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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

WILD OLIVE- JOHNS ISLAND, SC

Wild Olive Cucina Italiana on Urbanspoon
I had heard that Wild Olive was an excellent Italian restaurant on Johns Island, SC (Charleston). Usually when I hear the comments, "favorite" and "couldn't put the fork down" from a couple of resources, that tells me its time to visit!

This evening I met some childhood friends for dinner. The comment which I heard regarding not being able to put the fork down, well, that was me tonight! I will be back soon and look forward to sharing with others. The Charleston area has its fair share of excellent Italian restaurants, I'm adding Wild Olive to the mix.

Reasonably priced, yet top notch quality. For a Wednesday night, I was amazed at how packed it was. But then, that is a good indication for how good the restaurant is.

The menu for this evening was:

Beef carpaccio with parmesan, horseradish aioli, melba toast, arugula, Sicilian sea salt - horseradish aioli was hands down amazing. It made this dish! I love some good raw meat and the carpaccio was tops, however the aioli, my first time with a horseradish version, stole the show!

Garganelli with milk braised pork ragu, caramelized onions, rosemary, parmesan - this was the dish that set the stage for me to come and visit! I read a quick blurb about it and was hooked. I couldn't put the fork down once I started. The same went for a buddy of mine that also ordered it as well. Generally, any meat that is braised is worth trying in my book.

Birra Moretti La Rossa - excellent dark Italian beer. Can be hard to find at times. Well, maybe not hard to find, but hard to keep in stock.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

AMERICAN GROCERY

American Grocery Restaurant on Urbanspoon
This evening, we took some good friends to dinner to celebrate their upcoming wedding. We gave them a choice to treat them to any restaurant in Greenville. An excellent choice they made.

American Grocery: "American Grocery Restaurant strives to serve the finest in refined American Seasonal Cuisine, featuring products sourced from local and regional farms and from artisan producers from within the United States.

TONIGHT'S MENU:
Starter: Mussels, smoked paprika cream, grilled bread

Salads: Heirloom Tomato Salad, watermelon sorbet, balsamic reduction

Entree: Braised Beef Tongue, farro verde, local mushroom ragoût, salsa verde I've never ventured to trying tongue. Glad I did venture out.

Dessert: Apple Cobler

Drinks: Cava Brut, Avinyó 'Reserva' NV Penedès, Spain - celebratory sparkling wine to begin the evening.

Westbrook Brewing Company - White Thai - new brewery out of Mt. Pleasant, SC

Bourbon Infused Bourbon - housemade, peaked my interest. Highly disappointed. I like bourbon and bacon. Just not together.

Chocolate Infused Vodka - housemade, I'm not a vodka person, but tried since I didn't enjoy the bourbon.

SNarolina Foodie is back!

After a two month hiatus, SNarolina Foodie will be back to posting many great food/restaurant recommendations from throughout the Carolinas. Stay tuned!