Lowcountry Cuisine Summer/Fall 2019

LC 24 www.LowcountryCuisineMag.com | www.MountPleasantRestaurant.com | www.CharlestonRecipes.com lowcountry cuisine areas of the city, and the other offers gorgeous views of the Ravenel Bridge and Charleston Harbor. The Watch also has a beautiful indoor-seating area, which features a full bar and community tables. It has an assortment of fruity and refreshing cocktails, such as the Cant-aloupe With Me cocktail made with vodka, cantaloupe, red pepper jam, orgeat and lime. This cocktail is unique with its strong, sweet cantaloupe flavor. Summer is the perfect season for ripe melons, so this cocktail couldn’t be a better match for a hot summer day on the rooftop. The Watch has two standout food options that would pair quite well with this cocktail. The spicy fried chicken sandwich is made with buttermilk-battered chicken, pickles, Alabama white sauce and shredded lettuce and is served with french fries. The burrata salad consists of greens topped with a sweet compote and is smothered in creamy burrata cheese. The dish comes with soft and chewy French bread. This salad is perfect if you’re looking for something on the lighter side and pairs well with the Cant-aloupe With Me cocktail, as its just as refreshing and provides even more sweet flavor to your palate. The spicy fried chicken sandwich is more on the heavy side and is still just as delicious. It’s fried to crispy perfection, and the white sauce adds a delectable tangy flavor, offering a slightly spicy and more savory flavor to balance out the strong, sweet flavor of the Cant- aloupe With Me cocktail. THE VENDUE Like The Watch, The Vendue offers two different types of views. They have a lower level and an upper level of rooftop seating areas. The upper level provides close-up views of the tops of buildings on East Bay Street, as well as the Battery and church steeples on Broad Street. The lower level provides views of the tops of buildings on King Street, as well as views of the Ravenel Bridge. There are full bars on both levels. It’s worth noting that the lower level is a bit more closed-off, so if you want the full rooftop bar feel, the upper level is definitely the place to be. The Vendue has a great selection of cocktails ranging from classic to more exotic. They also have a large wine selection and craft beers. The Strawberry Basil Lemonade and the Red Moon Margarita are great for summer weather. The Strawberry Basil Lemonade is made with Cathead honeysuckle vodka, house-made strawberry lemonade and fresh basil leaves. It’s served in a tall glass over ice. I can’t think of a more perfect summer cocktail than this one — I mean, really, what could be better than spiked strawberry lemonade on a hot summer day? It’s perfectly sweet and tangy all at the same time, making for a great summer sipper. When it comes to exotic, the Red Moon Margarita really hits a home run. This cocktail is made with Belle Isle honey habanero moonshine, Cointreau, blood orange Photos by Thomas Runion. Photos by Thomas Runion.