https://offthegridgreenville.com/index daily 1.0 2024-04-11 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature daily 0.75 2024-04-01 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/flushies-off-the-grid-greenvilles-bathroom-superlatives-best-restroom-awards monthly 0.5 2024-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d9d85cfd-5f21-4e9e-962d-636408e80a29/Rabbit_Hole_0449_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Most Reflective Location: The Library, at The Rabbit Hole Have you ever wondered what 100,000 pennies look like? Take a moment to contemplate. Sebastian Carter, owner of The Library at The Rabbit Hole, says it would definitely give you a "penny for your thoughts" moment while you ponder amidst the porcelain. Whether contemplating life's mysteries or enjoying the ambiance, it's an experience worth more than just spare change. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/18ed0441-c78b-4884-88fc-35a196274d49/IMG_9267.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - The Business Throughout the year TEAM OTGG keeps an ongoing list of restrooms nominated by YOU, our scouts, writers, and photographers. We visit them. We experience them. As we get closer to narrowing down the nominations, we reach out to the OTGG community and ask for more. TEAM OTGG whittles down the nominations to a finalist list. Final thrones are notified and scheduled for professional photography + digital enhancement sponsored by FishEye Studios. TEAM OTGG finds their inner Family Guy and cranks out clever “Best-of” Superlatives recognizing the special touches, meaning, and thought behind these bathroom assemblages. The FLUSHIES are published. Sign up for our emails to be the first to know about a Flushie Potty Party! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2222dfa4-ee58-4d74-b2a9-81cbb38f5ee2/Curean_0456_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Best Restroom Design Location: Curean The Curean Blue restroom, conjured up by the talented Tiffany Dorau with Interior Enhancements, is more than just a washroom—it's a stroke of genius! Pairing her vision with the delightful hand-painted wallpaper by the one and only Matteo Miles, this restroom is truly a work of art. With Matteo's knack for earning Flushies left and right, it's safe to say this restroom is making a splash in more ways than one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/4a1f755f-60e2-4c98-b17a-fa9a701a551c/Vault_%26_Vator_05_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Best Spot for a Pit Stop Location: Vault and Vator Dive into the mysterious world of Poe's Pit Stop at Vault and Vator. With hauntingly beautiful paintings by Matteo Miles and multiple Flushie award-winning muralists, this restroom is a literary journey into the unknown. Step inside and find yourself surrounded by the eerie elegance of Edgar Allan Poe's tales. The walls come alive with his iconic characters, inviting you to ponder life's mysteries while you answer nature's call. So come, take a break from the ordinary, and immerse yourself in the artistry of Poe's Pit Stop. It's more than just a restroom—it's a hidden gem within a hidden gem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/e1be2785-ef65-4af5-840a-2fb1e00071bd/IMG_8451.jpg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Most Rectified Potty Location: Distinct Cider Room Step into the whimsical world of the Most Rectified Potty at Distinct Cider Room. An artist friend insisted the owners earn a "Flushie," so they transformed the restroom into a masterpiece. Experience "On the Dot" décor and a touch of "Pink Pearl" elegance amidst the eccentricity. Let go and embrace your inner "Free Spirit" in this sanctuary where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. Dare to venture into the unknown, where "Alien Nation" awaits with open arms. It's a journey of "Psychic Release" and "Danger" (Mind Blowing Up) excitement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/70b4f9e9-8da7-42d2-a43d-8290b6feaf04/Vintage_Now_Modern_0474_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Most Devine Location: Vintage Now Modern Step into Vintage Now Modern's exclusive restroom, reserved solely for valued customers—because even divine relief deserves a VIP experience. Here, faith and serenity converge seamlessly, with framed portraits of Jesus adorning the walls. It's not just a restroom; it's a heartfelt tribute to the memory of the late owner's wife's unwavering devotion, offering a serene space for your bathroom break. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/f0c955b6-c3da-4559-a34c-088bd5333263/Jones_Oyster_Bar_0480_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Soothing Sanctuary Award Location: Jones Oyster Co. Dive into an underwater adventure at Jones Oyster Co.'s fish-themed restroom! The whimsical fish wallpaper and sea-inspired hues create a tranquil ambiance, while the cool mirror subtly echoes the aquatic theme. Take a break from reality and refresh yourself in this sanctuary of tranquility. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a2698bdf-f289-4d4d-b136-ee5600d2f821/87D4774F-713E-45F8-BF3A-14E0384EC1A1IMG_8263.