Charleston Serves Up More Than 300 Years of Flavor—and Every Bite Tells a Story

In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.

This week: Dive fork-first into Charleston's legendary food scene, where history and flavor collide. From the resurrection of she-crab soup to the recreation of a groundbreaking 1865 dinner that celebrated equality, discover how Charleston's culinary landscape tells the story of African, Native American, and European influences—one delicious dish at a time.

In this episode, you'll learn

How she-crab soup went from a presidential delicacy to near extinction—and its triumphant return at 82 Queen

The powerful story behind Nat Fuller's Feast, an 1865 dinner celebrating emancipation that was recreated 150 years later

Why you can find 30 different versions of shrimp and grits in Charleston (and why they're all "fat on fat on fat")

The essential Gullah Geechee influences that shape Lowcountry cuisine, from red rice to okra

How formerly enslaved people became Charleston's great caterers and shaped the city's culinary identity

What distinguishes Lowcountry cuisine from broader Southern cooking

Featured Guests

Chef Kevin Mitchell: Chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, food historian, author, and host of Savers of Flavor

Jonathan Kish: CEO of Queen Street Hospitality Group, which owns 82 Queen, Charleston's first fine dining Lowcountry restaurant

Lamont Ferrebee: Executive sous chef at 82 Queen

Don't miss these moments*

[2:50] How Kevin's grandmother's tough love at age 6 launched his culinary career

[4:30] The emotional moment when the rain stopped during the Nat Fuller's Feast recreation

[7:15] Why turtle soup still haunts food historian Michael Twitty

[11:45] The West African okra variety grown specifically for its leaves

[17:00] The invention (and resurrection) of she-crab soup

[19:30] What happened when 82 Queen tried to change their shrimp and grits recipe

*Time stamps are estimated and may change due to programmatic advertising.

Dine around Charleston

82 Queen: Experience Charleston's first fine dining Lowcountry restaurant (since 1982) in their magical courtyard setting. Don't miss the award-winning she-crab soup and their unique barbecue shrimp and grits

Chef Scholar Dinner Series: Follow Chef Kevin Mitchell on Instagram for a chance to snag tickets to these intimate 16-seat historical dining experiences (April 15th: honoring Chef Patrick Clark)

Hannibal's Kitchen: Try their renowned crab rice and other Gullah Geechee classics

For dinner, try Fig, Kultura, Lowland, or the Ordinary

For coffee, pastries, or breakfast try Page's Okra Grill, Magnolias, Kudu Coffee, or Bad Bunnies Coffee

For a cocktail, try Babas, the Seahorse, or the Gin Joint

Resources

Read the transcript of the episode

Plan your trip to Charleston using our guide on afar.com

Follow Chef Kevin Mitchell and the Chef Scholar Dinner Series on Instagram @chefkevinmitchell

Watch Savers of Flavor to learn about heirloom Southern ingredients

Explore more Charleston restaurant recommendations on afar.com, including the best new restaurants and where to find the best Gullah Geechee food.

Next Week Join us as we explore Charleston's vibrant music scene and cultural events, from intimate jazz shows to grand performance halls.

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