COLA Food & Wine 2019
Everytime I visit Soda City, I ask myself, “Why don’t you come here more often?’. The drive from Charleston is quick and scenic while the vibe in the Capital city is completely different from the Lowcountry. The beautifully decorated Hotel Trundel made our stay amazingly comfortable.
Conveniently located downtown Columbia, the hotel provides spacious suites with stylish appliances featuring modern upgrades like USB outlets. The front desk offers a variety of draft beverages including a delicious Rose and local beer.
Hopefully, Hotel Trundel is a sign of what is to come, active tourist traffic throughout the main street area.
Coa Agaveria Y Cocina
We were also delighted to visit Coa Tequila Bar located right on Lady Street, the craft Tequila bar offered more than amazing tacos. We sampled a wide variety of cocktails ranging from very earthy Mezcal based cocktails to delicately floral Tequila cocktails. Each sip was complimented by their an assortment of small plates. The octopus was definitely a stand out.
COLA Food & Wine
The festival completely takes over the 5 points area. Tents are situated on the street giving festival goers free reign of the thoroughfare. Clothing stores and other shops remained open allowing attendees to take advantage of special pricing. Very fun! We meandered throughout the food stations, sampling bites and taking sips. My first nibble came from Sakitumi Grill & Sushi Bar.
It was a combination of 3 pieces from their menu. Delicious and easy to transport which is important at tasting events. Luckily, there were plenty of tables and seating areas to sit down and enjoy the festivities. Another plus, no long food lines. This is amazing.
Most tasting events of this sort have super long lines for food samples, often running out of food before the event is over. Not at Columbia Food & Wine. We left the tents with full bellies, which is rare.
VIP Lounge
The upstairs of Saluda’s restaurant was converted into the VIP lounge hosted by Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
The cozy, well air conditioned area featured signature cocktails, speciality bites from Soda City Chefs and live entertainment. As a keepsake, CAE custom stamped luggage tags encouraging attendees to travel well. Super cute.
Highlights
- ‘The Chill Zone’ – everyone knows that COLA is famously hot. Conveniently located in the center of the festival was an air conditioned lounge. Sponsored by Cool Care Heating & Air and open to the general admission ticket holders. This area was a welcomed respite with access to cold water, bites and industrial strength fans. Cool!
- Speakeasy style bar – The White Mule was transformed into a hub for cocktail enjoyment. The bartenders served made-to-order cocktails, created by bartenders from some of Columbia best bars. My favorite from the speciality menu was a Roku Gin based cocktail called, “Cherry Blossom”. This spirited cocktail was the perfect drink to end a full day at #COLAFW
- Columbia Museum – We took advantage of our time in Columbia to get in a little local culture. The Museum of Art houses an assortment of static and interactive exhibits. We wandered throughout the two level gallery being stimulated by the large scale sculptures as well as the elaborate paintings hung on the wall. Definitely a must visit while in the city. Insider tip: free admission on the 3rd Thursday of the month.
https://www.experiencecolumbiasc.com/
https://www.columbiafoodandwinefestival.com/
https://www.columbiamuseum.org/
Park Circle Kick Back: Vibes
The Kick Back was a vibe. We gathered an eclectic mixture of artists, grad students and creatives for a evening of musical enjoyment complimented by Patron Tequila cocktails and expertly fried chicken, courtesy of Hannibal’s Kitchen.
Dj Dope D not only played a smooth mixture of hip hop and soul tunes but he also supported artist Nino Casanova as he performed an assortment of original music.
Guest enjoyed the show from any of the comfortable couches or either of the two illuminated swings located inside Park Circle Creative.
We also served our signature ‘Peninsula Tea’ cocktail featuring Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Reed’s Ginger Beer alongside ice cold Island Coastal Lager.
Big thanks for the Eye of Elohim for sponsoring our sweater giveaway!
