Gullah Jazz Cafe hosting dinner-and-jazz event to celebrate former prominent St. Helena Island restaurant
From staff reports
If you have a desire for an evening of Lowcountry cuisine and jazz music, the opportunity is upon you.
The Gullah Jazz Cafe, along with sponsors – the Beaufort Black Chamber of Commerce, Rent-a-Chef by Sherri, Gullah-N-Geechie Mahn Tours, and Kawai Piano Gallery by Herrin – are hosting The Gullah House Revisited: A 30th Year Reunion Celebration featuring Lowcountry cuisine and live jazz from Delbert Felix and Richard Clements on Thursday, Oct. 27.
This “pop-up restaurant” style event revisits The Gullah House Restaurant, which was originally opened in 1991 by the Green family on St. Helena Island as a way to preserve, celebrate, and share their family recipes and culture. Established seemingly well before it’s time, The Gullah House Restaurant served Gullah-themed dishes, had a menu written in Gullah language and featured live, world class jazz and blues music.
The restaurant gained statewide and national popularity, earning them a top rating. With its unique menu of popular dishes and growing popularity, the Gullah House catered to movies and films such as “Forest Gump” and Disney’s “The Jungle Book.” The restaurant was featured in National Geographic, Bon Appetit, and other national magazines and newspapers across the country.
Two of the featured dishes – Ms. Hannah’s Casserole (shrimp, grits and cheese) and the Da Deacon Gumbo – were featured in Southern Living Magazine.
Although the restaurant closed in early 2000, the Green family – Kitty and Clarence – continues in the food service industry, and the promotion of the Gullah culture through their catering business and touring company, Rent-a-Chef by Sherri, and Gullah-N-Geechie Mahn Tours.
Kitty Green has spent her adult life as an advocate for Gullah history and cultural preservation. In 1992. Her initial research for the tours included archives in S.C. and Georgia. She then expanded to researching oral history by interviewing many of the elders that were living on St. Helena Island.
Her collective research expanded into Africa (Senegal, Ghana), parts of the Caribbean, and South America, comparing the cultural roots of Gullah with the African diaspora. The same year, the State of S.C. began doing feasibility studies of history and culture tourism in an effort to bring more visitors into the state for activities other than golf and tennis.
These events led Kitty Green to become more active in the community as an activist and preservationist of the Gullah culture. She became an advisor on Penn Center’s School of Preservation; a board member on the Economic Development for Beaufort County; a board member on the Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce; a commissioner for tourism for Beaufort County; a judge for the National Endowment for the Arts; and did lecture series of the Gullah culture at various colleges and universities across the country.
The dinner and jazz event will reunite some of Gullah House’s past chefs, musicians, patrons and staff as well as allow them to share their collective love of food, culture and music with patrons at The Gullah Jazz Cafe at 711 Bladen Street in Beaufort.
There will be two showings – 6 to 8 p.m. and 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. The event includes a three-course meal with several choices of appetizers, entrees, side dishes, deserts and wine. Cost is $80 per person. A cash bar also available. Tickets and meal choices can be found on EventBrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/428078623687 and more information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/gullahouse or 843-263-8994.
Want to Go?
What: The Gullah House Revisited: A Reunion Celebration
When: 6 to 8 p.m.; 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27
Where: The Gullah Jazz Cafe, 711 Bladen Street, Beaufort
Tickets: $80, include three-course meal and wine; cash bar available. Tickets available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/428078623687.
For more information: Call 843-263-8994 or visit https://tinyurl.com/gullahhouse.
