Lowcountry Cuisine Spring 2018

lowcountry cuisine LC 43 www.LowcountryCuisineMag.com | www.CharlestonRecipes.com I t’s no secret that Charleston has become one of the “must stop” destinations along any foodie’s road map. From fresh seafood to mouthwatering barbecue to good ol’ fashioned Southern comfort food, Charleston is where it’s at. It’s not surprising then, that in October of 2017, News2 producers decided a special series, “Lowcountry Eats,” was in order to help find the best of the best spots – and they knew Josh Marthers was the man for the job. “I love trying new types of foods and places I’ve never been, so this felt perfect for me,” he commented. Marthers, known best for being our go-to voice of reason for all things weather-related, eagerly jumped on the opportunity to check out local eateries in October and November. What was originally meant to be a short series quickly turned into a weekly feature once the show proved popular, especially with online viewers. “It’s become one of the most clicked links and segments on our News2 website. It’s great to see that the viewers love it. And frankly, I love it, too!” he said. Once filming was a go – with photographer Jason Lockemy behind the camera – Marthers knew where his first stop had to be. “In 2007, when I came to Charleston for the first time, Octavia Mitchell took me to Buckshots in McClellanville, and it was unlike any type of soul food I had ever had. You feel like you’re walking into your grandmom’s living room when you’re there, and I knew the viewers needed to know about their world-famous fried chicken,” Marthers explained. Other interesting experiences have included Blackwood Smokehouse, with its unique smoking process; the secret salsa on the tuna nachos at Rita’s Seaside Grille; and the periwinkle – a sea snail – at Niko’s Cafe in Mount Pleasant. “It’s pushing the boundaries and comfort zone even for me and I love it. I find that I’m continuously searching for new things to try on my own more than ever before, and that’s been exciting,” said Marthers, who wasn’t especially fond of seafood dishes prior to “Lowcountry Eats.” While the show has certainly featured household names before, don’t expect to see only well-known locations in every segment. “We like to mix it up and sometimes go off the beaten path. Every week we visit a new restaurant to find out their “one thing” that makes them different from the rest – the little things that make them unique,” Marthers said. “At the end of the day, one thing that everyone has in common is food, and here in Charleston, we have something for everyone,” he added. “Right now we’re having a lot of fun. The viewers are tuning in, everyone at the station is enjoying it and I don’t see an end in sight.” By Krysta Chapman To catch all the sweet, savory and delicious segments yourself, you can tune in every Friday for News2 Today at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., News2 Midday at 11 a.m., and News2 at 5 p.m. Everyone Has Food in Common Lowcountry Eats