Reedsinc.com Hannibalkitchen.com Islandcoastallager.com Fireflyspirits.com Patronspirits.com Eyeofelohim.com
Rooftop Meetup: Views
A penthouse definitely has its advantages. We invited a select group of friends and media to join us for cocktails and snacks on one of the best rooftops in Charleston, Hotel Bella Grace.
The boutique hotel located on Calhoun Street not only has a beautiful view of the Ravenel Bridge but sits right across from the iconic Mother Emanuel AME church.
The weather was better than expected for early March which encouraged guest to slowly sip cocktails and munch on hors d’oeuvres from Hamby catering.
We offered two cocktails to compliment the bites and the occasion. The ‘Downtown Shuffle’ featured rum and Rivulet Pecan Brandy while the ‘Hidden Garden’ was a mixture of botanical Bristow Gin and Apple Spiced Rum – recipes below:
Downtown Shuffle
¾ oz of Bacardi Rum
1.5 oz of Rivulet Pecan Brandy
2 oz of Apple Juice
½ oz of Lemon Juice
½ of Honey Syrup
Add Rivulet Brandy, Bacardi Rum, apple juice, lemon juice and honey to mixing tin. Fill tin with ice. Secure lid then shake passionately. Strain mixture into rocks glass full of ice. Add candied pecan garnish. Take #GentleLadySips
Hidden Garden
1 oz of Bristow Gin
1 oz of Captain Morgan Apple Smash Rum
2 oz of Pineapple Juice
½ oz of Lime Juice
Add Bristow Gin, Apple Rum, pineapple juice and lime juice to mixing tin. Fill tin with ice. Secure lid then shake passionately. Strain mixture into Collins glass full of ice. Add pineapple leaf and lime wheel garnish. Enjoy.
Major thanks to all those who purchased a copy of our book ‘Holy Spirits! Charleston Culture Through Cocktails. Get your copy using the link below:
Holy Spirits! Charleston Culture Through Cocktails
Hotelbellagrace.com Rivulet.com Hambycatering.com Bacardilimited.com Captainmorgan.com
Vive Gullah Cultural Brunch
Last month, we had the absolute pleasure of hosting a cultural event with a major brand at Republic Garden and Lounge . It was a Geechee Gullah Brunch with Grey Goose and it was epic!
On the last day of the Charleston Wine and Food Festival, we decided to do something for the culture. Our culture. We partnered with Earlicia Gibb of Grey Goose and Chef Charlotte Jenkins of the late Gullah Cuisine restaurant that closed in 2014. We paired 3 small plates and cocktails for this celebration of Charleston and affectionately named it “Vive Gullah”
The welcome cocktail, “Le Fizz Locale” was made with Grey Goose, St. Germaine, and O and O Hooch. (Hooch for short.) Hooch is a local product made here in Charleston that’s also featured in our book. Holy Spirits: Charleston’s Culture through Cocktails.
Once everyone arrived, Chef Charlotte, began to talk about her menu and her history. She used to own and operate the restaurant, Gullah Cuisine with her husband for 17 years before it closed. She also wrote a cookbook book, with the same title. After she finished, her daughter and sister brought out the first dish, fish head soup. Fish head soup is an old Charlestonian staple and it was paired with a Grey Goose martini, garnished with pickled okra. The dryness of the martini along with with salinity of the pickled okra worked perfectly with the spiciness of the seafood soup. It was great.
The second pairing was Shrimp and Grits. Chef Charlotte emphasized how she made the BEST Charleston shrimp and grits and she did not disappoint. The shrimp were locally caught, the grits were very creamy and the gravy… man the gravy was EVERYTHING! We decided to pair this dish with our Hibiscus Chucktown Mule; a recipe that is also included in our book. Hibiscus is native to west Africa, South Asia and India. It’s a natural coolant and works well with spices and umami flavors. We also garnished the cocktail with a candied Hibiscus flower that came from our friends at Wild Hibiscus Co. We thought that this was the perfect cocktail to pair with this dish!
