She-crab soup, shrimp and grits, Hoppin’ John, Frogmore Stew, red rice, perlau, Hoe Cakes - all Lowcountry signature favorites. Or, innovative Lowcountry with a modern twist that brings Savannah’s culinary riches to new heights – black-eyed pea cakes, cream of butternut squash soup with curry cream, sweet potato puree, Carolina crab cakes, wild Georgia shrimp and grits, pecan encrusted sea scallops.  It’s a way of cooking that is truly regional as well as mouth-watering delicious.

Traditional, hip, gullah or soul, the genesis of Lowcountry cooking lies in the mysterious coastal salt water marshes, which stretch from Savannah to Charleston.  From this beautiful gold-tinged land laced with estuaries and inlets, come crab, oysters, shrimp, fish, and ”Carolina Gold,” the rice which has been the staple of the region since antibellum times.  What gives these Lowcountry staples their distinctive taste are the aromatic flavors from the culinary traditions of the early settlers, English, Scotch, French, Sephardic Jews, and from the Gullah traditions of the slaves from West Africa, a culture that developed in the wake of the Civil War as former slaves were left to their own resources in the isolated marshes and Sea Islands.

Many restaurants in Savannah serve some version of Lowcountry cuisine, but the seven below are either really famous or really, really good:

FAMOUS.  Popular with locals early on, but catapulted into fame by the Food Network, Paula Deen’s restaurants have put Savannah on the culinary map.  Paula Deen fans come from around the country taken in by her personality, her storybook success, and her succulent buffets.  If you don’t mind lines and crowded places, these are Savannah must sees:

1. The Lady & Sons.  You’ll get Hoe Cakes and Paula’s famous Cheddar Biscuits for starters.  Then, pile up your plate with a wide range of buffet choices: Paulas’ crispy fried chicken, sweet creamed corn, pork chops, and turnip greens.  If a buffet line sampler is not for you, order Savannah Crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, and much more from the menu.
2. Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House.  At Paula’s brother’s place, a casual seafood restaurant nestled in the marshes of Whitmarsh Island, experience a Lowcountry Boil (aka Frogmore Stew -shrimp, crab, corn, and smoked sausage all boiled together), or char-grilled oysters smothered in garlic and parmesan cheese.  A great tour with lunch combo is the Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah’s Paula Deen Tour, which includes a buffet lunch at Uncle Bubba’s.  You’ll see the sights, hear the stories, and have a Lowcountry buffet experience all in one.  Plus, included in this is a ”Preferred Seating” (i.e. skip the lines) pass to The Lady & Sons or back to Uncle Bubba’s.

DOWN HOME & COMFORTABLE. Good home-cooking, just like Mama’s.

1. Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room.  Tasty comfort food like Paula’s, but with shorter lines and a more homey, congenial atmosphere.  Here lunch only is served family-style around communal tables. The vegetable sides are wonderful.
2. Mom & Nikki’s.  Soul food at its best – the shrimp are smothered, the mac and cheese, cheesy, the biscuits, extraordinary.

GENTEEL & GRACIOUS. The venues, elegant historic mansions, create the astmosphere; the menus are adventures into that mysterious realm of wonderful, subtle Lowcountry flavors.

1. Elizabeth on 37th.   In the rooms of a 1900 mansion in the Victorian district, Lowcountry with a creative twist is called ”Coastal Cuisine.”  However sophisticated the nomenclature, the basic regional ingredients are all there.  The results are spectacular.
2. The Olde Pink House.  The 18th century mansion on historic Reynolds Square creates a delightful fine dining ambience.   Although the menu is characterized as  ”Elegant Southern,” the tantalizing Lowcountry roots come through: Black Grouper Stuffed with Blue Crab with Vidalia Onion Sauce; Pan-seared Crab Cakes with Vegetable Slaw.

UPSCALE LOWCOUNTRY. Lowcountry down-home cooking with a nouveau, gourmet twist.

1. The New South Cafe. If there is such a thing as a hip, southern bistro, this is it!  Located just on the outskirts of historic downtown Savannah, it serves wonderfully tasty lunch and dinner creations.  Visualize this:  Pecan Crusted Sea Scallops and Honey-Ruby Red Grapefruit Butter Sauce served with Corn Pudding!

MORE WAYS TO SAVOR SAVANNAH. For true foodies, here’s a great idea for an interactive travel experience – take a Lowcountry cooking class!  Fun and delicious 3-hour events, they can easily be fit into a Savannah visit.  Check out the what, the when and the where at the time of your visit.  Even the reluctant cook will have a great time.

• 700 Kitchen Cooking School at the Mansion at Forsyth Park. 3-hour classes, as well as culinary packages for two at the Mansion.
• Chef Joe Randall’s Cooking School.  In 3 hours learn how to cook savory Savannah Rice or Sea Island Smothered Shrimp.

“Eenjy da’ bet’ bittle.”  (Gullah for “Enjoy the best food!”)

