy tasting dishes and shareable small plates. The exceptional wine list includes a variety of wines selected specifically with the menu in mind.

Open nightly 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations accepted. Call (843) 671-2779 or visit CQsRestaurant.com for complete menus or to make reservations.

CRANE’S TAVERN STEAKHOUSE & SEAFOOD

Located at 26 New Orleans Rd. A family tradition of excellence in quality and value for over 100 years. The destination for steak and seafood lovers offering all USDA Prime Grade beef, including our Famous Prime Rib. Fresh selection of seafood, pastas, soups and salads as well as tantalizing desserts. Wine Spectator “Award of Excellence” for a wine list comprised of over 500 selections. AAA Three diamond award. Early dining menu from 5 to 6 p.m. and great bar menu available. Serving dinner daily from 5 p.m. Reservations suggested.

Call (843) 341-2333. (continued on page 20)

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THE CRAZY CRAB

Two great waterfront locations- South end in the heart of Harbour Town in Sea Pines and North end Hwy. 278 overlooking Jarvis Creek. The “Islander’s place for fresh seafood for over 30 years,” The Crazy Crab restaurants are a must-visit for those enjoying all Hilton Head has to offer. Fresh local seafood is prepared any way you wish – broiled, fried, steamed, blackened, etc. Gluten free and vegan options also available. Open seven days a week. See the largest salt-water aquarium on Hilton Head (Hwy. 278 location). Call (843) 3632722 (Harbour Town), (843) 681-5021 (Jarvis Creek) or visit thecrazycrab.com. #crazycrabhhi.

THE DRYDOCK SEAFOOD GRILL & SPIRITS

All new location at 840 William Hilton Pkwy. Go where the locals go for fresh seafood, cold drinks and good times. We are easy to find, but hard to leave. Choose from a wide variety of fresh seafood, signature sandwiches, salads and more in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. Dine inside or enjoy the outdoor patio. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. Call (843) 842-9775.

ELA’S BLU WATER GRILLE

Located at One Shelter Cove Lane. Featured in Bon Appetit and winner of numerous Open Table awards, Ela’s offers fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, all prepared by our culinary team of experts and complimented

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by an extensive boutique wine selection. Known for the best water views on the island, we have a casual intimate interior, wrap around dining patio exterior and nightly entertainment.

Private parties, rehearsal dinners and special events welcome.

Open for lunch Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Reservations recommended. Call (843) 785-3030 or online at www.elasgrille.com.

FISHCAMP ON BROAD CREEK

Located at 11 Simmons Road, mid-island on Broad Creek.

Fishcamp is Hilton Head’s newest casual waterfront dining destination. Enjoy delicious seafood, steaks and more in a chic, backyard, fish camp style setting complete with a bocce court, ladder golf, jenga, a fire pit and sunset views. Choose from Daufuskie Blue Crab Cakes, Seafood Risotto, Stuffed Lobster, or Filet Mignon (just to name a few). Dine indoors, or enjoy the large, pet-friendly patio and bar while soaking in the view. Happy hour at the outdoor bar (heated on cool nights) and high-top tables from 4 - 6 p.m. daily. Bar menu available starting at 3 p.m., dinner service beginning at 5 p.m., bar open until midnight. Lunch daily from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Call (843) 8422267 for reservations. View full menus at fishcamphhi.com. #fishcamphhi. (continued on page 24)

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YACHT HOP 2017 A Hand Up for Hospice

BY RISA WILLIAMS MCMILLAN

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There are many ways that we can give back to the community by way of time and money, but few that offer in return an evening of fun and frolic on the sparkling waters of Harbour Town, hopping from one beautiful yacht to the next.

Yacht Hop is set for September 17th and it promises to be a night under the stars with music, fine hors d’oeuvres, and good friends and neighbors. Best of all, it gives a hand up for Hospice Care of the Lowcountry which is an independent, communitybased, non-profit organization that has been helping our loved ones with care and compassion and love for over 35 years.

Despite Hurricane Matthew’s best efforts to waylay Hospice’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the party lives on and was simply moved from spring to fall while Harbour Town got back to 100%. According to Darlene Schuetz, Director of Community Relations for Hospice Care of the Lowcountry and organizer of the Yacht Hop, “September is going to be fabulous. The fall really works well for Sea Pines too because we used to follow on the heels of the Heritage Golf tournament and it was a lot of work for them.”

Yacht Hop began 13 years ago as a small event in Wexford with a few boats and a few restaurants. Since the move to Harbour Town, it now features over 20 boats and 20 of our best local chefs preparing knock-your-flip-flops-off food samplings.

Each boat is paired with a restaurant and either has food set up on board or alongside. Yacht hoppers can mingle and meander between the beautiful and polished vessels while enjoying the music of Deas-Guyz and a cash bar. There is a valet parking, a VIP tent for sponsors, and a silent and live auction. The horn will blow at 8 p.m. and all revelers are called to shore for a champagne toast and dessert before the live auction commences. Attire is resort casual and ladies – leave your heels at home and find your flip flops as the captains will ask that you remove your shoes before boarding. Last year, the event was sold out and raised an incredible $140,000 for Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. “This has become a premier event with 95% of the participants being local. We also are starting to see more people that are traveling here every year and planning their vacation around it,” expressed Darlene.

The funds raised from Yacht Hop are indispensable to the services that Hospice Care of the Lowcountry provides.

“All of the funds from Yacht Hop go toward our patient care programs,” said Darlene. “We have patients with no insurance, no Medicare, or many that are underinsured.” She explained that they provide many more nursing hours than are required by Medicare and these funds help to cover the non-reimbursable services and gap in pay. They offer physical therapy, weekend visits, and have programs that even assist the caregivers to give them a break. They have designated night nurses and weekend nurses so every time of day and week is covered. “Lately the area has been inundated with for-profit hospices. People need to understand that we have been here 35 years and that they have the right to choose. Profit does not stand in the way of our care. For us, the patient is the bottom line.”

Tickets for Yacht Hop are $125 and will be limited. For more information, call 843-706-2296 or visit www.hospicecarelc.org.

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FLATBREAD GRILL

Located at Coligny Circle oceanside in the Beach Market Center. This upscale casual dining sensation is sure to be a favorite of both visitors and locals. Choose from Neopolitan pizza, fresh pasta, fajitas, steak, salmon, gourmet salads, or hearty sandwiches all cooked in our open hearth oven.

Hang out in our friendly lounge and enjoy a nice selection of appetizers and cocktails while viewing your favorite sporting event on our HDTV’s. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. for lunch and dinner. Take-out available. Call (843) 341-2225 or online at www.flatbreadgrillhhi.com.

THE FROSTY FROG CAFÉ

Located in Coligny Plaza. A comfortable, casual atmosphere offering a “web-footed lickin” menu and an enormous amount of frozen daiquiris by the glass or by the gallon. Outside seating with retractable roof, fire pit, beach area and tiki bar. Live music nightly. Black angus burger, crab cakes, pizza, prime rib sandwich, salads, subs, wraps, peel & eat shrimp, calamari, crab legs, shrimp dishes, ahi tuna, fish and shrimp tacos and of course fried frog legs. 28 HD TV’s for great sports viewing as well as a kid’s menu. Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. Call (843) 686-FROG (3764) or online at www.frostyfrog.com.

HINOKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR Located at 37 New Orleans Road in New Orleans Plaza. Enjoy traditional Japanese dishes such as grilled fish, chicken and steak, suki yaki, a variety of noodle dishes, tempura, daily specials, plus sushi and sashimi. The very extensive menu includes dozens of appetizers, several kinds of broiled fish, salads and over 20 entrees from which to choose. Three intimate dining rooms, a sushi bar and a cocktail lounge offers something for everyone. Early Bird specials and takeout available. Open for dinner 5:30 until 10:00 p.m., Monday thru Saturday and lunch, 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Call (843) 785-9800 for reservations.

HOLY TEQUILA

Located in Park Plaza, the Holy Tequila taqueria blends gourmet tacos with American flavors, Mexican street food and tequila in an eclectic atmosphere! Prepare your senses for a fusion of flavors that reaches into the heart of Mexico!

Holy Tequila combines an open kitchen with indoor/outdoor dining and a dynamic bar to create a high energy fiesta! We serve gourmet tacos, quesadillas, and smalls plates all under $10, with a full bar offering over 40 kinds of premium tequilas.

The cuisine is modern, fun and uninhibited, just like our guests!

The restaurant is open 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily with happy hour specials from 4-7 p.m. Call us at (843) 681-TACO (8226) or visit us online at www.Facebook.com/HolyTequila!

HUDSON’S SEAFOOD HOUSE ON THE DOCKS

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway off Squire Pope Rd. With 50 years of casual dining experience and spectacular views of (continued on page 28) 24

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UPGRADE YOUR

TAILGATE

BY CHRISTY BARONI • PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

While chips, beer, and pizza may be typical tailgating fare, your health takes a personal foul during this season of endless snacking. Consider an upgrade to your pre-game with some delicious and satisfying alternatives to the traditional junk food fest.

Lean Buffalo Chicken Meatballs Your average meatball recipe gets sacked by this alternative.

Chocked full of veggies and formed around lean chicken meat, these meatballs are full of flavor and provide 17g of protein per serving with only 11g of carbohydrates. They are a crowd pleaser along with being waistline friendly.

• 8 ounces mushrooms, chopped • 1 small onion, chopped • 1 stalk celery, sliced • 4 cloves garlic • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • ½ cup fine dry breadcrumbs • ½ cup very finely chopped carrot • ¼ cup crumbled blue cheese • 2 tablespoons hot sauce, such as Frank’s RedHot • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon ground pepper • 1 pound lean ground chicken Preheat oven to 450.

Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Throw mushrooms, onion, garlic, and celery in the food processor to finely chop. Add chopped veggies to oil and stir until the liquid has evaporated. Transfer to a large bowl to let cool.

Add breadcrumbs, carrots, cheese, hot sauce, vinegar, salt and pepper to the cooled veggie mix and stir until combined. Add chicken and mix gently, do not overmix the meat.

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Form mixture in to 30 meatballs using 2 tablespoons of the mixture per meatball and line them up on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 mins (or until internal temp is 165 degrees).

Serving: 5 meatballs Calories: 207 Protein: 17g Carbs: 11g Fat: 11g 26

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Grown Up Cherry Lemonade Generally speaking, alcohol is a 10-yard penalty to your weight loss goals. This cocktail keeps sugar intake at a minimum while still giving you a chance to clink glasses with your favorite teammates. I usually don’t name brand recommend ingredients, but for this recipe in particular these name brands make the cocktail not only delicious, but also low in sugar and calories.

• 2 tablespoons of Honest lemonade • 3 oz Skinny Girl Cherry Vodka • 1.5 cups of water • 2 cups ice Blend and enjoy! Makes 2 servings.

Touchdown Pizza Pizza is an easy choice for a lazy Sunday afternoon, but like anything else making your own can save you tons of calories and give you higher quality food without sacrificing taste.

Score!

Cover 1 whole wheat flatbread or naan with ½ cup of mozzeralla cheese. Top with: • one 1 boneless skinless chicken breast, cooked and chopped • ½ an avocado, chopped • 1 tsp chipotle seasoning • ½ tsp red pepper flakes • 1 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped Grill for 30 minutes, and share with a friend.

Christy Baroni is a Nutrition Specialist, CrossFit L1 Trainer, and a certified Personal Trainer. She is a military spouse, a mother of two, and is dedicated to helping people cultivate the daily habits to build the body and life of their dreams. For more healthy living ideas or to create your own fitness and nutrition plan contact her today at 843-290-5803 or Christy@ ThriveFitnessAndNutrition.com.

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the Intracoastal Waterway, Hudson’s is one of the Island’s most recognized landmarks. Featuring the freshest, local seafood in the area as well as pasta, steaks, chicken and more. Kids menu available. Featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Bon Appe´tit. Open daily at 11 a.m. Call (843) 681-2772.

THE JAZZ CORNER

Located in the “corner” of The Village at Wexford. One of the top “100 Great Jazz Rooms” in the world, Downbeat Magazine 2011-17. Our intimate, elegant atmosphere is the perfect setting to enjoy an evening of world class entertainment enhanced by our innovative southern flavors menu and impeccable service. The Jazz Corner offers a signature martini menu, extensive wine list, full bar and late-night menu. Open nightly from 6 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Call (843) 842-8620 or check us out online at www.thejazzcorner.com.

KENNY B’S CAJUN SEAFOOD HUT

Located in Circle Center, just off Pope Avenue. Enjoy Creole cuisine with a Low country influence. Find an appealing choice of Cajun fare such as Shrimp Etoufee, Crawfish Etoufee, Jambalaya, N’awlins Po Boy’s, Red Beans & Rice and authentic Gumbos. Great soups and salads, as well as a kid’s menu and take-out service available. Also, cold beer and awesome desserts. Open Monday from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday, 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call (843) 785-3315.

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LAGERHEAD TAVERN

Located at The Oyster Reef Golf Club, 155 High Bluff Rd. LagerHead Tavern brings a lively, stylish dining experience to the already vibrant island destination with its inviting and alluring atmosphere. Developed by Chef Toscano, the menu features signature items including Shrimp Gazpacho, Smoked Chicken Wings and The Low Country Reuben. Open for lunch and dinner. Call (843) 681-2184.

LAND’S END TAVERN

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Featuring great seafood, steaks, sandwiches and salads. A casual atmosphere with a pirate theme ensures fun for the whole family. Great kid’s menu and desserts. It’s a bounty of treasure waiting to be plundered. Serving all day, every day starting from 8 a.m.

Call (843) 671-5456 for seasonal hours.

LUCKY ROOSTER KITCHEN & BAR

Located at 841 William Hilton Parkway in South Island Square.

An American Bistro with southern soul serves seasonal inspired food with local beers, craft cocktails and an esoteric wine list.

Our menu is constantly changing and evolving with seasons, tides, weather and our inspirations. Dine inside or outside on our patio. A healthy children’s menu is also available. Call for hours (843) 681-3474 or online at www.luckyroosterhhi.com. (continued on page 32)

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IN THE KITCHEN

with Chef Sean Carroll

of Alexander’s

BY CHRISTY BARONI

You’ll be pleased to know that a new chef with a fiery desire to impact our local scene has arrived. He is breathing new life and fresh ideas in to the island staple Alexander’s in Palmetto Dunes.

Growing up in Williamsburg, VA Chef Sean Carroll has been cooking as long as he can remember. When describing his experiences as an up and coming new chef, a common theme for him is a deep and genuine respect for the chefs he learned under. He recognized unique qualities in each and tucked away gems for his own repertoire.

As a young and scrappy chef, Sean had the chance to work for Chef David Everett. He recalls being asked what sauces he knew how to make. He knew how to make gravy by adding flour to beef stock. He remembers Chef David simply turning away and he realized he had so much to learn. Sean genuinely wanted to learn everything he could to turn himself in to the best person he could be both in the kitchen and in his life in general.

He reflects on the fact that the culinary arts is a place where one’s education and time in school does not in any way mimic what life in the back of the house will actually be like. He attended Le Cordon Bleu in Atlanta where he found himself learning about Chinese, Cambodian, and Vietnamese food one day and the next day studying French and Spanish cuisine. In an actual restaurant he understands that real knowledge comes from the repetitive process of perfecting a few select dishes. The mastery comes from doing the same dish over and over and over.

One of the most inspirational chefs he has had the pleasure of working under was Chef Mike Gonzalez. He took Sean under his wing and shared his technique and approach to food. “He required me to remake dishes over and over and over until he was satisfied. He held a really high standard and allowed me to develop only after learning what he considered to be the basics.”

Sean says about his time with Chef Mike. He shared the Vanilla Ice Cream example. Once you master making vanilla ice cream, you can branch out in to all new flavors and combinations, but you have to master vanilla first.

Sounds like a lesson that applies to life in general.

Chef Mike would be instrumental in taking Sean’s career down an ever-expanding path. He called on him to be his sous chef at The Bistro at the Biltmore 30

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•

PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

Estate which was a huge turning point. In 2011 they competed together in the WNC Chef Challenge which is an iron chef style cooking challenge where they competed against other restaurants. They ended up losing in the final round during an Heirloom Tomato Battle. While this was a heartbreaking loss, Sean walked away having a keen eye on what he could improve on in that moment. He knew exactly what to focus on to build the skills to blow it out of the water next time.