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Most Gruesome Potty Location: Greenville Army Store Welcome to the Gruesome Potty at the Greenville Army Store! Despite their move, they've managed to preserve the legacy of the grossest restroom in town. Step inside if you dare, where every flush feels like a mission accomplishment, and every visit earns you a badge of courage. It's not just a restroom; it's a survival challenge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/e1a6539d-68da-432c-afd8-64530b906020/oye+restroom.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - Most Striking Visual Contrast Location: Oye Art Studios Step into Oye Art Studios' restroom and prepare to be flushed with inspiration! Like brutalist architecture, the artist illustrates your bathroom experience with black lines on white walls. Inside, it's the opposite— a unique play with negative and positive spaces. Plus, the vibrant yellow ceiling adds a splash of color to your “thinking space.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/57533bf0-7f8a-4da7-b7e1-708dd46f2df1/IMG_9265.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlatives - OG VIP at TrueLine Planned location for TrueLine While the crowd jammed out to Randomonium, we got a tour of its state-of-the-fart, erm, art, Inception-style in-house outhouse. The venue will have a private lounge and rooftop bar- All the makings of luxury. But for right now, visitors can use the unofficial embedded office to drop it like it’s hot. If you choose to wade through the muddy waters surrounding TrueLine’s pro-tem privy, you’re the real VIP (Very Important Pottier). https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/guide-to-the-upstates-best-local-farm-stores-3fp49 monthly 0.5 2024-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c615a6d5-003c-4dd5-ad53-671f3c54dfff/img_1262_720.jpg Featured-blog - Guide to the Upstate's Best Local Farm Stores - Grazers Happy Cow Creamery Hurricane Creek Farms Sharon Hill Farms Skyland Farms https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/7f82951a-c2a5-4abc-bc28-7a38091f7e2b/B32E3D53-5659-44C4-863D-DCF0C2D68135.jpeg Featured-blog - Guide to the Upstate's Best Local Farm Stores - Poinsett Produce Can you name a better place for a peach? Drop your favorites in the comments below. https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/greenvilles-timeless-classics monthly 0.5 2024-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/8161e98b-8084-4e6b-bc0e-5f4241537b5b/robinpullingbagels.jpeg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - Greenfield’s Bagels & Deli Robin Greenfield couldn’t be more of a cheerleader for Greenville and its Jewish community, and the bagels, spreads, and anything else coming out of the deli make it really easy to cheer right back at her. Since 1999, she’s been the bagel dealer of the Upstate, and without those perfectly boiled dough rings, a large number of New York transplants (and everyone else!) wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. Beyond the bagels themselves, quality lox, pastrami, and many other spreads make Greenfield’s a singular dining experience we feel lucky to have in Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ee3eab23-56e1-4851-8ef8-840e6b873eed/OJ_DIner_3136.jpg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - OJ’s Diner Since 2005, OJ’s Diner has had a lock on the Upstate’s best fried chicken. The secret seasoning in the flour continues to tantalize our palates. What’s not a secret, however, is that scratch-made dishes using quality products, infused with a whole lotta love, make this Greenville staple one for the regular rotation. Inside, you’ll run into everyone from local government officials to neighbors, and everyone is welcome all the time. If you’re looking to make any ol’ Tuesday feel like a Thanksgiving feast, this is the place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d1ed3c6d-b400-4a0a-a448-a8586f11aaee/IMG_9701.JPG Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - Sushi Go Perfect, every time. That’s the commitment of a sushi chef to their diners who’ve entrusted their consumption of raw seafood to a near stranger. In Max We Trust! Owner Max Godo, for more than a decade, has delighted diners with sushi and specialty Japanese dishes that go above and beyond what the name might suggest. A take-out business that clips along is only one part of the experience. Dine in for the option to request recommendations of authentic dishes you might otherwise pass over, and don’t turn down the warm, unfiltered sake when suggested. This corner spot at the tippy top of Main Street proper deserves top billing on your dining list. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3b31d4bb-486e-4056-8990-d4de8d2a9f35/Asada_0892.jpg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - Asada Bringing the best part of San Francisco’s Mission District to the Upstate, Gina Petti and Roberto Cortez’s brainchild, Asada, is a staple we couldn’t imagine living without. They continue to challenge themselves and us with new dishes found on the specials board while keeping the classics, like two-hander burritos, just as tasty as they were when they were introduced on their food truck a dozen years ago. Along with some sangria, island beers, and hot AF sauces, you’ve got a winning combination of talent, hospitality, a funky environment, and a take-out system that has tested time. You can truly feel the love in every dish sent out of their kitchen. Cheers, friends! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/32df91b2-0297-4e1d-bfed-ebd04139be08/FullSizeRender.jpeg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - Pita House Our friends at the Pita House are ready to make you what is considered the best Middle Eastern food in the region at what we believe is one of the TOP restaurants in the Upstate of South Carolina. A tri-family affair, Pita House has been a staple in the Greenville community since 1988. Fresh pita and menu items are made daily for the most consistent, tasty dishes that make their cult following want to shout: all hail the PITA HOUSE! And it’s true, they still accept cash only. No exceptions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0f5a7741-8b2e-44ce-a77e-9d6f3000d6bd/Zorba_Lounge_1061.jpg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - Zorba Lounge Known for those massive steak sandwiches on an onion roll with the fattest pile of steak fries and that bacon-heavy club sandwich with chips, Zorba Lounge is the place to go for lunch and late-night munchies. While you can order from Uber Eats, there’s nothing like experiencing the laid-back (as the name suggests) and old Greenville vibes of this dive bar. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1618238050287-E47NS6UW5UMK5C613UMC/Drop_Inn_Store_8936.jpg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - Maria’s Kitchen at The Drop-In Store Maria Gomes is a Greenville gem, making the food she turns out in the unassuming back of North Main’s Drop-In Store that much better. From Goan specialties reflective of her Indian heritage to the best shrimp tacos (challenge officially accepted if you can find better!) in Greenville, she infuses flavor in every layer. While dishes served in plastic diner baskets don’t often receive major accolades or mainstream awards, we’re on record saying hers are deserving of the spotlight. There’s no restaurant we’d rather eat for lunch any day of the week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/22fc37e4-7533-4f58-9a48-9fe835627348/IMG_1751.jpeg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - Asia Pacific The perfect host, Alva Mak, is feeding the Upstate hot, delicious, perfectly-done-her-way Chinese food. Asia Pacific Restaurant prepares its duck, pork, fish, and vegetable dishes all in-house. Along with the three-course Peking Duck (order 24 hours in advance) that rivals any you’d get in a major China Town, she’s got us hooked to the whole fish, char sui pork noodle soup (and all the soups), salt and pepper everything (shrimp, fish, doesn’t matter), pea tips—and honesty, all of the greens. Keep an eye out, and you’ll see Chef running through the market to grab another bunch! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/6dee5ec9-343d-48c0-886f-9b9069f3ab11/IMG_8208.jpg Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - 15-20 minutes is the average time needed to order from Asia Pacific If you’re in the mood for food but want to keep it casual at home, 15-20 minutes is the average time needed from phone call to pick-up at Asia Pacific. Be it an egg roll or a meal for 12, remember, this gem can handle a feast! Their flavor-rich soups are served family-style. Our strategy? Start at the restaurant and take home what’s left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/e4fe9068-ac4b-4cbd-bd83-de97b3de6d51/IMG_3661.JPG Featured-blog - Essential Greenville, SC Restaurants - The Trappe Door Duck as you head down the stairs to this subterranean, Belgian-inspired pub that will transport you to Europe until the southern American English accents surrounding you snap you back to reality. With steak frites that’s been described by a former Belgian resident as “more Belgian than the ones in Belgium,” a kids menu that respects the elevated palates of younger diners, an aioli selection that will have you ordering multiple orders of fries to sample them all, and a beer and cocktail program that has the bar packed by 5:30 p.m. daily, we’re hard-pressed to find fault. A favorite order: classic moules frites mariniere, extra fries, six aiolis for dipping, and an old-fashioned with house bitters. https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/the-2023-flushies-off-the-grid-greenvilles-superlative-bathroom-awards monthly 0.5 2023-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/bd42376a-bd95-4612-91c4-4814c81eb48c/Travelers_Taproom_0361_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - The Realest Location: Traveler’s Taproom, Greenville Muralist: Matteo Miles Not to downplay the stunning floral mural by one of our favorite local muralists, but the signs in Traveler’s Taproom restrooms keep it real. Please flush, and don’t do drugs (here), kids. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/868d5977-c683-4a7f-b8b8-3a911b83d1af/Hester_General_Flushies_2.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Best messaging Location: Hester General Store, Dacusville Designer: Everett King Consulting The signs are everywhere: the message on the floor to co-owner Katie Chaney’s daughter, the tile pattern representing gender neutrality, art honoring female figures, the comedic reference using the Hardware and Plumbing signs; and the whimsical pie wallpaper. All of Hester General Store’s core beliefs are represented, leaving little to the imagination . . . in the best way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/66a5e4c3-7549-4924-b6a0-14a8888c3b58/IMG_1927.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a1e1b316-53f9-4434-826c-3407f574a409/Group_Therapy_2.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Most viral Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/33a2fc44-5b28-4a82-845e-93fab179f142/IMG_5756.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - The business. Throughout the year TEAM OTGG keeps an ongoing list of restrooms nominated by YOU, our scouts, writers, and photographers. We visit them. We experience them. As we get closer to narrowing down the nominations, we reach out to the OTGG community and ask for more. TEAM OTGG whittles down the nominations to a finalist list. Final thrones are notified and scheduled for professional photography + digital enhancement sponsored by FishEye Studios. TEAM OTGG finds their inner Family Guy and cranks out clever “Best-of” Superlatives recognizing the special touches, meaning, and thought behind these bathroom assemblages. The FLUSHIES are announced!!! Share the great news! Maybe we should throw a party? Def BYOTP. 3D trophies are presented to those winners wanting to display this incredible honor at their place of business. Look for them on your next outing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0a0d0578-bd65-4d4f-b01c-c346fb178ba5/IMG_2940.JPG Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Most Unexpected Location: Swanson’s Warehouse, Greenville Muralist: Martha McLeod Welcome to the jungle! (In Axl Rose’s voice) When you need to answer nature’s call, spy a prowling lion within these lush surrounds. Add the old Greenville Women’s Club sign and the brass chandelier, and you have quite the number. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/85cf4c57-f50e-43d3-a5ef-eeed1e7ddefc/Hester_General_Flushies_1.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/f5bf9419-ad91-4990-b73c-c9a6b89b0bde/Scoundrel_Flushies_4.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Most scandalous Location: Scoundrel, Greenville Designer: Kenzie Kraebber Kenzie Kraebber, manager, was the sole designer of the “You’re like really pretty” PG-rated restroom, shown here. Is there another? Yep… an “installation created with a selection of Scoundrel’s finest vintage French nudie magazines from the 60’s and 70’s” collected specifically for this purpose during a trip to Paris by Joe Cash, chef-owner. Cash shares his thoughts behind Scoundrel’s second *R-rated potty as a way to "pull people out of their comfort zone and ask, ‘what's going on here?’ and maybe it's a little too far for some people and I understand that... we've toyed with covering it up or not." Pottier beware: the content warning sign on the door is a tad difficult to read in the low light and easy to miss if you’re really making a beeline. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/de70486e-d059-43c7-840a-2c23f540a002/Resident_Dogs_Cafe_0342_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards designer? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/44ea4d91-aea2-4b04-9c04-273940a5137d/IMG_3505.JPG Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Most Consistent Location: Janina Ellis Studio, The Village of West Greenville Designer: Janina Ellis It’s blue. All of it. And we appreciate the color-match to the artist’s work within view of the vanity mirror. Consistency is key to staying regular. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2a508c91-06b0-404f-91ff-898e15bf6ddf/IMG_9187.JPG Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Most out of this world Location: Resident Diner, Travelers Rest Muralist: Sunny Mullarkey When the rocket fuel is nearing combustion, or you find yourself under alien attack, we’ve found a docking station ready for your moon landing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a81a6f2f-2f3f-4d87-8830-689bfb3e0352/2eaa1703-5e45-4407-821a-a811c090af62.JPG Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - BEST viewer submitted Restroom in the Upstate Location: Mailroom Barber, Overbrook Greenville Designer: Ashley James Woodwork: DM2 Furnishings Photographer: Olivier Blanchard We’re adding a new tradition to the Flushies this year, thanks to one supporter’s dropping this bit of news in our DMs: send us a killer image of the coolest restroom in the Upstate and you might be responsible for the 2024 Best Viewer Submitted Restoom in the Upstate. Congrats, O. You’re really making a splash. ;) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/52040c21-ea76-45a5-b459-45686e1fad92/Augusta_Twenty_6275.