TheSunNews.com: Food

Chef clears up French cooking

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00 EST

Why are Grand Strand area foodies crowding the French cooking classes offered by the Brentwood?

The three-hour sessions on sauces, creme brulee, crepes, sauces, stews and more fill up almost as soon as dates are posted on the Little River restaurant's Web site (www.thebrentwoodrestaurant.com). Comments from members of last week's class on soups and stews and students from previous classes reveal that the reasons for taking the first class are many, but that repeat sign-ups are definitely due to the competence and conviviality of the instructor, French born and trained Chef Eric Masson.

Vegetables key to balanced Thanksgiving

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00 EST

Turkey is definitely the star of the Thanksgiving Day spread, but a really outstanding meal is an ensemble event -- with co-star side dishes that also sparkle.

Executive Chef James Clark of the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes offers this expert advice to make the vegetables worthy contenders for the spotlight. He advises selecting the freshest available in the market. For Thanksgiving, he notes that root vegetables and squashes will be among the most widely available fresh choices. "I use local sources when I can and for the holiday will probably be using a lot of pumpkin, acorn squash, sweet potatoes, sunchokes [Jerusalem artichokes] and parsnips," he said.

For those of us who have never used sunchokes, he explained that the sunchoke is the root end of a sunflower and has a very creamy and earthy flavor. According to Clark, these are qualities that make it a good accompaniment to almost any fall meal. "Parsnips are something else I love to use. They are like a white carrot. People often overlook them. The parsnip has natural sugar, and once roasted or cooked, it has a phenomenal flavor. I like to mix them with carrots," Clark said.

Spirits

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:00 EST

Johnnie Walker Black Label Centenary Edition

Blended Scotch Whisky, 12 Year Old, 80 proof Scotland $41 750 ml

Turning Thanksgiving upside down

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:24 EST

Turkey will definitely be present on Thanksgiving, but it is not the only meat making an appearance on Grand Strand tables.

Local cookbook authors and contributors are leading the way in making Thanksgiving meals that will highlight custom and creativity when the feasting commences and meat will be the main ingredient.

Barbecue pork ribs, chitterlings and fried chicken will join the roasted turkey at the home of Henry "Bird" Burgess and his wife, Patricia.

Spirits

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:10 EST

Duck Rabbit Milk Stout

North Carolina, 5.7% Alcohol, $8 6-pack

Edamame gives tangy zest to soup

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:24 EST

For several years now, we've enjoyed edamame as an appetizer in Japanese restaurants where you just squeeze the blanched soybeans from their pods directly into your mouth. Then we began to notice edamame frozen in the pods in the supermarket, and finally, bags of shelled edamame.

The convenience of already-shelled edamame means busy cooks can incorporate this nutritional powerhouse into mainstream meals. The most logical place to start is soups and stews, and we began throwing a handful into pots of vegetable soup to take advantage of the nutrients. The edamame soybean is rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and vitamins A, B and C.

When we spotted a recipe for Edamame Soup in a new cookbook by our friend Belinda Hulin, we got inspired. Today's recipe is adapted from Belinda's luscious soup with its fresh, bright Asian flavors. The fact that each serving contains fewer than 100 calories, zero cholesterol and only 3 grams of fat is just a bonus.

Clarification

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:18 EST

Luigi NY Italian Trattoria on 61st Avenue North in Myrtle Beach is open for business and thriving. Last Wednesday's Eateries column included information about the former owner, Luigi LoSanto, who opened a restaurant in Conway in August, which is unaffiliated with the Myrtle Beach restaurant.

Restaurant inspections

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:18 EST

Oct. 29, 2009-Nov. 4, 2009

Nance's Creekfront Restaurant, 4883 U.S. 17, Murrells Inlet, R, 88

VFW No. 10420, 4359 U.S. 17, Murrells Inlet, R, 94

Coffee flavors life

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:59 EST

Coffee gives untold legions reasons to perk up in the morning, stay up late at night and simply sit to enjoy the intimacy coffee lends to conversations both serious and silly.

It is a universal language served up in the container of choice and in the setting of choice at whatever temperature one desires.

Coffee has steadfast friends, with more than half of the nation's adult population consuming it daily.

Italian eatery finds home in Conway

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:59 EST

Luigi LoSanto is a small man with a big following.

Correction: LoSanto is a small man with a dedicated and determined fan base willing to browse the Web and call up yours truly, and bold enough to ask the competition where he is.

The answer is in Conway, and Luigi's Restaurant has been there since July 10, but some of his fans didn't know where he was.

Spirits breakdown

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00 EST

Crystal Head Vodka

Canada, 80 proof $49 750ml

Restaurant inspections

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:34 EST

True Blue Grill, 900 Blue Stem Drive, Pawleys Island, F, 96

Piggly Wiggly Deli, 1620 Highmarket St., Georgetown, F, 89

Vienna's Sports Bar, 4410 U.S. 17, Murrells Inlet, F, 89

26th annual Taste of Town Winners

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:53 EDT

Nearly 11,000 people attended Tuesday's 26th annual Taste of the Town, which benefits St. Andrew Catholic School. Planning is already underway for next year's event, which will be Oct. 12.

The winners were:

Restaurant Inspections For Oct. 15-21, 2009

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:09 EDT

Lamar's Fish & Chips, 205 Merriman Road, Georgetown, F, 91

Rice Paddy Restaurant, 732 Front St., Georgetown, F, 88

Lands End, One Marina Drive, Georgetown, F, 80

Spirits

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:39 EST

Nuvo L'Esprit de Paris

30 proof, France $30

Online extra

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:39 EST

Log onto TheSunNews.com for tons of photos and video from last night's 26th annual Taste of the Town event.

{ pumpkins }

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:39 EST

Pies aren't the only place for pumpkins.

They have more personality than flaky crusts alone can hold.

These spunky members of the squash family have flavor to savor, but you have to be adventurous to discover its beyond-pie possibilities.

Area cafe remains sunny, creative

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:39 EST

Betty Bromley knows how to feed folks.

The owner of Sunflower Cafe fixes much of her food from scratch.

Her desserts and salads are made by her own hands.