Shortly after the chef challenge, Sean learned that Giuseppe’s Italian Restaurant in VA needed an Executive Chef. He headed home and took the role in this upscale casual atmosphere with the specific goal of advancing his skills big picture. It must have been destiny… Day 1 on the job he met his soon to be wife. He describes her as engaging and beautiful and that she has ‘that thing’ that make people just love her. Not only did he meet his wife, but his role there allowed him to branch out in to tasting menus and wine dinners, fusion dishes and local delicacies. He again expanded his skill and expertise. He started selling out these dinners which gave him the confidence to try new things and experiment even further.

Chef Sean recognizes that there is more to being a chef than just cooking. Ordering of food, timing, quality and quantity, managing staff, integrity, being reliable and consistent are all things that a chef must understand. Balancing all of those factors leads to hitting the primary goal of being able to ‘wow’ people.

To Sean, that’s what this is all about: wowing the guests.

When the opportunity to live and work on our island home

came up, he jumped at the chance. His first visit here, he got to visit Palmetto Dunes and fell in love with the beauty of the island. He knew the job was a hard one, but under the guidance of Executive Chef Don Reinheardt they were able to keep some parts of the old Alexander’s alive while breathing fresh life and ideas in as well. That balance he learned early on in his career would pay off. He enjoys the challenge of taking a dish that people are familiar with and wowing them with something incredible. He believes that as a chef you are only as good as the last dish you send out each night, so he commits to give his all from start to finish.

When asked, he points to the grouper dish on the menu as what he’s most proud of at this moment. This was the dish he presented during his bench test, and it left the panel speechless.

He is a proponent of using local and seasonal ingredients so we can expect his menu to be ever-changing and inspired by the lowcountry around us.

At home he likes to use his hand crank pasta machine to create homemade pastas and he hopes to bring that passion to Alexander’s as well. Be sure to visit him at Alexander’s to be wowed!

ALEXANDER’S RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR 76 Queens Folly Road in Palmetto Dunes (843) 785-4999 www.AlexandersRestaurant.com

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MANGIAMO

Located at 2000 Main Street. A comfortable and cozy atmosphere featuring outstanding pizza, subs, salads and pasta. Beer and wine, kid’s menu, and daily specials offer something for everyone. Enjoy half price cheese pizza from 3 until 4 p.m. Dine inside, on the patio or take it to go. North Island delivery available. Your home away from home for The Ohio State Buckeyes. Open Sunday thru Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Call (843) 682-2444.

MEDITERRANEAN HARBOUR

Located at 13 Shelter Cove Lane in Shelter Cove Marina. A warm and comfortable dining experience featuring Lebanese cuisine. Choose from our hearty chicken, beef or lamb kabobs, delicious seafood as well as vegan and gluten free selections including falafel, grape leaves and baba ghanouj. Our dishes are created from homemade recipes and spices from Lebanon.

Enjoy beautiful views of the harbour from our outdoor dining area or outside bar. Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Call (843) 842-9991 for more information or reservations.

MELLOW MUSHROOM

Located in Park Plaza on Hilton Head and at 878 Fording Island Rd. in Bluffton. If you’re looking for a fun and lively place for the whole family, this is it. Specializing in great pizza and calzones, monumental hoagies and fresh salads all in a comfortable and casual setting. Kid friendly and affordably priced menu for both lunch and dinner. Over twenty-four beers on tap, fifty more by bottle and a full bar available. Dine inside or outside on the patio. Open daily from 11 a.m. Call (843) 686-2474 (HHI) or (843) 706-0800 (B-Town).

MICHAEL ANTHONY’S

Located at 37 New Orleans Road in Orleans Plaza. Offering classic Italian cuisine. Homemade gnocchi, succulent veal dishes and creative fish preparations are offered nightly. The versatile wine list offers a broad selection designed to satisfy the novice or seasoned enthusiast. Reservations are suggested.

Weekly cooking classes offered in the Tuscan inspired demonstration kitchen. The adjacent Italian Market offers a wide array of Italian wines and gourmet foods. Open Monday thru Saturday beginning at 5:15 p.m. Call (843) 785-6272 or visit www.michael-anthonys.com.

OLD FORT PUB

Located at 63 Skull Creek Drive on the Intra-coastal Waterway, Old Fort Pub showcases unrivaled nightly sunsets & award winning cuisine! Guests enjoy Chef Keith Josefiak’s “New Southern” favorites inspired with influences from around the globe. Serving Sunday Brunch 11-2 p.m., Bar opens at 4 p.m. daily and dinner is served nightly 5-9 p.m. Early Bird dining is served from 5-5:30. Outdoor dining available. Call (843) (continued on page 34) 32

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Amigos

JIMMY’S BACK! Appropriately named, Amigos has been making friends since the day they opened in Circle Center in early 1995.

From the authentic Mexican food to the fresh salsa bar and the ice cold cervezas, Amigos has amassed a vastly loyal following of friends and fans from near and far.

Owner Jimmy Prignano who recently returned to his rightful place behind the counter is back and Amigo’s is better than ever. Jimmy has teamed with local Rich Connolly, who has over 40 years combined experience as franchisee of Burger King and Panera Bread, to form the perfect pair to give customers the food and service they expect. Prignano was a restaurateur in Killington, VT before he decided to trade up snowshoes and Jimmy’s Bayside Dining for swim trunks and Amigos Cafe’y Cantina back in 1995.

He saw Amigos as filling a niche on the Island as the first authentic Mexican taquería.

When asked what the keys to his success are, Jimmy did not hesitate to give the credit to the “girls in the kitchen” who have been slicing and dicing for him for 20 years. “That’s why we keep it so consistent,” he commented. “Everything is made fresh daily and my wife and I are here all the time. We have no absentee ownership and the food quality is the

best.” Aside from a loyal local population, Amigos has a stalwart reputation with visitors too. “Tourists drive on to the Island and stop here before checking into their villa. Then they will come back and eat here 4 times in their weeklong stay.”

Jimmy goes to great lengths to get the freshest and best ingredients for his dishes. The guacamole is made fresh daily and he only uses Californian Hass avocados when they are available. For Tonya’s famous Queso Dip, he has a special cheese shipped in from Wisconsin.

Their chips are made only after an order is place, served piping hot with some of that homemade salsa on the side.

The menu at Amigos is the same for lunch and dinner. “I would rather stick to a few things and do them well than do a lot badly.” They serve the traditional tacos, burritos, quesadillas and tortas with fillings that will please the meat, chicken, and seafood lovers as well as the vegetarians.

A torta, for those unfamiliar, is a Mexican sandwich served on a big roll, like a Kaiser.

“Our veggie burrito will turn people into vegetarians. It’s full of bell peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, onions, rice and black beans,” commented Jimmy.

They have oyster and fish burritos and an assortment of salads. For the little Amigos, there is a choice of taco,

quesadilla, burrito or even a hot dog.

The number one seller at Amigos is the barbecue chicken salad, which is enormous and served in a crisp flour tortilla. To find the bottom of this salad is a feat in itself, so you may split it with a friend and they will cut it right down the center for easy sharing. Enough to feed two or three people, the nachos are another popular choice and are loaded with beans, cheese, jalapeños , tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, olives, green onions and optional additions of steak or chicken.

Folks do not just flock to Amigos for the food. There is also the matter of Jimmy’s world famous margarita which is a thing of beauty. Jimmy mixes up his own concoction and, “People love them. I get so many compliments.” While the Gold Margarita is the biggest seller, he whips up many a Coconut Margarita and even an occasional cinnamon one. The bar at Amigos is fully stocked with all of your favorite Mexican beers which are kept on ice in a big tub and served super chilled, the way they should be. You can choose from any of your favorite flavors -- Corona, Dos Equis XX, Sol, Pacifico, Modelo, Tecate – and for a non-alcohol drink there are Jarritos, which are sugary, flavored sodas.

Amigos Cafe’y Cantina is located at 70 Pope Avenue in Circle Center, and is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. They are happy to do takeout and have both indoor and outdoor seating. For a full menu, visit amigoscafeandcantina.com or call (843) 785-8226. İBuen Provecho!

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681-2386 or visit OldFortPub.com for a complete menu or to make reservations.

THE OLD OYSTER FACTORY

Located on 101 Marshland Rd. Waterfront dining with expansive views of Broad Creek and beyond. Serving the Island’s best steaks and freshest seafood. Extensive wine menu and great service will guarantee a wonderful dining experience. Children’s menu and large groups welcome. Serving dinner from 4:45 p.m., 7 nights a week. Call (843) 681-6040 or online at www.oldoysterfactory.com.

OMBRA

Located in the Village at Wexford. Serving authentic classical Italian cuisine. Being of Italian heritage, Chef Michael Cirafesi proudly promotes all of the foods and wines of Italy. He prepares all pastas, homemade gnocchi, desserts and breads daily as well as a large variety of fish, veal, beef and game additions. An extensive wine list is available with a brilliant array of wines from every region in Italy. Open nightly from 4:30 until 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended and walk-ins welcome. Call (843) 842-5505 or visit us online at www.ombrahhi.com.

REDFISH

On the corner of Palmetto Bay Rd. and Archer Rd. on Hilton Head, and 32 Bruin Rd. in Bluffton. Serving Innovative Cuisine in a unique and inviting atmosphere. Offering local seafood, steaks, salads and nightly specials. Attached retail wine shop and bar with over 1,000 selections of fine wines. Outdoor seating available. Serving lunch Monday thru Saturday from 11:30 a.m. and dinner daily from 5 p.m. For more information call (843) 686-3388 or (843) 837-8888 or online at www. redfishofhiltonhead.com.

REILLEY’S GRILL & BAR

Located in Reilley’s Plaza, just off Sea Pines Circle. Serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head Island for over 35 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, the family-friendly atmosphere will have your family dining with the Reilley family again and again. Dine indoors or outside on the deck. Enjoy nightly dinner specials with family, or toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday brunch.

Lunch and dinner served seven days a week. Happy Hour from 4 until 7 p.m. Take-out and kids menus available. Call (843) 8424414 for reservations or visit reilleyshiltonhead.com. #reilleyshhi.

REILLEY’S NORTH END PUB

Located in Port Royal Plaza. The sister restaurant of Reilley’s Grill & Bar (located on the south end), Reilley’s North End Pub has been serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head for over 30 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, Reilley’s is reminiscent of a true Boston pub.

Experience the family-friendly atmosphere for some local fun and Tuesday Trivia. Enjoy nightly dinner specials with family, (continued on page 38) 34

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Taste of the Season Back For Another Year of Culinary Delights

The Lowcountry’s culinary offerings are celebrated as some of the freshest and most creative. The chance to try what each restaurant has to offer comes once a year at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce annual Taste of the Season.

With over 200 restaurants across Hilton Head Island and Bluffton, Taste of the Season showcases the variety of the area’s best cuisine and the talents of our world-class chefs and indulges the foodies of the Lowcountry. Check the chamber’s website at www.HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org for details on this year’s event.

Each participating restaurant offers a unique culinary experience and signature menu items, and between seafood, southern soul food and creative concoctions, there’s something to please every palate. Back by popular demand, the VIP experience will offer special drink service, a lounge area and more.

Each year, winners of Taste of the Season are chosen by the 36

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hundreds who attend the event and cast their ballot for their favorite dishes. Awards are presented to the restaurants serving the most popular dishes. Last year, the People’s Choice Award for Best Cuisine went to Ela’s Blu Water Grille for its pan seared diver scallops over crab risotto with truffle cream sauce and crispy prosciutto. The runner-up was Jane Bistro and Bar’s Carolina shrimp & grits.

While food is the focus, attendees are also able to browse great gifts offered in the silent auction, which include getaways, works of art, golf packages and more. With a chance to win prizes, the auction and raffle are always very popular. Bidding heats up as appetites wind down, allowing tasters to indulge in great gifts. Participants can get an early view of great auction items and trips online at www.HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org.

All food for the evening is included in the ticket price. For more information on Taste of the Season, visit the website at www.HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org.

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or toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday Brunch.

Lunch and dinner served seven days a week. Happy hour daily from 4 until 7p.m. Take-out available. Call (843) 681-4153 for reservations or visit reilleysnorth.com. #reilleysnorth.

ROCKFISH SEAFOOD AND STEAKS @BOMBORAS Located a at 5 Lagoon Road across from Coligny near the beach. Hilton Head’s Seafood Destination offering fresh oysters, fresh shrimp, local seafood, steaks and much much more. Featuring a fun and inviting indoor or outdoor dining experience. The owners are from Cincinnati so they have an intriguing “Cincinnati” section to their menu featuring Montgomery Inn Ribs, Big Boy Burgers and more. Extensive craft draft list, wine and creative cocktails. Want a date night?

Drop your kids off at the Art Cafe (a paint your own pottery studio located just above Rockfish) during their Kids Night Out and enjoy a night out alone! Open for brunch on weekends, lunch, happy hour and dinner 7 days a week. Call (843) 6892662 or visit online at rockfishhhi.com.

RUAN THAI HUT

Located at 1107 Main Street. Serving Authentic Thai fare using the freshest ingredients available. Mild to very hot, you can choose the spice level of your meal. Appetizers, soups, salads, desserts and kids meals round out an extensive menu with something for all ages. Sit inside or outside on the comfortable patio. Open Monday thru Saturday for lunch and dinner. Call (843) 681-3700.

SAGE ROOM

Located at 81 Pope Avenue in Heritage Plaza. Enjoy fine dining in a casual atmosphere with unique appetizers, diverse cuisine and nightly innovative specials. Elegant palate pleasing fare is prepared in our open kitchen which highlights the restaurant. An extensive wine list, full bar and fantastic service, complete a perfect night out. Open for dinner Monday thru Saturday from 6 until 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Call (843) 785-5352 or check us out online at www.thesageroom.com.

THE SALTY DOG CAFE

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Great food, frozen drinks and live entertainment from the island’s favorite outdoor cafe. Enjoy beautiful waterfront views overlooking Braddock’s Cove in a fun and casual atmosphere. Happy Hour daily with a full menu available, plus an outdoor cookout, Salty Dog Ice Cream and Jake’s Pizza during the season.

Call (843) 671-CAFE (2233) for seasonal hours.

THE SANDBAR

New restaurant located in historic Coligny Plaza at 101 Pope Ave., just steps from the beach. The Sandbar always has something delicious cooking. With its beach inspired décor, comfortable seating and laid-back atmosphere, they are serving up modern comfort foods such as steak and frites, Jamaican (continued on page 40) 38

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Sound, Color, Flavor:

Even our fries are hand cut.”

Palma earned his culinary chops in

BY BARRY KAUFMAN • PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN his native Argentina at a cooking school he referred to as Isla To witness Gringo’s Diner at the height Malvinas. His accent still carrying traces of a lunch rush is to see the brilliance of of his homeland, Palma speaks with pure chemistry and effortless teamwork at passion about his culinary background, its finest. Swirling through the colors and and how it’s informing the diner’s menu of light of the diner’s quirky and charming decidedly different specials. décor, co-owner Adi Aliu is like a dancer “We’re trying out foods from different in a ballet that takes her soaring past countries,” he said, pointing to the list of tables, out the front door, back in through specials that includes empanadas, chorizo the rear door and right back to the open breakfast tacos, chicken pesto paninis and kitchen behind the wide counter of bar a chicken and waffle sandwich. stools.

“We have a lot of stuff that they don’t With fresh veggies and meats sizzling have at a traditional diner,” added Aliu. on the grill, co-owner and Chef Ariel And while these specials let the Palma puts on a show of his own as he expertly trained chef stretch his culinary somehow works a varied menu across muscles, he still brings the same his relatively small workspace. With the dedication to freshness and quality to the kitchen spread out before customers, standard diner fare, from omelettes to and the whirling dervish of Palma tearing reubens. through orders, it’s a common sight to see “People love our pancakes,” said Aliu. the bar stool crowd craning their necks to Indeed, those pancakes are a standout get a better view of the show. The aromas on a menu full of all-star diner classics. of his craft fill the space of the dinner, For breakfast, it’s eggs, bacon, sausage drifting through a buzz of conversation and biscuits. For lunch, it’s hot dogs, and creating a full sensory experience. burgers, sandwiches, and shockingly But of course, the experience isn’t popular chicken fingers (“I don’t know complete until you’ve tasted what what we’re doing different, but people Chef Palma is creating on that grill. As love them,” noted Aliu). much fun as the spectacle of a popular Then you look at the colorful list of beachside diner is, the food is the real specials and suddenly it’s an international star of the show here. smorgasbord.

“Everything is fresh here; not a lot of That dichotomy, between traditional people realize that,” said Palma, reaching diner fare served with the utmost care up to a shelf to grab a potato. “See this?

Gringo’s Diner

and skill and more exotic dishes informed by a trained chef’s years of experience, can even be found in the owners. While Aliu considers the diner’s burger and Philly cheese steak among her favorites, Palma goes for the chorizo breakfast taco (“You can put chorizo on anything,” he added).