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - most Androgynous Location: A20 Market, The West End Designer: Kelly Ford of Ford Interior Design Tile-maker: Circles and Squares From the Simpsons-like portrait wallpaper to the locally handmade tile, each carefully selected element in this new loo is worth a look-see. Crack open the door and take a peek. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/f273a997-5bf8-4717-be66-ba57ecd451c1/Green_Laundry_Bathroom_5378_LR.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Most Educational Location: Green Laundry Lounge, Greer Muralist: Douglas Piper Take a leak ‘n’ learn. A spicy bathroom experience complete with built-in reading material, Green Laundry Lounge’s latrines are an homage to the food you may have eaten before visiting. Pictured here are the ingredients for authentic Indian Pav Bhhaji Masala, with the spice mix recipe hand lettered on the wall opposite the toilet, for optimal viewing, of course. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0e791981-9624-4a62-8541-602c8b6b7cd9/Group_Therapy_3.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Superlative Bathroom Awards - Best Potty Party Location: Group Therapy, Camperdown Greenville Designer: Matthew Hubbard Transport yourself to the 70’s with this discoteque hiding in both restrooms at Group Therapy for a serotonin boost. Activate the potty party by finding the bottom behind the elephant (in the room). Enjoyed and documented by unsuspecting guests, the light show earned itself a viral TikTok video. Hubbard’s favorite features include a window to the parking lot and a safety sign with CODE signals to ask for help. https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/2023-best-off-the-grid-worthy-restaurants-in-greenville-sc monthly 0.5 2023-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ede8b3a8-1b4c-4249-ae6c-838bbc19bb47/Green+Lettuce.jpg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Green Lettuce One of the possible surprises on this list, Green Lettuce quietly relocated from its formerly shuttered West End location and re-opened during summer 2022 as the anchor in a Congaree Road shopping center. From the unexpected dining room ambiance with a fitting central water feature to the flavor-bombs of the authentic Persian shareable plates, Green Lettuce is a sleeper we predict will awaken your senses upon entering. The warmth of the service is matched by the heat from the house green salsa that can be drizzled on any dish. While the kebobs may seem the most accessible menu items, we recommend branching out to an assortment of appetizers, many of which are authentic dips begging to be ferried to diners’ mouths via fresh vegetable slices and piping hot bread. A particular stand-out is their version of kashk bademjam—a staple Persian dip made with eggplant, whey, saffron, onions and garlic. The key here is ordering to share. Don’t skip the house-made dessert or the Persian tea served with dates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2981bb32-9910-4423-b3c4-b5b329d9ef33/IMG_4978.JPG Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Asia Pacific Restaurant & Supermarket Owner Alva Suk-Yin Mak is a seasoned restaurateur dedicated to serving the most authentic Chinese food in the Upstate. From our point of view, she’s succeeding year over year, and we still haven’t found a better place to get Peking duck than Asia Pacific. Stir-fried pea tips, spicy hot pot, char siu (Chinese roast pork), and dim sum are, again, only a few items jam-packed with flavor on the extensive menu. Equal parts Asian standards and lesser-known authentic dishes, those accustomed to the typical Chinese-American takeout will discover something new here. We encourage you to explore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3298d796-8400-4c0b-bdf0-b5904db738cb/IMG_3084.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Bake Room A carb-lovers dream. From baguettes to chocolate croissants to the thickest cubes of bread pudding you’ve ever seen, Bake Room proves its standing as the one bakery to make the list. Located in The Commons, Bake Room is consistent with its daily offerings while throwing in some special seasonal items. Our standby favorites are the baguettes, morning buns, and perfectly laminated flaky croissants, which do tend to sell out each day. Our tip for snagging your favorite treat: go early and often. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9fac5f52-88ac-4761-b0d8-7844187a3443/IMG_5386.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Maria’s Kitchen at The Drop-In Store Maria’s Kitchen in the back of North Main’s favorite bodega turns out a wide variety of exceptionally tasty dishes. The no-frills red laminate tables between metal retail display shelves are deceptively casual considering the sophistication of flavor served. Indian-inspired butter chicken, Brazilian Feijoada, spicy shrimp tacos, tamales (Wednesdays only), and Portuguese-influenced curry from Goa represent a sampling of the global destinations your tastebuds should expect to tour at this gem of a lunch spot. The hot dogs and burgers aren’t too shabby either. Add this to your weekly lunch rotation. (Check out our original story—prior to the updated exterior) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/803ab57a-a454-43a4-86a3-86d5b2f04c86/IMG_4647.