I am singing it's praises
Alabama - Georgia - Louisiana - Mississippi and South Carolina,
states that depended on plantation life and cotton
are those considered the DEEP SOUTH
BUT
BUT
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY extends to some of the border states like the panhandle of Florida- East Texas and Kentucky
If you have never been any closer to The South then
an icey Mint Julep
I highly reccommend you make the trip
The doors are open to almost any stranger
and Southerners have a special way
of making visitors feel welcome and comfortable
Steeped in traditions
Skillet Corn Bread at the Tankersley home
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Spiced with eccentricities...
MARLON BRANDO
STREET CAR NAMED DESIRE
by
Tennessee Williams
and pickled in alcohol...
 |
| GENTLEMAN JACK |
THE SOUTH is unique onto itself
Sweet melancholy
hangs in the air like moss dripping from the trees
Like a sagging gate pulling off it's hinges
Like peeling paint on weathered wood
The Ashley River winds it's way from the outer banks spilling into the Atlantic Ocean
at the entrance tof Charleston Harbor
...flowing past MIDDLETON PLACE
and
DRAYTON HALL
a perfect example of Georgian Architecture built in the early 18th century by John Drayton,
and held as the country home of the Drayton family until it was turned over to
The National Trust in 1975
Never restored and never modernized
Drayton Hall
is preserved in it's original state with all the scars of a life lived fully.
It is achingly beautiful
Original paint - original hardware
Inspired by the principles
of Andrea Palladio's
Four Books of Architecture
A column and plinth wraps itself into baseboard and wainscott
Overmantle and mouldings hand carved of Cypress
directly copied from the drawings of Inigo Jones
a back stair
and
original tiles down in the first floor kitchens
Ghosts of outer brick walls emerge
through the whitewashed plaster
and a hearth large enough to spit roast an ox
in the lower kitchens
Charleston, South Carolina
cobbled streets and 18th and 19th century buildings
have a unique charm and personality
Known as the Holy City,
...because of the many church steeples that
pierce the sky - no high rise buildings
to obscure them
Southern hospitality greets everyone
We were invited to tour the manufacturing facility of the
in
Charleston, South Carolina
A display wall of lantern styles
...and they mean it
The care and the skill that goes
into creating each and every fixture
is evident in the end product.
Their custom capabilities are unlimited, so if you have
a design in mind these are the folks who can see it to reality
It's not a surprise that most of the gas lights
in town were created at
Aside from making a guest feel instantly welcome
(Urban Electric had a beautiful bouquet of flowers
waiting in our hotel room)
food figures prominently into Southern Hospitality
Charleston can boast more then a handful of nationally acclaimed eateries
Experience The South through your tastebuds
SEAFOOD STEW
at
(Food Is Good)
and the Sorghum Pudding Cake is to-die-for...But the recipe is a sadly a well-kept secret
with
Walnut Ice Cream and Salted Caramel sauce
If anyone knows the recipe
PLEASE
send it to me at
rela@relagleasondesign.com
PAT CONROY
A Charleston native son
writes vivdly about growing up in the Lowlands
the son of a shrimper
Shrimping is a way of life in the Lowlands
PRINCE OF TIDES
Read it and weep
or watch the movie with Barbara Streisand and Nick Nolte
In my opinion that self-serving performance of Ms. Streisand could make you weep but not in a good way- so annoying !
The BIG Easy...
easy for struggling musicians to find gigs
easy to find affordable living conditions
easy access to alcohol
all theories for why the nick name--- but whatever the reason
there is only one NEW ORLEANS
From the French Quarter...
Intricate cast iron balconies are traditional on building facades
where Jazz was born
SATCHMO
aka LOUIS ARMSTRONG
to the Garden District
where antibellum mansions defy time and hurricanes like
Katrina in 2005
being original and different
There is no better way to get to know a place then to get to know a local
Though not a southerner by birth
Allison Kendrick has been a quick study on the ways of The South
RICHARD KEITH LANGHAM- INTERIOR DESIGN
Allison moved with her two children from Connecticut in 2003,
purchased a shell of a Napoleon III (1869) home in the Garden District
and embarked on a major restoration project
with the help of long time friend and interior designer Richard Keith Langham
RICHARD KEITH LANGHAM-INTERIOR DESIGN
RICHARD KEITH LANGHAM-INTERIOR DESIGN
So much to see and do in New Orleans but don't miss
Every Thursday night from 6-8 you can enjoy the collections
along with music and drinks-
SO New Orleans - SO FUN
CLEMENTINE HUNTER
CLEMENTINE HUNTER
Also known as "The Black Grandma Moses" Clementine was born shortly after the end
of the Civil War. She picked up a paintbrush at the age of 50 ( she lived to be 100)
and began depicting everyday life on the plantation.
Self taught, she never learned to read or write, but her
legacy of paintings tells the story of a by-gone era.
"Our culture is our most valuable export."
Allison Kendrick
Steeped in history- and not always viewed in the kindest light the South
is experiencing a well-deserved resurgence of popularity
Louisville - Kentucky
Visit the horse farms
or
put your best hat forward at the Kentucky Derby
Runs the First Saturday in May
If you can wangle an invitation from a local
prepare to party long and hard
Southerners take their fun seriously
SECRETARIAT
The stuff of ledgends
Winner of the Triple Crown 1973
Montgomery, Alabama -
This Side of Paradise
?
