Hair Salon inWest Ashley, SC

In keeping with Eater tradition, our closeout of the year is a survey of friends, industry types, and bloggers. To kick it off in the Carolinas, Eater asked the group seven questions, ranging from the restaurants they frequented for takeout to the saddest surprises of the year. Responses are in no particular order, and readers are encouraged to leave answers in the comments.

Q. What was your best restaurant meal of 2021, either takeout or dine-in?

Matt Lardie, freelance writer and Eater Carolinas contributor, covering NCThis is hard to narrow down, but I’ll cheat a bit and say it was both the dinner AND brunch my husband and I had at St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar in Raleigh. Chef Sunny Gerhart’s New Orleans-meets-North Carolina cuisine is stellar — the gator bolognese, the pickled shrimp toast, the bucatini and shrimp — I could go on. But hands down one of the best dishes I’ve eaten all year was the fried oyster hotcake — a griddled hotcake topped with perfectly fried oysters, chili crisp, runny eggs, spicy cane syrup, and whipped ricotta. It sounds insane but it’s DELICIOUS.

Marion B. Sullivan, food editor of Charleston MagazineI had one dine-in dinner this year. It was at the Ordinary, and it was extraordinary.

Eric Ginsburg,independent journalist and Eater Carolinas contributor, covering NCThere’s a reason that St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar and Poole’s are such beloved Raleigh institutions — my meals at both were flawless. My runner-ups are Hummingbird and Cortez Seafood, also in Raleigh.

Cele and Lynn Seldon, Seldon InkAgain, Blacksheep. Chef Matt Wallace is putting together some amazing dishes, served in a unique prix fixe concept. Also, brunch at Camp, dinner at Oak Hill, and an impressive vegetarian dinner at Topsoil (all in Greenville) with Chef Adam Cook and visiting chef Matthew Raiford. Also the burger at Oak Steakhouse in Highlands. Chef Rob Masone’s whimsical and fun menu at Rock Hill’s Kounter. The smoking tuna poke was truly smokin’ and the Tuscan caesar in a mason jar was as fun as it was delicious. And don’t get us started on the chicken and waffles sushi or the “Spaghetto-O’s” and meatballs! Yum!

Jai Jones, food writer and photographerThe cooking school experience at Wild Common. Led by executive chef Orlando Pagán and executive sous chef Zach Kimmel, it’s a unique chance to interact with the chefs and talk with them about how they developed the menu at the restaurant while learn tricks for cooking at home. This all while you enjoy a four-course tasting menu.

Kenneth Andrews, Eater Carolinas contributorPink Bellies sent the noods just in time! It had been oh so long since I had some of those garlic noodles and the dumplings came through with a ton of flavor.

KJ Kearney, founder of Black Food FridaysI took some Houston based food bloggers to Gillie’s, and we ate through damn near the entire menu. We sat outside, the weather was cooperating, and content was made. It was a lovely time!

Hanna Raskin, editor and publisher of The Food SectionDinner at Cucina 24 in May was the first meal that made me feel like I wanted to eat in restaurants again.

Dave Infante, editor of Fingers, an independent newsletter about drinking in AmericaHonestly not many standouts for me — lotta really solid stuff, nothing mind-blowing. If I had to pick something it would be the various pintxos at Estadio.

Jacob Pucci,food and dining reporter for The Fayetteville ObserverEither The Treatment at Fin & Fino in Charlotte, or the brisket sandwich from Lewis Barbecue in Charleston, washed down with several bottles of ranch water. Totally different ends of the spectrum, but delicious and memorable in their own ways.

Jenn Rice, freelance writer and Eater Carolinas contributor, covering NCM Sushi. It’s like stepping into a different world when you walk into the restaurant. The wait staff and entire team are incredible, as is the experienced, whether partaking in the omakase or just ordering the entire menu a la carte.

I also don’t believe in saying one thing is “the best” over everything else so here are a couple more bites that wowed me this year: birria brisket tacos from Lawrence Barbecue; Aburi salmon roll at Kashin (drizzled in Kewpie sauce!); Italian sandwich from Union Special’s new Fayetteville St. location; pastor burger at Gym Tacos + Bar; shrimp scampi at Osteria Giorgi; Korean fried chicken at Soo Cafe; and the blue crab claws at St. Roch (addictive…!).

Maggie Ward, events and marketing manager of The Local PalateA chef friend turned me on to a strip mall Chinese restaurant that rivaled any James Beard restaurant I frequented in 2021. At Old Li’s Restaurant on Savannah Highway in West Ashley, with a slew of friends at a few pushed together tables, we ordered fluffy sea oyster pancakes, sweet squirrel fish, crispy Peking duck, and the best dumplings I’ve ever had. Topped off with BYOB Champagne in plastic cups, it was a perfect meal fitting of a year when pretense was stripped away and quality food was all that counted

Erin Perkins, editor Eater CarolinasRamen at M Kokko in Durham — it was one of the first time we had traveled outside of Charleston since the beginning of the pandemic, and it was an unexpected find. Not to be “that person,” but it rivaled a lot of the ramen we had in Tokyo in 2019.