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Sacha’s Cafe Salt, fat, acid, heat. All the makings of well-balanced bites are here. With two locations now, Sacha’s bookends downtown from the east to the west. We’ve grown to love the newest addition a block beyond Fluor Field that is just as consistently delicious as the original Pleasantburg location. You can’t go wrong at either. The extensive menu makes it difficult to recommend only a few items, but think of these as merely an introduction. First, Colombian empanadas— the bright yellow, corn-based dough filled with your choice of beef or chicken—arrive steaming, waiting to be filled with a vinegar-based hot sauce. Ceviche de Camaron provides a palate cleanser before moving on to the heavier bowls and platters, like the traditional Colombian Bandeja Paisa—beans, rice, beef, fried pork belly, Colombian sausage, egg, fried sweet plantain, arepa, avocado. But really, the bowls are where it’s at for us. Try the Paisa Bowl with rice, beans, steak or fried fresh bacon, fried Colombian sausage, fried sweet plantain, cabbage salad and avocado. That’s all the food groups, right? And we can’t move on without mentioning the Perros Calientes (hotdogs) that will make you want to break out a tape measure. They’re big and topped with crushed potato chips. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/312288b6-a56e-4551-bbe8-db56a4ddf921/Asada_1272.jpg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Asada Mention Asada and our collective hearts swell a few sizes. Owners Gina and Roberto are the epitome of flavor-filled hospitality and never once have we received a cold dish, a taco that wasn’t just right, or a greeting that wasn’t as warm as the mole. While we love the seasonal sangrias—which have often become an accidental excuse to ditch out early on a Friday afternoon— you can’t go wrong with any of the massive Mission-style burritos that form the core of the menu. But if you’re looking to venture further, it’s the savory fusions of Roberto’s Latin heritage with Gina’s Asian background peppered throughout the regular specials that we crave over and over: Tacos de Camarones & Mole (Asian-inspired salt & pepper shrimp in Mexican mole served on a handmade pasilla chile corn tortilla) that are filling enough to share. Vegan Mofongo (Roasted eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, shiitake mushrooms, homemade vegan gravy served over hand-mashed fried green plantains), which shows off their use of the freshest produce from their own garden and local farmers. Chicken Karaage Taco (Japanese-style fried chicken marinated in sake, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, topped with Latin-Asian slaw of jalapenos, radishes, cabbage, scallions, ponzu, sesame seeds and served with fresh chips and pico) should be added to your list. If that’s not convincing enough, you must not umami . . . https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0844733f-5e57-4823-8795-22c51c346d4e/IMG_3886.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Pizza Parcheggio Literally “parking lot pizza,” there’s no parking lot we wouldn’t wait in for these perfect pies. How’s that for an endorsement!?! Because, honestly, there’s pizza, and then there’s PIZZA. Pizza Parcheggio is the latter and worth the often weeks-long waiting list to take home one of these babies. And we have to admit, it’s a small thrill feeling a tad sneaky like we have a pizza dealer. You know, the kind who can really deliver the good stuff. So what’s the deal? You sign up to pre-order. Then, pick up is Thursday- Sunday on your reserved date and time. Pizzas are classic, thin crust, 16” round with eight slices. No substitutions or half toppings. With nine pie choices, you won’t need alterations. Trust us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/5a47cf84-db49-44c5-9a76-914f837ed922/IMG_1787.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Califas We love a family feel-good story. In fact, every member of the Califas staff is family. And while all hasn’t been as storybook for owner Erika Mejia Dila as she’d prefer, having suffered the loss of her father and biggest supporter in the fall of 2022, the success of this little shop off of Orchard Park Drive is a very happy beginning. Drawing from her grandmother’s, mother’s and aunts’ recipes, Erika recreates her familial food memories for her guests for lunch and dinner. When the aunts stop in and dip a spoon in a simmering pot, she knows she’s about to get some notes, which she welcomes. Humble and grateful describe Erika’s demeanor, and it comes through in her food. On the menu, birria as tacos, pupusa bombs, pozole and even pho represent the many Latin and Asian influences from her family tree. The house sauces are there for the drenching, and keep an eye on the menu as it evolves to include even more of her family’s hundreds of recipes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/938dc4c4-8b94-4632-85ad-c2b1c5e1678a/IMG_3664.