A look back at last Sunday in Charleston. The afternoon started with happy hour at @philosophersandfoolschs I hosted in partnership with @gaillardcenter. If you haven’t been yet, Philosophers & Fools is a great new neighborhood bookstore bar in Downtown Charleston.
We then made our way over to see @rankytankymusic at The Gaillard Center. This band, created by five lifelong friends from Charleston, has already won two Grammy awards, and put on an incredible show, accompanied by Ms. Lisa Fisher.
If you’re looking for something to do on night on the town with friends, seeing a show at the Gaillard is always a fun experience - especially with some of the shows that are currently on schedule. #sponsored #feelitallchs #gaillardcenter #charlestongaillardcenter
Excursions are always a special part of the @chswineandfood experience- and last week I spent the morning with Stephanie Burt of @thesouthernfork and @certifiedsc visiting some of the farms in the Lowcountry that literally feed the city in more ways than one.
First stop was @storey_farms with chef turned farmer Jeremy Storey, who provides eggs to over 40 restaurants here in the Lowcountry.
Next Stop: @ambrosefamilyfarm - a 200-acre, family-owned and operated, organically grown U-pick, farmers market and wholesale farm. Farmer Pete of Ambrose has been farming out here on Wadmalaw Island since 1976.
Final stop for the day at @lowlandfarms - a small family farm from farmer Kenneth “Skinny” Melton that specializes in heirloom vegetables, flowers and eggs.
We ended the day bringing it from “field to fork” with a meal from Executive Chef Jill Mathias of @cheznouscharleston using produce from many of the farms we visited through the day.
Farmer Jai meets City Jai - all in one incredible weekend. @chswineandfood #babygoatsandcocktails #chswf24 #charleston
An afternoon of hot dogs and cocktails makes for a great Friday at the @chswineandfood @cleats_chs Cocktail Lunch with Denver’s @yachtclubbar.
We’re back at it for year 8 with @chswineandfood! It all began last night with one of my favorite events every year- Opening Night.
Lots to come over the next few days, from the @cleats_chs Cocktail Lunch with @yachtclubbar out of Denver (still a few tickets available!), to Culinary Village and an incredible excursion with @southernfork and @certifiedsc touring farms around the Lowcountry.
What events are you looking forward to this year? Also- if you see me around over the next few days, please say hi! Excited to show you everything #CHSWF24.
📸: @holycityhandcraft
#CharlestonWine+Food #Festival #Food #Wine #WineandFood #charleston
36 going on 9.
Being a leapling or leaper, means my official birthday comes every four years, and today happens to be that day. In the four years since my last birthday the world and has changed, and I’ve grown a lot in many ways. Birthdays are in a way your personal new year, and here are a few lessons that come to mind as I’m reflecting.
Do what you love. Pursue what you’re passionate about. Surround yourself with love. Hold close and prioritize those who truly want what’s best for you and allow you to be fully yourself around them. Allow yourself to be unserious every now and then. Get out of your comfort zone and say yes sometimes. Live with intention. Stay persistent. Live life for you - and realize the people who you may be afraid of judging you for doing so often don’t matter. Movement can often be the best medicine. Always realize the importance of you, and prioritize you so that you can fully show up in the ways you want to elsewhere in life. Slow down. Celebrate your wins, and appreciate the people who want to celebrate those with you.
And always eat well. Much love! 🖤
Photos from “Food Fight” a project by the talented @victorlovesyou 🙏🏾
Meet @thequinteoysterbar - the reimagined oyster bar by @jasondeanstanhope - right next to Lowland at @thepinchhotel. Described as “charmingly irreverent” in the best way, The Quinte is a concept that doesn’t take itself too seriously where you can pull up to the bar and have what will likely be one of your favorite meals in the city.
Started dinner with the Moonlight Drive- a mezcal, ginger and wheat beer cocktail that is earthy yet incredibly refreshing. As expected, the seafood is the star here, from the pickled littleneck clams with whipped avocado, to spicy blue crab topped with trout roe. And during the colder months, don’t be surprised if you see me at the bar with a bowl of the Seafood Chowder in front of me alongside a pint of @themunklebrewingco Gully Washer Wit. I have a feeling I’ll be back here often.
If you love sushi and are looking for a truly special dining experience in Charleston, the Omakase experience at @sushiwa_chs should be on your list. The 14 courses of nigiri, curated by Chefs Kazuyuki Murakami and Chris Schoedler, truly allow the fresh ingredients to shine - from a beautiful blue fin tuna from Baja, Mexico to North Carolina crab topped with caviar.
