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11 Things to See and Eat in Savannah, Georgia

8/27/2014

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There are many reasons I’m thankful I moved back down South, but getting to travel every weekend absolutely tops the list. Being able to pack up the car and drive to a different state is so refreshing. No train hopping, no stinky people rubbing too close to you on the subway, no cries of “SHOWTIME!” to interrupt sightseeing. (That last one may be a bit of a stretch, but if you’ve ever been on a subway in NYC you know what I’m talking about.)

I’ve been lucky enough to get to see Savannah twice in as many months, and you better believe I’ll be back again. The art scene is fantastic thanks to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the historic district is well-kept, and the food is seriously some of the best I’ve eaten. 

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1.     Forsyth Park (bonus points if you go during the Saturday farmers’ market)
All those fountain photos you always see associated with Savannah? Yeah, that’s here. Stroll the park and take in all the stunning Spanish moss. My mom took a historic tour the day before the gentleman and I arrived, so she played unofficial tour guide. If you’re interested in learning the history behind all the statues in the park, a traditional tour is a must. The Saturday farmers’ market isn’t huge, but the blackberry popsicle vendor saved my life in the afternoon heat.

2.     700 Drayton Restaurant
The boutique hotel (The Mansion on Forsyth Park) located next to this restaurant is awesome, but definitely a splurge (like romantic vacation kind of splurge). You can feel like you’re in on the fun, though, by visiting 700 Drayton. Decorated in the same style as the hotel, the restaurant is bursting with lots of cool artwork and the upstairs bar is cozy. The food itself was good, but I think it’s worth going inside just to check out the funky vibe.


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3.      Savannah Bee Company
Beyond the obvious bee-related products like honey and lipbalm, stop into the Savannah Bee Co. for a mead tasting. For $5 you try five meads, and can of course revisit any you really like. Make sure to try a piece of honeycomb with apple, and definitely wash it down with a ginger beer.

4.     The Historic District
The historic district as a whole is full of interesting architecture and photo opportunities. SCAD took a lot of the old historic buildings and restored them for classrooms/dorms/libraries/etc. Definitely take the time to wander into whatever random shops catch your eye. We stumbled into some really cool antique stores just because we liked the outside architecture of the building (see left).


5.    The Salt Table
This place has every kind of salt imaginable. Sriracha salt? Check. Salt specifically for popcorn? Check. Salt that tastes like Spanish moss? Check. As an avid cook, I've always wanted a Himalayan salt plate, and, yup, they have those too. There's also a whole wall of sugar products if your tastes are so inclined. The shop hosts wine tastings downstairs featuring local bottles if you're feeling a bit parched while shopping.


6.    Nourish 
In need of some pampering? Head over to Nourish. My mother is now BFF with all the ladies who work here. Definitely try one of the company's fizzing bath bombs, along with any and all of the amazing smelling soaps. I also bought loofah seeds so I can grow my own loofah tree! How cool!? The best deal, however, comes from what the store calls "grab bags." For $18, you get $40 worth of products. The catch is that you don't know what's inside until you take them home. I wasn't originally going to get one, but totally got suckered in (and I'm glad).
7.     Leopold’s
Best ice cream, ever. The flavors change every month and the shop itself hasn’t been updated in years; you’ll feel like you stepped back in time.

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8.    City Market
This area has tons of cool little shops, but my favorites finds are below:
  • Savannah Candy Kitchen
Three words: rice krispie treats. These puppies are your favorite childhood snack on steroids. Get ‘em covered in chocolate, rolled in nuts – you name it! They gladly give out free samples of salt water taffy, and you’ll get a toothache from just looking at all the sweets available.
  • Peach Sangria
Peach sangria is the greatest thing ever invented. Especially when you’re pouring sweat in the middle of August. The Café at City Market came up with the genius idea of making a to-go line right outside the restaurant, and I bow down to them. The sangria was so refreshing and the perfect thing to sip on when you have to walk nearly a mile back to your hotel.
  • Byrd’s Cookies
These bite-size pieces of fun are available in tons of different flavors. My favorite, of course, were the key lime coolers, but they do a pretty good job of emulating black and white cookies, too.
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9.    B Tillman
Before heading to Tybee Island, we went to brunch at B Tillman. The restaurant is actually attached to the Byrd cookie factory, so you get sugar cookies with your coffee. We went before the church crowd had let out, so we basically had the whole place to ourselves. My meal is the one pictured above: a burger topped with a fried green tomato, a fried egg and pimiento cheese. Decadent, yes, but totally worth every single calorie.

