Lowcountry Cuisine Charleston 2020 Spring

www.LowcountryCuisineMag.com | www.MountPleasantRestaurant.com | www.CharlestonRecipes.com lowcountry cuisine LC 37 “It’s got a nice little Cajun flavor to it,” said Erwin. Served on grilled, thick-cut, local honey white bread alongside a green tomato chow-chow, the Creole kick is pleasantly balanced against a host of cooling, crisp companions. “We try to keep it more in your mouth than on your lap,” said Erwin. “But it still gets plenty sloppy, that’s for sure.” Whatever he creates, Erwin is focused on keeping things fun, creative and, most importantly, in perspective. “I’ve been in the kitchen my whole life,” explained Erwin, “and everyone says, ‘Oh, you need a bigger sign…you need this and that.’ It’s not really about world domination. I have a lot of other interests, a family, friends, so I try to keep things kind of low key, that way I can create.” In the near term, Erwin hopes to collaborate with local brewers to host a brewer’s dinner and pairing. He also plans to reach out to local food truck chefs, offering an intimate space where others can be inventive, create. For the long term, “I’ve got such a solid crew,” said Erwin, “our main focus is really working with what we have, what we’ve built, and making that better.” Joining Erwin on the Best Sandwiches list is renowned pitmaster Rodney Scott, who spreads his family’s food goodness, serving soul-warming Southern barbeque with a host of lip-smacking sides. What began as a Thursday special at Scott’s Variety convenience store, Scott’s whole hog barbecue earned him a 2018 James Beard Award and a place among the Food Network’s list of favorites. The famed sandwich begins, of course, with the whole hog, smoked over hickory, oak and pecan hardwood for 12 hours, then seasoned, sauced and cooked some more before being pulled to perfection and piled atop a classic bun. Every bite is moist, mouth-watering and layered with smoke and vinegar tang. “Getting the whole hog right is a lifetime job,” explained Scott. “I wouldn’t say that I have it right. I’d say that I’m doing OK, and I’m still learning. In the opinion of Rodney Scott, there’s never an end to the learning process.” Since opening the downtown Charleston location in 2016, Rodney Scott’s BBQ has opened a second spot in Birmingham, Alabama. Another restaurant in Atlanta will be open by spring. What’s next? “We’re trying to slowly spread the love around the world, to invite everybody to our table,” shared Scott. “Everybody: short, tall, wide, skinny, every culture, every country…We want everybody to come to our table at least once, to get a taste of our version of barbecue.” Rodney Scott’s downtown restaurant. Photo by Angie Mosier.