The final pairing was equally as amazing as the other two. We had sweet potato tartlets. These tartlets were AMAZINGLY paired with a Grey Goose espresso cocktail. The bitterness from the coffee cocktail was magical with the sweet potato. Many of our guests were not coffee drinkers, but they loved this pairing. We even had a few ask for seconds.
We enjoyed the experience because each pairing represented an era in Charleston. The Fish Head soup represented ‘Old Charleston’, the Charleston Shrimp and Grits represented ‘Current Charleston’, and the sweet potato tartlets represents ‘New/Modern Charleston’. We also want to emphasize that 4 women of color put on this event in downtown Charleston.
Following the event, Grey Goose purchased signed copies of our book for all of the attendees so they can make Charleston cocktails at home! This gesture definitely put everyone in the “Holy Spirit!”
Later that day, I was overwhelmed with a sense of honor and pride. Charleston is the home to some of the best cuisine in the US. It was the stomping ground of a lot of our ancestors and it’s a privilege to celebrate and empower one another through the history of our food. We would like to thank Earlicia and Grey Goose again for partnering with us on this event. We will never forget it. More cultural events to come! Cheers to Charleston!
Tiki Techy Talks
Social media can be tricky. It seems like the rules on Facebook and Instagram change everyday. While navigating social platforms can seem daunting, it is absolutely necessary. We, as a business and a brand, can speak to the benefits of an active presence on sites like Twitter and Instagram.
Tiki Techy Talks gives us an opportunity to share our social media successes and challenges. We also compiled a few tips and tricks that have benefited us over the years. Small consistent changes can have a tremendous impact on building brand awareness and business growth.
In true Cocktail Bandit fashion, we infused a little cocktail education during the talk. Tiki cocktails and culture is very popular but few actually understand what Tiki really means. We introduced a few players in the Tiki movement while shaking up and serving our version of a Charleston Tiki cocktail.
Our conversation and appetites were aided by an assortment of cheeses, jams, meats and spreads from Hamby Catering.
The rich flavors of the charcuterie complimented the spicy notes of our ‘Charleston Daiquiri’ cocktail – recipe below:
Charleston Daiquiri
1.5 oz of Bacardi Superior Rum
Hooch Limeade Soda
Fill Collins glass with ice. Add Bacardi Rum then top with Hooch until glass is full. Lovingly add garnish. Take #GentleLadySips
Expect all this and more at our next Tiki Techy Talk II focused on collaborating with corporations and big brands. Meet us at the Lowcountry Local First office (1630 Meeting Street Road) on May 21st at 6:30PM. Discount ticket pricing for Lowcountry Local First members. #SupportLocal
Bacardilimited.com Lowcountrylocalfirst.org Hambycatering.com Hoochitup.com
Treat yourself!
The phrase “health is wealth” is more than just an catchy mantra. Healthy mental state contributes to improved overall fitness. A balanced diet, exercise and frequent water consumption are just the basics. Sometimes we forget to take time out for ourselves. This year, we are putting on emphasis on self care.
Each month, we are partnering with brands who specialize in creating relaxing experiences. Human touch is therapeutic and massage has been used to treat and heel injuries for centuries. We started our weekend of restoration with a massage treatment at Charleston Place Spa. The Spa at Charleston Place is known for its beautiful and serene location as well as their talented and hospitable staff.
Our 50 minute signature massage was complemented by lavender aromatherapy and soothing background music. We retired to the “Relaxation Lounge” to continue to decompress and enjoy a cup of spicy cinnamon tea. After a seven minute visit to the sauna, we left the spa feeling rejuvenated and grateful.
Wine Blending
We enjoy anything that combines learning and drinking good wine. Grand Bohemian Charleston offers a tasting and educational experience perfect for gal pals and newlyweds alike. Our class was lead by Peter.
Not only is he incredibly charming, he’s extremely knowledgeable about wines. He guided us through a sampling of various California red wines including Malbec and Cabernet.
We were then instructed to blend a mixture of the wines to our particular palette’s preferences. Johnny’s blend was heavy in Petit Verdot while Taneka’s custom blend featured more Merlot. We munched on cheese and crackers and sipped our wines, very pleased with our creations.
