In search of the best starters to a great Lowcountry meal

By Tim Wood CONTRIBUTOR

I set out to identify the best appetizers at your favorite restaurants. What I discovered is y’all are settling for a lot of top-of-the-order complacency.

To paraphrase the more than 100 responses I got from my blue-ribbon panel of online taste tastemakers, when it comes to appetizers, “they all look the same.”

And if that truly is the case in the lineup of restaurants where you’ve been eating, well, you need to start exploring a new bunch of eateries.

The truth is, Lowcountry chefs know that first impressions are everything. So they have amped up their creativity and their ingredient lists to showcase the first things to a patron’s table.

And that shows in the variety of dishes mentioned. We received so many, in fact, that I’m going to break with normal format and give you a bevy of options here.

Bluffton

Chloe Harthorn got our discussion started by throwing out The Pearl’s calamari and kimchi lettuce wraps as her favorite (Steve Kermisch seconds that emotion for the calamari).

Alethea Adkins said the calamari and Greek nachos at Kyra (in Okatie’s Riverwalk plaza) won her over (Jan Ziter agrees on the nachos).

Kevin Fitzpatrick has become our most bankable panelist over the past year. The retired New England math professor is taking in everything the Lowcountry food scene has to offer and has come to be known for his spot-on palette. Fitzpat-

Please see HOT SPOTS on page 26A

HOT SPOTS from page 25A rick is a big fan of the ceviche at the newly opened CRUDO in The Promenade, the raw and grilled oysters at The Bluffton Room, the stuffed squash bottoms at Bricco and the Hamachi crudo at The River House.

Keith Hoffman and Rich Dahlquist also gave Bricco a shoutout for their grilled calamari. Dahlquist also loves the arancini, while Terri Martin said the crab cake sliders are scrumptious.

RBar in Sheridan Park won repeated kudos for their apps, a round of applause I wholeheartedly agree with. This is my gold standard spot for truly understanding the importance of the appetizer.

Jennifer Plant loves the Benny rolls (BBQ pork stuffed in an egg roll), the loaded French fries and the loaded mac and cheese, while Jenna Taylor loves the jalapeno popper dip.

Pour Richards earned multiple shoutouts, including one from a foodie celebrity. Eat It and Like It’s Jesse Blanco made a cameo on our panel to give love to the scallops in mornay sauce.

Jim Hearn loves the chopped salad –and while the greens could be a whole separate list, they are a starter and when someone is inspired to give plaudits to the chopped salad, you know it’s well done. Too many eateries take the house or side salad for granted – again, it sets a tone, for better or worse.

Kermisch also gave some leafy love for the fried green tomato salad at May River Grill.

Craft Kitchen earned multiple snippets of adulation from our panel. Sarah Morrison loves the herb cheese stuffed dates (made with boursin cheese, medjool dates, chopped bacon and pinot noir gastrique). I am not a fan of raw pickles (save for the occasional left-on sliver at Chick-Fil-A), but their lightly Southern fried pickles in a buttermilk ranch are divine.

Melissa Ann thought she was going to get laughed at for mentioning Jim ’n’ Nick’s cheese biscuits. Instead, 23 other people DM’ed me about the biscuits, borderline ashamed to throw out a chain appetizer on the list. People, have you had these dang biscuits? Chain or no chain, they are off the chain delicious and addictive.

Maggie Kelley made our mouth water with her love for Katie O’Donald’s steak tidbits served with au jus or A1. JoAnn Smith chimed in immediately with a second on that nomination.

Heading out toward the bridge – that purgatory of what is Bluffton and what’s technically Hilton Head – Terri Martin said you must try HogsHead’s chicken and waffle sliders, while Cheryl Burrows raved about their homemade chips smothered in gorgonzola and bacon bits.

Paula Power suggests the kibbeh at Olive and Fig and I’m throwing out high fives for Mama G’s breadsticks, fried mozzarella and their arancini.

Hilton Head Island

Hudson’s won repeated praise from our panel for their starters. Debbie Brown is a fan of the mussels, while Cheryl Packard raved about the fried green tomatoes covered in a bacon jam and goat cheese crumbles and drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

Jack Baranello couldn’t single out just one, so he said all the seafood apps at Skull Creek Boathouse are amazing.

Peggy Steen and Lisa Bernstein seconded that, but both singled out the fried green tomatoes at Boathouse as a winner. Jackie Alcock didn’t want us to forget the avoca-

HOT SPOTS from page 26A do bombs.