Stephanie Burnette, Eat Drink CarolinasThe yeast donuts at Stay Glazed in Asheville. The flavor combinations are crazy but somehow really work like carrot-curry-cheesecake, ube-everything seasoning, miso-maple.

The cacio e pepe topped with jamon at Lula Drake wine bar in Columbia with a little Chasselas picked by owner and som Tim Gardner.

Barbara Skidmore, Eater Carolinas contributor, covering SC and SavannahThe Grey Market — the double Grey Market burger with extra comeback sauce.

Melissa Howsam, editor-in-chief Raleigh MagazineMulino, hands down

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office released dashcam footage of a September high-speed chase that started in Ravenel and led deputies through different parts of Charleston.

Deputies reported speeds went as fast as 115 mph in the chase on the evening of Sept. 29. The sheriff’s office said a deputy spotted a vehicle swerving in and out of lanes, driving northbound on Savannah Highway in Ravenel.

Then, deputies said they attempted a traffic stop, but the driver kept speeding and showed no signs of stopping. According to a report, a deputy spotted the driver throw about five baggies of a white powdery substance out of the window near Tea Farm Creek Bridge.

Deputies said the driver drove through several red lights, leading into West Ashley and started heading east on 526. Deputies threw out stop sticks, which slowed down the driver near Cosgrove and Azalea in North Charleston.

Deputies said the driver, identified as Clarence Coaxum, and a 16-year-old passenger whose identity was redacted from the incident report, started running from deputies. K-9 units located Coaxum and the teen and they were taken into custody.

Deputies said Coaxum admitted throwing cocaine out of the window, and deputies said while searching him, they found marijuana in Coaxum’s pocket. Deputies also found other drug paraphernalia in the car.

Coaxum was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of other controlled substances, possession of marijuana, improper lane usage and failure to stop for blue lights, according to jail records.

A judge set bond for Coaxum on the charges at a total of $78,122.50.

The incident report states deputies reached out to Coaxum’s mother after the chase and that she told deputies she and her son share that car but said she had no knowledge of drugs being in the car. She also said her son called her during the chase and she told him he needed to pull the car over.

Coaxum has since been released on bond, jail records state.

EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the passenger in the vehicle as the mother of the suspect. A closer review of the incident report indicates the passenger was a juvenile male. Deputies referenced the suspect’s mother later in the incident report, stating they spoke to her after the incident. We regret the error.

Copyright 2021 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Remember when we gave you the scoop on The Victory building in Avondale? ICYMI: the building used to be the Helping Kids with Cancer Thrift Store. It’s been some time, but the first tenant in the 10,000 sqft space off of Savannah Highway has opened for business.

Poke Burri officially opened on Tuesday at 835 Savannah Hwy., bringing poke bowls, sushi burritos, and build your own options to the Lowcountry. The eatery even offers non–traditional sushi dishes on its secret menu, with a selection of sushi pizza, donuts, and a corn dog.

Poke Burri’s co–owners — Charleston natives Jeff Locke and Tim Duke — have returned to the Lowcountry to open the brand.

However, Charleston isn’t the first location. Poke Burri began inside the Atlanta Food Hall – We Suki Suki in 2016 and has since expanded to Jacksonville, Houston, Raleigh + Philadelphia. It’s about time we got in on the action, right?

The award–winning restaurant has been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and Food Network. Check it out Monday through Thursday + Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

A former barbecue restaurant in northern Mount Pleasant is being transformed into a new dining venture.

Workers are upfitting the former Mama Brown’s BBQ site at 2840 U.S. Highway 17 near S.C. Highway 41 for a new Dunkin’ Donuts eatery.

An opening date has not been announced.

A West Ashley self-described “fun neighborhood joint” is set to close after a 16-year run.

The d.d. Peckers’ Wing Shack at 1660 Savannah Highway will be “going off the air” Jan. 23, co-owner Derek Harris said in a Facebook post that he later confirmed.

“Come by. Say hi,” he added, likening the upcoming closing to the last episode of the classic TV sitcom “Cheers.”

“We are very happy to go out on our terms,” Harris said in a Jan. 12 email to The Post and Courier. “The property has been sold and thus our lease. Everyone is happy!”

He added that he and business partner Brian Lawson “have been casually trying to sell for years because we are both ready to try something different. … I was a teacher for 12 years, a bar owner for 20, and now...it is still a mystery to me!”

The restaurant took over a space that formerly housed Capt. Don’s Seafood, and “the first couple years were really really tough. Then we hit the sweet spot,” Harris said.

He extended a hearty thanks to customers and employees, some whom have been with D.D. Peckers since day one.

“Unheard of!” he wrote.

In sight

An eyewear chain will make its Charleston-area debut at 9 a.m. on Jan. 17.

Texas-based Eyemart Express will open at 7818 Rivers Ave. in a new outparcel building at Promenade at Northwoods Shopping Center across from Northwoods Mall in North Charleston.

It’s the first store in the Lowcountry for the retailer. It touts shorter wait times since the shop has an on-site lens lab and technicians who can make glasses the same day they are ordered. Some, the company said, can be ready in as little as 30 minutes. Melissa Bryant is the store manager.