Hotel Indigo
You can literally follow the glowing blue lights lining the entrance to the Hotel Indigo. Upon entry, you are greeted by smiling staff ready to assist with your check-in.
Upon entry into my room, I did a quick inspection. I hopped in the bed to test the comfort: super soft. I checked out the bathroom which featured a nice sized tub; I thought, “I’ll be soaking in that later”. Lastly, I pulled up the blinds to check out the view. My 4th floor room overlooked the posh pool area. The perimeter of the pool is outlined in spacious beach chairs with a few cabanas positioned for a more private lounge experience. Summer can’t come soon enough.
Each morning, we visited Eliza’s Bar & Grill for breakfast. Options ranged from made to order omelettes to fresh pastries. We dined on seasoned hash browns, crispy bacon and buttery biscuits. Perfect fuel for an afternoon of exploration.
Share the self care
In an effort to encourage others to prioritize self care, we partnered with several local brands to host a special prize pack every month. In addition to a one night stay at Hotel Indigo, one winner was gifted a $50 gift card to dine at a local restaurant (Thanks Rayka App), a wine blending session for two at Grand Bohemian Hotel and a Self Care box from Motherland Essentials.
These curated gift sets contain everything you need to create a personal spa like experience: bath salts, shea butter body cream, body oil, handcrafted organic soap and more. We also threw in a signed copy of our book, Holy Spirits! Charleston Culture Through Cocktails” because every good bar desires a great cocktail recipe book!
Make sure to check back for our next #GetawayGiveaway
https://www.belmond.com/hotels/north-america/usa/sc/charleston/belmond-charleston-place/spa https://charleston.classesbykessler.com/collections/all https://www.rayka-app.com/ www.mountpleasantlyindigo.com www.motherlandessentials.com
Our South
We were first introduced to the Southbound art exhibit during Pecha Kucha 31. Mark Sloan, the collections co-curator briefly shared the overall concept of the artwork. Mark explained that the project hoped to shed light on the changes or lack thereof, in The South over the last few decades. The compilation of photos represents the perspectives of 56 different photographers interpretation of today’s New South.
Deeply intrigued, we took a few friends out to view the pieces. Half of the collection is being held at The Halsey Institute at The College of Charleston, our Alma mater. Our group of 6 meandered through the gallery, mocktail in hand, gazing thoughtfully into each image. Some photos caused a strong emotional response; while others were weirdly familiar. We discussed and expressed which photos were the most impactful. We then asked our group of professional black women, “What ‘The South’ meant to them?”:
We encourage you to visit The Southbound exhibit and explore what ‘The South’ means to you. We are a nation of diverse people with varied and complex backgrounds. To ignore the systematic disenfranchisement that took place in The American South would be to deny an important portion of our country’s history. Exhibits like Southbound remind us that we are not that far removed and that discussion is needed if we are to ever see change.
What we drank…
Surreal Sorrel
Unsweetened Hibiscus Tea + Cheerwine Syrup + Hooch Limeade Soda
Add unsweetened hibiscus tea and Cheerwine syrup to mixing tin full of ice.
Secure the lid, then shake tin passionately.
Pour mixture into rocks glass full of ice.
Carefully add Hooch soda until glass is full.
Take #GentleLadySips
http://southboundproject.org/ https://www.hoochitup.com/ http://halsey.cofc.edu/ https://cheerwine.com/ Photos by: https://theredsunflower.com/
USBG Southern Regionals 2018 – MIAMI
The United States Bartenders Guild is a national community for bar professionals.
Regional conference allows us to meet other USBG members in our surrounding area.
This annual event is hosted in different member cities to give each chapter the opportunity to educate others on the techniques and trends in their area.
We attended our 1st regional in Miami this May. The four day conference was filled with educational seminars including a beer brewing session with ‘Guinness’, a foam infusion course using ISI whippet and even a honey tasting hosted by the American Honey Board. All a welcome change from the typical brand sponsored spirits tasting.