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10.   Tybee Island Lighthouse
We honestly didn't stay at Tybee Island too long, but it was fun to climb the lighthouse and see the nearby beach. If you like "old shit," as my mom fondly calls it, there are lots of little cabins on the property for you to explore. Admission is $9.



11.   The Florence + Pacci Italian Kitchen & Bar
I'm putting these two restaurants together just because I couldn't tell you which one I liked more. Both just recently opened in Savannah, and both focus on Italian food. The Florence had more adventurous pastas (I got the pepperoni ragu with sardines, squid and calabrian olives), while the coca-cola short ribs at Pacci were fall-off-the-bone good.


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The Only Key Lime Pie Recipe You'll Ever Need

8/11/2014

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Being born and raised in Key West, I've been making key lime pie for as long as I can remember. It's ridiculously easy, so tasty, and the perfect dessert on a hot summer night. I made one this weekend for my gentleman and family, and although we didn't let it set in the fridge as long as you're supposed to, it was yummy enough to be gone within 24 hours.

Feel free to make this recipe with or without meringue, but never desecrate this masterpiece with whipped cream! 

Key Lime Pie with Meringue
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh key lime juice* 
6 eggs
1 can condensed milk
1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust
1 cup sugar

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400° F.
Squeeze key limes until you get 1/2 cup of juice. Make sure to strain out any seeds. *If you can't find fresh key limes, then substitute with Nellie & Joe's Key West Lime Juice.
Separate eggs and yolks; set aside egg whites for the meringue. 
Whip egg yolks together, then add condensed milk and key lime juice. Stir until smooth.
Put the pie crust in the oven for 5 minutes (just to brown). Raise oven temperature to 500° F.
Pour the key lime and condensed milk mixture into the pie crust.
In a new bowl, whip the egg whites until they start to form stiff peaks; slowly start adding the sugar. 
Scoop the meringue on top of the pie, using a fork to form swirls.
Put the pie in the oven just long enough to brown the meringue.
Let set in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours.
Dig in!

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The Easiest Fried Okra Recipe Ever

8/2/2014

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I am becoming far too familiar with my cast-iron skillet. And, honestly, I'm really not mad about it. I'd like to think that layers of magic have been worked into the skillet over the years, making everything extra-yummy, seasoned just-so and perfectly crisp, when really it's probably just because I'm using gallons of vegetable oil. 

Last week, our neighbors graciously gifted us with a basket full of okra and banana peppers (have I mentioned how I'm not really all that great at gardening?), so we decided to deep fry those puppies. Fried banana pepper is surprisingly good. The recipe below is one I adapted from boyfriend's mom — she's a true Southern belle if I've ever met one — and I know we'll be using it again and again.


Easiest Fried Okra Ever
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup Alabama King cornmeal
1/2 tbs black pepper
1/2 tbs Adobo seasoning
1/2 tbs powdered garlic
1/2 tbs salt
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
5-7 okra
5-7 banana peppers
vegetable oil
cast-iron skillet

Instructions:
Slice the okra and banana pepper into thin rings.
Make an egg wash: Crack one egg into a medium-sized bowl, then pour the milk in. Whisk together until slightly fluffy.
Mix all of the dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, pepper, Adobo, garlic, salt) in a second medium sized bowl. 
Working from one bowl to the other, dip the vegetables in the egg wash and then roll them in the breading mixture, placing the breaded pieces on a dry plate. 
Once finished, put the plate in the refrigerator to chill (it helps the breading stay on). Pour enough vegetable oil into your cast-iron skillet so it's 3/4 full. 
Once the oil is hot, fry the breaded okra and banana peppers until golden-brown. 
Take out and let rest on a paper towel. 
     



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    Victoria Margaux💋

    I'm a digital + social maven for Cinnabon and Moe's Southwest Grill.
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