There’s something about Charleston Southern hospitality that is different than anywhere else.. It might be beautifully set for a holiday dinner, covered with platters for a family gathering, or nothing more than a kitchen table where somebody pulled up another chair because one more person showed up. Either way, there always seems to be room. And there is almost always more than enough food, even leftovers to take home.
In the South, feeding people has long been one of the ways we take care of one another. We bring food when someone is sick, when a baby is born, when a neighbor moves in, and when a family is grieving. We cook too much for Sunday dinner and send people home with leftovers. We celebrate with food, comfort with food, and quite often show up carrying a dish even when nobody asked us to bring one.
A Taste of Charleston & the Lowcountry
Charleston has its own particularly wonderful version of that tradition. Our food reflects generations of cultures, ingredients and traditions that came together in the Lowcountry. Seafood from the coast, rice, benne, fresh vegetables, peaches, pecans and countless other ingredients found their way onto Southern tables and became part of the food we associate with home.
But Southern food isn’t only a list of traditional dishes. It can be a beautiful board overflowing with cheeses, fruits, vegetables and something homemade to spread on a cracker. It can be a bowl of savory cheese spread set out before dinner, warm bread passed around a table, a favorite casserole, a plate of cookies or something sweet waiting beside the coffee.
Generosity Is the Common Ingredient
The common ingredient is generosity. That may be what makes the Southern table so special.
It isn’t necessarily fancy. In fact, some of the best Southern food isn’t fancy at all. It is made to be eaten, shared and enjoyed. There should be plenty of it. People should feel comfortable helping themselves. And if someone wants seconds, all the better.
Of course, we still believe food can be beautiful. There is something wonderful about putting a gorgeous platter or colorful board in the middle of a table and watching everyone gather around it. But the beauty isn’t really the point. The gathering is.
Charleston Hospitality Is About the People Around the Table
Years later, we may not remember every dish that was served. We remember who was sitting beside us. We remember the laughter coming from the kitchen. We remember standing around the counter eating “just one more” bite. We remember the people who made us feel welcome.
That’s Charleston southern hospitality at its best. Good food. Good company. A table with room for one more. And maybe something delicious waiting for you when you get there.