Margaret Crenshaw

Of all the people I know and have spoken to about food on Hilton Head Island, Margaret Crenshaw makes navigating the food scene easy. Any chat with her is an encyclopedia of knowledge. I think she keeps all menus filed away in her head sorted by categories and cocktails. I don’t like the word “foodie” anymore, but the term fits.

I’ve been wanting to share her story with our readers here for some time. I believe it is equal parts fascinating and mouthwatering. Margaret knows the food scene. Now she is going to share her view with you. Here’s my chat with Maggie, edited for clarity and brevity, because we talked for nearly 45 minutes:

Jesse Blanco: Were you born in this area?

Margaret Crenshaw: We are from Alabama, but we moved here in 1973.

JB: What are your earliest memories of the island?

MC: Oh gosh … no traffic lights. Roaming wild and free and barefoot. Fishing.

JB: I’m sure you’ve traveled up and down the Lowcountry coast. What is out there now that compares to what Hilton Head Island was when you moved here?

MC: Nothing. Hilton Head in the ’70s was a unicorn. I could more easily describe to you property in Panama or Costa Rica from the time I lived there in the ’90s. But that’s not a good comparison because a lot of people have not even been to Costa Rica. The “tropicalness” is more there than it is here, but that feeling of being isolated in the middle of nowhere. I believe about 3,000 people lived here when we moved to Hilton Head.

We lived in Tuskegee, Alabama. There was a lot of racial tension. My father’s drugstore kept getting broken into. My mother slept with a shotgun under her bed in Alabama. When we moved here, my dad said she had to get rid of her shotgun. My kindergarten teacher had a condo here, and we came to visit. We moved here three months later and never looked back. At the time, the second pharmacy on the island was opening and they needed a pharmacist, so my dad had a job.

I graduated from Sea Pines Academy (in 1985); the next year it changed to Hilton Head Prep.

JB: When do you recall the island beginning to evolve?

MC: I grew up around the Fraser family, so I saw what the plans were and the ideas for development. The building boom came in the ’70s and early ’80s. That’s when we experienced an influx of visitors and second-home owners. But we weren’t at max capacity. In the wintertime, we weren’t busy. There were years when things were not great. They felt like they went backwards. The south end of the island and the infrastructure has been the same since the ’90s. It has been such a gradual progression. What has changed is Bluffton. When we moved here, it was nothing—literally a speed trap.

There were so many milestones over the years that it has been hard to break it down.

JB: When do you remember good food starting to pop up?

MC: I remember going out to eat in the ’70s was a special occasion, not

ARTICLE BY JESSE BLANCO PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

because we needed to eat. Our go-to restaurant was the Hofbräuhaus—a German restaurant owned by Peter Kenneweg, who is now with the Reilley’s restaurant group [Coastal Restaurants and Bars--CRAB]. That was the benchmark for a little girl coming from Alabama who only knew Southern fare. It was on Pope Avenue. It was decorated like a little street in Germany with make-believe windows.

JB: Okay, let’s talk food and make our way through the food scene. First question: You’re tired. You don’t want to cook. Where are you going?

MC: I’m going to San Miguel’s. I either get the San Miguel salad or the Chimichanga de Pollo (chicken). It’s a 40-year favorite. Fast service, delicious food. I could eat Mexican three meals a day, seven days a week.

JB: Someone is coming to visit. Where are you taking them?

MC: I’m going to take them to Hudson’s for a true salty taste of the island. Hudson’s has been here since the dawn of man. Hudson’s has three things. It has the history. It’s on the docks and they pull in their own shrimp. And three, it’s delicious seafood. Why come the coast if you don’t have seafood? I usually try to keep it healthy with some grilled fish, but I love their fried shrimp and hushpuppies.

JB: You are celebrating your bestie’s birthday. Where is everyone going to want to go?

MC: Alfred’s. Alfred’s has the European appeal—not just German dishes, but others. It lends itself to intimacy among a special group of friends. It’s a special place where you can choose several courses and wines to go with it. It’s an experience.

JB: Is there a dish (or two) on the island you crave—a dish you think about for a week or two until you get there and eat it?

MC: Yes. That would be the grouper from Santa Fe Café. It’s got a chipotle mayo and parmesan. They throw it under the broiler; it gets all puffy and delicious. It’s my favorite dish on the island. Yes, absolutely. Or the cobb salad at Charlie’s.

JB: Do you have a sweet tooth?

MC: I don’t have a sweet tooth, but the Watermelon Chip at Hilton Head Ice Cream is my absolute favorite. Where else in the world are you going to get watermelon chip ice cream? I just think that’s so original to Hilton Head.

JB: Name a go-to cocktail you enjoy on the island.