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MEMORIAL
Montgomery was also the site of some of the most significant events of the
Civil Rights Movement
and there is a beautiful Maya Lin memorial
to all those who lost their lives in the quest for equality
Savannah, Georgia
Visit the cemetery made famous by John Berendt's
non-fiction novel
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL
The Lady Chablis
What's not to love
Read the book or see the movie and you will fall in love with the Lady Chablis.
She(HE) played themselves in the 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood
PAULA DEAN
if you are not afraid of a little buttah'
get yourself some down home cooking
at Paula Dean's
The Lady & Sons
It makes me crazy to hear all the moaning and groaning about the fat in
Paula's recipes and her battle with Type II diabetes
GET OVER IT
This sassy lady did what she knew how to do
- COOK-
to support her family
I applaud her for that
She is not forcing you to eat her delicious recipes -
it's up to you how you use them and
how often you devour them
Laissez les bons temps rouler
is experiencing a well-deserved resurgence of popularity
Louisville - Kentucky
Visit the horse farms
or
put your best hat forward at the Kentucky Derby
Runs the First Saturday in May
If you can wangle an invitation from a local
prepare to party long and hard
Southerners take their fun seriously
The stuff of ledgends
Winner of the Triple Crown 1973
Montgomery, Alabama -
This Side of Paradise
?
F.Scott Fitzerald wrote his first best seller
to win back the heart of the elusive Zelda,
to win back the heart of the elusive Zelda,
a Southern Belle from Montgomery
Must have worked!
They were married one week after it's publication
Scott and Zelda lived in Montgomery in the early 1930's with their son Scottie.
and their bungalow is now a museum housing their
letters, first edition books and Zelda's paintings
Talk about Southern Hospitality
TEAGUE HOUSE
Greek Revival - 1848
It is from the porch of this house that
Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
was read at the end of The Civil War
GREG TANKERSLEY
preparing an amazing southern-style dinner
We were the fortunate recipients of that famous Southern Hospitality
on our recent visit to Montgomery
It doesn't get much better than touring a
McAlpine Tankersley structure
with Bobby McAlpine
They were married one week after it's publication
Scott and Zelda lived in Montgomery in the early 1930's with their son Scottie.
and their bungalow is now a museum housing their
letters, first edition books and Zelda's paintings
Montgomery was spared burning during The Civil War. When General Wilson and Wilson's raiders road into town it is said that city leaders greeted them on the porch of The Teague House with a white flag, a bottle of bourbon, and an invitation to come on in and
" sit a spell"
Talk about Southern Hospitality
Greek Revival - 1848
It is from the porch of this house that
Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
was read at the end of The Civil War
preparing an amazing southern-style dinner
We were the fortunate recipients of that famous Southern Hospitality
on our recent visit to Montgomery
McAlpine Tankersley structure
with Bobby McAlpine
Montgomery was also the site of some of the most significant events of the
Civil Rights Movement
and there is a beautiful Maya Lin memorial
to all those who lost their lives in the quest for equality
Savannah, Georgia
Visit the cemetery made famous by John Berendt's
non-fiction novel
What's not to love
Read the book or see the movie and you will fall in love with the Lady Chablis.
She(HE) played themselves in the 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood
if you are not afraid of a little buttah'
get yourself some down home cooking
at Paula Dean's
The Lady & Sons
It makes me crazy to hear all the moaning and groaning about the fat in
Paula's recipes and her battle with Type II diabetes
GET OVER IT
This sassy lady did what she knew how to do
- COOK-
to support her family
I applaud her for that
She is not forcing you to eat her delicious recipes -
it's up to you how you use them and
how often you devour them
Mexican Shrimp and Grits
A Rela Interpretation of a Paula Dean recipe
A Rela Interpretation of a Paula Dean recipe
Serves 6
The Shrimp
12-18 extra large shrimp - I get the ones that are almost like mini lobsters
Remove all shells but leave on the tails
3/4 pound fresh chorizo sausage- casings removed
3 Tblsp. olive oil
1 large yellow onion finely chopped
1 large sweet red pepper chopped
1 jalapeno pepper finely diced
3 Tbls. white flour
2 Cups chicken stock
2-3 Tbls. 1/2 & 1/2 or whole cream as desired
1 fresh lime squeezed
1 bunch cilantro finely chopped-
Bunch of chives finely chopped for garnish
Bunch of chives finely chopped for garnish
sea salt and fresh ground pepper
The Grits-
Prepare according to directions on box substituting chicken stock for water
1 cup white Grits
2 cups chicken stock
2 tblsp butter ( truly optional) stir into the grits when partially cooked
2 tblsp butter ( truly optional) stir into the grits when partially cooked
6 oz. shredded pepperjack cheese- stir in after grits thicken up until completely melted
In a large skillet over a medium heat saute the chorizo and cook until browned and crumbly
Set cooked sausage aside and leave drippings in the pan
Add the olive oil to the drippings and saute the chopped onion until transluscent about 8 minutes.
Add the red pepper and the jalapeno pepper and continue cooking about 5 minutes more till they soften a bit
Sprinkle the flour over the mixture- stir well and cook for 2-3 minutes
Gradually whisk in the 2 Cups of chicken stock until creamy smooth
Return the cooked Chorizo to the pan- bring mixture to a low boil and cook till slightly thickened.
YOU CAN DO ALL THIS AHEAD OF TIME TO THIS POINT
Add the shrimp and cook until they are completely pink on all sides about 5 minutes.
Turn down the heat and add the cream, cilantro, and the lime juice
Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve over the grits garnished with chopped
MEXICAN SHRIMP n' GRITS
chives
