The Southern C Summit

May 1-3 Southern creatives, businesses, brands, and blogs gathered in Jekyll Island for the first ever Southern C Summit. It felt a lot like summer camp but with excellent food and cocktails.

tscsummit team beach house

As part of the #tscsummit team, the week for us started Tuesday night with a delicious low country boil spread from Latitude 31 Raw Bar courtesy of our cabana boy Vance, aka Cheri’s husband, and a late night swag bag stuffing party.

Caroline and Natalie of Low Country Luxe

Finally!

With our bellies and swag bags stuffed we called it a night.

TSC Summit Day 1

The next day we started the day off right with some burgers, fries, and mimosas!  We do it right in the South- work hard and play harder!

That afternoon was check in at the beautiful Morgan Center on Jekyll Island.

Via Jekyll Island Club

The Morgan Center was originally built in 1929 by the financier JP Morgan as JP Morgan Tennis Center where members of the elite Jekyll Island Club dressed in their whites and enjoy playing tennis indoors shielded from bad weather.

In recent years, the deteriorated tennis courts were rebuilt to serve as a conference/meeting facility.  They did an incredible job! Time lapse video is courtesy of Ben Galland, a local St. Simons Island photographer.

At #tscsummit check in, our attendees were greeted by the lovely ladies of Maison de Macrons from Savannah, Georgia and given a sweet treat.  They were absolutely delicious- chocolate were my fav.

Next up was Cocktails and Conversations with Southern Living editors.  This was a great way to kick off the summit.  Southern Living created three cocktails from their trusty test kitchen and the Jekyll Island Club provided some delicious appetizers and we all got a chance to sample and mingle for a while.

I love all things grapefruit so The Dogwood was my fav.

Loved seeing fellow C-Team member Miss Amber Ryder of For the Love of the South!

old college buds 🙂

Ran into some old friends too- Caroline of Caroline Ceramics and I attended Birmingham Southern College back in the day!

It’s always fun hangin’ with the ladies from Viola’s Market!

appetizer sampler

After some mingling I had to get my hands on some food!  All of the appetizers provided by the Jekyll Island Club hit the spot.

Day 2

Day 2 of #tscsummit was full of learning sessions and networking.  As a blogger, I tried to soak up as much info from the pros as possible.  I found all the sessions helpful and encouraging; I look forward to implementing a lot of the strategies I learned about.

Our studious crowd

As a social media manager for The Southern C, Day 2 was nuts.  Live tweeting, instagramming, note taking, phone charging, checking in attendees, errand running, luncheon set up- my feet are getting sore just thinkin’ about it. I did take breaks to indulge in all the fabulous food.  It was a fantastic day- full of positive energy, fun personalities, and inspiring stories.

Lulie Wallace and Chassity Evans

Beachview Tent Rentals saved us from the monsoon rains that afternoon…we are eternally grateful!

small sampling from our delicious oceanside luncheon

Lunch was phenomenal! A huge thank you to Big T’s Coastal Provisions, Sociale Mocktails, Cathead Vodka, Halyards, Southern Soul BBQ, and High Road Craft Ice Cream!

Goo Goo Cluster Pie and coffee break!

We were thoroughly entertained by the night’s keynote speakers- Aiden Hornaday of Aiden Cares and K. Cooper Ray of Social Primer.

Southern Supper

Viola’s Market created the gorgeous arrangements for the Southern Supper that night. I’m a sucker for succulents.

I enjoyed relaxing in 24e Design’s luxe lounge.

My social media partner in crime for the event- Emily Taylor.

Day 3

After an info filled morning with biz guru Ryan Dohrn, the #tscsummit team headed for a wrap up lunch and a big ole nap!

tscsummit team

I’m so thankful to be a part of this unique group of people and for this crazy experience!  Can’t wait ’til #tscsummit Athens on August 1 and #tscsummit Nashville on October 17!  Hope to see y’all there!

For more about The Southern C- check out the social network and get in on the convo! To learn more about The Southern C Summit click here.

Related articles

• It’s like Camp…Only Better (camillemaurice.com)
• Look Linger Love: The Summit (looklingerlove.blogspot.com)
• The Southern C Summit (candyshopvintage.com)

Sunday funday photo

Bday extravaganza complete with a decadent trip to 5 & 10. I have the best friends 🙂

Friday Five

Tote bag- check; notebooks- check; suitcase packed- almost… I can’t believe The Southern C Summit is next week!

