Savannah, Georgia – Page 2 – Some Kinda Good®

Volunteer Perks Result in Lamb and Good People

Published on November 17, 2013November 19, 2013 by Rebekah4 Comments

One of my favorite things about volunteering at food & wine events are the people I get to meet. As a volunteer in The Local Palate Celebrity Chef Kitchen at the inaugural Savannah Food & Wine Festival this weekend, I helped greet guests, set up and break down the stage in between talents, collected trash and even got to be a sous chef for Food Network Star finalist, Linkie Marais. I got to interact with festival guests from neighboring coastal towns like Hilton Head S.C., culinary students at Savannah Technical College and Virginia College, and walked away from the event with a 4-pound leg of lamb, a package of mushrooms and one big red onion because I was in the right place at the right time.

Backstage with Food Network Star Finalist Linkie Marais (left) prepping ingredients for her cooking demonstration.

Linkie Marais cooks mushrooms and onions in the Big Green Egg for her Lamb Ragu dish.

Linkie was a finalist on Season Eight of Next Food Network Star. It was awesome to meet someone I had watched on TV last season. She was extremely personable and very friendly. I helped Linkie and her manager clean and chop mushrooms for her cooking demonstration. Plus, they gave me $40 worth of lamb that would have otherwise been discarded. Thanks for the meat and vegetables that you had an overabundance of Linkie…I will make great use of them. What an awesome, unexpected volunteer perk!

Martha Nesbit (right) and I worked together in the Celebrity Chef tent.

One of Martha’s cookbooks: Savannah Celebrations.

Mrs. Martha Nesbit is a long-time food writer in Southeast Georgia. I got to work with her in the Celebrity Chef tent, and later purchased an autographed copy of her cookbook, Savannah Celebrations. I have no doubt that it will become a favorite resource, and I can’t wait to dive in to her recipes!

I first met Culinary Producer Libbie Summers at the Inaugural Saint Simons Food & Spirits Festival in 2012. This year, she was signing her Whole Hog Cookbook in the Celebrity Author’s Tent. We couldn’t see my phone screen and didn’t know if we were getting a good picture or not, but looks like we did pretty good Libbie! Ha. It was great to see you again! We’re officially old pals.

I also ran into local Brooklet farmer, Del Ferguson of Hunter Cattle Company at the event. It’s always good to see a familiar face when you’re out and about. Way to represent Statesboro in The Hostess City Del!

Anthony Lamas; Food Network’s Extreme Chef Winner moderated by Editor in Chief Maggie from The Local Palate

My favorite! Head Chef from Savannah Technical College’s Culinary Program

A random plate of food during the event.

Stylin’ in my Savannah Food & Wine Festival volunteer apron

Virginia College Presentation

Other presentations included Executive Chef Shaun Doty from Atlanta’s Bantam & Biddy, Savannah Technical College, Virgina College and Food Network’s Anthony Lamas from Extreme Chef. My favorite presentation of the day was Chef Jean Yves Vendeville from Savannah Technical College’s Culinary Arts program. He and his team operated like a well-oiled machine and in his 40-minute cooking demonstration, cranked out three different dishes for the audience to try. He was funny, engaging, educational and entertaining. When his presentation was complete, I told him I wanted to be his student one day.

For Savannah’s first ever food & wine festival, the turn out was impressive. Nearly every event during Nov. 11 – 17 was sold out. The Southern, culinary shin dig was definitely a team effort and took the hard work of many. I am confident that it will only get better with time. I was honored to be a part of the experience and fortunate to have made such great connections while volunteering! Thanks to everyone who made it happen.

*Special thanks to my awesome boyfriend Kurt, who brought me my blog business cards that I forgot at home during the event.

Savannah Food & Wine Festival to be An Epicurean Celebration of the Senses

Published on November 11, 2013November 21, 2013 by RebekahLeave a comment

Today kicks off a week-long celebration of Savannah’s first ever Food & Wine Festival. I’m volunteering this Saturday, Nov. 16 during the main event, Taste of Savannah! Not only is the inaugural event being held in one of the most beautiful Southern cities in the world, but all of the proceeds benefit local charitable organizations.

Throughout the week of Nov. 11 – 17, festival attendees will enjoy dinners prepared by award-winning chefs and sample rare wines from around the world. Saturday’s Taste of Savannah features a Culinary Court, Artisan Market, Celebrity Chef Kitchen, Cookbook Author Signing Tent, a Silent Auction and more.

Check out the impressive line-up of local and celebrity chefs making special appearances during the seven-day festival:

James Beard Foundation’s Hugh Acheson, Chris Hastings, Steven Satterfield and Elizabeth Terry
Food Network’s Extreme Chef winner, Anthony Lamas
Award-winning chefs Kent Rathbun from Dallas, TX and Shaun Doty from Atlanta, GA
Master Sommeliers Robert Jones and Michael McNeill
James Beard Foundation’s award-winning cookbook authors, The Lee Brothers from Charleston, SC
Artist, Thomas Arvid
Vintners, Rob Mondavi, Jr., with Michael Mondavi Family Estate and Joe Shirley, with Napa Cellars

I’ll be helping out in The Local Palate Celebrity Chef tent at Ellis Square from Noon – 4 p.m. You can also catch me attending the River Street Wine Stroll this Friday night, and at the Official After Party at City Market on Saturday. Y’all stop by and see us! Fantastic food and spirits on the Georgia coast in November? Sounds like a plan to me!

For tickets and the most up-to-date information on Savannah’s inaugural food and wine festival, visit SavannahFoodAndWineFest.com.