The shop will be open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. It’s closed on Sunday.

Eyemart Express now has nine stores in South Carolina.

Branching out

A downtown Charleston art venue has unveiled a second location in the Lowcountry.

Meyer Vogl Gallery recently opened in a 2,000-square-foot shop at 250 River Landing Drive on Daniel Island.

It represents more than 20 artists from across the U.S. and Spain. It’s open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and by appointment on Sunday and Monday.

The original gallery is at 122 Meeting St. on the peninsula.

A Charleston-based company that grows lettuce indoors hydroponically can now be found on the shelves of a Southeastern grocery store chain.

Vertical Roots’ leafy greens are now in 303 Food Lion supermarkets across the Southeast.

“Our new retail partnership with Food Lion is evidence of both our strong retail partnerships and the significant demand for regionally grown hydroponic produce among consumers, which is expanding to value shoppers,” said Andre Hare, co-founder and general manager of Vertical Roots.

The company operates its headquarters and research and development center off Clements Ferry Road in Cainhoy. It also has farm sites in Charleston, Columbia and Atlanta, with plans to add more operations in other locations this year.

The company’s produce, grown without soil, is now available in more than 2,000 grocery stores in 13 states across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

North Carolina-based Food Lion, part of Belgium-based conglomerate Ahold Delhaize, operates 19 supermarkets in the Charleston area.

Vertical Roots’ lettuce also can be found in some other Charleston-area stores such as Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and Publix, according to the grower’s website.

New hours

A North Carolina-based grocery chain has adopted new hours.

Harris Teeter began closing its stores at 9 p.m. on Jan. 10 until further notice to allow workers to restock shelves, clean stores and process online orders ahead of time.

The company, which is owned by the Kroger Corp. and headquartered near Charlotte, said the decision was not made because of staffing shortages.

Harris Teeter operates 18 stores in the Charleston area. They generally open at 6 a.m.

Military memorabilia

An antique artifact exhibit and sale with 200 display tables of military relics from the Revolutionary War to World War II is returning to the Charleston area for its 29th time.

The Lowcountry Antique Militaria & Americana Show & Sale will take place 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 15 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 16 at Omar Shrine Auditorium at 176 Patriots Point Road in Mount Pleasant.

The event will feature historical displays, appraisers and buyers and sellers of many types of historical memorabilia, such as coins, bottles, arrowheads and fossils.

American Digger Magazine, an Atlanta-area publication, is sponsoring the event.

“Our purpose is to show the public that it is fun and important to learn our nation’s past,” said Butch Holcombe, publisher.

“Artifacts themselves transcend the rhetoric sometimes heard today; artifacts have no agenda,” Holcombe said. “A Civil War relic, Native American arrowhead, or old bottle is a direct link with the past and offers no judgments. It is what it is. This also offers the public a chance to learn more about items that they might have.”

In recent years, the sponsor has made the show more appealing to the general public, with awards for historical displays, numerous door prizes for the public, and free artifacts and admission to kids 12 and under. The admission is $10 per person for all others.

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bank of South Carolina Corporation (Nasdaq: BKSC) announced unaudited earnings of $6,744,866 or $1.22 and $1.19 basic and diluted per share, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2021 – an increase of $284,235 or 4.40% from earnings for the year ended December 31, 2020 of $6,460,631 or $1.17 and $1.14 basic and diluted per share, respectively. Earnings for the three months ended December 31, 2021 decreased $196,036 or 11.30% to $1,539,170 compared to $1,735,206 for the three months ended December 31, 2020. Returns on average assets and average equity for the year ended December 31, 2021 were 1.14% and 12.30%, respectively, compared with 2020 returns on average assets and average equity of 1.28% and 11.93%, respectively.

Fleetwood S. Hassell, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "This year, we will celebrate our 35^th anniversary as the oldest bank headquartered in Charleston. Despite lower fourth quarter earnings, 2021 was another successful year as we were able to meet and exceed our profit plan, resulting in the third most profitable year in our history. Fees realized from PPP and mortgage originations greatly helped to offset reduced interest income generated from this exceptionally low interest rate environment. We are prepared to meet the challenges of 2022: razor-thin margins, suitable investments of our resources, diminished fee income, and a tight labor market. Anticipated Federal Reserve rate increases will help to mitigate some of this; however, an expanded mortgage department and increased loan volume will be the keys to driving more revenue for the bank. Nonetheless, our employees remain our greatest asset and, once again, will see us through another successful year of relationship banking with unparalleled service, responsiveness, and attention to detail."

The following table shows the balance sheet and income statement highlights:

About Bank of South Carolina Corporation

The Bank of South Carolina Corporation is the holding company of The Bank of South Carolina ("The Bank"). The Bank is a South Carolina state-chartered bank with offices in Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, and the West Ashley community and has been in continuous operation since 1987. Our website is www.banksc.com. Bank of South Carolina Corporation currently trades its common stock on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol "BKSC".

SOURCE Bank of South Carolina Corporation