It’s part of what makes their chemistry work, an essential aspect of the effortless way they’re able to manage a busy diner full of hungry patrons.

The tiny diner with the perfect location in Hilton Head Island’s downtown, Coligny Plaza has solidified its status as a local favorite in just a few short years.

Even in the shoulder months, Gringo’s Diner is still a whirlwind of activity around lunchtime. That probably has something to do with their loyal and growing following of locals.

“We have some locals where I see them parking on the street and I already know what they want,” said Aliu. “They walk in and I tell them, ‘your burger will be ready in a moment.’”

That following is further illustrated by the wall of hand-written cards from regulars and enthusiastic visitors alike.

The prime location might get them in the door, but it’s that experience, the action and excitement, the sights and smells, the colors and flavors, that turns them into regulars.

“We see more and more repeat customers and that is something we truly appreciate,” said Chef Palma.

GRINGO’S DINER

Serving Breakfast and Lunch 6 Lagoon Rd., in Coligny Plaza (843) 785-5400 TASTEOFHILTONHEAD.COM

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Jerk lobster tails and slow cooked ribs. The Sandbar is a great place for family and friends to enjoy our new outdoor patio and bar and share appetizing food and drinks. Children will also feel welcome with their own menu of homemade healthy choices.

Hours – 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (843) 342-SAND (7263).

SANTA FE CAFÉ

Located at 807 William Hilton Parkway near the entrance to Palmetto Dunes. Our elegant yet casual, cozy atmosphere captures the spirit of New Mexico. Innovative southwestern cuisine features dinner favorites such as Tortilla Crusted Salmon, Wood Roasted Quail, Grouper, 30 oz. Ribeye and many more great selections including vegetarian items.

Excellent wine list, imported beers and full bar. Early dining menu from 5 until 6 p.m. Live entertainment Tues. thru Sat. Take-out available. Reservations are “gladly” accepted. Open for dinner 7 nights a week from 5 until 10 p.m., and for lunch Monday thru Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call (843) 7853838 or www.santafehhi.com.

SEA GRASS GRILLE

Located at 807 Wm. Hilton Parkway in the Plantation Center, just outside the entrance to Palmetto Dunes Resort. Intimate yet casual dining. Chef owned and operated and a local favorite for over 10 years. Featuring fresh fish plus seasonal specialties like soft shell crabs, bluffton oysters, cobia and more.

Also, Filet Mignon, Rack of Lamb, Veal Scallopini, Pasta, and Chops. An extensive wine list with over 50 by the glass. Gluten free friendly. Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday. Call (843) 785-9990 or visit us online at www.seagrassgrille.com.

SKILLETS CAFE

Located just off the beach in Coligny Plaza. An excellent choice for the whole family since 1994. Wonderful selections including old-fashioned lunches, great sandwiches, burgers, jambalaya, chicken pot pie or our extensive salad bar. Full bar and wine list available. Kids menu and take-out. Dine inside or on the patio (Dog Friendly). Open daily from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Call (843) 7853131 or check us out online at www.skilletscafe.com.

STELLINI ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Located at 15 Executive Park Dr., just off Pope Avenue.

Voted the Island’s best Italian restaurant, Stellini features popular menu items from the Little Italy section of New York and northern New Jersey. Choose from items such as Clams Casino, Veal Saltimbocca, Zuppa di Pesce, Osso Buco, Lasagna and more. Chefs specialties created nightly. Extensive wine list, Early Bird specials, children’s menu and take-out available.

Serving dinner Monday thru Saturday from 5 p.m. til 9:30 p.m.

Call (843) 785-7006 for reservations.

STREET MEET

Located in Port Royal Plaza near BILO. This Family Tavern & Restaurant is HHI’s Ohio Bar and Home of the HHI Browns Backers. Kitchen serving food from 11:30 a.m. until midnight 40

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7 days/week. Offering a wide range of homemade, from scratch American food at reasonable prices and have been voted Island’s Best Wings, Best Fish and Chips, and Best Hotdog (“Hofmann from Syracuse, NY). Featuring a complete Healthy Menu that includes GlutenFree, Paleo, & Vegetarian options plus more. Full bar with daily drink specials and happy hour as well as indoor & outdoor seating plus a new dining room that is GREAT for large parties or groups. Kids pay what they weigh on Saturday! Acoustic Mayhem plays every Tues. night on the patio from 6 - 9 p.m. Call (843) 842-2570 or online at www.streetmeethhi.com.

SUNSET GRILLE

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway at Hilton Head Harbor, 43 Jenkins Rd. The Grille offers a casual fine dining experience with breathtaking sunset views. The creative menu, prepared

by Executive Chef Tom Egerton features house specialties such as Hugh’s famous hot smoked salmon, shrimp & grits, grilled sea scallops & braised lamb shank all prepared to perfection.

An extensive wine list, craft beer selection and full bar available.

Call (843) 689-6744 for reservations or visit sunsetgrillehhi.com.

Dinner is served Tuesday-Sunday 5:30 p.m. until.

TRATTORIA DIVINA

Located in Park Plaza right outside Sea Pines Main Gate. Our atmosphere captures that artistically cozy “Local Italian Place” where pasta is made fresh daily and your meal is made to order

by Chef Hugo Lee, Zagat Top 10 Award Winning Chef. Chef’s Italian dishes are full of flavor whether you want Seafood, Steak or our Signature Dish, Lobster Pot Pie. A wine room that has a collection of over 900+, where there is something to suit everybody’s taste and a full bar. Monthly wine tastings, “Primo Martedi” the first Tuesday of each month. Open 7 nights a week; 5:00 pm until? Early Bird menu available. Walk-ins welcomed: Reservations recommended. Don’t want to cook?

Let Chef Hugo do it. Take out available. Call (843) 686-4442 www.trattoriadivina.com

TWISTED CORK COCKTAIL & WINE BAR

Located at 11 Palmetto Bay Rd., Suite 102 next to Staples in the Publix shopping center. A local’s favorite, featuring an extensive wine list available by the glass or the bottle in a warm and intimate atmosphere. Choose from a fantastic selection of craft cocktails, beer and small plates. Happy hour includes half off all bottles of wine, half off well liquor and $2 domestic and $3 import beers. Open Monday thru Saturday from 5 p.m.

Call (843) 802-0510.

THE WRECK OF THE SALTY DOG

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Enjoy a casual and fun atmosphere in the same spirit as The Salty Dog Cafe. Serving a full bar with excellent food and waterfront view overlooking South Beach Marina and Braddock’s Cove, The Wreck offers excellent Happy Hour drink and appetizer specials. Available for private parties. Call (843) 671-SEAS (7327) for seasonal hours.

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Georgia Celebrates Wine & Food with Week Long Festivals

BY RISA WILLIAMS MCMILLAN

In its fifth year, the Savannah Food & Wine Festival has a calendar full of events that will stimulate your palate with new sensations every day and never be short on fun. It will educate you about everything from preparing the perfect meal to pairing it with the perfect wine. In short, the Savannah Food & Wine Festival, held from November 6 thru 12, will be a weeklong indulgence in the finest of wining and dining that the south has to offer.

Scheduled to follow on the heels of Savannah’s ever-popular Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, the Food & Wine Festival was created to offer the hotel and hospitality industries a further boost during a traditionally slow time of year. According to Jan Gourley, event organizer, “We have created a monster.” A good monster though, as she expects that all area hotels will once again be booked for what has evolved into the 2nd largest culinary event in the state of Georgia. With popularity comes staying power which is why the festival has no fewer than 9 signature events and a few new ones to mix it up.

be intertwined with a maze of culinary delights created by guest chefs paired with many whiskey offerings.

Here is a look at some of the events.

THURSDAY: There will be no shortage of wine this week in November with over 400 varietals on hand. The Grand Reserve Tasting will be held on Thursday and is touted as the connoisseur and wine collector’s main event where fine wines with values

TUESDAY: Prohibition-be-damned at Whiskey at the Whitman on Tuesday night of the festival. Patios, decks, and elegant rooms of this 19th century mansion will 44

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WEDNESDAY: Jan describes the Wednesday Master Classes, held at Chef Darin’s Kitchen Table on Forsyth Park, as the single best “steal” of the festival. For $39 per class or a day pass for $99, participants will watch master chefs prepare something out of their own cookbook which they will then sample with a wine pairing. Past classes include “How to Prepare a Sunday Brunch” and a Master Butcher showing how to break down a whole hog. “The Master Classes are great for day trippers from Hilton Head and Bluffton,” Jan added.

Wednesday night will feature fanfavorite James Beard Celebrity Chef Dinner, bringing together award winning chefs from near and far. Chefs will match wits with visiting Master Sommeliers to present a dining experience with little comparison.

ranging from $50-$100 will be served.

The lawn at the Westin on the water is the perfect backdrop for this tasting experience.

Put your cha-cha shoes on as Thursday night will also feature the Secret Savannah Speakeasy. Flappers will be swishing their fringe while men accompany them in zoot suits and fedoras at the Georgia State Railroad Museum. The music will match the evening magic and libations including hand-crafted cocktails (created by competing bartenders) and craft brews will wash down small-plate samplings.

FRIDAY: Friday has a full line-up of events to entertain and entice. To start things out, there will be a Riverboat Wine Pairing Luncheon Cruise. The River Street Stroll on Friday evening will be the place to taste with hundreds of beverages to choose from – hand crafted cocktails, wines, spirits, and beers – you name it – you will not go thirsty. This sells out every

year so buy your tickets early. Also get ready for a smokin’ good time at the Big Green Egg party on Friday night back at the Georgia State Railroad Museum.

If you are into barbecue, this is your ticket as some of the southeast’s most renowned pitmasters will be smoking up their famous BBQ. SATURDAY: A Taste of Savannah, the most widely attended and considered the MAIN event of the festival, is Saturday from 1 to 4:30. Your ticket comes with unlimited beverage tastings and five food tickets.

There will be an artisan market, a silent auction, and a celebrity cookbook author’s tent. New this year will be a public stage set up with “Tastemakers in the Round” where chefs and beverages will be separated by destination: South Carolina, Atlanta, Jacksonville, etc. The VIP lounge, fully catered by Publix, features unlimited food and drink.

New to the Saturday line-up is a celebration of Savannah Chef’s dinner.

SUNDAY: Wrapping up the festival on Sunday will be the Jazz & Bubbles Brunch at the Westin. Smooth sounds, champagne bubbles, and favorite southern brunch fare will send the festival out with a bang and a pop of many corks.

For tickets and more information on events and times, visit www. savannahfoodandwinefest.com.

St. Simons Island Food & Spirits Festival Coming in October Georgia seems to be the place to be for food and wine extravaganzas this fall as St. Simon’s will be hosting its own five-day celebration of the finest in coastal cuisine, wine, beer, spirits and entertainment from October 4 - 8, 2017.

Presented by The King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, the Festival takes place in some of the most iconic St. Simons Island locations and raises funds and awareness for its charity of choice, Hospice of the Golden Isles. With more than 50 of the Southeast’s award-winning chefs participating alongside beverage experts and popular culinary personalities, this year’s schedule events will be a milestone.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4: “Southern Soul’s Beer, Bourbon & Barbecue” will feature an authentic, gourmet spread paired with several choices of the finest craft beers and mouthwatering selections.

THURSDAY: Learn the secrets of world-class Pitmasters from around the South at “PITMASTER 101” - an exciting new culinary class starting at noon. “FIREBOX & Smoke” will bring together more Pitmaster creations where you experience a barbecue event like no other. This smokin’ hot evening of music, bourbon, barbecue and unbelievable Live Auction takes place waterside at historic Gascoigne Bluff.

FRIDAY: “Culinary + Beverage Series/Shrimp Five Ways” - Savor and sip exciting options from this special lunch menu featuring the coast’s most beloved dishes.

“SAVOR the Coast” - Experience the perfect seafood frenzied cocktail event.

Raw bar, beverage tastings, local brews, premium wines and southern style bites.

SATURDAY: “Tastings Under the Oaks” will be from 12 - 4 p.m. at Gascoigne Bluff. Come celebrate the Georgia Coast’s culinary diversity and enjoy tasting cuisine from local restaurants, gourmet grocers, and artisan bakers and tastemakers. Shop the Artisan & Farmer’s Market, enjoy live music and the best cocktails in the Southeast.

SUNDAY: “SPIRITual Sunday Brunch” - Indulge in brunch with an array of appetizers, breakfast favorites, desserts, Bloody Mary bar and chef’s cook-to-order favorites.

At this Sunday Funday celebration, dine oceanside at the historic King & Prince Resort with live entertainment, raw bar, libations and more.

For the most-up-to date festival information and tickets visit: ssifoodandspirits.com.

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A TASTE OF LUNCH A LOWCOUNTRY BACKYARD

Located at 32 Palmetto Bay Road in the Village Exchange.

Capture the true essence of the island while enjoying local and regional inspired cuisine featuring owner Dave and Raina Peck’s family recipes. Choose from Potato chip meatloaf, Charleston fried green tomato sandwich, shrimp & grits, Southern Belle salad and a wide selection of other lowcountry favorites. Dine in or outside in the comfortable backyard.

Experience the island, love the food! Serving Lunch Monday Friday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday 12 - 3 p.m. and Dinner 4:30 9 p.m., Monday - Saturday and Brunch on Saturday 9 - 12 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Call (843) 785-YARD (9273) or visit us online at www.hhbackyard.com.

AMIGO’S CAFÉ Y CANTINA

The original Amigo’s is located at 70 Pope Avenue in the Circle Center. Quick, casual and healthy Mexican food prepared fresh daily. Featuring the best burrito outside of Baja, quesadillas, tacos, amazing BBQ chicken salad, Jimmy’s World Famous Margaritas and ice cold beer. This local favorite has been serving islanders and visitors for over 20 years. Dine in or take-out available. Open for lunch and dinner, Monday thru Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call (843) 785-TACO (8226) or online at www.amigoscafeandcantina.com.

ANNIE O’S SOUTHERN EATS

Located at the corner of Arrow and Target Road. “All-Natural” makes the difference! Serving All-Natural proteins including Grass Fed Beef, Pastured Pork, Free-Range Chicken, CageFree Eggs and Wild/Sustainable Seafood. The Southern inspired menu offers traditional Southern favorites featuring All-Natural products because “It just tastes better”. Enjoy indoor seating and the newly created outdoor deck and garden seating. Open Monday thru Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call (843) 341-2664.

AUNT CHILADAS EASY STREET CAFE

Located at 69 Pope Avenue. With a tag line of “Not your everyday Mexican” one can only imagine what a familyfriendly, fun restaurant Aunt Chilada’s is to both locals and visitors alike! Located on the south-end of Hilton Head, visit Aunt Chilada’s for fresh margaritas, fajitas, and even crab legs!

The huge, covered outdoor patio is perfect for all gatherings.

Open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. Kids menu available.

A member of the Coastal Restaurants and Bars family of restaurants. Call (843) 785-7700 or visit auntchiladashhi.com. #auntchiladashhi.

THE BIG BAMBOO CAFE

Just steps from the beach, the Big Bamboo Cafe is located in Coligny Plaza on North Forest Beach Drive. Featuring fresh seafood, fish tacos, delicious salads and the build your own burgers, the Big Bamboo Cafe provides an all American 46

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menu in a laid back beach atmosphere. Thirsty? Try a famous margarita as you sit amongst the WWII memorablia and the Bamboo inspired island vibe. Full bar and kids menu available.

Serving lunch Mon-Sat. 11.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Call (843) 686-3443.

BIG JIM’S BBQ, BURGERS & PIZZA

New restaurant located in Palmetto Dunes at the Robert Trent Jones Clubhouse. Big Jim’s offers signature Southern dishes, including BBQ, gourmet burgers and grilled pizza plus soups, salads, seafood, steaks and ribs. Enjoy indoor or outdoor seating with big screen TVs and golf course views.

Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours are 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Happy Hour daily 4 until 7 p.m. and seasonal live entertainment. Take out and catering available. Call (843) 7851165 or www.palmettodunes.com/big-jims.

BRITISH OPEN PUB

Located in The Village at Wexford and Sheridan Park in Bluffton. Authentic English fare served in attractive pub-style atmosphere with golf art, memorabilia, and the only bar

by Titleist. Featuring our famous Fish n’ Chips or Sandwedges like the Aberdeen Burger, Clubhouse Classic, Wexford Reuben, English Dip and Lobster Roll. Full bar and beers, ales, and stouts from around the world. Serving daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., Brunch served Saturday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call Hilton Head (843) 686-6736 or Bluffton (843) 815-6736.

