Exploring Charleston, SC in Fall: Why You Should Hire a Private Chef

Charleston, South Carolina, is undoubtedly a charming destination all year round, but there's something particularly magical about the city during the fall season. As the temperatures cool down and the vibrant foliage paints the cityscape with warm hues, Charleston beckons visitors to experience its unique blend of history, culture, and cuisine.

1. Discover Historic Charleston:

Fall is the perfect time to explore the historic heart of Charleston. Stroll down cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old oak trees and picturesque antebellum architecture. Immerse yourself in the city's rich history by visiting landmarks like the Charleston City Market, the Nathaniel Russell House, and Rainbow Row.

2. Savor Lowcountry Cuisine:

Charleston is renowned for its delectable cuisine, and fall brings a unique twist to the city's culinary scene. Local chefs start incorporating the season's bounty into their menus, showcasing dishes featuring fresh seafood, sweet potatoes, collard greens, and more. By hiring a personal chef service like Charleston Chef Service, you can savor these fall flavors without the hassle of making reservations or waiting in line at restaurants.

3. Visit Plantations and Gardens:

Fall is an ideal time to explore the lush plantations and gardens surrounding Charleston. Places like Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation come alive with vibrant foliage, blooming flowers, and meandering waterways.

4. Attend Festivals and Events:

Charleston hosts a variety of festivals and events in the fall, celebrating everything from food and wine to history and the arts. The Charleston Wine + Food Festival, the MOJA Arts Festival, and the Preservation Society's Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens are just a few examples. Catch Charleston Chef Service at Charleston Wine + Food Festival as well as other events through out the year.

5. Embrace Relaxation and Comfort:

Fall in Charleston offers a respite from the summer heat, making it the perfect time to unwind and enjoy the city's tranquil ambiance. Whether you prefer spending your days on the beautiful beaches, exploring the serene marshlands, or taking leisurely carriage rides through the historic district, Charleston's fall charm invites relaxation. A private chef can elevate your evenings by preparing sumptuous meals tailored to your tastes.

Charleston, SC, in the fall is a captivating destination that offers a blend of history, culture, and culinary delights. To make the most of your visit, consider enlisting the services of Charleston Chef Service. With their private chef services, you can savor the flavors of the season, enjoy gourmet meals at your convenience, and create unforgettable memories in this charming Southern city. Charleston in the fall is a treat for the senses, and a private chef can ensure that your culinary experience is as unforgettable as the city itself.

Carolina Gold Arancini

Carolina Gold Arancini, Parmesan & Sesame Seeds

While we might have lost most of our crop variety since the commercial adoption of monoculture, there are still some people out there trying to preserve America’s great heirloom varieties. Marsh Hen Mill, a family-owned farm on Edisto Island, SC is one of them, growing and milling their own heirloom grains like Sea Island red peas, Carolina gold rice, black eyed peas, and Blue Corn. 

Carolina gold rice is a staple crop in South Carolina. It’s a long grain flavorful rice and a perfect canvas for tons of classic southern dishes. There are a billion ways to prepare white rice and I'm sure you’re familiar with more than a few. You probably don’t have quite as many recipes for all that leftover rice, though. This is a modern take on a classic but if you don’t like parmesan or sesame, there are so many other ways to play with flavors here. Have at it!

Note: Make sure you use cooled leftover rice. This recipe won’t work with fresh rice.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Carolina gold rice, cooked

• ½ cup grated parmesan

• 1/8 cup parsley, chopped

• ¼ tsp minced garlic

• 3 large eggs

• 2 cups panko, finely ground

• 1.5 cups AP flour

• 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds

• s&p to taste

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine your cooked rice, parmesan, parsley, garlic, sesame seeds, and egg. 

2. If more binder is needed, add finely ground panko a little at a time until proper texture is reached

3. Roll mixture into balls about the size of  golf ball

4. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and chill in the freezer. 

5. While your mixture is chilling, set up an egg wash station with finely ground panko in one bowl, whisked eggs in another, and AP flour in the last. 

6. After about 30 minutes, remove the chilled rice balls from the freezer. 

7. First, coat the rice ball in flour. Shake off excess. 

8. Next, dunk the flour-coated rice ball in the egg mixture followed by the panko mixture. 

9. Return to your baking sheet and proceed with the rest of the rice balls. 

10. Once all the rice balls have been egg-washed, return to the freezer for 30 minutes or overnight. 

11. When you’re ready to cook, Heat oil in a deep bottom pan on medium high heat.

12. Once preheated, add your Arancini to the oil. Constantly rotate to ensure even browning. Each one will take about 6-8 minutes in the oil. 

13. While still hot, garnish with salt, parmesan, sesame seeds, and parsley. Enjoy!

Food for Thought: Deploying Kindness Pt. 2 Positivity

Positivity

is such an undervalued mental tool. Shifting from a glass half empty to a glass half full mindset is the difference between giving yourself a chance to win and not. As an entrepreneur, most days aren’t quite a walk in the park. Think about it, C-Suite level employees are often the last level of decision making for many businesses. That means all the success, all the failures, all the good times, and all the bad times land on those folks. That’s a lot of stress, and since company culture trickles from the top out to the spokes of the umbrella, the way you handle that stress affects the way you talk to employees, and ultimately, how your employees will engage with the customer.

It all starts with Awareness.

Observe yourself. Are you able to adjust quickly when things don’t turn out as expected or do your negative emotions overpower you? Dwelling about the “what if’s” and “if only’s” instead of just solving the problem. Someone who commits to making positivity a practice in their life, in general, are able to adapt and handle those road blocks much better. Navigate the twist and turns and unpredictability of life and be grateful for the things that are going well. Here are a few things that help me adapt positivity as a lifestyle:

Routine:

Establishing a steady routine is important for me. Things that I can count on will happen almost every day gives me a sense of control in my life. Also, the discipline in establishing a routine helps me practice discipline in other areas of my life as well. If I commit to eating healthy during the weeks and indulge a little more on the weekends, i’m also more likely to get all the things finished that I need to for the week and still have time for the things I want to do when my free time finally does come.

Exercise:

Exercise slowly releases Serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the “feel good” chemicals the brain naturally produces to help fight off things like depression and anxiety. Getting in a daily exercise routine that I can count on gives me a sense of control, again, over my life. It gives me more energy and makes it easier to adjust to the inevitable ebbs and flows of life that remind us we are not always in control and that’s ok!

Meditation:

Meditation has a stigma surrounding it that only women, hippies, or folks following certain religions practice it. We need to get over that now. Meditation is a very useful tool to help relax the mind and the body and bring a more full sense of awareness to our lives. It allows time for the mind to reflect and for you to connect yourself with your body. We tend to abuse our bodies just by living our daily lives and doing day to day tasks. The stress adds up quickly and can really do a number on us. Meditation is an incredibly helpful tool to ground yourself and allows you flow with the tides of life instead of against them.

Know Yourself.

Like I said, It’s important to observe yourself. Ask yourself why you’re experiencing certain things as they happen and find ways that help you cope with those emotions and stresses. Everyone is different and has different techniques for managing these things but being mindful, giving yourself grace as you learn, and instilling good habits in your life will go a long way towards adopting a positive mindset for life.

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.””

— Willie Nelson

Keep spreading love, good people!

Best,

Chef Jake

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