Sometimes, a quiet lunch alone, overlooking a busy street while dining on delicious food is exactly what I need.

At Magnolias, you can experience upscale southern cuisine in a lovely atmosphere.



"In 1990, Magnolias ignited a culinary renaissance when it opened in Charleston, S.C. paving the way for countless other restaurants across the South. Today, led by chefs Don Drake, Samantha Blagg and team, Magnolias remains a forerunner in upscale Southern cuisine, blending traditional ingredients and cooking techniques with modern flair for artful presentations. The soul of the South meets the spark of innovation in dishes such as the Down South Egg Roll stuffed with collard greens, chicken, and Tasso ham, served with red pepper purée, spicy mustard sauce, and peach chutney and Shellfish over Grits with sautéed shrimp, sea scallops, lobster, creamy white grits, lobster butter sauce and fried spinach."


I had two of my favorite of my favorite meals: appetizers and dessert.

But first - there's ALWAYS bread. Always. And you'll never hear a complaint from me.

And then I went with the homemade pimiento cheese with "Charleston" flatbread. It was quite the presentation.

And for dessert, I ordered the raspberry sorbet - perfectly refreshing and a sweet last bite.

The Palace Diner is the oldest restaurant in Maine, and it is well-known for its breakfast and lunch specialties.


The restaurant is small and doesn't take reservations. So, Kaitee and I arrived early, put our names on the list and waited outside for a couple seats to open up.


My buddy Josh works at this restaurant, so it's been on my list to try for years. Not just because of him - though that's a nice benefit - but because it's also well-known for its simple - but perfectly executed - menu.


When we were called, our seat were available right outside the kitchen so I could catch a glimpse of folks hustling around.


And, it pays to have friends in important roles, because Josh sent out some caramelized grapefruit for our first bite. I can easily say this is the best grapefruit I've ever had. I'm not a huge grapefruit person, but this one was delish.


Then, I ordered the fried chicken sandwich (yes that's a lunch menu, yes this was at breakfast time - get over it). Warning: It is LARGE and in charge.


So I cut right into the meat of it to taste that delicious chicken. It was topped with a slaw and sesame seed bun, but I focused on that fried chicken before I got too full. Also, the light was shining RIGHT on me - almost to illuminate the meal.


As if that wasn't enough, Josh had one more surprise for us.


He sent out a piece of French toast  - my absolute favorite breakfast meal. Somehow, it was so sweet all on its own that it didn't even need syrup.

Hominy Grill was a classic southern restaurant, which had been recognized with a 2008 James Beard Award for Best Chef, among other recognitions.


Unfortunately, it closed between the time I visited and the time I'm writing this post. But I wanted to document its presence.


After waiting for quite a while, I was seated and looked over the menu. I was mostly interested in the chocolate pudding, but they were all out.


So I went with the pecan pie with vanilla ice cream.


And, it was definitely delicious!


The restaurant had a great run, and I only wish I had more time to try more of the items.

No meal is complete without ice cream, right? No?


Well, after dinner, Kaitee and I made our way to Gracie's Ice Cream.


I opted for a cookies & cream ice cream cone - but not just a regular cone. One with marshmallow fluff inside (have I mentioned Somerville is the originator of marshmallow fluff?)


Such a fun - and tasty! - treat.

If I could live off of seafood and soul food, I would.


Nana's Seafood & Soul in Charleston, South Carolina, focuses on Gullah-Geechee cuisine.



"In 2011, Carolyn McNeil went for a routine mammogram and was later diagnosed with breast cancer. This wasn't her first bout with this often life threatening disease. She had an earlier encounter with the same disease fifteen years prior. Kenyatta McNeil, then 14, had no complete understanding of the disease. His only question to his mother was, "Are you going to die?" Carolyn assured her son that she would not leave him and that she was going to fight the disease to the end. Carolyn fought and she survived. Unfortunately. the disease would return but this time Carolyn had reinforced support from her son and daughter, Benia. Kenyatta, a merchant mariner, decided that he could not continue his career at the time knowing that his Mother was in a fight for her life for the second time. He decides its time to invest in a business so that he could still care for his family and be at his mother's side during her ordeal. In that Summer, Carolyn became a two-time breast cancer survivor and Nana's Seafood and Soul was founded. Named in memoriam of Elizabeth McNeil (Deceased), Carolyn's Mother And Kenyatta's Grandmother, who was affectionately called Nana, Nana's Seafood & Soul has grown to become a household name among others in Charleston's seafood, soul, and Gullah-Geechee cusine. We pride ourselves in serving the freshest seafood the waters of Charleston and the surrounding areas have to offer. Daily specials are offered so there is always a spread of delectable goodness. Stop in and give us the opportunity to fill your soul!"




I started with pineapple lemonade - oh my goodness!


And garlic shrimp that were so hot, but I braved it to peel them and taste all that freshness. Absolutely delish!