Fiddlers Seafood Knows Attention to Detail

Published on September 13, 2013September 13, 2013 by RebekahLeave a comment

Fiddlers Seafood Southside
Savannah, Georgia

Attention to detail is unmistakable. Nine times out of 10, if a restaurant understands how to be great in the little things, that trait is going to carry over in the taste and presentation of food, as well as the quality of service and atmosphere. Fiddlers Seafood in Savannah, Georgia nails it. From the coastal beach-shack vibe to the seafood inspired menu, stepping through the front door is like stepping back in time. Maritime, that is. Black and white photographs depicting generations of happy fisherman families fill the walls, while char-grilled oyster platters and steam pot shrimp dinners come barreling out of the kitchen.

The menu is posted outside on the patio, so you can get an idea of pricing and a jump-start on what you’d like to order. Once seated, you’ll receive a tangible menu that opens up like a window (It’s these little nuances that make my heart sing!). It’s full of colorful, enticing and tempting pictures that will prolong your decision! After careful deliberation, I decided on the Lobster Sliders for $14.99–a trio served three ways: lobster salad, lobster sautéed in a garlic wine sauce and fried lobster. I also ordered a Caesar salad for the sake of something green.

THE FOOD:

The Lobster Trio is served with house made tarter sauce.

Beautiful presentation served up with sweet iced tea.

Fried lobster was the most interesting. I liked the texture and crunch paired with the succulent meat.

The Lobster Salad was creamy and not too heavy.

I enjoyed the unique spin on the popular lobster roll. The bread was toasted and each filling provided a different flavor. The shape of the white plate was also a nice touch. I liked the fried lobster best. The crunch of the light batter with the succulent meat worked well. The menu is broken down into a few themed categories: Oyster Bar, Beginnings, Soups & Salads, Fiddlers Finest and Steam Pot. You can also choose from Fried, Land and Sammies selections. I plan to try the Seafood Nachos and blackened Fish Tacos on my next visit. Not to worry, Fiddlers Seafood doesn’t forget dessert. Key Lime Pie, Pecan Pie, Chocolate Brownie A La Mode and Clemmie’s Peach Cobbler range from $5.99 – $6.99.

THE ATMOSPHERE:

Framed oceanic wall art.

The bar area is filled with ample seating.

The decor pays tribute to Savannah’s rich history and families that drove the seafood industry.

Take a seat at the bar and try a signature cocktail, like Captain’s Mast.

Each booth seats four comfortably.

The hostess stand sits under a large image of sail boats, making a huge statement and first impression.

How cool is this? Seashells and beach sand are layered under the table tops.

I visited during lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. The atmosphere was friendly, upbeat and coastal. In other words, my kinda party. Our waitress couldn’t have been more pleasant. We shared a few laughs and had everything we needed throughout the meal. Open seven days a week, with daily Happy Hour specials from 4 – 7 p.m., attire is casual and no reservation is needed. Live music happens every Friday beginning at 7 p.m. I can’t wait to visit again!

A fish pond flows around the restaurant.

With two locations, Fiddlers Seafood has been around for over 22 years. I visited the Memorial Drive venue, but if you’re in downtown Savannah, be sure to check out the Fiddlers Crab House River Street location too. Either way, you’re guaranteed a great food escape!

Paula Deen is Not a Racist Y’all

Published on June 22, 2013June 22, 2013 by Rebekah5 Comments

Me and Paula hanging out in her gift shop in historic Savannah, Georgia.

I’ve never met Paula Deen, but this I know: She is not a racist. I write this post on the heels of yesterday’s breaking news–that Food Network will not be renewing her contract.

Like many of her fans, I too am from the South, her native state of Georgia. We share a love for Southern comfort food, seafood and the coast. For years, I’ve cooked from her cookbooks, eaten at Savannah’s The Lady and Sons, visited her gift shop and looked forward to Saturday mornings when I could sit down and learn from her as I watched Food Network. I’ve spent many an hour in the kitchen following her recipes and laughing with my Grandma over how long it took me to bake her lemon cake, and how easy they made it look on TV. I can’t count the number of times I’ve eaten a delicious cake or herb-roasted pork tenderloin with the family, and upon that first bite of pleasure uttered the words, “It’s a Paula Deen recipe,” as everyone tasted in agreement. I’ve read her book It Ain’t All About the Cooking and have found myself in her as I admired her rags-to-riches story. I’ve tasted some of the best food I’ve ever put in my mouth from Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible. Paula Deen is a nationwide household name. As fans, we feel a connection to her, relate to her and associate good memories with her food and her name.

Just this week before the news was revealed, I made known my ambitions to cook with Paula on her Best Dishes Food Network show. She has been a huge inspiration for me in the kitchen and without her, I wouldn’t be the cook I am today. Paula paved the way for many Southern TV food personalities that have come and are coming after her. For that, I’m thankful.

I believe Paula Deen is a kind-hearted, generous and caring woman. Her fans–black and white–are loyal. Those that know and love Paula admire her courage. I believe her apologies were sincere. When reading the fan’s reactions to the news on Food Network’s Facebook wall just yesterday, one comment said it all: “Leave my Paula alone. Yes, I am African-American.”

Paula, Michael, Jamie and Bobby…if any of you read this, know that this morning we sit around our breakfast tables saddened. We’re wondering how this will affect Jamie and Bobby’s Food Network shows, how we’ll ever be able to watch the network again without hearing Paula’s laugh and seeing her familiar, friendly face. No matter what lies ahead, we love you all and will always be fans. Know that our thoughts and prayers go out to your family.

Paula Deen is not a racist, and that’s just the truth y’all.