Friday Five- Things I’m looking forward to at The Southern C Summit

5. Swag Bag

image via Alphabet Bags

Who doesn’t love a swag bag?!  Can’t wait to see what Southern goodies are in there.  Stay tuned…

4. Location, Location, Location- a conference at the beach? Yes, please!

image via Jekyll Island History

I haven’t spent much time in Jekyll Island, Georgia since childhood, so I’m so excited to rediscover this gorgeous and historically rich area. Fun fact- America’s early “big-wigs” like Marshall Field, Henry Hyde, J. P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, and William K. Vanderbilt, were all members of the original Jekyll Island Club.

3. FOOD- sampling the best of the South!

I’m so lookin’ forward to getting my grub on. There are some delicious restaurants and specialty food and beverage brands coming to the Summit this year!  Not all strictly Southern in style but here is the lineup we got goin’ on- Southern Soul BBQ, Halyards Restaurant, Belle Chevre, Maison de Macrons, Big T Coastal Provisions, High Road Craft Ice Cream, Cathead Vodka, Sociale Mocktails, Goo Goo Clusters, Savannah Bee Company, Leoci’s Trattoria, Georgia Sea Grill, American Spirit Whiskey, Girlfriends Wine.  Oh yea.

2. Learning some new skills (and brushing up on the old).

I’m looking forward to all of the educational sessions; it’s the nerd in me. I’ve worked in social media for several years and actively blogging for a little over a year but I still have so much to learn. Given the roster, I know the panel of presenters at The Summit are sure to inspire and provide helpful advice. For full list of presenters click here.

1. Connecting

image via Humble Handmaid

Being part of The Southern C for the past year has been a complete whirlwind.  I’ve met so many interesting and inspiring people through the social network and it’s going to be exciting meeting so many of them in person next week!

No ticket yet? Don’t worry- there is still time to join us. Register today! http://www.thesoutherncsummit.com

Related articles

• 3 More Reasons To Attend the Southern Coterie Summit (thedailysouth.southernliving.com)
• Celebrate the South at the inaugural Southern Coterie Summit (charlestoncitypaper.com)

Cacao Atlanta

I love my husband but I sometimes feel like I’m having an affair with the tall dark and handsome 70% cacao bars I buy. I’m an extreme chocoholic. I’m not at all embarrassed by this affliction- I celebrate it (perhaps too often but you only live once).

A few nights ago in Buckhead, en route to Fellini’s Pizza, I spotted Cacao. I am a sucker for a chocolate shop, let alone a charming French patisserie inspired shop…clean and bright, filled with decadent delights. I stopped cold in my tracks- staring (drooling), and said to my mother- “I know where I’ll be at 11am tomorrow.”

The next day before hittin’ the road back to Athens, we ran across the street to Cacao for a quick trip to Paris by way of the South. We were welcomed by a pleasant aroma of rich coffee and sweet/bitter chocolate…heavenly. We had a great time chatting with Tricia about the history of the shop and learning about each and every product. The owner/creator Kristen Hard, a classically trained French pastry chef, fell hard for the cacao bean working as a chef around the world and thankfully brought her passion back to the South.

Tricia got us started off with some sipping chocolate (divine) and walked us through the different goodies lining the walls. My mother (a packaging junkie) spotted some adorable baskets in the corner used for creating one of a kind gift baskets, so we decided that was the best option. Having a total “Treat Yo Self” moment (Parks and Rec anyone?), I began grabbing anything that peaked my interest. Being a self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseur, I picked up quite the basket.

I love how most items are inspired by Southern desserts or flavors…pecan pie truffles, mint julep truffles, Coca-Cola truffles, homemade oatmeal cream pies, cocoa-nib peanut brittle (oh yea). The shop’s commitment to sustainability is also impressive. Each piece of chocolate is hand crafted with the highest quality organic ingredients while honoring the traditional chocolate making processes and everything in the entire store is made in Georgia, with the exception of herbal teas offered on the menu. The Cacao shop in Buckhead also offers – Honeysuckle Gelato– Southern inspired gelato based in Atlanta!

macarons!

The decor is sweet and simple and very French. A white and grey palette punctuated by the rich colors of the chocolate and other treats. The art instillation above the cafe tables is equally stunning. Created for their Valentine’s Day celebration, the lovebirds and tiny paper hearts make for a beautiful centerpiece in the shop.

sweet success

To top off our decadent morning we had to try something from the esspresso lab. I opted for the Shakerato- 3 shots of espresso and vanilla syrup shaken over ice. Buzz buzz y’all.

A tisket a tasket, I got a chocolate basket!

Since my Cacao visit, I’ve slowly sampled my goodies- or hoarding them if you will. I want to hold on to the dark chocolate goodness as long as I possibly can- or until I reorder them online (bless online shopping)! Stop by one of their three shops in the ATL immediately or visit their online store to get your cacao fix!