Kermisch is a fan of the mesquite grilled shrimp cocktail at Santa Fe and the oysters Rockefeller at Alexander’s.

Jeff Pierce says the calamari at Coast in Sea Pines is heavenly. Teena Collins loves Main Street Island Pub’s stuffed banana peppers.

Heather Rath is on my short list of revered foodies and trusted culinary confidantes. She shouts out Sandbar’s nachos and bull bites as her faves. Bernstein is also a fan of Sandbar’s shrimp toast.

Bernstein also loves Fat Baby’s bruschetta, fried broccoli, homemade fried mozzarella and garlic knots, Mixx on Main’s white chicken chili nachos and Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café’s crab wontons.

Speaking of Mixx on Main, I said it in my onion ring roundup, but their perfect mix of zesty batter and perfectly sliced and cooked onions is a delight.

Jane Janiak gave mucho accolades to the deviled crab dip at The Quarterdeck and the the crap and shrimp dip at Old Daufuskie Crab Company.

Multiple Locations

Natalie Figueroa, Adkins, Diane Swanson and Amber Dawn all were compelled to give Nectar’s potato biscuits some love (Swanson said to make sure to try the homemade jam).

April Greiner, Jen Vann, Candace Weissman, Grace Ficher and Lori Hutson all raved about the twice-baked potato spring rolls at Frankie Bones. Vann also gave love to the ravioli bites.

Corbin Atkinson and Linda Belskis are both fans of the fried green tomato Caprese at Local Pie.

Jennifer Williamsen and Lindsey Gleason love Truffles Café’s spinach dip and homemade chips, while Sara Fitzgerald’s go-to starter are the truffle fries at Wise Guys.

Denise Heins said she usually makes the apps her meal at Wise Guys because they’re that special, with the beef carpaccio at the front of that list.

There are two starters in this category that are my guiltiest pleasures, the most consistently delightful, mouth-watering tastiness on the planet. That’s Giuseppi’s cheesy garlic bread and, yes, hate me for bringing chains into the discussion or for going soupy on you, but Olive Garden’s pasta e fagioli is the one dish I truly believe that could bring me back from the afterlife.

North of the Broad

Amber Dawn shouted out Yes Thai Indeed’s cheese rolls and Fish Camp’s Prince Edward Island mussels.

Terri Kraus is a sucker for the onion ring loaf at Dockside on Lady’s Island. By my count, we had 189 overall apps singled out for acclaim. It’s a credit to the area’s chefs that this is the first list we went outside our normal shorter list for. Appetizers are just that important.

So, to all those that told us, “Meh, they’re all the same, bland thing,” here’s a kickstart to try something new.

Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.

Meet our Editor

LYNNE COPE HUMMELL, EDITOR Lowcountry resident for 39 years

A native South Carolinian, Lynne hails from the capital city of Columbia, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the University of South Carolina. She moved to Hilton Head Island in 1984 for a typography job, not even realizing there was a beach. The next year, she met Amos, the man who would become her husband and soul mate. They married in 1990 on one of the beaches they discovered. A frequent crosser of the bridges to Bluffton, Lynne worked at the local daily for nine years and has been with the Sun since 2009. While her job is editing, she also enjoys writing, and is confident there is a novel in her head somewhere.

ENJOYS: Waterfalls, good coffee, hanging out with the fam.

• The Bluffton Branch Library continues to offer many opportunities for adult summer reading, learning and fun.

Events that require registration include: I Speak Chocolate on July 7 at 10 a.m.; Overcoming the Gear and Fears: Kayaking at Any Age on July 13 at 11 a.m.; Argentine Tango and the Search for Unity on July 14 at 10 a.m.; Free Line Dancing lesson for adults on July 17 at 10 a.m.; and Tales of the Town: Your Bluffton Stories on July 22 at 10 a.m.

To register, call 843-255-6503.

Big Bang Boom and the All Together Now Bluffton Expo! Will begin at 10 a.m. July 29. Patrons may come and meet representatives from local nonprofits and hear about their programs.

The Bluffton Library is located at 120 Palmetto Way in Bluffton Village. For more information, visit beaufortcountylibrary.org.

• James River Greyhound Meet & Greets held at Bluffton and Hilton Head Petsmart stores will be suspended for the month of July and August due to high temperatures.

