By Pamela Brownstein
Looking for a great way to spice up an otherwise dull week? It starts with great food and the intimate, enjoyable dining experience found at Southern Graces Bistro at The Beaufort Inn.
The giant warm popovers that come with homemade maple walnut butter are the perfect start to any meal. I always have to pace myself because I could eat them all day!
I had to get my favorite starter, the Beaufort Bay Shrimp Wrap: Fresh local shrimp stuffed with sausage and lump crab meat wrapped in a wonton skin and flash fried, served with garlic sweet and spicy sauce. The dish was a winner at the 2008 Beaufort Shrimp Festival.
Tess ordered the fried green tomatoes starter, served with a sweet corn sauce, and also the She Crab Soup offered with Old Bay Cheese Straws.
Elizabeth had the Vidalia Onion Soup served with a Parmesan popover crouton, as well as their specialty citrus salad featuring smoked Gouda cheese, toasted pecans, dried cherries, mandarin oranges with a citrus vinaigrette. She said the salad is her favorite.
Buck tried the Vidalia Onion Soup also as a starter then sampled the Montecristo Sandwich: black forest ham and Gruyere cheese stacked atop freshly baked honey wheat bread, dipped in egg batter then pan seared and baked. It is then served with a raspberry compote. Quite the elaborate sandwich, and also delicious.
Gene had the Angel Wings starter which is marinated chicken chopped and paired with hot sauce and blue cheese, then wrapped and flash fried and drizzled with buffalo sauce. Yum. He also got
the Cheerwine BBQ Pork Sandwich on a Ciabatta loaf served with smoked Gouda mac and cheese and house-made bread and butter pickles. Between the barbecue and the mac and cheese, Gene was thoroughly satisfied with the quality of his meal.
Nikki ordered the Shrimp and Sweet Potato Grits made with sauteed local shrimp with prosciutto cream over Anson Mills’ Sweet Potato Grits.
New addition to Lunch Bunch, Louise, went with the Vertical Cobb Salad. This is a dramatic stacked salad with layers of avocado, bacon, tomato, eggs, blue cheese, and topped with shrimp and black pepper buttermilk dressing. The presentation and the taste are amazing.
Southern Graces Bistro is located at The Beaufort Inn, 809 Port Republic Street. For more information, call 843-379-0555 or go online at www.southerngracesbeaufort.com.