CAPTAIN WOODY’S

All New Location at 6 Target Road on Hilton Head and in Bluffton at the Calhoun Street Promenade. A local favorite for over 30 years! Unique Island Location highlights fresh seafood, daily specials, great signature sandwiches (Grouper melt & Po Boy’s) and more in one of Hilton Head’s favorite dining destinations. Fantastic outdoor deck and bar. Open daily from 11 a.m. until late. Call (843) 785-2400 or (843) 757-6222 or online at www.captainwoodys.com.

CAROLINA CRAB COMPANY

Located in Palmetto Bay Marina, just off Helmsman Way. With a pet-friendly patio as well as indoor dining, Carolina Crab Company offers an array of fresh seafood, burgers,

crab legs, Lowcountry boil and daily Chef specials. Open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. Happy hour from 4 - 7 p.m. at the bars. Enjoy water views from the outside bar and patio. A member of the Coastal Restaurants and Bars family of restaurants. Call (843) 842-2016 for reservations or visit carolinacrabco.com. #carolinacrabco.

CHARBAR CO

Located in Park Plaza right outside Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head. A local favorite serving a chef inspired menu featuring award winning gourmet burgers, signature sandwiches, veggie and shrimp burgers and salads that are as great as our burgers — all for around $8-10 with quick casual dining experience. We feature a fun and inviting indoor/ outdoor environment with a full bar and a music collection spanning the decades. Voted Hilton Head Island “People’s Choice Best Burger”, 1st Place Winner of Burgers & Brews 2012, 2013, 2014,2015 & 2016! Open daily from 11:30-10 p.m.

Kids menu and takeout available. Call us at (843) 785-CHAR (2427) or visit us online at www.Facebook.com/CharbarCo!

CHARLIE’S L’ETOILE VERTE

Located at 8 New Orleans Rd., just off Hwy. 278. Casual dining at its best. One-of-a kind Cobb salad piled high with crispy bacon, turkey and cheese, dressed with Essie’s homemade sweet tomato vinaigrette that has kept the locals hooked for more than 30 years. Fish Cakes, Sauteed Flounder and an array of salads for anyone on the run. Dine-in or Take-out. Open for lunch Monday thru Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., and dinner Monday thru Saturday from 5:30 p.m. Call (843) 7859277 or check us out online at www.charliesgreenstar.com.

THE CRAZY CRAB

Two great waterfront locations- South end in the heart of Harbour Town in Sea Pines and North end Hwy. 278 overlooking Jarvis Creek. The “Islander’s place for fresh seafood for over 30 years,” The Crazy Crab restaurants are a must-visit for those enjoying all Hilton Head has to offer. Fresh local seafood is prepared any way you wish – broiled, fried, steamed, blackened, etc. Gluten free and vegan options also available. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. See the largest salt-water aquarium on Hilton Head (Hwy. 278 location). Call (843) 363-2722 (Harbour Town), (843) 681-5021 (Jarvis Creek) or visit thecrazycrab.com. #crazycrabhhi.

DELISHEEYO

Located at 32 Palmetto Bay Rd. in The Village Exchange. The Island’s health food kitchen features organic juices, smoothees, salads, wraps, bowls and healthy snacks. Offering food that makes you feel good, choose from raw, vegan or gluten free options. Open Monday thru Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Call (843) 785-3633 or online at www.delisheeyo.com.

THE DRYDOCK SEAFOOD GRILL & SPIRITS

All new location at 840 William Hilton Pkwy. Go where the locals go for fresh seafood, cold drinks and good times. We TASTEOFHILTONHEAD.COM

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are easy to find, but hard to leave. Choose from a wide variety of fresh seafood, signature sandwiches, salads and more in a casual and comfortable atmosphere. Dine inside or enjoy the outdoor patio. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. Call (843) 842-9775.

ELA’S BLU WATER GRILLE

Located at One Shelter Cove Lane. Featured in Bon Appetit and winner of numerous Open Table awards, Ela’s offers fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, all prepared by our culinary team of experts and complimented by an extensive boutique wine selection. Known for the best water views on the island, we have a casual intimate interior, wrap around dining patio exterior and nightly entertainment.

Private parties, rehearsal dinners and special events welcome.

Open for lunch Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Reservations recommended. Call (843) 785-3030 or online at ww.elasgrille.com.

FISHCAMP ON BROAD CREEK

Located at 11 Simmons Road, mid-island on Broad Creek.

Fishcamp is Hilton Head’s newest casual waterfront dining destination. Enjoy delicious seafood, steaks and more in a chic, backyard, fish camp style setting complete with a bocce court, ladder golf, jenga, a fire pit and sunset views. Choose from lunch selections such as a Surf ‘N Turf Burger, Shrimp & Polenta, or an Oyster Po’ Boy (just to name a few). Dine indoors, or enjoy the large, pet-friendly patio and bar while soaking in the view. Lunch from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily. Happy hour at the outdoor bar (heated on cool nights) and hightop tables from 4 - 6 p.m. daily. Bar menu available starting at 3 p.m., dinner service beginning at 5 p.m., bar open until midnight. Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Call (843) 8422267 for reservations. View full menus at fishcamphhi.com. #fishcamphhi.

FLATBREAD GRILL

Located at Coligny Circle oceanside in the Beach Market Center.

This upscale casual dining sensation is sure to be a favorite of both visitors and locals. Choose from Neopolitan pizza, fresh pasta, gourmet salads, or hearty sandwiches all cooked in our open hearth oven. Hang out in our friendly lounge and enjoy a nice selection of appetizers and cocktails while viewing your favorite sporting event on our HDTV’s. Take-out available. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. for lunch and dinner. Call (843) 341-2225 or online at www.flatbreadgrillhhi.com.

THE FROSTY FROG CAFÉ

Located in Coligny Plaza. A comfortable, casual atmosphere offering a “web-footed lickin” menu and an enormous amount of frozen daiquiris by the glass or by the gallon. Outside seating with retractable roof, beach area and tiki bar. Black angus burger, crab cakes, pizza, prime rib sandwich, salads, subs, wraps, peel and eat shrimp, calamari, crab legs, shrimp dishes, ahi tuna, fish and shrimp tacos and of course fried frog legs.

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28 HD TV’s for great sports viewing as well as a kid’s menu.

Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. Call (843) 686-FROG (3764) or online at www.frostyfrog.com.

GRINGO’S DINER

Located at 6 Lagoon Rd., near the beach in Coligny Plaza. This cozy and comfortable diner serves breakfast and lunch all day.

The food and service makes for the perfect stop for visitors and locals alike. Enjoy contemporary American and Mexican food in a warm atmosphere with friendly service. Enjoy fantastic lunch selections like our yummy homemade burgers, sandwiches, B.L.T’s, hot dogs, fried baskets, awesome Philly cheesesteaks and famous hand cut French fries and shakes.

Dine inside or outside. Take out is available. Open daily from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call (843) 785-5400.

HINOKI JAPANESE RESTAURANT AND SUSHI BAR Located at 37 New Orleans Road in New Orleans Plaza. Enjoy traditional Japanese dishes such as grilled fish, chicken and steak, suki yaki, a variety of noodle dishes, tempura, daily specials, plus sushi and sashimi. The very extensive menu includes dozens of appetizers, several kinds of broiled fish, salads and over 20 entrees from which to choose. Three intimate dining rooms, a sushi bar and a cocktail lounge offers something for everyone. Early Bird specials and take-out available. Open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., Monday thru Friday and dinner from 5:30 until 10 p.m., Monday thru Saturday.

Call (843) 785-9800.

HOLY TEQUILA

Located in Park Plaza, the Holy Tequila taqueria blends gourmet tacos with American flavors, Mexican street food and tequila in an eclectic atmosphere! Prepare your senses for a fusion of flavors that reaches into the heart of Mexico!

Holy Tequila combines an open kitchen with indoor/outdoor dining and a dynamic bar to create a high energy fiesta! We serve gourmet tacos, quesadillas, and smalls plates all under $10 with a full bar offering over 40 kinds of premium tequilas.

The cuisine is modern, fun and uninhibited, just like our guests!

The restaurant is open 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily with happy hour specials from 4-7 p.m. Call us at (843) 681-TACO (8226) or visit us online at www.Facebook.com/HolyTequila!

HUDSON’S SEAFOOD HOUSE ON THE DOCKS

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway off Squire Pope Rd. With 45 years of casual dining experience and spectacular views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Hudson’s is one of the Island’s most recognized landmarks. Featuring the freshest, local seafood in the area as well as pasta, steaks, chicken and more. Kids menu available. Featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Bon Appetit. Open daily at 11 a.m. Call (843) 681-2772.

KENNY B’S CAJUN SEAFOOD HUT

Located in Circle Center, just off Pope Avenue. Enjoy Creole cuisine with a Lowcountry influence. Find an appealing choice of Cajun fare such as Shrimp Etoufee, Crawfish Etoufee, TASTEOFHILTONHEAD.COM

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Jambalaya, N’awlins Po Boy’s, Red Beans & Rice and authentic Gumbos. Great soups and salads, as well as a kid’s menu and take-out service available. Also, cold beer and awesome desserts. Open Monday from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday, 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Call (843) 785-3315.

LAGERHEAD TAVERN

Located at The Oyster Reef Golf Club, 155 High Bluff Rd. Enjoy fresh, regional ingredients from the LagerHead Tavern lunch menu and spend quality time with family and friends after a round of golf. The Tavern celebrates the indigenous Loggerhead Sea Turtle creating an atmosphere that is coastal, casual and fun. Open for lunch and dinner. Call (843) 681-2184.

LAND’S END TAVERN

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Featuring great seafood, steaks, sandwiches and salads. A casual atmosphere with a pirate theme ensures fun for the whole family. Great kid’s menu and desserts. It’s a bounty of treasure waiting to be plundered. Serving all day, every day starting from 8 a.m.

Call (843) 671-5456 for seasonal hours.

MANGIAMO

Located at 2000 Main Street. A comfortable and cozy atmosphere featuring outstanding pizza, subs, salads and pasta. Beer and wine, kid’s menu, and daily specials offer something for everyone. Enjoy half price cheese pizza from 3 until 4 p.m. Dine inside, on the patio or take it to go. North Island delivery available. Your home away from home for The Ohio State Buckeyes. Open Sunday thru Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Call (843) 682-2444.

MELLOW MUSHROOM

Located in Park Plaza on Hilton Head and at 878 Fording Island Rd. in Bluffton. If you’re looking for a fun and lively place for the whole family, this is it. Specializing in great pizza and calzones, monumental hoagies and fresh salads all in a comfortable and casual setting. Kid friendly and affordably priced menu for both lunch and dinner. Over twenty-four beers on tap, fifty more by bottle and a full bar available.

Dine inside or outside on the patio. Open daily from 11 a.m. Call (843) 686-2474 (HHI) or (843) 706-0800 (B-Town).

PALMETTO BAY SUNRISE CAFE

Located in Palmetto Bay Marina off Helmsman Way. Serving breakfast and lunch all day. Awesome sandwiches, burgers, salads, soups, chicken, seafood and daily blue plate specials in cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Beer, wine and liquor available as well as take-out and childrens menu. Eat inside or relax on the outside patio. “One of the Best Breakfasts on Hilton Head”, Southern Living magazine. Open Daily Monday thru Friday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Call (843) 686-3232 for more information.

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PLANTATION CAFÉ & DELI

Located South Island at 81 Pope Avenue in Heritage Plaza and North Island at Port Royal Plaza. An Island favorite since 1974.

From soups and salads to sandwiches and Blue plate specials, we have something for everyone. Choose from a great selection of meats and sides and a wide array of salads, soups and sandwiches, all served at moderate prices. We promise you will not leave hungry. Beer and wine available. Open for lunch Monday thru Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and Sunday brunch from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call (843) 785-9020 or (843) 342-4472.

POOL BAR JIM’S

Located overlooking the beach at the Sea Crest at 10 North Forest Beach. Local legend Pool Bar Jim has combined with culinary favorite A Lowcountry Backyard in the perfect setting for tropical and exotic drinks and great lowcountry cuisine. With beautiful views, tasty beverages and delicious food, this is a destination not to be missed. Enjoy Happy hour or try our new Sunday Brunch. Call for Seasonal Hours. Call (843) 816-4648.

REDFISH

On the Corner of Palmetto Bay Rd. and Archer Rd. on Hilton Head, and 32 Bruin Rd. in Bluffton. Serving Innovative Cuisine in a unique and inviting atmosphere. Specializing in excellent seafood, steaks, salads and daily specials. Attached bar and retail wine shop with over 1,000 selections of fine wines.

Outdoor seating available. Serving lunch Monday thru Saturday from 11:30 a.m. and dinner daily from 5 p.m. Call (843) 6863388 or (843) 837-8888 or online at edfishofhiltonhead.com.

REILLEY’S GRILL & BAR

Located in Reilley’s Plaza, just off Sea Pines Circle. Serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head Island for over 35 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, the family-friendly atmosphere will have your family dining with the Reilley family again and again. Dine indoors or outside on the deck. Enjoy daily lunch and dinner specials with family, or toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday brunch. Lunch and dinner served seven days a week from 11 a.m. Happy Hour from 4 until 7 p.m. Take-out and kids menus available. Call (843) 842-4414 or visit reilleyshiltonhead.com. #reilleyshhi.

REILLEY’S NORTH END PUB

Located in Port Royal Plaza. The sister restaurant of Reilley’s Grill & Bar (located on the south end), Reilley’s North End Pub has been serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head for over 30 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, Reilley’s is reminiscent of a true Boston pub. Experience the family-friendly atmosphere for some local fun and Tuesday Trivia. Enjoy daily lunch and dinner specials with family, or toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday Brunch. Lunch and dinner served seven days a

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week. Happy hour daily from 4 until 7p.m. Take-out available.

Call (843) 681-4153 or visit reilleysnorth.com. #reilleysnorth.

ROCKFISH SEAFOOD AND STEAKS @BOMBORAS Located a at 5 Lagoon Road across from Coligny near the beach. Hilton Head’s Seafood Destination offering local seafood, fish and chips, shrimp po’ boys, she crab soup, hand rolled hush puppies and much much more! Featuring a fun and inviting indoor or outdoor dining experience. The owners are from Cincinnati so they have an intriguing “Cincinnati” section to their menu featuring Montgomery Inn Ribs, Big Boy Burgers and more. Extensive craft draft list, wine and creative cocktails. Want to paint? Rockfish also offers lunch upstairs at the Art Cafe (the island’s paint your own pottery studio). Open for brunch on weekends, lunch, happy hour and dinner 7 days a week. Call (843) 689-2662 or visit online at rockfishhhi.com.

RUAN THAI HUT

Located at 1107 Main Street. Serving Authentic Thai fare using the freshest ingredients available. Mild to very hot, you can choose the spice level of your meal. Appetizers, soups, salads, desserts and kids meals round out an extensive menu with something for all ages. Sit inside or outside on the comfortable patio. Open Monday thru Saturday for lunch and dinner. Call (843) 681-3700.

THE SALTY DOG CAFE

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Great food, frozen drinks and live entertainment from the island’s favorite outdoor cafe. Enjoy beautiful waterfront views overlooking Braddock’s Cove in a fun and casual atmosphere.

Happy Hour daily with a full menu available, plus an outdoor cookout, Salty Dog Ice Cream and Jake’s Pizza during the season. Call (843) 671-CAFE (2233) for seasonal hours.

THE SANDBAR

New restaurant located in historic Coligny Plaza at 101 Pope Ave., just steps from the beach. The Sandbar always has something delicious cooking. With its beach inspired décor, comfortable seating and laid-back atmosphere, they are serving up modern comfort foods such as homemade burgers, amazing tacos, chargrilled oysters and Not Your Mama’s Meatloaf sandwich. The Sandbar is a great place for family and friends to enjoy our new outdoor bar and patio and share appetizing food and drinks. Children will also feel welcome with their own menu of homemade healthy choices. Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (843) 342-SAND (7263).

SANTA FE CAFÉ

Located at 807 William Hilton Parkway near the entrance to Palmetto Dunes. Our elegant yet casual, cozy atmosphere captures the spirit of New Mexico. Innovative southwestern cuisine featuring our Quesadilla Soup and Salad Trio, Santa Fe Salad, Fish Tacos, Steak Fajitas and many other great lunch selections. Excellent wine list, wide selection of imported beer 52

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and full bar. Take-out available. Open for lunch Monday thru Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Dinner 7 nights a week from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Call (843) 785-3838 or santafehhi.com.

