My Restaurant Crush

So today I am going to tell you about my new restaurant crush. I honestly never thought I would do a write up of a restaurant, but after finding this place I feel like I have to share. As many of you know, Sara and I are huge fans of using fresh local ingredients for our cooking. And while I find the local trend is gaining traction in the restaurant community, it still seems like the restaurants that focus on local ingredients and cuisine fail to gain widespread popularity. By that I don’t mean their food isn’t good, I am sure it is…more I mean that the majority of “local” restaurants I find just don’t seem to have that certain essence that makes everyone go “OMG I want to eat there!”

That is why I was so excited to stumble upon Husk in Charleston, SC. Now those of you more up on your restaurants than me may be saying…you haven’t heard of Husk…what have you been living under  rock or something?!?! And I have to say that I am embarrassed to admit that up until last week I hadn’t. As a former Charlestonian I have always thought of myself as someone who was up on  the Charleston food scene. So when my friend told me that a restaurant in town had been named in the Best New Restaurant in America by Bon Appetit in 2011…I was stunned (and a little ashamed) I hadn’t heard of it. So I decided to rectify this situation immediately, and headed over there to check the place out.

Since it was early (4 pm) and I didn’t have a reservation I headed over to the bar. It is a good thing I did, because this bar is amazing. Housed in an old carriage house, the Bar at Husk somehow manages to encompass everything I felt and loved about living in Charleston in one simple, gorgeous, understated, perfect place. It was everything I had ever wanted in a Charleston bar when I lived there. It manages to perfectly capture the essence of the city I love…a fusion of sophisticated modern life unfolding on a backdrop of history and southern charm.

I apologize for all of the gushing, but like the title of this post says…this is my new restaurant crush…

Not only does the decor and feel of the bar perfectly embody everything I love about Charleston, but they actually have cool drinks too! While I would never proclaim to be a cocktail expert…I have sampled a few in my day. And I have to admit, the drink menu at The Bar at Husk is exciting. Not only do they have an amazing selection of bourbons and traditional cocktails, but they also feature “old school” cocktails some of which date back to the colonial era. In addition, the bar offers a selection of small dishes to its patrons. I ordered ham that is cured in-house and the bartender shaves by hand right behind the bar. In case you can’t tell by looking at it….it was insanely good.

While my Husk experience was limited to the bar, I can honestly say I am planning a trip back for dinner. The creative mind behind Husk is James Beard Award-winning Chef Sean Brock. His dedication to using only local southern ingredients in unwavering and part of what makes Husk so special. To read more about this amazing restaurant please visit their website at www.huskrestaurant.com.