The Charleston Classic Cookie Caper...
So, about a year ago, I was invited to a judging to select a new flavor ice cream.
Not as a judge, just as a blogger who would probably write about
Circa 1886, the restaurant sponsor, which I did.
Well, I had a grand time and requested they invite me to food events in the future. They did.
It was "
If Charleston Were A Cookie, What would it Be?" this time.
The winner, Nona Pontiff, came up with the concept of her - soon to be famous -
"Polite Palmetto w/sweet tea glaze."
Man, that was a good cookie!
Oops. I guess I should have jotted down all the stuff that made her tasty entry the big winner. I understand the restaurant will include it as a dessert treat this Christmas.
I was reaching for more cookies instead. All the finalists were on the tray and 2nd place and even 3rd was good too. I would have tried an Honorable Mention.
Nona told the judges she just thought that a Charleston-theme cookie should include sweet tea. I do remember it had a familiar taste.
Nona said she experimented using a sweet tea vodka but instead went back to the lowcounty family favorite.
Labels: Circa 1886, cookies, flavored vodka, glaze, sweet tea
I Scream, You Scream ...
It's late July. Summer in Charleston.
It's a sizzling 93 degrees with matching high humidity. Sure could use some relief.
Happily, I was invited to Circa 1886 for a judging of new flavors of ice cream...with a Charleston touch.
Among the 200 entries one was named
"Pluffmud" which says Holy City to me. But ... what would be the main ingredient?
Three judges sampled the three final concoctions:
"Seersucker," Charleston Gold" and "Cobblestone Cobbler.". They were the (ice) cream of the crop.
None of the finalists had actually whipped up a batch of ice cream so Executive Chef Marc Collins decided which mixtures could be made up in the kitchen.
The winner was Kevin Kelly of Mt. Pleasant with his tasty
"Seersucker" made by blending French vanilla, blueberries, pieces of Charleston Chew candy bar and boiled peanuts. Wow!
Actually, Chef Collins had substituted dry roasted peanuts but the winner was delicious and crunchy. It will be the featured dessert for August at the upscale restaurant tucked behind the Wentworth Mansion B&B.
I tasted all three contenders. Several times.
We bloggers want to be invited back to media events.
Labels: Charleston Chew, Circa 1886, City Paper, Dean Stephens, Kevin Kelly, Marc Collins, Marion Sullivan, pluffmud, Post and Courier, seersucker, Stephanie Barna, WCIV, Wentworth mansion
So, about a year ago, I was invited to a judging to select a new flavor ice cream. 
Man, that was a good cookie!