SEA GRASS GRILLE

Located at 807 Wm. Hilton Parkway in the Plantation Center, just outside the entrance to Palmetto Dunes Resort. Intimate yet casual dining. Chef owned and operated, and a local favorite for over 10 years. Great salads, sandwiches, homemade soups and local favorites such as Carolina Tomato Pie, Lump Crab Potato Pancake, and daily specials. Lunch take-out available, gluten free friendly. Serving lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. and dinner from 5:30 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday. Call (843) 785-9990 or visit us online at seagrassgrille.com.

SKILLETS CAFE

Located just off the beach in Coligny Plaza. An excellent choice for the whole family since 1994. Wonderful selections including old-fashioned lunches, great sandwiches, burgers, jambalaya, chicken pot pie or our extensive salad bar. Full bar and wine list available. Kids menu and take-out. Dine inside or on the patio (Dog Friendly). Open daily from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Call (843) 7853131 or check us out onlineat www.skilletscafe.com.

STREET MEET

Located in Port Royal Plaza near BILO. An American style tavern, select from our $7 lunch menu, paleo bowls, or choose

from popular items like our NY Hofmann hot dogs, butcher ground burgers, homemade black bean burgers, homemade Italian wedding soup or the island’s best fish and chips. Enjoy a cold beer or cocktail after a day at the beach in an atmosphere that welcomes the entire family (Penny a pound for kids on Saturday). Serving from 11:30 a.m. until midnight daily. Call (843) 842-2570 or online at www.streetmeethhi.com.

SUNSET GRILLE

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway at Hilton Head Harbor, 43 Jenkins Rd. The Grille offers a casual fine dining experience with breathtaking sunset views. The lunch menu offers a great selection of gorgeous salads, Mussels provencal, shrimp & grits, smoked salmon and the famous stuffed burger as well as daily specials. Come enjoy a fantastic lunch with fantastic views. Lunch is Tuesday thru Friday 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Call (843) 689-6744. www.sunsetgrillehhi.com.

THE WRECK OF THE SALTY DOG

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Enjoy a casual and fun atmosphere in the same spirit as The Salty Dog Cafe. Serving a full bar with excellent food and waterfront view overlooking South Beach Marina and Braddock’s Cove, The Wreck offers excellent Happy Hour drink and appetizer specials. Available for private parties. Call (843) 671-SEAS (7327) for seasonal hours.

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A Band with the Beat

BY RISA WILLIAMS MCMILLAN

These guys are fun. They are fun to talk to, fun to listen to, and they just plain have a good time on and off the stage. With a background in Hip Hop, they rock the stage with their own style of music. Call it what you will – Funk, Soul, Reggae or Blues – anyway you size these guys up they are a band with a crazy good beat.

The core of La Bodega is composed of Todd Toho on guitar and Frederick Capers on vocals.

When they jam as a duo, they refer to themselves as La Bodega Lite for the “6 to 9 crowd” and when they mix it up with their “collectives” – interchangeable parts of local drummers, guitarists, and other musicians – the tempo picks up. According to Todd, “Just as a true La Bodega offers you every imaginable item, our music does the same – meaning we hit on all genres.

We got everything you need, satisfaction guaranteed.”

Frederick grew up as the son of a pastor and was a soloist at his church. As you can imagine, his tone is smooth as butter and when he hits those notes in Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” you will melt. Todd picked up guitar in high school and now rocks both acoustic and electric depending on what the gig calls for.

They both cite Prince as having an influence on their music from his lyricism and funk to his guitar style.

Frederick and Todd started jamming together ten years ago and since then “it was a wrap.” They quit their jobs six years ago in order to dedicate themselves fulltime to La Bodega and now do about 200 shows a year. They recently released their first self-produced album, A.O.S Volume 1, and plan on doing two albums a year going forward. They are dedicated to their music and it shows. “People think if you are a musician you just 54

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go out and do shows,” said Todd.

“They don’t understand we work for ourselves and put in 12 hour days,” added Frederick. When I asked Frederick what music he likes to listen to on the side, he replied with a smile, “I only listen to La Bodega. I am constantly critiquing and tweaking our music.” They divide the work well as Todd is in charge of the business end – marketing, bookkeeping, merchandising – while Frederick does production – writing and lyrics.

Their shows are about a 50/50 split between originals and cover songs. “Our main goal is to one day do all originals, but around here you have to do a full three hour show so it’s good to mix it up,” said Todd.

In putting together A.O.S. Volume 1, they focused on their Hip Hop beginnings and samples that they liked. A testament to the character of these two, fifty percent of the proceeds of album sales go to charity. “When we set out, we wanted to cover our cost of production but wanted to give back,” explained Frederick. They are working with MUSC in Charleston to organize their donations to Sarcoidosis and MS – both auto immune disorders that have affected people they were close to. “We plan to donate and give back on all our upcoming albums,” said Frederick. “If we can make money on our art and help others with our art, then that’s the goal,” added Todd.

For La Bodega’s fall performance schedule, visit them on Facebook or at labodegaman.com. A.O.S. Volume 1 is for sale on any of the music platforms from iTunes to Spotify. They are available to do private parties and weddings and can go full band or Lite to fit all budgets.

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The tourists are heading home but the fun is just heating up here on the island. Fall is the time when Mother Nature gives us a little break from the heat but keeps the sunshine pouring in for a few more months. We take full advantage of that perfect combination by celebrating everything from burgers, and bacon, to oysters and pumpkins. Join us for some of the most popular events along with some hidden treasures!

BY CHRISTY BARONI

8th Annual Italian American Heritage Festival Saturday, September 16th 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. rain or shine Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn The Italian American Club of HHI contributes to the local community in many ways. From college scholarships to supporting the HHI and Bluffton PEP, we see this organization stand behind many of our community organizations in support. Join them at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn for their annual festival.

This day is truly a family affair. Bring the kids, bring their friends. Think of it like Sunday Family Dinner with over 3,500 of your closest relatives. Last year the big giveaway was a car, and this year will prove to be just as exciting. With over 40 booths from vendors both local and visiting, you can anticipate the grape stomping contest, a pizza eating contest, and a silent auction that is rumored to include everything from local fare to signed guitars. People travel in from as far away as Oklahoma and Texas to be part of la famiglia at this festival.

This year, the Italian American Club wants to extend a huge 56

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thanks to their presenting sponsor: Bluffton Dentistry. If you would like to be part of this group, they meet every Thursday at 12:30 at Flora’s Italian Café. Contact: Paul Caimano, 412897-1148, paccomkt@aol.com.

Stay tuned for more upcoming events with the IACHHI: October 18th – Zine Fest, a premier wine tasting event held at the Shore House at the Omni Oceanfront Resort.

November 18th – Guinness Book Of World Records is coming to Hilton Head Island for the world’s largest meatball contest.

The day starts with a Meatball Run 5k at Shelter Cover Community Park, includes a Battle Of the Balls where local restaurants will compete in three meatball categories, and culminates with a record breaking meatball of over 1,200 lbs.

Jeep Island Friday September 15th – Sunday September 17th Shelter Cove Community Park In just its 2nd year of celebrating Jeep culture here on HHI, this year’s event has already grown exponentially from the

inaugural one last year. Sponsored by Hilton Head Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat and A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant, with all proceeds going to the Island Rec Center, this is your chance to see Jeeps old and new, dirty and clean, from near and far. The fun kicks off Friday evening with a Drive-In Movie and Cookout. The main events take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and include a Show & Shine, carnival games, raffles to win, vendors to shop, a DJ and some live music. There is truly something for every Jeep lover out there.

Saturday evening wraps up with a Beach Bash at the Beach House. The weekend finale is the escorted Island Drive from 11 a.m. – noon following the Bye Bye Brunch.

Making this year an extra special event is the chance to win a Jeep! Tickets are just $20 per entry and you don’t need to be present to win. The proceeds benefit the Island Rec Center.

Visit www.jeepisland.org for detailed information.

Burgers, Bacon, and Barbeque Saturday, October 7th 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Shelter Cove Community Park Formerly the Burgers & Brews festival, this family-friendly event is where local restaurants will be competing for YOUR vote for the coveted title of having the best burger sliders.

2016 1st place went to Charbar who will be back to defend their title. For the grown-ups, Ocean Woods is hosting a beer garden where you have a chance to taste over 20 different brews. In our high-energy Kid Zone your little ones can jump in the moon bounce, play carnival games, and have a fun space just for them. This year our college football fans have a section set up so they don’t miss a single pass all day on our big screen TVs. For more information visit https://www.islandreccenter.org or contact Joe Cain at the Island Rec Center.

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Pumpkin Patch

Friday, October 27th 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Shelter Cove Community Park Calling kids of all ages and kids at heart! The Pumpkin Patch is a free event where you can wear you Halloween costume, explore a petting zoo, and play carnival games. There will be candy aplenty and for those looking for more than just candy, a costume contest to flaunting or haunting.

Visit Giuseppi’s Pizza that night and they will donate 15% of the proceeds from your check directly to the Island Rec Center.

Sponsored by Coastal Pediatric Dentistry.

For more information visit https://www.islandreccenter.org or contact Joe Cain at the Island Rec Center.

Oyster Festival

November 10th – 12th Shelter Cover Community Park The crown jewel of the fall festivals is the tried and true Oyster Festival. An island staple, friends and family of all ages can enjoy this weekend event. We have steamed, fried, and stewed oysters for our oyster lovers out there, and plenty of other delicious food options for everyone. Along with enjoying our local delicacies, your little ones have a space of their own in the Kid Zone. We also offer marshmallow roasting for a true lowcountry experience, and you won’t miss a second of your favorite football game in the Sports Lounge.

In addition to this we are highlighting a Wine Pull on Saturday afternoon and a Holiday Craft Fair on Sunday.

For more information visit https://www.islandreccenter.org or contact Joe Cain at the Island Rec Center.

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Risotto alla Piemontese Courtesy of Ombra Cucina Rustica Ingredients 6 Quarts Vegetable Stock 1 pound sliced assorted mushrooms (porcini, chantarells, French horns) 3 TBSP Grapeseed oil ½ cup finely minced onion 2 Bay leaves 2 TBSP Truffle butter, black or white 1 TSP minced garlic 1 TBSP minced truffle, black or white 3 cups Arborio rice ¾ cup Barbera wine ¼ cup veal stock 1 TBSP tomato paste ¼ heavy cream 2 TBSP fine minced Italian parsley Fresh Parmigiano for grating

Instructions In a large saucepan bring the vegetable stock to a boil.

In a separate large risotto pot, heat the grapeseed oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and bay leaves. Saute until translucent.

Stir in Arborio. Add red wine, season with salt and pepper.

Add assorted mushrooms and tomato paste. Add the boiling vegetable stock to the rice one ladle full at a time. Constantly stirring with a wooden spoon until the liquid is almost absorbed.

Continue ladling the stock into the rice stirring constantly until the rice is al dente approx. 20 minutes. The rice should be smooth and creamy. Add extra broth if need be to achieve this texture.

Add the truffle butter, minced truffle, and Italian parsley.

Incorporate into the rice. Add heavy cream and a grating of fresh Parmigiano. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve immediately.

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A TASTE OF BREAKFAST / BRUNCH

A LOWCOUNTRY BACKYARD Located at 32 Palmetto Bay Road in the Village Exchange. Capture the true essence of the island while enjoying local and regional inspired cuisine featuring owner Dave and Raina Peck’s family recipes. Choose from Uncle Bill’s biscuits and gravy, James Island crab cake benedict, Backyard benedict, Bananas Foster french toast and a wide selection of other lowcountry favorites. Dine in or outside in the comfortable backyard.

Experience the island, love the food!

Serving Lunch Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Saturday 12 - 3 p.m. and Dinner 4:30 - 9 p.m., Monday Saturday and Brunch on Saturday 9 - 12 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Call (843) 785-YARD (9273) or visit us online at hbackyard.com.

BIG JIM’S BBQ, BURGERS & PIZZA

New restaurant located in Palmetto Dunes at the Robert Trent Jones Clubhouse. Big Jim’s serves breakfast daily from 7 until 10 a.m. featuring classic favorites plus the $5 breakfast special. Enjoy a bloody mary or mimosa to start your day.

Lunch and dinner daily featuring BBQ, gourmet burgers and grilled pizza. Hours are 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Happy Hour every day 4 until 7 p.m. and seasonal live entertainment.

Take out and catering available. Call (843) 785-1165 or www.palmettodunes.com/big-jims.

BRITISH OPEN PUB

Located in The Village at Wexford and Sheridan Park in Bluffton. Fabulous Brunch served in an authentic English style pub. Choose from Watson’s Steak & Eggs, Eggs Faldo (Benedict), Old Tom Morris Omelette, Pancakes, Cinnamon French Toast and more. Serving bottomless Mimosa’s and made from scratch Bloody Mary’s. Brunch served Saturday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m and Sunday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call Hilton Head (843) 686-6736 or Bluffton (843) 815-6736.

CAPTAIN WOODY’S

All new location at 6 Target Road on Hilton Head and in Bluffton on the Calhoun Street Promenade. Serving Sunday brunch featuring shrimp & grits, steak & eggs, crab cake benedict, prime rib benedict, French toast, omelettes and much more. Wash it all down with a Captain Woody’s Bloody Mary, May River Mimosa or Promenade Poinsetta.

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Open for brunch on Sunday’s only from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call (843) 785-2400 or (843) 757-6222 or online at www.captainwoodys.com.

DELISHEEYO

Located at 32 Palmetto Bay Rd. in The Village Exchange.

The Island’s health food kitchen features organic juices, smoothees, salads, wraps, bowls and healthy snacks. Offering food that makes you feel good, choose from raw, vegan or gluten free options. Open Monday thru Saturday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Call (843) 785-3633 or online at www.delisheeyo.com.

ELA’S BLU WATER GRILLE

Located at One Shelter Cove Lane. Featured in Bon Appetit and winner of numerous Open Table awards, Ela’s offers fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, all prepared by our culinary team of experts and complimented by an extensive boutique wine selection. Known for the best water views on the island, we have a casual intimate interior, wrap around dining patio exterior and nightly entertainment.

Private parties, rehearsal dinners and special events welcome.

Open for lunch Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Reservations recommended. Call (843) 785-3030 or online at www.elasgrille.com.

FISHCAMP ON BROAD CREEK

Located at 11 Simmons Road, mid-island on Broad Creek.

Fishcamp is Hilton Head’s newest casual waterfront dining

destination. Enjoy delicious brunch, seafood, steaks and more in a chic, backyard, fish camp style setting complete with a bocce court, ladder golf, jenga, a fire pit and sunset views.

Choose from brunch selections such as a Stuffed French Toast (with Snickers bars filling!), Smoked Salmon Benedict, or Steak and Eggs (just to name a few). Dine indoors, or enjoy the large, pet-friendly patio and bar while soaking in the view. Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Happy hour at the outdoor bar (heated on cool nights) and high-top tables from 4 - 6 p.m. daily. Lunch daily from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Bar menu available starting at 3 p.m., dinner service beginning at 5 p.m., bar open until midnight. Call (843) 842-2267 for reservations. View full menus at fishcamphhi.com. #fishcamphhi.

GRINGO’S DINER

Located at 6 Lagoon Rd., near the beach in Coligny Plaza.

This cozy and comfortable diner serves breakfast and lunch all day. The food and service makes for the perfect stop for visitors and locals alike. Enjoy contemporary American and Mexican food in a warm atmosphere with friendly service. We offer tremendous pancakes, breakfast burritos and tacos, omelettes, chimichangas, and more. Dine inside or outside. Take out is available. Open daily from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Call (843) 785-5400.

HOLY TEQUILA

Located at 33 Office Park Road in Park Plaza-- Holy Tequila

has a new weekend brunch from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday & Sundays that will blow your taste buds away.

Come sample the island’s best brunch with favorites like churro french toast, steak and egg tacos, shrimp and grits and huevos rancheros on our open air indoor/ outdoor patio!

Brunch drink specials include $3 Mimosas and $5 Specialty brunch cocktails and margaritas! Call 843-681-TACO (8226) to reserve your space!

HUDSON’S SEAFOOD HOUSE ON THE DOCKS

Located at 1 Hudson Rd. on the Intracoastal Waterway off Squire Pope Rd. Enjoy a wide variety of sweet and savory Lowcountry dishes complete with brunch cocktails and sweeping views of Port Royal Sound. Lots of seafood-focused menu items featuring extremely fresh and local products like Blue Crab Benedict, Cathead Biscuits and Gravy, Shrimp and Grits and many more. Serving Brunch every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call (843) 681-2772 or online at www.hudsonsonthedocks.com.