The events will resume in September with the first and third of the month meetings at Hilton Head PetSmart from 11 to 1 p.m. and the second Saturday of the month at Bluffton.

If interested in learning about Greyhounds as pets, feel free to contact Karen Shea at 804-356-4102 or Chris Schlentner at 847-321-1771.

• The monthly Palm Trees & Pistons car show will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. July 8 at Sea Turtle Marketplace on Hilton Head Island, in the parking lot of the former SteinMart store.

The show will feature vintage, antique, exotic, muscle and unique cars owned by area locals.

Any car owner who would like to display their vehicle(s) are welcome to bring them for show and tell, and to meet others of like mind. Not a car owner? Come by and see some cool cars. It’s all free.

The show is held the second Saturday of each month, depending on weather, and is free and open to the public.

• The new Children’s Art Museum (CAM) at Jepson Center, part of Telfair Museums, will host a public Grand Opening celebration from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 8 at the museum, 207 W. York St. in Savannah.

The new museum will provide engaging, inspiring exhibits and handson, interactive spaces for toddler ages and up. Age-appropriate experiences will include modern technologies, immersive environments, and low-tech and hands-on activities.

CAM will be open during all Telfair

Museum operating hours. For more information, call 912-7909-8865 or visit telfair.org.

• The Heritage Library Book Club will meet at 11 a.m. July 12 at the Hilton Head Public Library, 11 Beach City Road on Hilton Head Island. The book to be discussed is “Coffin Point: The Strange Cases of Ed McTeer, Witchdoctor Sheriff” by Baynard Woods.

Registration is requested at HeritageLib.org/bookclub.

• The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s June meeting will be held July 13 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7 p.m.

Topics will be Spanish Mackerel and Blue Fish. Capt. Adam Saurerborn of

Noteworthy

Tide Ryder Charters will discuss jigging techniques with various lures and favorite locations of choice and tides. This presentation will also include the use of planers and spoons.

Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed.

For additional information, contact Capt. Jim Kindwell at 843-812-2177 or email fgibson@islc.net.

• Singer looking for a summer activity are welcome to join the Shore Notes women’s chorus on four Mondays: July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14 and Aug. 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and discover the fun and camaraderie of a cappella singing.

On Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. the program finale will be a Friends & Family night, where summer singers can perform the two songs they learned with the chorus.

Rehearsals are at Okatee Baptist Church, 5467 N. Okatie Hwy. (Route 170) in Ridgeland.

For more information, call 843-7056852 or visit hiltonheadshorenotes. com.

• “What’s in Your Purse? Releasing the Baggage,” a women’s empowerment conference and book signing, will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Family Worship Center, 2 Trask Pkwy. in Yemassee.

Speakers include Elder Etrenda Ferguson-Patterson; Michelle Casey, executive director of NAMI Lowcountry; Dr. Joyce R. Travis and Elder Janet Spence. Author Melanie Mason will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

Masks are required. Registration is $15 each, available at the door; books are available for $10.99. For more information, call Wendye Savage at 843-888-2505.

• America’s Boating Club Hilton Head will hold its America’s Boating Course safety class Aug. 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the USCB Osher Learning Center in Bluffton.

The class is open to the public and will cover topics such as boating laws and regulations; safety equipment, both required and recommended; navigation in adverse conditions; communication; and knots and lines.

The cost of the class is $75 for individuals or $100 for couples. Children can also attend with their parents for $20. To register, visit abchh.org and look for Upcoming Classes under the Education tab.

The class will be taught by a certified boating safety instructor. The instructor will have many years of experience in boating and will be able to provide you with valuable information. This class is a great opportunity to learn about boating safety and to get your SCDNR Boater Education Certificate.

For more information, visit abchh. org.

Meet our Contributors

GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS, JOURNALIST

Lowcountry resident for 14.5 years

Gwyneth was born in Pennsylvania, raised in South Jersey, now living in Bluffton. She retired from the U.S. Navy after 26 years as a Navy journalist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Norfolk State University (“Go Spartans”). Married 19.5 years to Tony, an adorable Welshman. They have two sweet rescue cats, Tigger the tripod and Benji (neither are spoiled). She is a member of Sun City Veterans Association; chorus, Sundancers, softball, art, and computer clubs. A Philadelphia Eagles fan, Gwyneth loves pasta, sushi and great burgers. Love my family, friends. I have the best job.

ENJOYS: Books, performing, art, cooking