Cacao Atlanta- http://cacaoatlanta.com/ Cacao on Facebook Cacao Twitter

Sunday funday photo

Cacao Atlanta- Si Bon!

Sunday funday photo

Lexington Episcopal Church- Lexington, GA

Happy Easter y’all!

Sunday funday photo

The Trio

Fabulous lunch yesterday at The Kitchen at Three Doors Down in St. Simons Island, Georgia. Stay tuned for more!

The Savory Spoon

So many posts about food lately but what can I say…I love to eat!

My husband, being the resourceful forager, recently found several large wild bear’s tooth mushrooms.  These mushrooms are rare as they take a while to grow, but are so delicious and have a very rich flavor similar to crab or lobster if sauteed in butter or olive oil.  Monday night we were feeling super indulgent and pan fried up some bear’s tooth, and layered it with spinach and brie making mushroom spinach grilled cheeses…..oh yea.

For those of you that know Ryan can attest to this; he is the male version of a chatty kathy.  After our luxurious grilled cheese creation, he got to talking about the bear’s tooth with a chef with from nearby Jefferson, Georgia who owns a farm to table restaurant called The Savory Spoon.  The chef and owner Josh was intrigued by these rare mushrooms so Ryan gave him a sample to see how he liked it.  Shortly after their meet and greet, I noticed on facebook that the chef had featured the bear’s tooth on his menu.  So we jumped in the car and headed over to Jefferson.

It was a quiet night at The Savory Spoon but it was 7 o’clock on a Tuesday night in a very small town.  We hunkered down in a booth and prepared to order a feast…I hadn’t eaten lunch so I was ready to gorge.

We started off with a cup of the corn chowder and some guacamole (not actually an appetizer but I had to try it).

The chowder was so yummy- so warm and comforting with a hint of spice.  The guacamole was tasty too- loved the burst of flavor from halved cherry tomatoes in the mix.

For the main event…Ryan ordered one of the specials.  Beef tenderloin medallions tossed  in a homemade hot sauce with mac n cheese and sauteed cabbage.  I went for the wild caught blackened grouper sandwich topped with dill aoli and slaw on a toasted french roll  and served with braised brussel sprout greens.

There were so many tempting dishes but it is hard for me to turn down wild caught grouper.  It was perfect.  The large filet was so fresh and flakey topped off with blackening seasoning that packed a punch (in a good way).  The slaw and dill aoli were excellent accompaniments- helping cut the spice and salt of the seasoning and the buttery, crusty bread made the perfect vessel for cradling all the goodness of this po boy.

Although I barely looked up from my sandwich, I managed to take a break and try the other dish.  It was equally delectable.  The beef tenderloin cooked perfectly and the sauce was more zesty than hot which was nice and had a hint of smoke.  The mac n cheese was the bomb- almost as good as your grandmother’s.  The cabbage was my favorite side dish of them all- Tender but still had a little crunch to it and it must have been sauteed with some sort of vinegar that enhanced the natural flavor of the cabbage really well.

Never able to turn down chocolate, I insisted on ordering dessert.  In my defense- I didn’t go as nuts as I could have.  We ordered some coffee and the cookie dough truffle pops.

The cookie dough truffles very charming and the perfect size.  These bite size morsels were so decadent and got us sugar buzzed enough for our drive back to Athens.

I really enjoyed our visit to The Savory Spoon.  Located just outside the downtown area, the restaurant has a great neighborhood vibe.  It was fun to talk with the chefs about their process and hearing how passionate they are about  local and sustainable food.  The food was excellent; all the dishes had a wonderful homestyle quality to them which I thought was a little different from some farm to table establishments.  The flavors were complex yet simple; and all of the dishes were reminded me of southern favorites your mother or grandmother would prepare- just kicked up a notch.

Keep an eye out on facebook for their daily changing menus and they should be up and running with their liquor license in the near future.  The chef told us they’ll be rotating two taps of craft beer and serving a variety of wines as well.  They are also expanding the restaurant in the coming months to include a bar/lounge with a tapas menu…lots of new things on the horizon for The Savory Spoon.  I look forward to going back soon!

The Branded Butcher

image courtesy The Branded Butcher

In celebration of my first ladies’ night out as an old married lady and the end of 2012, my friend Katie G treated me to dinner at The Branded Butcher in downtown Athens.  Having been there only one other time for drinks, I was so excited to see what their menu had to offer.

The Branded Butcher opened its doors in the Spring of 2012, and is focused on the art of charcuterie while embracing the local farm to table concept.  The space is simple and straightforward: old exposed brick walls, warm lighting, cafe style tables, comfortable bar area, and local art displayed throughout.

