TheSunNews.com: Food

Ice cream man sells cheer in Georgetown

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:59 EDT

GEORGETOWN COUNTYA white Ford truck, spotless, hums up U.S. 17 traveling north toward Pawleys Island.

The driver, a handsome man whose skin has been tanned caramel by the sun, is a believer in smiles.

An ice cream man can evoke sincerity and childlike joy, and it is the main reason why Jamie Cristello is so pleased with his profession.

Food briefs | Mexican bakery offers baked goods, products

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:59 EDT

MYRTLE BEACH

Mexican bakery offers baked goods, products

Readers, you know how much l love diversity in my food and in my life.

Broadway Cafe holds surprises

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:00 EDT

Broadway Cafe & Gourmet is home to creative impulses.

Located at 509 Broadway St. in Myrtle Beach, the eatery is spontaneity spiked with a splash of fun-spiritedness, charm, detail and delight.

Karen Holck is the owner, and like me, she is a plus-size woman with spark to spare.

Desperation dinners | Writer's stir-fry dish is easy and delicious

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:00 EDT

This is the sort of letter we live for - the writer loves Desperation Dinners, expresses it beautifully and shares a terrific original recipe. Without further ado, here's an easy stir-fry from Jennifer McKee of Billings, Mont., and how it came to be (in her words):

"I must say that my husband and I would have starved but for Desperation Dinners. The desperation only increased after our first child was born. We have entire recipes committed to memory.

"[Today's] recipe was borne from my collegiate career in food service for the University of Montana. While I'm an absolute charmer today, I never had the dependable smile to make it as waitress. I was always working a Hobart or a hot grill. About two years of that time were spent grilling Asian food to order. There, I learned all about black-bean sauce and other Eastern mysteries."

Cool foods fit warm climates

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:00 EDT

Warmer climates naturally lend themselves to uncomplicated and cooling recipes. Every time I travel to a country with a climate like ours, I look for recipes that would be satisfying back home.

Earlier this year, I was in the Mediterranean where simple grilled foods are served with a splash of fresh lemon juice and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil.

In Greece, large chopped salads of cucumbers, tomatoes still warm from the garden and snipped oregano accompany every meal. Fresh pasta tossed with cheese, basil and a green vegetable is commonplace throughout Italy.

Chili makes the dog

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:59 EDT

The hot dog chili was one of our family obsessions.

Not just any hot dog chili. This was a very specific chili, spooned on hot dogs at a drive-in in Wilson, N.C., in the early 1960s.

The drive-in was owned by a woman named Mabel. By coincidence, she also lived in the house right behind ours in Eastern N.C. Her daughters roughly matched my sister, my brother and me in ages.

Tex-Mex well done at Papis

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:59 EDT

The four elderly ladies were disappointed - they wanted Taco Bell taste in a place dedicated to Tex-Mex food.

But other customers at Papis Texican Grill were sold on the tastes created by Nigel Cossey.

"That's just crazy," said Rita Ashley. "Taco Bell isn't Tex-Mex food. This is authentic Tex-Mex food, and it is great."

RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:59 EDT

Untouchable Mobile Cafe, 3065 Pennyroyal Road, Georgetown, R, 95

Dippin' Dots Food Court, 2000 Coastal Grand Drive, Myrtle Beach, R, 98

Little River Deli Mobile, 2352 S.C 9 E., Longs, R, 98

Versatile hot dogs a staple for Americans on holidays, any day

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:00 EDT

The word on the street is, come Independence Day, Americans will chomp down on 150 million hot dogs.

That's enough for a string of hot dogs stretching from our nation's capital to Los Angeles more than five times, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.

So, it's obvious that America has a serious crush on frankfurters.

Versatile hot dogs a staple for Americans on holidays, any day

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:43 EDT

The word on the street is, come Independence Day, Americans will chomp down on 150 million hot dogs.

That's enough for a string of hot dogs stretching from our nation's capital to Los Angeles more than five times, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.