KENNY B’S CAJUN SEAFOOD HUT

Located in Circle Center, just off Pope Avenue. Enjoy Creole cuisine with a Lowcountry influence. Our Sunday brunch buffet features beignets, scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, grits, fruit and a made-to-order omelette station with eggs benedict. For a sampling of our regular weekday menu, choose from french toast, crabcake benedict, Mississippi tall

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stack pancakes, café au lait, quiche and a creole omelette.

Open Monday from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday, 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m until 9 p.m.

Call (843) 785-3315.

LAND’S END

Located in Sea Pines at South Beach Marina overlooking beautiful Braddock’s Cove, Land’s End Tavern is one of the few Hilton Head Island restaurants with a spectacular, waterfront view. Complete with a broad selection of breakfast favorites, plus Lowcountry staples like Crab Cake Benedict and Shrimp and Grits. Land’s End Tavern is a casual atmosphere with a pirate theme that the whole family will enjoy. Open daily from 8 a.m. Call (843) 671-5456 for seasonal hours.

OLD FORT PUB

Located at 63 Skull Creek Drive on the Intra-coastal Waterway, Old Fort Pub provides the perfect setting for enjoying a spectacular Sunday Brunch. Served every Sunday from 11-2 p.m. Guests enjoy Chef Keith Josefiak’s “New Southern” favorites inspired with influences from around the globe.

Outdoor dining available. Call (843) 681-2386 or visit OldFortPub.com for a complete menu or to make reservations.

PALMETTO BAY SUNRISE CAFE

Located in Palmetto Bay Marina off Helmsman Way. An

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Islander favorite for breakfast and brunch featuring eggs benedict, omelettes, french toast, pancakes, quiches, daily specials and more. Enjoy a bloody mary, mimosa, coffee or your favorite beverage while dining inside or on the patio.

“One of the Best Breakfasts on Hilton Head”, Southern Living magazine. Open Daily Monday thru Friday, 6 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Call (843) 686-3232 for more information.

PLANTATION CAFÉ & DELI

Located South Island at 81 Pope Avenue in Heritage Plaza and North Island at Port Royal Plaza. An Island favorite since 1974. Offering fresh breakfast items such as omelettes, crab cake benedicts, skillet dishes, pancakes, waffles, French toast, biscuits & gravy and much more, all at moderate prices. Also a wide variety of sides and beverages to complete any meal.

Open for breakfast, Monday thru Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. and Sunday 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. for breakfast and brunch. Call (843) 785-9020 or (843) 342-4472.

REILLEY’S GRILL AND BAR

Located in Reilley’s Plaza, just off Sea Pines Circle. Serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head Island for over 35 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, the family-friendly atmosphere will have your family dining with the Reilley family again and again. Dine indoors or outside on the deck. Enjoy nightly dinner specials with family,

toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday brunch or lunch with friends on the patio. Lunch 11 a.m. Mon. - Sat. and dinner 5 p.m. served seven days a week. Brunch on Sundays 11:30 a.m. Happy Hour from 4 until 7 p.m. Take-out and kids menus available. Reservations accepted. Call (843) 842-4414 or visit reilleyshiltonhead.com. @reilleyshhi.

REILLEY’S NORTH END PUB

Located in Port Royal Plaza. The sister restaurant of Reilley’s Grill & Bar (located on the south end), Reilley’s North End Pub has been serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head for over 30 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, Reilley’s is reminiscent of a true Boston pub. Experience the family-friendly atmosphere for some local fun and Tuesday Trivia. Enjoy nightly dinner specials with family, or toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday Brunch 11 a.m., or lunch with friends. Lunch and dinner served seven days a week. Happy hour daily from 4 until 7 p.m.

Take-out available. Reservations accepted. Call (843) 681-4153 or visit reilleysnorth.com. #reilleysnorth.

ROCKFISH SEAFOOD AND STEAKS @BOMBORAS Located a at 5 Lagoon Road across from Coligny near the beach. New weekend brunch from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The fabulous brunch menu includes Award winning pulled pork omelet, crab cake Benedict, breakfast sliders, ribs n eggs and the “Rocky” omelet that features a

Cincinnati favorite goetta and much much more! Offering breakfast cocktails including a bottomless mimosa option. Open for brunch on weekends, lunch, happy hour and dinner 7 days a week. Call (843) 689-2662 or visit online at rockfishhhi.com.

SKILLETS CAFE

Located just off the beach in Coligny Plaza. A breakfast favorite of both visitors and islanders alike since 1994. Try one of our famous layered dishes prepared in a porcelain skillet. Also offering steak and eggs, pancakes, french toast, omelettes, eggs benedict, Belgian waffles and too many others to mention. A wide beverage variety including fresh coffees, juices, bloody marys, and more. Dine inside or on the patio (Dog Friendly). Open daily from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Call (843) 785-3131 or check us out online at www.skilletscafe.com.

SUNSET GRILLE

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway at Hilton Head Harbor, 43 Jenkins Rd. The Grille offers a casual fine dining experience with breathtaking sunset views. One of the best brunches on Hilton Head. Offering Linda’s deep dish-quiche, fried chicken & biscuits with bacon gravy, filet mignon over bleu cheese grits, crab cake benedict and many more island favorites. Voted one of the best bloody mary’s in the Southeast by Garden & Gun Magazine. An amazing brunch with an amazing view. Call (843) 689-6744 for reservations. Sunday Brunch is 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Online at www.sunsetgrillehhi.com.

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A TASTE OF NIGHTLIFE / LOUNGES

A LOWCOUNTRY BACKYARD

Located at 32 Palmetto Bay Road in The Village Exchange. A true Lowcountry experience offering a full bar complete with beer, wine and cocktails served in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. Try our South Carolina moonshine, moonshine punch or lemonshine for a unique twist from the norm.

Enjoy live entertainment on the outside stage (please call for schedule). Open Monday thru Saturday for lunch and dinner, and Saturday and Sunday for Brunch. Call (843) 785-YARD (9273) or online at www.hhbackyard.com.

AUNT CHILADAS EASY STREET CAFE

Located at 69 Pope Avenue. With a tag line of “Not your everyday Mexican” one can only imagine what a familyfriendly, fun restaurant Aunt Chilada’s is to both locals and visitors alike! Located on the south-end of Hilton Head, visit Aunt Chilada’s for fresh margaritas, fajitas, and even crab legs!

The huge, covered outdoor patio is perfect for all gatherings.

Open seven days a week. Live music on the patio nightly (in season - weather permitting). A member of the Coastal Restaurants and Bars family of restaurants. Call (843) 785-7700 or visit auntchiladashhi.com. #auntchiladashhi.

THE BIG BAMBOO CAFE

Located upstairs at Coligny Plaza, Oceanside. The Island’s finest selection of imported and microbrewed draft beer in a unique 1940’s themed bar. Awesome happy hour with Margarita Madness, $3 appetizer menu and many other specials. Live music daily March thru October. Call for late night entertainment schedule. Full menu available. Open from 11:30 a.m. until late, Monday thru Saturday. Call (843) 686-3443.

BIG JIM’S BBQ, BURGERS & PIZZA

New restaurant located in Palmetto Dunes at the Robert Trent Jones Clubhouse. Big Jim’s features a wine and beer menu, delicious appetizers and Happy Hour daily from 4 until 7 p.m. in a casual atmosphere. Enjoy seasonal live entertainment, big screen TVs and outdoor seating overlooking the golf course.

Big Jim’s serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily featuring BBQ, gourmet burgers and grilled pizza. Hours are 7:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Take out and catering available. Call (843) 785-1165 or www.palmettodunes.com/big-jims.

THE BOARDROOM

Located in Reilley’s Plaza just off Sea Pines Circle. Visit the Boardroom to find the Island’s best craft cocktails and live music venue - all in one place! Enjoy one of the latest happy hours on the Island with happy hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Be sure to follow The Boardroom on Facebook and 64

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Instagram to always stay up-to-date on the latest bands, events and specials at this local spot. 21 and over after 10 p.m. Open 5 p.m. - 2 a.m. nightly. Call (843) 363-6636 or visit theboardroomlive.com. #theboardroomhhi.

BRITISH OPEN PUB

Located in The Village at Wexford and Sheridan Park in Bluffton. Hilton Head’s first true golfer’s pub featuring the only bar by Titleist. A wide selection of beers, ales, stouts and wines from around the world. Awesome appetizer selections, brilliant martini list and full menu available. Blarney is invited, singing encouraged and good humor admired. Happy hour daily from 4 until 7 p.m. Open daily from 11 a.m until late.

Brunch served Saturday 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call (843) 686-6736 or Bluffton (843) 815-6736.

CAPTAIN JOHN’S GALLEY AT THE SALTY DOG CAFE

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Step up to Jake’s raw bar for some of the Island’s finest seafood and good times.

Enjoy spectacular views of Braddock’s Cove while selecting from steamed oysters, shrimp, crab legs and more. Full bar available and the frozen drinks are made with fresh fruit.

Happy hour from 4 until 6 p.m. Call (843) 671-CAFE (2233) for seasonal hours.

CAPTAIN WOODY’S

All new location at 6 Target Road on Hilton Head and in Bluffton at the Calhoun Street Promenade. A local favorite for over 30 years for fresh seafood and fine beverages. Great signature sandwiches (Grouper Melt & Po Boy’s), oysters, crab legs, shrimp and scallops served with your favorite beer, wine or cocktail. Happy Hour from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. daily with great prices. Fantastic outdoor deck and bar. Open daily from 11 a.m. until late, food available until 10 p.m. Call (843) 7852400 or (843) 757-6222 or online at www.captainwoodys.com.

CAROLINA CRAB COMPANY

Located in Palmetto Bay Marina, just off Helmsman Way. With a pet-friendly patio and bar as well as indoor dining, Carolina Crab Company offers an array of fresh seafood, burgers, crab legs, Lowcountry boil and daily Chef specials. Open seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. Enjoy water views from the outside bar. Happy hour daily at the bars (only) from 4 - 7 p.m. A member of the Coastal Restaurants and Bars family of restaurants. Call (843) 842-2016 or visit carolinacrabco.com. #carolinacrabco.

CATCH 22 FRESH SEAFOOD & GRILL

Located at 37 New Orleans Road in Orleans Plaza. A great choice for some of the Island’s best Happy Hour deals. Relax in a comfortable and cozy atmosphere and choose from great seafood appetizers and beer, wine and liquor specials.

Wednesday and Thursday 10% discount on dinner at the bar, Saturday and Sunday 1/2 price bottle of wine (under $100) with 2 entrees. Happy Hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. daily and dinner served from 5 p.m. Call (843) 785-6261.

CHARBAR CO

Located in Park Plaza right outside Sea Pines Plantation on Hilton Head. A local favorite serving award winning gourmet burgers, sandwiches, salads and more! We feature specialty craft beers on tap, niche wines, two full service bars, and a lounge equipped with a music collection spanning the decades in a fun indoor/outdoor environment. Voted Hilton Head Island “People’s Choice Best Burger”, 1st Place Winner of Burgers & Brews 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016! Enjoy our large outdoor patio with flatscreens, fireplace and the only outdoor bar in Park Plaza! Happy Hour specials daily from 4-7 p.m.! Live music nightly! Call (843) 785-CHAR (2427) or visit us online at www.Facebook.com/CharbarCo!

CHARLIE’S L’ETOILE VERTE

Located at 8 New Orleans Rd., just off Hwy. 278. Casual yet sophisticated atmosphere. Relax on the leather couch or sit at the bar with Jeff and try one of his famous real chocolate martinis or one of his other unique concoctions. Full bar, extensive wine and beer offerings, and happy hour specials including half price wines by the glass, from 5 until 7 p.m.

Select bar menu and full dinner menu available at the bar.

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Open Monday thru Saturday. Call (843) 785-9277 or check us out online at www.charliesgreenstar.com.

CQ’S RESTAURANT

Tucked under the oaks in Harbour Town, CQ’s signature dishes embody Executive Chef, Jimmy Corbett’s passion for the best produce and cuisine from the Lowcountry bounty.

Guests can gather at the bar and lounge to enjoy tasting dishes and shareable small plates. The exceptional wine list includes a variety of wines selected specifically with the menu in mind. Open nightly 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations accepted.

Call (843) 671-2779 or visit CQsRestaurant.com for complete menus or to make reservations.

CRANE’S TAVERN STEAKHOUSE & SEAFOOD

Located at 26 New Orleans Rd. Relax around our antique Old English bar and enjoy a cocktail, appetizer, sandwich or full meal. Select from our extensive wine and liquor list, true classic cocktails, infused martinis, aged scotches and small batch bourbons. Great bar menu and happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. A family tradition of excellence in quality and value for over 100 years. Serving dinner daily from 5 p.m.

Call (843) 341-2333.

THE CRAZY CRAB

Two great waterfront locations- South end in Harbour Town in Sea Pines and North end Hwy. 278 overlooking Jarvis Creek.

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The “Islander’s place for fresh seafood for over 30 years,” The Crazy Crab restaurants are a must-visit for those enjoying all Hilton Head has to offer. Fresh local seafood is prepared any way you wish – broiled, fried, steamed, blackened, etc. Gluten free and vegan options also available. Open seven days a week. Outdoor patio bar open seasonally (Hwy. 278 location).

Call (843) 363-2722 (Harbour Town), (843) 681-5021 (Jarvis Creek) or visit thecrazycrab.com. #crazycrabhhi.

THE DRYDOCK SEAFOOD GRILL & SPIRITS

All new location at 840 William Hilton Pkwy. Go where the locals go for fresh seafood, cold drinks and good times. We are easy to find but hard to leave. Great happy hour specials, full bar and plenty of flat screen TV’s for all the best in sports viewing. Open 7 days for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m.

Call (843) 842-9775.

ELA’S BLU WATER GRILLE

Located at One Shelter Cove Lane. Featured in Bon Appetit and winner of numerous Open Table awards, Ela’s offers fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, all prepared by our culinary team of experts and complimented by an extensive boutique wine selection. Known for the best water views on the island, we have a casual intimate interior, wrap around dining patio exterior and nightly entertainment.

Private parties, rehearsal dinners and special events welcome.

Open for lunch Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.,

Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Reservations recommended. Call (843) 785-3030 or online at www.elasgrille.com.

FISHCAMP ON BROAD CREEK

Located at 11 Simmons Road, mid-island on Broad Creek.

Fishcamp is Hilton Head’s newest casual waterfront dining destination. Enjoy live music and nightlife most evenings along with, seafood, steaks and more in a chic, backyard, fish camp style setting. Challenge friends to a game of bocce on the bocce court, ladder golf, jenga, or simply enjoy the fire pit and sunset views. Try craft cocktails such as the Marina Margarita, the Bulleit Bloody and Zai Tai to add flavor to your night. Large, pet-friendly patio and bar (heated on cool nights).

Happy hour at the outdoor bar and high-top tables from 4 - 6 p.m. daily. Lunch daily from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Sundays only). Bar menu available starting at 3 p.m., dinner service beginning at 5 p.m., bar open until midnight. Call (843) 842-2267 for reservations. View full menus at fishcamphhi.com. #fishcamphhi.

FLATBREAD GRILL

Located at Coligny Circle oceanside in the Beach Market Center. This upscale casual dining sensation is sure to be a favorite of both visitors and locals. Choose from Neopolitan pizza, fresh pasta, gourmet salads, or hearty sandwiches all cooked in our open hearth oven. Catch your favorite

sporting event on one of our HD TV’s. Enjoy Happy Hour from 4 - 6 :30 p.m. featuring $4 cocktails, beer and wine and $3 appetizers. Take-out available. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. for lunch and dinner. Call (843) 341-2225 or online at www.flatbreadgrillhhi.com.

THE FROSTY FROG CAFÉ

Located in Coligny Plaza. A comfortable, casual atmosphere offering a “web-footed lickin” menu and an enormous amount of frozen daiquiris by the glass or by the gallon. Outside seating with retractable roof, fire pit, beach area and tiki bar.

Live music nightly. Black angus burger, crab cakes, pizza, prime rib sandwich, salads, subs, wraps, appetizers and of course fried frog legs. 28 HD TV’s for great sports viewing as well as a kid’s menu. Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. Call (843) 686-FROG (3764) or online at www.frostyfrog.com.

HOLY TEQUILA

Located in Park Plaza, the Holy Tequila taqueria blends gourmet tacos with American flavors, Mexican street food and tequila in an eclectic atmosphere! Prepare your senses for a fusion of flavors that reaches into the heart of Mexico!

Holy Tequila combines an open kitchen with indoor/outdoor dining and a dynamic bar to create a high energy fiesta! We serve gourmet tacos, quesadillas, and smalls plates with a full bar offering over 40 kinds of premium tequilas and live music at night. The cuisine is modern, fun and uninhibited, just

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like our guests! The restaurant is open 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily with happy hour specials from 4-7 p.m.! Call us at (843) 681-TACO (8226) or visit us online at www.Facebook. com/HolyTequila!

