Choose Charleston

Times are rough and Charleston business owners are not the only owners looking for a way to survive harsh economic times. I know as a business owner, you are always looking for a way to capture new customers.  What about the customers that refused to pay you?

 Wrote you a bad check?

 Customers that owe YOU but you cannot locate?

 Don’t worry!  Help is here!  I recently discovered a South Carolina debt collection company that will get your past due customers to pay.

 The best feature is, you don’t have to pay a SINGLE DIME until they collect for you!  Place accounts with them for FREE!

 Check them out, SentryRisk.com.

P.S.- After they collect a few payments for you, contact me and tell me thanks for the tip!

I just wanted to allow everyone to share what they enjoy most about having Thanksgiving in Charleston, South Carolina.  Is it meeting up with friends and family?  Maybe it could be eating way too much?  Do you have any traditions in regards to Thanksgiving that you do only in Charleston, SC? 

 Please share some of your favorite Charleston Thanksgiving stories with others!

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving in Charleston or wherever you decide to celebrate this great holiday!

I think everyone realizes that John McCain is favored to win and will win in South Carolina.

 My question is, by how much?

 Most poll averages have him ahead in South Carolina by 12%.

 Do you think Obama will keep it closer than that or will McCain cover the 12% spread?

 Also, post any of your thoughts on the 2008 election that you desire.  What is the residents of Charleston going to be voting on?  What should they be voting on?

Lastly, who do you think will win the 2008 election? Obama or McCain? Or….Barr!

College of Charleston Mens Basketball Head Coach Bobby Cremins secured a highly regarded transfer in Casaan Breeden.  Breeden played for Marlboro County and grew up in Bennettsville, S.C.  Breeden was the former South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and ranked the 39th best player in his senior class.  He orginally choose FSU over the likes of N.C. State, Miami, Georgia, Georgia Tech and St. John’s.  If Cremins can find some ball handlers to create for Breeden, College of Charleston should be able to compete in the Southern Conference.  Overall, good addition for C of C.

I know we can all agree it has been really hot recently but I think it is time to try my hand at golf again.  I recently purchased a new set of irons so I am ready to see if they improved my game any. (Don’t laugh!)  Since I have not played recently, I am asking anyone who golfs to weigh in on the topic.  What is your favorite golf course in Charleston, South Carolina. Or what course offers the most value? I am sure we have many readers who are coming to Charleston with the idea of playing some golf on vaction or a business trip.  You could help them make a great choice! Over the coming weeks, I am going to write a few articles about the Charleston golf courses mentioned!

Which Charleston golf course is your favorite and why?

Hit em straight!

Get the complete recipe for Charleston Shrimp and Grits.  This is the traditional Charleston Shrimp and Grits recipe, and why would we have it any other way? If you are visiting and have never tried this dish, please do so!  I know you will fall in love with this tasty Charleston treat!  If you are a resident of the area, I am sure you have heard of alternative ways but I am just going to post the original Charleston Shrimp and Grits recipe

.Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hours, 00 minutes

Ingredients:

·         1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled, halved lengthwise, and deveined if you wish

·         Juice of 1 lemon

·         Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce

·         1 1/2 teaspoons salt or more to taste

·         1 1/2 cups stone-ground grits, not instant or quick-cooking

·         6 thick slices bacon, chopped

·         1 small onion, finely chopped 

·         1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper

·         1 garlic clove, minced

·         1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions 

·         2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

·         1 cup chicken stock

·         1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

·         1 cup (about 1/4 pound) grated medium to sharp Cheddar cheese

·         Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce

·         Preparation

·         Combine the shrimp with the lemon juice and a couple of generous splashes of hot pepper sauce. Let sit while you begin the grits and gravy.

·         Make the grits in a large heavy saucepan, first bringing 6 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of the salt to a boil. Whisk in the grits a few handfuls at a time. (They will bubble up initially.) When you have added all the grits, reduce the heat to a very low simmer and cook over low heat for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally at first and more frequently toward the end.

·         While the grits simmer, get the gravy under way. Fry the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until brown but still limp. Stir in the onion, green pepper, and garlic and continue cooking until the onion and pepper are limp, about 5 minutes. Add the scallions, sprinkle the flour over the mixture, and continue sautéing for 5 minutes longer. Stir in the stock and remaining salt and cook for 5 minutes longer. Remove from the heat while you finish the grits.

·         When the grits are thick and creamy, stir in as much of the butter as you wish, followed by the cheese. Add a splash of hot pepper sauce and additional salt if you like. Cover the grits while you finish the gravy.

·         Return the gravy to medium heat and stir in the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are opaque throughout, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately, mounding the grits in large shallow bowls or on plates and covering them with shrimp and gravy.

·         Serves: 4 (Unless you are really hungry!).

·         Credits: From A Real American Breakfast. Copyright 2002 by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison. All rights reserved. HarperCollins Publishers.

Enjoy Charleston Shrimp and Grits tomorrow morning guys! 

Have you recently visited Charleston? Did you find a great restaurant that you think others should give a try?  Dining out on a vacation can be adventurous because you are not familiar with the restaurants.  My goal is to take the guessing out of dining in Charleston for people visiting Charleston this summer.  So here is my challenge to Charleston residents (And recent visitors)!  What are some restaurants that left a great impression on you?  What are some of your favorite spots?

You can just list the name of the restaurant.  Preferably though give reasons behind the choice and also where the restaurant is located and other details that you think would be important to someone visiting Charleston, S.C.  

After getting a few nominees, I am going to try to blog about each individual Charleston restaurant!

You can nomiate by just leaving a comment to this post with the details of your favorite Charleston restaurant.

Thanks!

In my last post about gas prices and what people in Charleston are doing to combat them, I got a comment from a lady about a new website.  The name of the website is LowCountryYardSales.com.  Essentially, this is a page for people to buy and sell personal treasures.  How does this save gas?  You can drive to one location directly and buy what you want rather than driving to 15 and maybe not finding it?  I know most enjoy going from spot to spot but if gas prices are a concern, I would strongly suggest using LowCountryYardSales.com as a place for you to go and look for some bargains! 

Gas prices are soaring across the United States, including right here in Charleston, South Carolina.  I know most of my readers are located in Charleston, SC.  and that we are all feeling the pain at the pump. 

 How are you dealing with the rising gas prices?

 1.  Planning your daily required trips such as work and grocery shopping so that you go don’t waste gas?

 2.  Riding to work with a co-worker?

 3.  Buying a car that is better on gas?

 What are you cutting out of your life because of gas prices?  Vacation out of town?  Dining out less? 

 Maybe you are not changing anything at all.  If you are though, please post some comments at steps you have taken to combat the high gas prices!  I will post them later in a new article for everyone to read in a more organized matter.

Wish I would of told some of you guys before you visited Charleston but better late than never, right?  Located at 6 Chalmers Street, the museum tells the story of the Old Slave Mart that was once operating in Charleston during the domestic trade era. The Old Slave Mart features two main areas for visitors to learn about the historical trade era. 

The first area will give visitors an in-depth introduction about how domestic slave trading operated.  The second area will allow visitors to get a more up close view at the oeprations.  You will be able to see what the slaves were sold for and how slave owners viewd the slaves worth.  Also, you will learn how slavery was a key factory in the growth of Charleston and how slavery helped build Charleston to where it is today!  So if you are a local or visiting Charleston on vacation…..come learn about the Old Slave Mart in Charleston.