Much like the way to the heart of our loved ones is sometimes through their bellies, one of the ways to the heart of a destination is through its tasty culinary offerings.
From foodie tours that better acquaint the group with the host city to cooking classes, microbrew tastings and fine-dining outings at favorite local restaurants, the Palmetto State has a variety of delicious experiences to tempt visiting groups.
Charleston
Groups have three options for hands-on culinary learning in Charleston, according to Suzanne Wallace, director of sales for the Charleston Area CVB.
In the Kitchen with Chef Bob Waggoner offers cooking class/dinner packages, including wine-pairing; Charleston Cooks is a retail store/test kitchen where chefs from around town go to teach the tricks of their trade; and Southern Season’s Cooking School offers cooking classes seven days a week as well as an on-site restaurant with private dining rooms.
Culinary tours are also popular in town, Wallace says, including outings with Charleston Culinary Tours and Bulldog Tours.
Charleston Culinary Tours offers a variety of options, including the Upper King Street outing, which mingles history tidbits with several restaurant samplings; and the Farmer’s Market Tour, during which the group will choose ingredients that are used during a preparation of a multicourse meal.
Bulldog Tours offers three outings, including one that explores downtown, complete with tastings of grits, sweet tea, collard greens and Lowcountry barbecue, and a sweets-specific tour that features visits to a variety of candy stores and pastry kitchens for tastes of everything scrumptious, from lemon bars and pralines to coconut cake and chocolate truffles.
For those groups more interested in local beverages, there are plenty of options, including tours and tastings at Holy City Brewing, where popular brews include Biscuits n’ Honey ESB and 50 Shades of Green IPA, as well as tours at Striped Pig Distillery, which makes spiced rum, whiskey, vodka and more. Both offer event space for private events.
“You can also visit the Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea plantation in North America,” Wallace says. “It offers tours, tastings and event space.”
Hilton Head
A good way to get to know the flavor of Hilton Head is via the Savor the Lowcountry walking tour, during which attendees will enjoy some of the best food samples on the island while also learning about its history, according to Kelly B. Smith, public relations and social content manager for the Hilton Head Island Visitor & Convention Bureau.
“If the group has a craving for something special, tours can be customized to satisfy specific interests,” she adds.
On Hilton Head, fine dining often goes hand-in-hand with a top shelf resort.
Located in the Plantation Golf Club at the Sea Pines Resort is the newly opened Live Oak, featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, as well as an extensive, award-winning wine list.
Also located at Sea Pines Resort is the recently opened Coast at the new Sea Pines Beach Club. This is oceanfront dining at its most picturesque, offering lunch and dinner menus featuring a fresh shellfish bar with oysters and shrimp, as well as a variety of burgers, sandwiches and more.
Myrtle Beach
Purveyors of beer, wine and seafood are three of Myrtle Beach’s terrific culinary representatives.
According to Danna Lilly, director of group sales for the Myrtle Beach Area CVB, attendees enjoy private off-site events in New South Brewing’s taproom, which overlooks the production area and is an ideal spot for a group gathering.
Tours, offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, lend insight into the production process as well as give complimentary samples of the brewery’s lager, IPA and more.
Duplin Winery, Lilly adds, recently completed construction on a unique 15,000-square-foot wine-tasting station in North Myrtle Beach.
“The facility accommodates more than 200 guests for guided wine tastings, making it the largest wine-tasting facility in the Myrtle Beach area,” she says, adding the winery also hosts a variety of group outings, including banquets catered by the culinary team at the on-site bistro.
Thoroughbreds Chophouse & Seafood Grille, a Myrtle Beach favorite, serves only the freshest seafood, as well as beef dishes. It offers four dining rooms for large groups. Among them is the 100-person Hunt Room, which can be used with the adjacent Paddock Porch, a perfect setting for cocktails before sitting down to dinner.
PageBreak
Inland South Carolina
Columbia also has an impressive lineup of group-friendly restaurants, including the popular Blue Marlin, where the dinner menu features everything from crab cakes to firecracker flounder.
According to Dayna Cantelmi, marketing and communications associate for the Columbia CVB, the Blue Marlin’s Vista Room is a nice private event space for up to 60 people seated.
Groups meeting in Columbia might also appreciate a tour and tasting at Copper Horse Distilling, where products include Old Mill Vodka and a line of special cream whiskeys, including pecan praline and chocolate salted caramel.
Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours facilitates group outings, including a history lesson and tastings in either Columbia’s Congaree Vista district or on Main Street. Cantelmi says public and private group tours are available.
Greenville History Tours offers two history-infused culinary tours, including a behind-the-scenes peek at some of downtown Greenville’s most popular restaurants, complete with tastings and meet-and-greets with local chefs, and the barbecue trail tour, which takes groups “off the beaten path to some of the best ‘cue in the area,” according to Taryn Scher, the Sparkle Boss at TK PR, the public relations firm for Visit Greenville.
For microbrew enthusiasts in the group, there are five breweries in Greenville to visit, including Blue Ridge, Thomas Creek and Swamp Rabbit Brewery.
A standout group-friendly restaurant is Rick Erwin’s West End Grille, where Scher says “many business deals have been closed over dinner.”
After dinner, those with a sweet tooth should go to The Chocolate Moose for a cupcake. The Moose will also deliver to area events.
In Rock Hill/York County is the Fort Mill-based PuckerButt Pepper Company, a Guinness Book of World Records recipient in 2013 for the hottest chili: Smokin’ Ed’s Carolina Reaper.
“Smokin’ Ed’s store is located in downtown Fort Mill, and groups can come in the store and sample different ingredients and levels of Ed’s hot sauces, salsas and jellies,” says Sonja R. Burris, communications manager for the Rock Hill/York County CVB. “Even if you don’t like hot, spicy foods, once you walk into PuckerButt’s, you’ll pucker up for the taste challenge!”
When it’s open, Legal Remedy Brewing Co., which is currently under development in Rock Hill, will be a great stop to cool off the palate after the hot spiciness at PuckerButt’s.
Burris says Legal Remedy will be the first craft brewery in York County, and will offer a brewery and pub in the Rock Hill Riverwalk development.
If the group is in town on the third Friday of the month, attendees might like to choose their own dish for dinner at Rock Hill’s Food Truck Friday.
In Spartanburg, there are a couple options for groups interested in a “spirited” outing.
According to Patricia Byrd, sales manager for the Spartanburg CVB, RJ Rockers Brewing Company is a local favorite, where groups can tour and taste 13 varieties of unique brews, including Son of a Peach, a wheat ale; Witty Twister, a Belgian brew; and Hop Quake, an IPA.
For attendees with a taste for the stronger stuff, check out Motte & Sons Bootlegging Co., which opened last year and offers tastings of its whiskey, light and dark rums, vodka and brandy.
At the group-friendly Wade’s Restaurant, a local favorite for more than 60 years, attendees will enjoy Southern comfort foods including fried chicken and mac and cheese.
CAROLYN BLACKBURN is a regular Meetings Focus contributor.