Smell the mixture of salt and mangrove mud as you stare out at impossibly blue-green waters. When I go to Key West, Florida one of my favorite side trip, vacation ideas is visiting Islamorada, Florida. The vibe there is very tropical with lots of food choices and they are known for excellent charter fishing. I decided to stop in at the Islamorada Fish Company restaurant, since I had heard so much about it. I’m glad I did.

You can’t miss the location where the World Wide Sportsman building looms above the palms at MM 81.5. The front lot has a great fresh seafood market and its fun to watch them prep fresh fish behind the counter. When you wander down to the restaurant behind the building on the right, you are greeted with a beautiful Florida Keys water view complete with docks and pelicans. The day I was there was blustery and unusually cool but still comfortable to eat outside. The view is half the meal.

I started with conch chowder and then went with two of my favorites, scallops and cracked conch. The thing about conch is you have to really understand how to make it. It’s very similar to fixing gator tail. They both need tenderizing and proper seasoning. My food was fresh and beautifully cooked. The conch chowder was just right spicy and flavorful. I wish my conch steak was just a teeny bit less chewy but the scallops were perfect and the service was friendly and fast.

This is a good stop in Islamorada, Florida for fresh fish, a meal or a cocktail with a great view. Don’t forget to visit the Zane Grey Bar above World Wide Sportsman for some local color, too. Since they have over 175 outdoor seats, you can usually find a spot to call your own. When you travel to Key West, Florida put this one on your list. It’s not formal or fancy but that’s not why I go to the Keys. See you there. More photos here.

I was surprised by how different the day and night Starlight cruises are in Tampa, Florida. Completely different crowd from day to night. While the daytime was casual, relaxed and oriented to sightseeing with mostly an older group the night time was energetic, fun and oriented to dancing with a younger group.

The Starlight Majesty ship is roomy, stable and capable of carrying 280 passengers on three levels. The top deck is open and the other two are enclosed and air-conditioned except for a small area near the bow. The staff is friendly and helpful. Starlight offers 3-hour lunch, dinner, dancing and sightseeing cruises out of Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg, Florida.

Day:

The Lunch Sightseeing Cruise out of Clearwater Beach, FL is quiet and relaxing.

The lunch menu offered 5 choices from salads to seafood in lunch sized portions served at your table. The cruise goes south on the Intracoastal Waterway between Clearwater and Clearwater Beach. Music is provided by a duo and features classic sing-a-long hits and when the music takes a break in the middle of the cruise, the captain narrates for 20 minutes.

Overall a nice, quiet, relaxing midday sightseeing cruise with good food and good service. They also offer a dance luncheon cruise.

Night:

The Dinner Cruise out of Clearwater Beach, Fl is good fun.

They seat you as you board and immediately bring out an appetizer, which was a bacon wrapped scallop and a slice of grilled chicken. Once you order your dinner from 12 or more choices, they suggest exploring the ship until salads are served at 8pm. Dinner follows and is tasty. The crowd ranged in age and many danced to the musical duo that also does the lunch cruise but the music was more upbeat. I’d compare the music to attending a wedding.

The atmosphere was lively the whole night and the lights from the shoreline of the Intracoastal Waterway added a nice background to the night air. Lots of couples and groups seemed to enjoy the experience. A fun way to spend an evening.

So is there a difference between Day and Night? Absolutely! If you want to just relax and enjoy sea breezes or put on your dancing shoes and sing along you’ll find it at Starlight Cruises in Tampa, Florida. Permission to come aboard Captain!  More photos here.

Get this. I’m trying a new restaurant called the Shellfish Grille in St. Augustine, Florida near my house when the waiter introduces himself and announces the specials. Mussels, Pasta, Fish of the day and then…crab cakes. He said “Crab cakes” just like that. I fixed his gaze on mine and said as I have hundreds of times before, “I’m from Maryland…are they really good?”

Now most servers given this information would begin to backpedal. Knowing I’m a Marylander, born on the Chesapeake with Old Bay seasoning in my veins they would say something like, “Well, many people order them” or “they’re popular around here” to quietly steer me away from a mediocre cake.

Our waiter did no such thing. In fact he leaned into me just a bit with a slight smile and said, “They’re really, really good.” Piffle, I thought. The gauntlet is thrown. Bring on the alleged Crab Cakes!

I sat rehearsing my reaction when he would bring the so-called crab cakes out from the kitchen. So confident…so cocky. As I had so many times before, I would take a small bite, roll my eyes and in a voice loud enough for all to hear announce, “These are okay, but not as good as the ones in Maryland.” Triumph! I couldn’t wait to put them in their place.

To me the perfect crab cake is loaded with fresh lump meat and light seasoning. Just enough binder to hold it together and heated golden brown. Many of the ones I’ve tried over the years are like deep fried, crab-flavored turkey stuffing and filled with onions and peppers. Awful.

You must know this about me. I’m a foodie. Not a food snob. I love fresh food prepared with care. Whether it’s creme brulee or vanilla pudding. Filet mignon or hamburgers. Make it right. Care about what you do. I have driven two hours out of my way and passed 100 restaurants to get to that one place that makes great BBQ. I know…

The moment of truth quickly arrived at the Shellfish Grille and the plate was set before me. True, the cakes looked good. Golden brown, lump crab meat. I took a generous bite and dropped my fork. Images flooded my mind from long ago. On the pier lifting the crab traps… sitting with my mother at Timbuktu’s… at the Narrows Restaurant on the Eastern Shore…Captain Billy’s laugh at Pope’s Creek.