MC: I love the martinis at Charlie’s.

JB: Do you have a favorite Margarita?

MC: The Cadillac Margarita at San Miguel’s—the best margarita on the island.

JB: Finally, what are your go-tos on the island—your stable of restaurants you love?

MC: Oh, wow. Do you realize how political this answer could be? I know everyone here, but if I had to name just a handful, I would say Santa Fe Café, Sage Room, Charlie’s, Sunset Grille, and Pomodori. 

A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items. You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

Below the Surface, an exhibit of paintings by Judy Blahut will be on view at Art League Gallery from August 29-September 29. This collection of acrylic and charcoal paintings is Blahut’s colorful interpretation of underwater environments, balanced between realism and fractured, playful abstraction. These fantastical “waterscapes” are made of sinuous and lyrical forms bathed in translucent light. Blahut is a lifelong painter inspired by natural forms and environments. This new series is an ode to water’s hidden beauty and power.

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, August 30, 5-7 p.m. Blahut will hold a demo of her work on Thursday, September 7 at 11 a.m. The exhibit, reception, and demo are all free and open to the public.

Traci Sampson is excited to announce the opening of Glow Getter beauty bar at 26 Palmetto Bay Rd., Unit 1, Hilton Head Island. Glow Getter offers custom spray tanning and professional teeth whitening from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday and Sunday by appointment. Their tanning products are derived from all natural ingredients—no streaking, orange, or stinky smell! Affordable teeth whitening is offered as well as take-home whitening products, all from the same distributor that dentists use. Come relax in a recliner, listen to your own chosen music, and go home with a brilliant, white smile. You can schedule your appointment online at glowgetter.pro or give us a call at (727) 490-9150.

The Hilton Head Community Market is proud to announce that it recently presented a generous check in the amount of $999 to the Deep Well Project. With this contribution, the market has now reached a remarkable milestone, having donated over $6,000 to local non-profit organizations since the market’s inception in October 2022.

The Hilton Head Community Market, organized and run by dedicated volunteers in partnership with Island Recreation, donates 50 percent of vendor fees received to a different local non-profit organization each month.

While food takes center stage, the market also showcases a curated selection from local artisans and makers each week. It offers a unique opportunity for residents, both full and part-time, as well as visitors to the island, to connect, socialize, and support local small businesses.

The Hilton Head Community Market is held every Saturday, from February through December. Located at Shelter Cove Community Park, the market runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more, please visit hhicommunitymarket.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram @hhicommunitymarket.

Article by Becca Edwards

Keep Going

Ronald Vargas’ inspirational story

He was not a runner, but at age 47, like most of us, Ronald Vargas was feeling the pressures of life. You’ve been there. Family, work, aging, you name it; these mid-life stressors are real.

But one’s ability to “dig deep and keep going” is equally as real, and Vargas is living proof of this. “I was not happy at home and didn’t want to be there. So, I decided to go walking. Then I decided to walk-run. Then I just ran,” said Vargas, who is a production manager at The Greenery and no stranger to hard work.

Now, at age 57, Vargas has completed five 100-mile races, five 50-mile races, two 24-hour races, one 160-mile race, and numerous marathons and trail runs. Always striving, on August 11, Vargas will compete in his most grueling course to date: the Bigfoot 200, a four-day 200-mile race through high elevations in the Cascade Mountains in Washington state.

Talking about his preparation for Bigfoot 200, Vargas admitted, “There is a lot of pressure. You never know how you are going to do the day of the race. You can do all the training, but you never know. Elite guys even drop miles in.”

So, Vargas has been concentrating on his mental game. “I’m hardheaded. I’m a push guy. However, I listen to my body and know how much to push it,” he said. Vargas’ long distance runs have taught him how to tune out everything around him and just look at each foot as it steps in front of the other, propelling him forward toward his goal.

Vargas also has a hardcore training schedule. “Some days, I am up at 5 a.m. and work until 5 p.m. and then go home. I make sure everything is fine, eat, shower, and chill, and even though I’m freaking tired around 10 p.m., I run four to five hours,” he said. I have to be prepared for running at night.” During his workouts, Vargas also focuses on strengthening his legs. At times, he will run outside, weighted down with 15 to 20 pounds of filled water bottles or inside on a 15-incline with a 25-pound weighted vest.

And yet, regarding race preparation, it is Vargas’ approach to life that gives him the competitive edge. “When I do something, I do it with a lot of passion,” he said.

Vargas began working at The Greenery 24 years ago as a crew member and likens his professional success to his running. “Work and running both take dedication. I do not compete with others—just myself,” he said. “I do not need to do anything better than chase my own dreams and do it with a positive mind.”