So, it's obvious that America has a serious crush on frankfurters.

Extra day to buy produce sparks celebration at Myrtle's Market

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:48 EDT

Rita Cauthen screamed in delight, jumped into the air and then hugged Crystal Nickerson tight.

Others shouted, too. People raised their fists in victory. A celebration was taking place.

Cauthen hadn’t won the lottery Wednesday afternoon, but she was celebrating with other shoppers and vendors about Myrtle’s Market getting its Saturday back.

Georgetown cafe helps you feel at home

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:12 EDT

Curmudgeons everywhere, especially those in the restaurant industry, please take notes from Tracy Littlejohn at Upper Crust.

This former furniture store employee of Augustus Carolina knows how to treat her customers.

When you walk into her business at 816 Front St. in Georgetown, she greets you with a cheery hello and welcomes you to her quaint lunch nook.

Zucchini wizard | A different path to apple pie

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:13 EDT

Imagine biting into one of the best apple pies ever and discovering it contains not a single apple.

If you have eaten at the home of Calabash resident Jet Gilson, mistress of kitchen magic, this could be your experience. From her garden she plucks an enormous zucchini and turns it into that delectable "apple" pie.

On a hot June day this Long Island native gathered several friends to demonstrate the secrets of this feat of culinary legerdemain. Unlike most magicians Gilson does not mind sharing her secrets. "I like everyone to be able to do what I do," she said.

Restaurant inspections from Myrtle Beach area

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:10 EDT

Nance's Creekfront Restaurant, 4883 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, R, 93

Pastaria 811, 111 Litchfield Exchange, Litchfield Beach, R, 88

Tradition Golf Club Snack Bar, 1027 Willbrook Blvd., Pawleys Island, R, 93

Chilled soup perfect for summer

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:13 EDT

"The fact that this vichyssoise is made with canned potatoes just shocks the pants off me!"

And those, dear friends, were the exact words from Alicia as she told me about her love affair with our desperate version of this classic chilled French soup. It's true that a slight variation of today's recipe is printed in our very own "Desperation Dinners" cookbook, but I had not tasted it in nearly a decade.

Somehow, over the years, I became a potato snob. Anything made with canned potatoes couldn't be good, could it?

Ices cool off Myrtle Beach summer days

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:40 EDT

The grown-up from Greenville was lassoed by leprechaun lemon.

It was hot out, and James Pickens was delighted about how ice with flavor to savor tasted on his tongue.

"This is better than ice cream, and it's not melting as fast," said Pickens, a former ice cream truck driver for Blue Bunny, as he scooped Irish Ice from his Styrofoam cup. "I really like it."

Give Dad amazing steak meal

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:31 EDT

BEVERLY MILLS

WITH ALICIA ROSS

A friend mentioned just the other day that her husband asks for Amazing Steaks from our "Desperation Entertaining" cookbook every week - whether they're entertaining or not.

Recipe: Amazing Steaks

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:29 EDT

Start to finish: 20 minutes; serves 4

4 boneless steaks of choice, such as rib-eye or strip steaks (6 to 8 ounces each)

3 tablespoons butter

Church offers produce from farms

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:09 EDT

FARMERS MARKETS

Church offers produce from farms

St. Michael Catholic Church Farmers Market in Garden City Beach is now open for the season. The market opened Friday, and it will feature an array of products from Louis Reid Farms in Greeleyville.

Treats surround guests at New York Diner

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:31 EDT

The temptations greeted me at the door.

Their names were apple strudel, rugelach and cheese strudel, but I bypassed them all at New York Diner.

I looked up, and low and behold, more temptations appeared - blueberry cheesecake, Boston cream pie and other decadent desserts showing their stuff in a display case.

Restaurant inspections

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:09 EDT

VFW Post 10420, 4359 U.S. 17, Murrells Inlet, R, 92

Backfinz, 4396 U.S. 17, Murrells Inlet, R, 90

Cedar Hill Landing Restaurant, 5225 U.S. 17, Murrells Inlet, R, 89