Weekend in Review

Happy Monday y’all. Today I just wanted to share with you some of the things I got into this weekend that are on going in Charleston and a few experiences that are new to me.

Friday:

Friday I became a total clout chaser and went to Restaurant Tu simply because Kanye West was pictured there. A very unassuming restaurant front but upon arrival you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a city like New York or Los Angeles. Tu changes menus every day and they pull inspiration from a lot of different sources so if I had to describe it I would call it experimental. For my meal I shared the shishito, noodles, snapper, and steak. As well as the Harlem Rose cocktail that was mezcal based. The most interesting dish was definitely the shishito. Nearly every table there ordered it and upon arriving at the table it was literally writhing. One of the ingredients (which I was ignorant of at the time) is bonito. Bonito is a thinly cut tuna skin that is so thin that it begins to move when in contact with heat. So when it arrived it was moving and peppers aren’t really supposed to move so I had to google before I ate.

The portions are rather small, so they recommend 2-3 plates per person. Overall, I’m glad that I went but I wouldn’t say that any of the food was good enough to warrant a repeat visit. A pro tip: they have about 6 parking spaces and there’s parking available after 6 at the Health Care building. 

After dinner I headed to the Charleston City Night Market at Market Street. It was filled with street musicians and artisan vendors. A pleasant after dinner walk. The Night Market has a really different vibe than usual and way less tourists. The Night Market is open every Friday and Saturday from 6:30-10:30 from April-December.

Saturday:

I took a trip to Columbia. I had to go to my favorite sushi restaurant, Inakaya. Somewhat off the beaten path on O’neil Court, but totally worth the drive. The sushi chefs treat their regulars like family with playful banter and kids going up to show off their new toys. It’s easily some of the best and freshest sushi I’ve had in Columbia.

After dinner I headed over to The War Mouth for drinks. I again enjoyed a mezcal based drink in their Burning Bush cocktail. It was quite delightful and their food menu made me sad I’d already eaten dinner. An airy space in what appears to have previously been a garage, The War Mouth boasts an eclectic décor and a fun patio outdoor space complete with picnic tables and garden lights.

And lastly, my main reason for going to Columbia was to enjoy the Miss South Carolina Pageant. It was so much fun to be in the crowd and watch people’s emotions in real time. It’s absolutely amazing the amount of energy, talent, and quick dress changes that the pageant contestants put forth. As well as the effort of the hosts and production teams. It was so beautiful to watch the crowning of Miss South Carolina 2018, Davia Bunch (formerly Miss Spartanburg).

Sunday:

Sunday was particularly lazy. But I did finish the book I was reading An American Marriage by Tayiri Jones. An interesting story that analyzes the gray area that lies between differing perspectives. It switches narration between a husband and wife as they go through an unimaginably difficult circumstance. It was an interesting and rather quick read as I was eager to find out how the story ended. I think I finished it in about 3 days.