You should know, though, that getting Vargas across the finish line takes more than training. “I really rely on the emotional support of other people,” he said. “I wish I could have my best friend go with me, but he can’t go. I also need financial support. These races are expensive. I need three to four new pairs of shoes, nutrition, and money to travel for training and to go to the race.” Jokingly Vargas added, “And I need to sleep at night.”

Vargas manages his stress just as he competes in his races: one foot in front of the other, step-by-step. “When I get in a low patch, I know I need to dig down into my soul and keep going,” he said.

Vargas’ mental endurance has helped him overcome several physical challenges on the racecourse, like losing a toenail, blisters, muscle cramps, and vomiting, as well as personal challenges off the racecourse. “We all have the ability to keep going,” he said. 

The Port Royal Community Charitable Fund recently awarded $84,500 in grants to eight area nonprofit organizations. Funds for the grants were donated by residents of the Port Royal neighborhood on Hilton Head Island. The recent awards bring the total amount of grants made by this fund, just formed in 2021, to $104,500. Grants ranging from $2,500 to $20,000 are focused on “breaking the cycle of poverty by promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable improvement with a focus on long-term solutions to housing, food insecurity, or preventive medical and dental health.” The overall goal is to have a significant impact on the lives of people in the Lowcountry in their efforts to break the cycle of poverty.

Recipients of the 2023 Port Royal Community Charitable Fund grant awards are:

Bluffton Self Help to support the Literacy Learning Center of the Pathways to Personal Success program to help low-income families move from crisis to stability.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry – Bluffton to fund the Fee Relief Program for 20 children from lowincome families.

Good Neighbor Medical Clinic of Beaufort to support free medical care for uninsured adults.

The Deep Well Project to support the new CIRCLES program to help 18 families eliminate the barriers that keep people in poverty in order to reach economic stability.

Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity to support the purchase of building supplies for the Home Repair Program to restore unsafe homes to health and safety standards.

Hopeful Horizons to support Safe at Home Transitional Housing for victims/ survivors of domestic abuse.

Lowcountry Gullah Foundation to assist Gullah Geechee families trying to untangle heirs’ property legal and ownership issues.

Neighborhood Outreach Connection to support health screenings, as well as health and wellness workshops, in low-income Beaufort County neighborhoods.

More information about the Port Royal Community Charitable Fund is available at portroyalcommunitycharitablefund.org.

FULL MOON SHORE EXPLORE

8:30-9:30PM; Sea Pines Beach Club. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/ events for more.

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 8:30-10:30PM, Beauty & the Beast

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 8:30-10:30PM, Cars 1

GREG RUSSELL CONCERTS AT THE LIBERTY OAK IN HARBOUR TOWN

August 1- 11 M-F 8-9:30PM;

August 14-25 M, W, F 8-9:30PM; August 31 8-9:30PM. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/ events for more information.

PRO EXHIBITION HAPPY HOUR AT SEA PINES RACQUET CLUB

Every Monday at 5:30. Join us at Sea Pines Racquet Club for an exciting tennis demonstration with valuable tips, refreshments, prize drawings and our traditional fishbowl sale. Call 843-842-1979.

FARMERS’ AND MAKERS MARKET

Tuesdays from 10AM - 2PM at The Shops at Sea Pines Center. Now until November 22. Call 843-322-1900 for more.

HILTON HEAD FARMER’S MARKET

Tuesdays from 9AM - 1PM at Coastal Discovery Museum.

TAP TAKEOVER AT FRASER’S TAVERN

5-8PM at Fraser’s Tavern. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com.

TIE-DYE CREATIONS

Tues. and Thurs.

Sea Pines Beach Club

12-1:30PM. Call 843842-1979 for more.

BEACH YOGA

Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30AM. Call 943-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/ events for more

LIGHTHOUSE ART IN HARBOUR TOWN

Thurs., Aug 3-17 from 10-11:15AM at the Liberty Oak Tree in Harbour Town. Call 843-842-1979 or visit seapines.com/events.

CRABBY ENCOUNTERS

Mondays and Wednesdays

9-10:30AM. Call 843842-1979 for more.

BLUFFTON FARMER’S MARKET

Thursdays from 12 - 5PM at Downtown Bluffton.

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE PARK Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 8:30-10:30PM, Remember the Titans

Cranford Hollow

JERSEY BOYS

Tues - Sat at 7:30PM; Sun at 2PM. From now until Sun., Aug. 20. Visit artshhi.com.

CRITTER MEET & GREET

9:30AM - 12:30PM at Coastal Discovery Museum. Call 843689-6767 for more.

SUNSET CELEBRATION

Shelter Cove Towne Centre 7-10PM

Performer: DeasGuyz