HUDSON’S SEAFOOD HOUSE ON THE DOCKS

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway off Squire Pope Rd. With 45 years of casual dining experience and spectacular views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Hudson’s is an island icon.

Featuring the freshest, local seafood in the area as well as pasta, steaks, chicken and more. Enjoy beer, wine or specialty cocktails in the Oyster Bar or while watching the sunset on the deck bar. Featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Bon Appétit. Open daily at 11 a.m. Call (843) 681-2772.

THE JAZZ CORNER

Located in the “corner” of The Village at Wexford. One of the top “100 Great Jazz Rooms” in the world, Downbeat Magazine 2011-2016. Our intimate, elegant atmosphere is the perfect setting to enjoy an evening of world-class entertainment enhanced by our innovative southern flavors menu and impeccable service. The Jazz Corner offers a signature martini menu, extensive wine list, full bar and late-night menu. Open nightly from 6 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Call (843) 842-8620 or check us out online at www.thejazzcorner.com.

LAGERHEAD TAVERN

Located at The Oyster Reef Golf Club, 155 High Bluff Rd. The atmosphere at LagerHead Tavern makes it the ideal place for friends to socialize, enjoy the island’s camaraderie with progressive cuisine, hand crafted cocktails and southern hospitality or just sit back and watch the game with an ice cold glass of beer. Open for lunch and dinner. Call (843) 681-2184.

LUCKY ROOSTER KITCHEN & BAR

Located at 841 William Hilton Parkway in South Island Square.

An American Bistro with southern soul serves seasonal inspired food with local beers, craft cocktails and an esoteric wine list.

Our menu is constantly changing and evolving with seasons, tides, weather and our inspirations. Dine inside or outside on our patio. A healthy children’s menu is also available. Call for hours (843) 681-3474 or online at www.luckyroosterhhi.com.

MEDITERRANEAN HARBOUR

Located at 13 Shelter Cove Lane in Shelter Cove Marina.

A warm and comfortable dining experience featuring Lebanese cuisine. Choose from our hearty chicken, beef or lamb kabobs, delicious seafood as well as vegan and gluten free selections including falafel, grape leaves and baba ghanouj. Our dishes are created from homemade recipes and spices from Lebanon. Enjoy beautiful views of the harbour from our outdoor dining area or outside bar. Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Call (843) 842-9991 for more information or reservations.

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MELLOW MUSHROOM

Located in Park Plaza on Hilton Head and at 878 Fording Island Rd. in Bluffton. A fun and lively place with great food, beer and service. Over twenty-four beers on tap, fifty more by bottle and a full bar all in a comfortable and casual setting.

Specializing in great pizza and calzones, monumental hoagies and fresh salads. Plenty of TVs to view your favorite teams.

Win prizes at live team trivia Wednesday nights (HHI) at 9 p.m.

(Tuesday’s at 9 p.m. in Bluffton). Happy Hour from 3 until 6 p.m. everyday. Open daily from 11 a.m. Call (843) 686-2474 (HHI) or (843) 706-0800 (B-Town).

OLD FORT PUB

Located at 63 Skull Creek Drive on the Intra-coastal Waterway, Old Fort Pub showcases unrivaled nightly sunsets & award winning cuisine! Guests enjoy Chef Keith Josefiak’s “New Southern” favorites inspired with influences from around the globe. Serving Sunday Brunch 11-2 p.m., Bar opens at 4 p.m. daily and dinner is served nightly 5-9 p.m.

Early Bird dining is served from 5-5:30. Outdoor dining available. Call (843) 681-2386 or visit OldFortPub.com for a complete menu or to make reservations.

OMBRA

array of wines from every region in Italy. A large selection of Italian specialty cocktails, aperitifs, digestivos, homemade limoncello and grappa are also available. Open nightly from 4:30 until close. Call (843) 842-5505 or visit us online at www.ombrahhi.com.

POOL BAR JIM’S

Located overlooking the beach at the Sea Crest at 10 North Forest Beach. Local legend Pool Bar Jim has combined with culinary favorite A Lowcountry Backyard in the perfect setting for tropical and exotic drinks and great lowcountry cuisine.

With beautiful views, tasty beverages and delicious food, this is a destination not to be missed. Enjoy Happy hour or try our new Sunday Brunch. Call (843) 816-4648 for seasonal hours.

REDFISH

On the corner of Palmetto Bay Rd. and Archer Rd. on Hilton Head, and 32 Bruin Rd. in Bluffton. Our unique bar and retail wine shop offers a contemporary, yet casual atmosphere for the wine connoisseur. Over 1,000 hand-selected wines from all over the world are available as well as a full bar selection. The wine shop is open Monday thru Saturday at 10 a.m. Dinner is available daily from 5 to 10 p.m. Call (843) 686-3388 or (843) 837-8888 or online at www.redfishofhiltonhead.com.

Located in the Village at Wexford. Enjoy authentic classical Italian cuisine prepared daily by Chef Michael Cirafesi.

Relax at the elegant, yet casual bar and enjoy a brilliant

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REILLEY’S GRILL AND BAR

Located in Reilley’s Plaza, just off Sea Pines Circle. Serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head Island for over 35 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, the family-friendly atmosphere will have your family dining with the Reilley family again and again. Dine indoors or outside on the deck. Enjoy nightly dinner specials with family, or toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday brunch.

Lunch and dinner served seven days a week. Happy Hour from 4 until 7 p.m. at both the outdoor patio bar and indoor bar.

Take-out and kids menus available. Call (843) 842-4414 for reservations or visit reilleyshiltonhead.com. Bar open until 2 a.m. Visit Facebook for event information. #reilleyshhi.

REILLEY’S NORTH END PUB

Located in Port Royal Plaza. The sister restaurant of Reilley’s Grill & Bar (located on the south end), Reilley’s North End Pub has been serving up delicious steaks, seafood, pasta and sandwiches on Hilton Head for over 30 years. With a sophisticated warm ambiance, Reilley’s is reminiscent of a true Boston pub. Experience the family-friendly atmosphere for some local fun and Tuesday Trivia. Enjoy nightly dinner specials with family, or toasting to the good life with mimosas and Sunday Brunch. Lunch and dinner served seven days a week. Happy hour daily from 4 until 7p.m. at the bar. Bar Open 11:30 a.m. - late. Take-out available. Call (843) 681-4153 for reservations or visit reilleysnorth.com. #reilleysnorth.

ROCKFISH SEAFOOD AND STEAKS @BOMBORAS

Located a at 5 Lagoon Road across from Coligny near the beach. New and very generous Happy Hour from 4 - 7 p.m. daily including, but not limiting to 75 cent fresh oysters, 40 cent peel n eat shrimp, $15.95 1 lbs snow crab legs, 1/2 price select appetizers, $2 domestic drafts and more! Happy Hour prices are subject to change. Featuring a fun and inviting indoor or outdoor dining experience. Extensive craft draft list, wine and creative cocktails. Open for brunch on weekends, lunch, happy hour and dinner 7 days a week. Call (843) 6892662 or visit online at rockfishhhi.com.

THE SALTY DOG CAFE

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Great food, frozen drinks and live entertainment from the island’s favorite outdoor cafe. Enjoy beautiful waterfront views overlooking Braddock’s Cove in a fun and casual atmosphere. Happy Hour daily with a full menu available, plus an outdoor cookout, Salty Dog Ice Cream and Jake’s Pizza during the season. Call (843) 671-CAFE (2233) for seasonal hours.

THE SANDBAR

New restaurant located in historic Coligny Plaza at 101 Pope Ave., just steps from the beach. The Sandbar is an ideal setting to enjoy late afternoon Happy Hour and evening outdoor entertainment. Serving up your favorite island cocktails along with a great selection of local beers on tap. Also enjoy our 70

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outdoor grill featuring guest chefs and international treats.

Hours are 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. with Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. (843) 342-SAND (7263).

SANTA FE CAFÉ

Located at 807 William Hilton Parkway near the entrance to Palmetto Dunes. Capturing the spirit of New Mexico in an elegant yet casual, cozy atmosphere. Our outdoor rooftop cantina is the perfect setting for one of our famous margaritas, sangrias or an imported beer. Enjoy Happy Hour daily from 5 until 7 p.m. and live entertainment Tuesday thru Saturday and first Sunday of every month. Open Daily for dinner from 5 p.m., and lunch Monday thru Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Call (843) 785-3838 or www.santafehhi.com.

STREET MEET

Located in Port Royal Plaza near BILO. Relax in our newly expanded American style tavern and enjoy our wide selection of beer, wine, and full bar libations. Join us for happy hour from 4 until 7 p.m. featuring daily drink specials. Serving our full menu til midnight nightly. DirecTV programming for your team and home of the Hilton Head Brown’s Backers club. Acoustic Mayhem plays on the patio, every Tuesday from 6 - 9 p.m.

Open daily from 11:30 a.m. until midnight. Call (843) 842-2570 or online at www.streetmeethhi.com.

TRATTORIA DIVINA

Located in Park Plaza right outside Sea Pines Main Gate. Our atmosphere captures that artistically cozy “Local Italian Place”.

Come in and sit by our unique hand painted bar while enjoying a signature cocktail, glass of wine or dinner. Open 7 nights a week; 5:00 pm until?. Walk-ins welcomed: Reservations recommended. Call (843)686-4442 www.trattoriadivina.com.

TWISTED CORK COCKTAIL & WINE BAR

Located at 11 Palmetto Bay Rd., Suite 102 next to Staples in the Publix shopping center. A local’s favorite, featuring an extensive wine list available by the glass or the bottle in a warm and intimate atmosphere. Choose from a fantastic selection of craft cocktails, beer and small plates. Happy hour includes half off all bottles of wine, half off well liquor and $2 domestic and $3 import beers. Open Monday thru Saturday from 5 p.m.

Call (843) 802-0510.

THE WRECK OF THE SALTY DOG

Located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines. Enjoy a casual and fun atmosphere in the same spirit as The Salty Dog Cafe. Serving a full bar with excellent food and waterfront view overlooking South Beach Marina and Braddock’s Cove, The Wreck offers excellent Happy Hour drink and appetizer specials. Available for private parties. Call (843) 671-SEAS (7327) for seasonal hours.

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A TASTE OF SERVICES & SWEETS DELISHEEYO

Located at 32 Palmetto Bay Rd. in The Village Exchange.

The Island’s health food kitchen features organic juices, smoothees, salads, wraps, bowls and healthy snacks.

Offering food that makes you feel good, choose from raw, vegan or gluten free options. Open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 - p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call (843) 785-3633 or online at www.delisheeyo.com.

HILTON HEAD ICE CREAM Located at 55 New Orleans Road, just off Pope Avenue.

Hilton Head Ice Cream has received accolades from CNN, Warner Books, Southern Living magazine and voted best of Hilton Head in local media polls. Even the U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain has touted Hilton Head Ice Cream. The newly renovated shop has created many flavors: Cookie Monster, Butter Pecan, Brownie Cheesecake, Chocolate Cupcake and Reese’s Cup. Salt air is our secret ingredient and there is love in each batch too. Call (843) 842-6333 or www.hiltonheadicecreamshop.com.

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THE ICE CREAM CONE An island tradition since 1971 serving the most scrumptious selection of premium ice cream, soft serve frozen yogurts, shakes, malts, floats and sundaes. A wide array of flavors and toppings make it easy to create your special treat or try one of our new novelites. Open daily from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Follow the herd...to The Ice Cream Cone in Coligny Plaza next to Coligny Hardware. Call (843) 785-4440.

ISLAND FUDGE SHOPPE

Located in Coligny Plaza. The best homemade confections anywhere. Offering16 flavors of fudge made fresh daily, 8 flavors of saltwater taffy and a large variety of hand dipped chocolates sure to please even the sweetest tooth.

Gift baskets and shipping available. Locally owned and operated. Senior citizens receive a 10% off discount. Call (843) 842-4280 for more information or check us out online at www.islandfudge.com.

PIGGLY WIGGLY

Located at 1 North Forest Beach in Coligny Plaza, near the beach. A full service grocery offering fresh seafood, full deli, beach accessories, beer, wine and our famous Piggly Wiggly T-shirts. Locally owned and operated for over forty years. Call (843) 785-3881 or online at www. pigglywigglycoligny.com.

RITA’S ITALIAN ICE Celebrating our 23rd year on Hilton Head. Featuring real soft serve custard and Italian Ices made fresh daily on premise with real fruit. Cool off with Rita’s Famous Gelati, an amazing combination of Italian Ice and Frozen Custard layered to perfection. If it’s just old-fashioned Frozen Custard you want, we have Vanilla, Chocolate or Twist available on a cone, in a shake, in a sundae or our Blendini.

And you can’t beat the heat better that with our frozen Lemonades. Located Oceanside at Coligny Plaza. Call (843) 341-5587.

SNO CONES BY CHRIS Located in Palmetto Bay Marina right across from Palmetto Bay Watersports at 114 Helmsman Way. Chill out at the coolest place on Hilton Head. Come in and enjoy a delicious sno cone treat…with over 35 flavors to pick from…the flavor combinations are endless! Be sure to try one with our new marshmallow or caramel toppings too!

See the island’s largest and only exhibit of world famous icons made entirely out of Legos! Call for hours.

(843) 683-0592.

TOBACCO ROAD

Located at 119 Arrow Road, Suite B. An impressive array of cigars, perfect humidification and a well trained staff will meet all your needs. Hilton Head’s oldest smoke shop has catered to locals and tourists alike for over ten years. Offering a complete selection of fine cigars, domestic and imported cigarettes, and a comfortable smoking lounge in which to enjoy them. Open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Call (843) 341-6265 or online at www.hiltonheadcigars.com.

YELLOW CAB

The largest cab fleet on Hilton Head. All vehicles are radio dispatched, late model sedans or mini-vans. Serving all area airports. Service 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Providing great service and comfortable air-conditioned transportation. Call (843) 686-6666.

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FARM REDEFINING THE SACRED AT

Don’t call it farm-to-table. Don’t call it fine dining.

Just call it what it is – the restaurant, reimagined.

BY BARRY KAUFMAN • PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

The first rule of FARM, the small restaurant with a massive reputation just off the bustling crossroads of Bluffton’s Promenade and Calhoun Streets, is “Nothing is Sacred.”

And that driving credo is true, to some extent. The trio of passionate restaurateurs who willed FARM to life, Josh Heaton, Ryan Williamson and Chef 74

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Brandon Carter, don’t seem to care how things “have always been done” or the way they are “supposed to be done.”

Instead, they have forged their own way forward based on a deeply principled approach to what a restaurant should be.

“One thing we all share is that we use the rules we’ve been taught, but if it doesn’t make sense we’re not doing it anymore,” said Chef Carter. That’s not to say that FARM approaches the standard restaurant experience with any kind of irreverence. It’s just that the usual rules don’t apply here.

Menu items come and go with the seasons, dropping off as ingredients can no longer be harvested at their freshest.

Rather than cut corners and serve something he can’t stand behind, Chef Carter will cut items entirely.

Indeed, menu items themselves can change day by day as he tweaks and improves recipes.

“If I can think of a way to make it better, why wouldn’t I? Because I didn’t serve it that way yesterday?” he said. “I don’t know that that really works for me.”

It’s not the only way FARM doesn’t

quite fit the standard rules of a restaurant.

One thing you’ll immediately notice when you walk into the restaurant is the unique seating configuration, with two areas of two-tops framing a wide farm table. It might seem odd to offer seating for 12 at one table in a 45-top restaurant, until you realize the farm table isn’t for parties of 12. It’s a way to bring people together over their common love of food.

“We’ll sit a four, a four and a two smack dab in the middle,” said Heaton. “I see people walk in and they’re uncomfortable with that…But invariably, they sit down and see what their neighbors are eating and they open up. There’s a spirit of community where people come together over food.”

The openness of the dining room, and the adventurous nature of the menu, does lend itself to an interesting sense of a shared experience. It’s not uncommon to dine at FARM and find yourself in conversation with adjoining tables about your respective dinners – especially during lunch, with the way the classic Southern meat and three tends to create endless variations on already stellar fare.

Here, the food is the great equalizer.

As Heaton points out, you can have a party in T-shirts and flip-flops seated next to a group dressed to the nines; a $250 bottle of wine set next to a can of PBR in a koozie.

“There doesn’t have to be this selfimportance,” said Carter. “Everyone eats every day. The wine and the food are a vehicle for us to get around the table and talk about what we want to talk about. Or sit down around our farm table and make new friends” Clearly, the rules aren’t so much broken at FARM as they are given a thorough once-over before anyone decides whether or not they’re worth following.