I quickly wiped a tear from my cheek as the waiter asked again. “How are they?” I wanted to run to the kitchen and kiss the chef. All I managed was to squeak out, “These are the best Crab Cakes I’ve eaten in Florida.” And they were.

I’ve returned to eat the crab cakes at the Shellfish Grille again and again. Like a father checking on his newborn child, I have to look just one more time. Now I’ve joined the Cult of the Crab Cake there. The members exchange knowing glances across the crowded dining room and share stories of other, lesser cakes from the past. We all now live in a secret Crab Cake paradise in St. Augustine, Florida. I am content…

Great article by way of Brand Autopsy from Jeffrey Summers at Building Better Restaurants about removing Host stands at restaurants. Makes a good case against them. But what takes it’s place? How do you meet and greet your guests?

This of course applies to many tourist venues, not just restaurants. My best meet and greet experience happened in Baltimore, Maryland years ago. I went to a restaurant in “Little Italy” and could not believe how they handled me. I was warmly greeted at the door which was held open so I could see the next greeter at the bottom of the stairs who led us up to the next greeter at the top of the stairs who introduced us to our waiter who then sat us at our special table! Each of them was introduced by name and all the while they chatted with us and made us feel like family. Big smiles, great eye contact and what I call the “Verbal Embrace”.

Nothing annoys me more than being greeted by someone who wishes they were someplace else. No enthusiasm, no interest. They just don’t seem to care. By the time I reached my table in Baltimore they could have served me anything and I would have enjoyed it!

That’s the power of good first impressions and sincere human connections. Of course, many tourism businesses rely on quality interactions with their guests. Is it time to spruce up your daily guest contacts? These moments should be like a dog wagging it’s tail with joy when it sees you. Otherwise, I could just stay home.

I love to eat and drink. It is a passion with me. Taking the Local Tastes of North Beach Tour in San Francisco, California was a must. I was impressed.

North Beach is the “Little Italy” of the City. On this walking tour we tasted espresso that was freshly roasted and bread right out of the oven, after visiting the kitchen to watch them make it. Next were fresh deli meats, olive oil and cheeses from local artisans followed by chocolate from one of the top ten chocolatiers in America. We visited the church where Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were married and the Purple Onion café where Bill Cosby and Phyllis Diller got their start.

The journey was wonderful and filled with San Francisco insider information. You felt like a native on this tour. Tom was very helpful and friendly, offering sightseeing and restaurant suggestions throughout the tour. Eating your way through North Beach is fantastic and he also does a Chinatown tour. Mmmmmmmmmm. Feed me.

Pier 39 is a two-level, themed, waterfront entertainment complex is a major attraction near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. It includes 14 restaurants, 110 shops, the Aquarium, an Arcade, live performances of music and buskers, a permanent musical, a beautiful carousel, a Turbo thrill ride and a sea lion viewing area.

While I was there it was packed with people. A great blues singer sat at the entrance while a permanent stage featured an excellent juggler at the back. The Sea lion viewing area was filled and the place was hopping.

You could spend a day just exploring this area. Lots of activity, variety and fun. Pier 39 is a ball.

The locals say that the Central Coast of California near Monterey and Paso Robles is the next big thing in wine but for now Napa and Sonoma dominate the market. The Wine Country Tour from San Francisco, California is a full day overview of wine making in both places.

We visited three wineries by bus after stopping first at the Napa visitor’s center. Kirkland Ranch, Madonna and Viansa wineries were on the list with lunch on our own in downtown Sonoma. We tasted at each winery and toured at Madonna to learn the wine making process. They allowed for a good amount of free time and lunch in Sonoma was excellent at the Swiss Hotel restaurant (a suggestion from the driver). This was a light, fun day in the wine country and offers a great introduction to the process.

Cambria, California is a popular jumping off point for Hearst Castle and it is beautiful. Some would call it a “one horse town” but that is part of the charm. The coastline is spectacular and I can’t get over how good the food is in California. Everything is extra fresh and minimally prepared. A chef friend of mine once said, “food should taste like itself”. Now I get it. (I had the best trout ever at the Sow’s Ear Cafe.)

Folks in Cambria are very helpful and sincere. A great base camp for my adventure to Hearst Castle.

The City of Morro Bay, California is mostly known for the huge Morro Rock rising up from the ocean. It’s a working fishing village and I had a great fish sandwich there on the way to Hearst Castle. I also visited their funky little Aquarium.

This family owned attraction is dedicated to rehabilitating sea creatures since 1984 and the sea lions greet you right at the entrance. Boy, are they loud. The inside room is dark and small with murky tanks filled with a variety of animals. A huge octopus was very popular along with a good local shark exhibit. The rest of the waterfront is filled with fun shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to hang out and at the end of the road you can see the fishing fleet come in with their daily catches. A nice slice of local California north of Los Angeles. Totally.