Sunday Mornings at @theharbingercafe. If you’re a fan of avocado toast, The Grasshopper here is the way to go. #charleston #chseats
What’s for Breakfast: The Prosciutto Breakfast Sandwich from @oddduckmarket. Odd Duck is a cafe and retail market - right in the heart of Park Circle on East Montague. The fresh focaccia and Calabrian chili mayo on this sandwich are pretty special. A great option for breakfast or lunch in The Circle. #chseats #charleston
Sunday Brunch at @florenceskitchen. Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen just reopened on James Island, and I went today to check out the new space and some of the new menu. The Brunch Bowl was the highlight of brunch - Florence’s take on the classic Lowcountry Shrimp & Grits, with a sunny side up egg on top. The Fried Green Tomatoes are another classic worth getting here, along with the Lowcountry Hot Shrimp. #charleston #chseats
What’s for Dinner: Dan Dan Noodles with Chicken from @bokchoyboyfood at @chsfermentory. If you haven’t been to the Avondale area of West Ashley recently, it’s worth the visit again soon – lots of really fun concepts opening up in the neighborhood, with the Filipino Pan-Asian cuisine Bok Choy Boy as one of my favorites. Make sure to always check out the specials when you go- and the Lettuce Wraps are always a solid way to start the meal. #charleston #chseats #filipinofoods
Starting the New Year with the meal we always did as a family growing up in the South. Black Eyed Peas, Collard Greens and Pork at Family Meal from @eatatberkeleys at @barrollins. #chseats #charleston
2023. It’s been beautiful at times, challenging at others, but full of growth and love. Saw some of the artists on my bucket list (Renaissance was everything I wanted it to be, thank you @beyonce), ate incredible food, danced a lot, saw friends realize their dreams, and was grateful to be there to support other friends during their challenges 🙏🏾. Made one the ideas on my goals list for this year come to life with the first Wanderlust photography/food pop-up thanks to @sightseeshop and @diegosempanadas / @sumi.a.bakery and professionally got to help develop and bring to life new products with my team that are now in every Apple Store in the world 🤯. Judged food festivals for @cityofgreenvillesc, built up my cooking skills with @nordic_cooking and @indacochs, traveled around the South getting to interview some incredible people for @gardenandgun, got to celebrate the unions of some of my favorite people - and so much more. Thanks for following along, going into 2024 with a level of intention and gratefulness for what’s to come. See you next year. ✌🏾
I first met Khailing Neoh during @euphoriagreenville last year at an event where she talked about how she was planning to bring traditional Chinese Dim Sum to the Upstate, and I finally got to stop by and see her vision come to life. @sum.bar.gvl is in the heart of Downtown Greenville with handmade Siu Mai (traditional Chinese dumplings), Congee, and a Char Siu BBQ Pork that’s a must when you visit. #yeahthatgreenville
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season with the ones you love most. (📷 @cameronwilder)
Last weekend I went up to #greenvillesc to go eat and explore during the holidays, and also check out some of the newest spots in town. First stop was for coffee and breakfast at the recently opened @hellodaydrinkers in San Souci, SC - just a few minutes outside of downtown. Open by two best friends who had the dream of opening a coffee shop together, the vibes here are impeccable- from the soundtrack to the furniture and really fun murals and art all along throughout the space. This time went for a classic latte, and an an Egg Nog doughnut from @scoutsdoughnuts. Great way to start the day in Greenville. @visitgreenvillesc @cityofgreenvillesc #coffeeshop #greenvilleeats
A look back at Spiegeltent: Cabaret Royale by Underbelly, now at @gailiardcenter. In December, the front lawn of the Gaillard Center is home to the Spiegeltent (“mirror tent”) which was originally built in the first half of the 20th century in Belgium, as a traveling dance & music hall. Less than 40 of the original tents are still in existence, with one right here in Charleston.
Cabaret Royale is the anchor show this year, a circus meets cabaret show with aerialists, the cyr wheel and so much more created by @underbellyent in London. In Charleston until December 22nd, this is an experience in a one of a kind venue you’ve likely never seen before.
Use discount code JAI25 to save 25% off your tickets for Cabaret Royale and many other shows happing this season (exclusions apply) #gaillardcenter #sponsored
🍖Giveaway Closed!🍗 Last years’ @heritagefiretour was one of my favorite events in town, and the tour is coming back to Charleston on Sunday, December 10th! I’m giving away a pair of VIP tickets (a $350 value) to this years’ tour stop, featuring local chefs from @indacochs, @lostislejohnsisland, @malagoncharleston, @mineroji and so many more. You’ll even get early entry to the event to be the first to try all the incredible food and drinks. To enter:
- Follow @jaieats and @heritagefiretour
- Tag a friend you’d take in the comments (multiple entries welcome)
- BONUS entry: share this reel to your story and tag both accounts
**Must be 21+ to enter. Winner will receive two (2) VIP tickets to Heritage Fire in Charleston on Sunday, December 10. Winner will be announced on Saturday, December 2nd. Good luck! #chseats #charleston
Sunday Brunch at @huskrestaurant. Coffee Rubbed Pork with Hash Browns, Fried Eggs, & Red Eye Gravy and Fried Chicken with Citrus Chamomile Honey. Love seeing what @whiskeytangoed is doing here- worth checking out again in Downtown Charleston if you haven’t been in a while! #charleston #chseats #brunch