We started the night with some cocktails…I can’t resist a champagne cocktail so close to New Year’s Eve so I went with the Moulin Rouge (Death’s Door Gin, housemade orange bitters and grenadine, and Champagne).  Katie went with her tried and true dirty martini.  Both delicious.

Totally starved and needing to make the 8:15 showing of Anna Karenina at Athens Cine, we quickly ordered some items….The charcuterie menu showcased a great variety and everything sounded delicious (except for maybe the trotters- not sure I can get into that).  Katie insisted on ordering the pork belly confit and the scotch egg.  With oysters being one of the chef’s favorite foods, we also decided on a half dozen raw oysters.

The oysters were the perfect start to the meal.  Two different types were served (the names now escape me) with housemade saltines, BB hot sauce, mignonette, and cocktail sauce.  YUM.

Next up- Charcuterie.

Pork Belly Confit

Pork Belly is one of those things that I’ll always try but usually one bite will suffice.  This dish however changed my mind.  It had the perfect smokey flavor and crispness to it that went well with the creamy deviled egg puree and fresh watercress.  I could’ve eaten this one all by myself.

The Scotch Egg

I’d never heard of a scotch egg before but when Katie described it as an egg wrapped in sausage and then fried; how could I resist?  This tasty dish was served up with a celery root remoulade and whiskey gastrique.  Over and over we gushed about how yummy it was until sadly the sausage/egg ball of goodness was gone and we were left with an empty skillet.

Next we decided to have a little green and shared the White Salad.  An interesting juxtaposition of bitter and creamy:  Frisee greens, macrona almonds, mozzarella cheese, giant white beans, and an olive vinaigrette.

We foolishly ordered another dish to share; we simply couldn’t resist the mussels.

image courtesy Richard Hamm

After an already scrumptious meal, these mussels were another pleasant surprise.  These delightful morsels were served up with caramelized onion brodo, olives, chickpeas, orange, farro, toasted fennel aoli, and toasty bread to sop up the broth.

Although we had to skip dessert do to our engagement with Keira Knightley‘s latest period piece, we had a lovely evening with the butcher.  I know I will be back soon.

Greensboro

Downtown Greensboro GA circa 1895

The reign of King Cotton in the early 19th century facilitated the growth of many small towns in the Southern region of the United States.  Greensboro, Georgia, founded in 1803, became the hub of economic growth and the commercial center of Greene County. Fifty years after its founding, Greene became Georgia’s largest cotton-producing county. In 1838, responding to the need to transport the region’s ever-growing crop, the Georgia Railroad reached Greensboro, cementing the city’s status as the county’s commercial center.  By 1854 the town had its own cotton mill, the Greenesboro Manufacturing Company. The merchant class that profited from this commerce became the town’s elite.  After the Civil War and boll weevil devastation, Greensboro declined economically as did most of the once prosperous cotton kingdoms.

Once at the heart of the rich cotton belt and the center of Georgia commerce, downtown Greensboro has been slowly establishing itself as a regional destination for beautiful architecture, antiques, art, and local food.  Living in nearby Athens, visiting Greensboro makes an excellent day trip to relax, shop, and eat.  Check out my favorites!

The Greensboro Antique Mall is located in the former Big Store of 1860, owned by local banker and merchant Mr. Charles Davis.  The Big Store was the largest goods emporium between Atlanta and Augusta and boasted that they sold everything “from the cradle to the grave.”  Not a whole lot has changed since then.  The Greensboro Antique Mall has been in business since 1994 and its 11,000 square feet space is full of vintage treasures collected by 50 different dealers.

The shop is so enormous and full of unique items one could spend all day here.  After antiquing…take a respite down the street at the Yesterday Cafe for some sweet tea and comfort food.

This family owned restaurant is located on Main Street a few doors down from the antique mall.  They have just about every classic southern dish you can imagine from fried green tomatoes to country fried steak….and don’t forget the buttermilk pie (featured in Southern Living).

image courtesy Two Old Ladies on the road

I can’t ever leave Greensboro without a stop at the local Ripe Thing Market to pick up some goodies for the road.  This gourmet shop is full of local prepared foods, local meat and seafood, produce, ice cream, candy, and more.  They also have tons of samples so you can try a variety of items before purchasing.  I’m a huge fan of their homemade preserves, hoop cheese, and hibiscus tea.  They are open 7 days a week and their staff is so friendly and helpful.

image courtesy O’Brien Family Farms

These are just a few things to see and do in the charming town of Greensboro, Georgia!  Ever been there?  If so, what are some of your favorites?