Each meal was prepared at a hip and modern Miami eatery including ‘Zest’ and ‘Komodo’ that features elevated birds nest sitting; very dope.
The evening bar takeovers showcased beautifully crafted cocktails at popping MIA bars like ‘Better Days’ downtown.
Regional conferences also permit us to discuss important topics in our industry like medical coverage for bar professionals and workplace sexual harassment. Starting and continuing these conversations are critical to the progress of our bar community.
Top 3 Faves
- Meeting cool people – aside form meeting members from all over the Southeast; we had direct connection to brand ambassadors of major spirits companies. 2. Storytellers Dinner Series – Dinner entertainment at Cabaret was narrated by soul stirring stories from industry leaders. Four bar professional shared intimate moments from their lives that ultimately shaped their beverage careers. Very inspiring stuff. The 4-course meal was complemented by delicious Grey Goose cocktails.
3. Amazing Miami eats!
We can’t wait to attend USBG Regionals in Charlotte, North Carolina in Spring of 2019. Interested in joining The Guild?!? Visit the website: www.usbg.gov
www.italianspirits.ice.it/
www.thespiritofitaly.com/
SCPRT Chefs Ambassador’s Dinner 2018
Discover SC is the marketing branch of South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department. Its mission is to spread awareness of all that SC has to offer as a to offer as a tourism destination. Aside from the amazing weather, lush golf courses and miles of pristine beaches;
SC has a burgeoning food and beverage culture.
In an effort to showcase the State’s culinary talent, Former Governor Nikki Haley, created the Chef’s Ambassador’s program.
Since 2015, chefs from different areas of the SC are selected to represent the state in out-of-town festivals and media events.
2018’s Ambassadors team featured an all-female chefs from Landrum all the way down to the Lowcountry.
To celebrate the honor, each chef was asked to prepare a dish to not only represent cuisine served at their respective establishments but also to symbolize the Palmetto State.
This curated meal was to be served to travel and hospitality media in New York City. We had the distinct pleasure of being selected to serve our signature cocktails for the dinner.
The upstairs at Haven’s Kitchen was adorn with floral arrangements containing tiny pineapples and baby okra. As guest arrived, we served our signature cocktails: Peninsula Tea and Upstate Revival during cocktail hour.
The passed hor d’oeuvres included bacon wrapped shrimp and beet tortollia. The bold flavors of the bites complimented the Sweet Tea Vodka and Bourbon based drinks.
We then moved into the dinner service and were joined by United Nations Ambassador and program creator, Nikki Haley. She shared how proud she was at the development of the program. South Carolina has become quite a contender in Southern food destinations thanks to these amazing chefs. Visit the Lowcountry, discover all the flavors of South Carolina.
www.discoversc.com
www.sixandtwentydistillery.com
www.fireflyspirits.com
www.scprt.com
www.havenskitchen.com/
www.hoochitup.com/
ORGANICS by Red Bull
‘Gives You Wings’ – everyone is familiar with that Red Bull tagline.
The energy drink is world renowned for their potent beverage that provides consumers with an instant boast. The drink, easily identifiable in the slender can, is available anywhere beverages are sold.
As millennials move toward a more active and health conscious lifestyle, the range of drink options increases.
Red Bull spent a considerable amount of time designing a line of craft sodas to meet satisfy one’s thirst at any occasion. Cola, Bitter Lemon, Ginger and Tonic Water are now available in select markets.
While these low calorie soda are delicious on their own, they make excellent additions to cocktails.
We designed over a dozen cocktails for Red Bull to show off the versatility and ease of Organics by Red Bull.
We kept the recipes simple and familiar, so even the novice mixologist could construct an impressive yet accessible cocktail.
Here are a few that we featured at the Organics launch event in Raleigh, North Carolina. Each drink featured a different Organics flavor and paired beautifully with North Carolina BBQ prepared by local pitmaster Sam Jones! Organics by Red Bull is only available in two markets, so if you see it, try it!