Yet you only need look around the dining room and sample the food to realize that first rule is among the first being broken.

Nothing is sacred at FARM, except for the passion in creating the best restaurant experience possible.

Even the décor has been crafted with thoughtful precision. Heaton can tell you all about the process that created the

spalted maple of one wall’s focal panel, rain water soaking into the planks of reclaimed barn timbers to accentuate the wood’s natural grain and create dazzling patterns. He’ll point to the tap handles along the barn, how they were forged from an oak sapling he cut down in his yard.

Talk to Carter about how the menu comes together and he’ll tell you about seasonality. He’ll talk about inspiration, and how dishes come together sometimes based on what’s at hand. The former executive chef at Palmetto Bluff, and one of South Carolina’s fastest-rising culinary rock stars with Beard Foundation appearances helping build his reputation, boils over with enthusiasm when you discuss sourcing. Not just local sourcing, he’s looking at the big picture – helping build a culture of artisans and supporting sustainable fishing practices.

Talk to Williamson about bringing the three of them together, and you realize how special this place is. How it’s more than a restaurant, especially in a town

like Bluffton still establishing its culinary reputation. “We all three have a common appreciation of food. Whenever we’d go out, we’d have to go up to Beaufort or Charleston. We didn’t really have a great dining experience… in Bluffton with the exception of Palmetto Bluff,” he said. “Seeing how Corner Perk took off, it seemed like the right time and place.

There was a need for Bluffton as a huge growing town.”

“After that, it clicked that our story could work. Our relationship to the community could work,” he added. “It all aligned that that’s what we needed to do.”

Three very diverse talents and came together, and created a place that took Bluffton’s spirit of community and brought it to its next natural evolution.

What could be more sacred than that?

FARM BLUFFTON

1301 May River Rd in the Promenade (843) 707-2041 www.farmbluffton.com.

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A TASTE OF BLUFFTON

BRITISH OPEN PUB

Located in Sheridan Park in Bluffton and The Village at Wexford.

Authentic English fare served in attractive pub-style atmosphere with golf art, memorabilia, and the only bar by Titleist. Featuring our famous Fish n’ Chips or Sandwedges like the Aberdeen Burger, Clubhouse Classic, Wexford Reuben, English Dip and Lobster Roll. Full bar and beers, ales, and stouts from around the world. Serving breakfast from 8 a.m. until 11 am., Monday - Friday. Lunch and Dinner daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., and Brunch Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call Hilton Head (843) 686-6736 or Bluffton (843) 815-6736.

CAPTAIN WOODY’S

Located at the Calhoun Street Promenade. Visit Old Town Bluffton and enjoy great seafood in a casual and fun atmosphere. Serving a wide variety of fresh seafood, great signature sandwiches (Grouper melt and Po Boy’s), soups and salads all at affordable prices. Dine inside or out or enjoy the rooftop bar. Serving lunch and dinner Sunday thru Thursday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sunday Brunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call (843) 757-6222 or visit us online at www.captainwoodys.com.

CLAUDE & ULI’S BISTRO

Located at 1533 Fording Island Rd, Suite 302 just over the bridge from Hilton Head. For nearly two decades, Chef Claude and Uli have delighted diners with their bistro’s European cuisine, hospitality and charming, casual ambiance. Chef Claude applies his classic French training and international experience in preparing coastal South Carolina’s seafood, meats and produce. Open for dinner Tuesday thru Saturday from 5 p.m., lunch Wednesday thru Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., and Early Bird is served Tuesday thru Saturday from 5 until 6 p.m. Call (843) 837-3336 or online at www.claudebistro.com.

FARM BLUFFTON

Located at 1301 May River Rd in the Promenade. With a focus on fresh and local, our menu is inspired by the seasonal bounty of local produce, cultural traditions from around the world and ever evolving culinary ideas. Based on a mutual respect for the land, the animals and the people who tend to them, we grow a lot of our own produce and select only the best from other farmers. Open Tuesday thru Saturday for lunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 until 10 p.m. Call (843) 707-2041 or online at www.farmbluffton.com.

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FAT PATTIES

Located on 46 in Old Town Bluffton and just outside the Parris Island gate in Beaufort. Fat Patties is a Hand Crafted American Burger Joint. We offer our innovative burger creations with the option of 6 different patties: Grass Feed Beef, 1/2 and 1/2 (Ground Beef and Ground Bacon),Wild American Shrimp, Turkey, Chicken Breast, or a Vegetarian Black Bean Pattie served on our homemade buttery buns. Our Brats are simmered in American Ale and topped with the same extravagant toppings as our Burgers. You can’t go wrong with one of our 38 American Craft beers on draft (some of which are brewed right upstairs at Salt Marsh Brewing). We also produce our own Ice Cream with flavors like Burnt Marshmallow and Bacon Maple Syrup we will take you back to your childhood. We can’t wait for you to try it!

Open Daily at 11 a.m. Call (843) 815-6300 or (843) 379-1500 or Online at www.fat-patties.com.

MAY RIVER GRILL

Located at 1263 May River Rd. in old town Bluffton. Voted best of Bluffton for eight straight years, this intimate restaurant features excellent food, great décor and quality service. Our extensive menu offers 20 different entrees, daily specials, locally caught seafood, walleye, lake Erie perch, and hand

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picked vegetables. Fantastic wine selections as well as an early bird menu available Monday thru Friday. Open Monday thru Saturday, from 5 until 9 p.m. Call (843) 757-5755 for reservations or online at www.mayrivergrill.com.

MELLOW MUSHROOM

Located in Park Plaza on Hilton Head and at 878 Fording Island Rd. in Bluffton. If you’re looking for a fun and lively place for the whole family, this is it. Specializing in great pizza and calzones, monumental hoagies and fresh salads all in a comfortable and casual setting. Kid friendly and affordably priced menu for both lunch and dinner. Over twenty-four beers on tap, fifty more by bottle and a full bar available. Dine inside or outside on the patio. Open daily from 11 a.m. Call (843) 686-2474 (HHI) or (843) 706-0800 (B-Town).

OLD TOWN DISPENSARY

Located right off of Calhoun Street, in the heart of historic, downtown Bluffton. Delicious food, cold drinks, and a great atmosphere make this place a locals favorite! Dine inside or sit outside and enjoy live music under the stage. Open daily from 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Happy Hour is offered seven days a week from 4-7 p.m., and Sunday Brunch is served from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Visit otdbluffton.com for more information, or call (843) 837-1893.

THE PEARL KITCHEN & BAR

Located at 55 Calhoun Street in the historic art district of Bluffton. The newest restaurant to top the Bluffton restaurant scene, The Pearl brings a fresh approach to dining focusing on a complete sensory experience offering fresh “clean eating”.

Contemporary food preparations utilizing the best fresh catch seafood, certified steaks and local produce available. Live music Thursday thru Sunday. Open for dinner daily at 5 p.m.

Reservations recommended, call (843) 757-5511.

POUR RICHARD’S

Located at 4376 Bluffton Parkway. Creative food and wine are just a few things that keep people coming back for more!

Known for their daily seasonal specials, the menu also features a variety of small plates, seafood and wood fired pizzettas.

Reserve a table or dine at the bar where the friendly staff knows how to make you feel right at home. Open for dinner Monday thru Saturday from 5:30 until 10 p.m. Call (843) 7571999 or online at www.pourrichardsbluffton.com.

REDFISH BLUFFTON

Located at 32 Bruin Road. Our eclectic menu specializes in locally caught fish, natural and free range meats and vegetables from our garden to provide the freshest ingredients possible.

Dine inside or out on the beautiful patio. Extensive wine list and full bar available. Serving lunch Monday thru Saturday, 11:30 a.m until 2 p.m., dinner nightly from 4:30 until 10 p.m. and Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Call (843) 837-8888 or online at redfishofbluffton.com.

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Three Months of Mouth-Watering Bluffton Fun This fall season, the calendar is filled with tasty treats on the mainland.

BY BARRY KAUFMAN • PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

There’s something about Bluffton in the fall that just gets our stomachs growling.

Maybe it’s the return of the “R” months, signifying that once again the oysters are ripe for the taking, ready to pair with an open fire, a pack of good friends, a few sleeves of saltines and a fresh bottle of hot sauce.

Maybe it’s the fact that the no see ums take a slight retreat from their summer swarming, content to lay low in the Palmetto fronds and ride out the season, consenting to allow humans into their domain for a time unscathed.

Whatever the reason, there’s no more mouth-watering season in Bluffton than the fall. Because of this, we on the mainland are apt to celebrate this time of year with a slew of festivals dedicated to the finest in food and drink. Whether you’re visiting and itching for an excuse for a daytrip over the bridge, live on Hilton Head Island want to see what all the buzz is about off-island, or live in B-Town and just want to take the golf cart somewhere delicious, here are three fall food events you must visit.

Bluffton Boiled Peanut Festival - Sept. 23, 2017 “Because… why not” reads the slogan of this off-beat festival, which could be the most Bluffton reason for hosting a festival ever given.

Let’s start with the famed “World’s Largest Boiled Peanut,” which was miraculously spared during Hurricane Matthew 80

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when two giant trees fell within feet of it on either side. This mammoth iconic goober escaped unscathed and will be on proud display during the “cracking of the nut” to usher in this year’s festival.

What began as a boiled peanut cook-off stemming from the Bluffton Farmer’s Market has boiled over into one of Bluffton’s most enjoyable events, with three days of fun starting Thursday with the Cracking of the Nut during the farmer’s market. The next night, some of Bluffton’s finest watering holes will roll out the welcome mat for the Peanut Festival Pub Crawl.

It all culminates with the Saturday festival, featuring the famed cook-off between local professionals and amateurs plus a peanut eating contest, a kids zone and the Ms. Peanut and Little Goober pageants.

To learn more, visit http://www.boiledpeanutfestival.com.

Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival - Oct. 14-22 The biggest festival on the Bluffton calendar brings together the two things that made Bluffton famous – its richly quirky arts scene and its delicious local seafood.

The calendar is packed with nine days of activities running the gamut from kayak races to cultural tours. You can find the full schedule on the website, but there are several can’t miss standouts.

First, the boat parade on the May and blessing of the fleet, 4 p.m. on Oct. 15. Either get your own boat and join the procession or take in the spectacle from the grassy bluff by Church of the Cross while enjoying music from Lavon Stevens.

Saturday, Oct. 21 sees both the 10K Road Race and Fun Run (8 a.m.) and the Children’s Fishing Tournament (10 a.m.), both at Oyster Factory Park, while across town the signature event, the Street Fest, begins along Calhoun Street.

That starts two days of art, music and more delicious seafood than you could possibly enjoy in just one day (although you’re more than welcome to try) as part of Bluffton’s biggest party.

In addition to vendors setting up all along the historic district, you’ll also get a chance to check out the Iron Chef competition.

Last year, Hurricane Matthew kept the festival from naming a 2016 champion, so you can bet our area’s culinary best will be out in force with two years of pent-up competitive cooking.

Of course, the events listed here are just a small part of the nine-day-long celebration. Check out http://www. blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.com.

Bluffton International & Craft Beer Fest - Nov. 4 Uber drivers of Bluffton, your payday has arrived.

Bringing together an entire world of lagers, stouts, ales and pilsners (and everything in between), the Bluffton International & Craft Beer Festival will return this year to turn Oyster Factory Park into the world’s most beautiful biergarten.

Details were still being firmed up at press time, but if past festivals are any indication you can look forward to the best beers from around the Lowcountry and all points of the globe, plus live food vendors and music from 1-5 p.m. in one of Bluffton’s liveliest parties. These won’t just be your typical beers – the carefully curated list in past years has included some European rarities plus a selection of high-gravity beers as part of the VIP experience.

Keep an eye on http://blufftonbeerfest.com for more updates as we get closer to the main event.

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A TASTE OF ADVERTISERS / MAP LOCATION 1. ALEXANDER’S RESTAURANT

AND WINE BAR

23. THE DRYDOCK SEAFOOD

GRILL & SPIRITS

2. A LOWCOUNTRY BACKYARD

24. ELA’S BLU WATER GRILLE

3. AMIGO’S CAFÉ Y CANTINA

25. FARM BLUFFTON

4. ANNIE O’S SOUTHERN EATS

26. FISHCAMP ON BROAD CREEK

5. AUNT CHILADAS

EASY STREET CAFE

27. FLATBREAD GRILL

(843) 785-4999

(843) 785-YARD (9273)

(843) 785-TACO (8226) (843) 341-2664

(843) 785-7700

6. THE BIG BAMBOO CAFE

(843) 686-3443

7. BIG JIM’S BBQ, BURGERS & PIZZA

(843) 785-1165

(843) 842-9775 (843) 785-3030 (843) 707-2041 (843) 842-2267 (843) 341-2225

28. THE FROSTY FROG CAFÉ

(843) 686-FROG (3764)

29. GRINGO’S DINER

(843) 785-5400

8. THE BOARDROOM

30. HINOKI JAPANESE

RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR

9. BRITISH OPEN PUB

31. HOLY TEQUILA

10. CALLAHAN’S SPORTS BAR

& DELUXE GRILL

32. HUDSON’S SEAFOOD HOUSE

ON THE DOCKS

(843) 363-6636

(843) 686-6736 or 815-6736

(843) 686-POOL (7665)

11. CAPTAIN JOHN’S GALLEY

AT THE SALTY DOG CAFE

(843) 671-CAFE (2233)

12. CAPTAIN WOODY’S

(843) 785-2400 or 757-6222

13. CAROLINA CRAB COMPANY

(843) 842-2016

14. CATCH 22 FRESH

SEAFOOD & GRILL

(843) 785-6261

15. CHARBAR CO

(843) 785-CHAR (2427)

16. CHARLIE’S L’ETOILE VERTE

(843) 785-9277

17. CLAUDE & ULI’S BISTRO

(843) 837-3336

18. CLUB SEATS

(843) 363-CLUB (2582)

19. CQ’S RESTAURANT

(843) 671-2779

20. CRANE’S TAVERN

STEAKHOUSE & SEAFOOD

(843) 341-2333

(843) 785-9800

(843) 681-TACO (8226)

(843) 681-2772

33. ISLAND FUDGE SHOPPE

(843) 842-4280

34. THE JAZZ CORNER

(843) 842-8620

35. KENNY B’S CAJUN SEAFOOD HUT

(843) 785-3315

36. LAGERHEAD TAVERN

(843) 681-2184

37. LAND’S END TAVERN

(843) 671-5456

38. LUCKY ROOSTER KITCHEN & BAR

(843) 681-3474

39. MANGIAMO

(843) 682-2444

40. MAY RIVER GRILL

(843) 757-5755

41. MEDITERRANEAN HARBOUR

(843) 842-9991

42. MELLOW MUSHROOM

(843) 686-2474 or 706-0800

43. MICHAEL ANTHONY’S

(843) 785-6272

21. CRAZY CRAB

44. OLD FORT PUB

22. DELISHEEYO

45. THE OLD OYSTER FACTORY

(843) 363-2722 or 681-5021 (843) 785-3633

(843) 681-2386 (843) 681-6040

46. OLD TOWN DISPENSARY

47. OMBRA

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(843) 842-5505

48. PALMETTO BAY SUNRISE CAFE

(843) 686-3232

49. THE PEARL KITCHEN & BAR

(843) 757-5511

50. PLANTATION CAFE & DELI

(843) 785-9020 or 342-4472

51. POOL BAR JIM’S

(843) 816-4648

52. POUR RICHARD’S

(843) 757-1999

53. REDFISH

(843) 686-3388 or 837-8888

54. REILLEY’S

(843) 842-4414 or 681-4153

55. ROCKFISH SEAFOOD AND STEAKS @BOMBORAS

(843) 689-2662

56. RUAN THAI HUT

(843) 681-3700

57. SAGE ROOM

(843) 785-5352

58. THE SALTY DOG CAFE

(843) 671-CAFE (2233)

59. THE SANDBAR

(843) 342-SAND (7263)

60. SANTA FE CAFE

(843) 785-3838

61. SEA GRASS GRILLE

(843) 785-9990

62. SKILLETS CAFE

(843) 785-3131

63. STELLINI ITALIAN RESTAURANT

(843) 785-7006

64. STREET MEET

(843) 842-2570

65. SUNSET GRILLE

(843) 689-6744

66. TOBACCO ROAD

(843) 341-6265

67. TRATTORIA DIVINA

(843) 686-4442

68. TWISTED CORK COCKTAIL &

WINE BAR

(843) 802-0510

69. THE WRECK OF THE SALTY DOG

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(843) 837-1893

(843) 671-7327