restaurants and caterers. Hank’s Seafood and Salthouse Caterers, whose exclusive clientele enjoy fine cuisine with unforgettable desserts were St. Honoré’s first large volume clients. With a newly rented wholesale kitchen and production at it’s peak, the pandemic hit forcing many businesses to modify and adjust. Hardest hit was the restaurant industry. The mandated closures had a trickledown effect that impacted not only the servers and onsite staff but the distributors as well. St. Honoré was left with a pantry of ingredients and freezers full of desserts, Claire reached out to her neighbors, friends and Summerville residents via social media offering homemade baked breads, biscuits and desserts for pick up at Hutchison Square. The restless community once again surrounded Claire with support. To meet the requests of her clients, St. Honoré started posting a weekly menu on Facebook that included more savory items: chicken and tomato pies, quiches, soups, chicken salad, and pimento cheese along with desserts, breads, and pastries. All handmade using locally sourced produce. “Summerville really backed and embraced us. Without their support we would not have survived the pandemic. We were able to tread water and stay afloat other businesses were going under”. The epitome of slow and steady wins the race, she is modest and humble with a genuine smile that radiates thankfulness and gratitude for both her culinary network, Summerville community, friends, and family. Measured and consistent she never felt under time constraints accomplish a major goal by a particular date, nor did she desire to bake to meet financial obligations. Instead, she patiently made from scratch sustenance, hand rolling breads, crusts, and biscuits; delicately creating sugar flower masterpieces to adorn her wedding cakes, she finds a sense of peace. Instead of forcing herself, she sauntered along, preparing for the arrival of opportunities to continue doing what she loves, baking. AM St. Honoré can be found at the Summerville Farmers Market on Saturday, online at St. Honoré Pastry. Pre-orders can be picked up at their production kitchen at 2408 Ashley River Road in the Pierpont Shopping Center in West Ashley on Friday and Saturday from 9:002:00. Walk-ins are welcome. Summer 2022 AZALEAMAG.COM
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