Charleston Overrun by Democrats!

You don't know how fun it was to write that. I know it's been pretty political here at the PP blog lately, but hey, it's South Carolina's turn for the political melee. Barack Obama spoke today at the College of Charleston, and several PP staffers were in attendance. They were positively giddy upon their return to the office, effervescent with enthusiasm. Quite a day in our little city. Check out the pics.

Inspiring Guests

Guess who's speaking at The William Aiken House in mere minutes? Her name is Ann Fudge. Who is she, you ask? You mean besides being the former President of Young & Rubicam and one of Fortune magazine's 50 most powerful women in business? Besides that, she was also President (Desserts & Beverages, how fun!) at Kraft Foods. She's also on the Board of Directors of GE and the Boys & Girls Club of America. Two more quick things: she has awards from the Minneapolis and New York City YWCA and an Alumni Achievement Award from Harvard Business School. So, no slouch, right? Anywho, Ms. Fudge is speaking tonight about someone else quite inspiring: Barack Obama.

Oh, what a political season it is! What can I say? Iowa and New Hampshire got me all psyched. Welcome to Charleston, Ann.

Best New Year's Present Ever

"What can I say. You and your staff have been more than generous to me and my friends...Never in all of my 69 years have I received such care and service from a business. I truly mean that. I have observed with delight the steady increase of patronage of Charlestonians and visitors alike. I hope to be able to continue in the years ahead to spread the word that Fish as represented by its staff is much MORE than a restaurant; it is truly a family who loves and cares for its customers. Happy New Year!"

-Bob Townsend, Charleston

4 courses. 4 wine pairings. $55. Yes, really.

In case you didn't already know, we're proud supporters of the Sustainable Seafood Initiative. Basically, that means we are all about promoting wise seafood choices and the consumption of environmentally friendly, locally harvested seafood.

Every now and again, we get an itch to celebrate our commitment to sustainability with the good folks at the South Carolina Aquarium. So, on Wednesday, January 30, we're playing host to a Sustainable Seafood Dinner. That's right. Four courses, four wine pairings, $55 per person, prepared by our very own Chef Nico. The menu features an impressive array of local, fresh seafood. It all kicks off at 6:30 pm for (a welcome and a homemade, infused cocktail.) Dinner is served at 7. I can promise you are not going to find this caliber of food AND wine AND cocktails for this price anywhere else. Oh, and space is extremely limited. Go on. Punch in those numbers: 843.722.FISH.

Menu & Recap (for those not paying attention):
When: Wednesday, January 30
6:30 – 7:00 pm: Welcome & handcrafted, infused cocktail
7:00 pm: Dinner

1st Course: Tuna tartare cannelloni and micro green salad
Wine pairing: Anton Bauer Gruner Veltliner, Donauland, Austria 2006

2nd Course: Local trigger fish, daikon noodle with coconut cashews and millet grits
Wine: Babcock Chardonnay, Rita’s Earth Cuvee, Santa Rita Hills, CA 2005

3rd Course: Local b-liners with sautéed sea bean asparagus and snow peas, cream curry and fried noodles
Wine: Richter Piesporter Riesling, Mosel, Germany 2006

4th Course: Sweet potato pancake with apple ice cream on toasted rice crispy, covered in hot chocolate (I KNOW!)
Wine: Marquis De La Tour, Sparkling, France NV

Bring your appetite. Bring your bib. For the love of the land, get ready to hunker down on some sustainable seafood already! (I'm kidding about the bib.)

This Old (And Fabulous) House

No, not the PBS show. It's the Lowndes Grove renovation in full effect! Progress is being made daily, and it's quite something to see. Take a peek.

This used to be a shower in a closet. Um, yeah. That's what we thought, too.

Goodbye forever, heart-shaped shrubberies! (Fountain's going too.)
Neither was original to the property.

The River House gets some framing for the...ooh,
you'll just have to wait and see.

It's good to have a plan. In fact, we have many.

Very Tasty & Sounds Great Too!

It's very cool to be recognized by the folks over The Post & Courier's Preview who included our Wine Wednesdays, half-priced select bottles from 6 to 9 pm and jazz by the fabulous Charleton Singleton Trio in their club listings. We really enjoy being a venue that gives you fresh local tastes and sounds.

Sea Urchins & Other New Year's Resolutions

Hi, hope you had a fun New Year's. Mine was spent playing in the sunshine at a local park (hurray!) and then watching the Alvin & The Chipmunks movie (nearly two hours of my life I will never, ever get back). Yes, children were involved.

It's okay. As I mentioned before, New Year's and me? Not so much.

For the past few days, I've been perusing the online world's lists of resolutions. In fact, my head is spinning from them. I've culled together a few that spoke to me for your enjoyment. Here they are (in no particular order):

1. Ruth Riechl wants me to eat more sea urchin in 2008 because "it's the sexiest flavor on earth." How did I miss this all my life?

2. Food + Wine, in its Best New Ingredients posting, says mackerel is making a comeback (as tartare for instance) and poulardes (roasting chickens) should be milk powder-fed.

3. Maggie Mason, writer, blogger, mother, world traveler, has a husband with a penchant for adventurous meat-eating. He and she recommend matambre: an Argentinian beef dish. It's like a flank steak filled with vegetables, eggs and herbs that can be boiled or oven-roasted. Matambre can be served warm as a dish, or cold as deli meat. Ponderous.

4. Sarah Hepola resolves to stop crying in restaurants. Sort of.

5. And finally, my friend and publisher, David at the Wooster Book Company, resolves to use fewer abstract nouns. I just love that.