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - The Trappe Door Downtown’s favorite Belgian basement bar—where it’s difficult to get a seat without a reservation—is an OTGG favorite for several reasons: The fries and dozen-plus aioli options are a major draw. As are the moules frites (fries again). And the steak frites. And the beer battered cod . . . and fries. So, clearly, there’s one main reason with many secondaries. If you haven’t also discovered Trappe Door’s fries (they aren’t really French, after all), this is your cue to do so. We’re also big fans of the beer selection and one of the best craft cocktail programs in town. Snag a seat at the bar right after opening for a happy hour or early dinner, or make a reservation to ensure a table later in the evening. OTGG tip: Trappe Door takes feeding kids seriously with its menu for the youngest culinarians, featuring even a smaller portion of moules frites. Afterall, they’re just mini adults. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/833ac201-35a4-46d5-9bd9-780817ec24e6/OTGG_Pita_House_73282.jpg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Pita House Their cash-only status alone makes them iconic. But Pita House is so much more. The Namouz family has chosen to share not only their time and service with guests but also the matriarchal recipes, bringing their Mediterranean home here in an accessible way. Each day, they bake pita bread fresh, mix falafel and hummus and make every other item on the menu from scratch. You will find no other example of a multi-cultural culinary experience that has become as ingrained in the Greenville community. Their commitment to quality and guest experience has brought people together over Israeli dishes for more than 30 years. That, alone, deserves an award. Past story on OTGG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d5fa53f8-4217-4d4e-8c6a-870c0701e348/IMG_7930.JPG Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - White Wine & Butter A Cajun trattoria in a food hall downtown Greer? You have our attention. Chef Michael Sibert began making flavor waves as a caterer and at local events, like euphoria, before White Wine & Butter’s brick-and-mortar restaurant opened. Now with the option to dine in, you can score fresh jambalaya pasta, seafood gumbo, and their signature Voodoo fries with crawfish etouffee gravy, which are made to order while you watch. And let’s talk about the weekend brunch—Bananas Foster Pain Perdu, Creole Poutine and Louisiana BBQ Shrimp n Grits—that brings together Michael’s classic French technique with family New Orleans recipes. We feel confident that the future here is bright. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/8e259da6-6b01-44c0-a3af-bc2d44ad8205/IMG_3661.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Cheers to locally owneD If you made it all the way through those descriptions without already planning your next meal out, now’s your chance. Phone a friend or several and make one of your 2023 goals to hit as many of these local gems as possible. Bon Appetit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d0c69037-4784-4e59-8e6d-430d42dd90f4/IMG_9199.jpeg Featured-blog - 2023 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Resident Diner (CLOSED DUE TO HIGH COST OF ALCOHOL LICENSE) Owner Meredith Bost continues to surprise us. Not that we doubted the success of the brick-and-mortar location of her former food cart Resident Dogs. But the creativity of the Resident Diner menu themes—Casserole Tuesdays, Nicolas Cage’s birthday, etc.—are so off grid at every reveal, they belong on the grid, or at least this list. We can confidently say you won’t find a more 80’s nostalgia-inducing restaurant in decor. An 8-track player has been installed and vintage crocheted blankets are available for chilly nights. But the food—hotdogs, tater tots, mountains of nachos, and all manner of hand-helds that need assistance from a fork—are reminiscent of an era where “home-cooked” dinners were served on microwaved trays or the ingredients sourced from cans and boxes. Meredith manages to convey the positives of those food memories while sourcing local, fresh ingredients and making everything from scratch. When we say we could move in . . . https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/cause-we-havent-left-the-house-in-a-while monthly 0.5 2023-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/62d9775d-1387-4f83-be8d-dad61d1ed6c8/IMG_5157.jpeg Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - Irie Caribbean cuisine Nothing says flava more than sinking your teeth into a Jamacian pattie. This flaky crust semicircle filled with seasoned meats or vegetables will satisfy the pickiest taste buds. While you’re at it, order their warm coconut bread to make it into a seriously tasty sammie. Grab some of their tropical lemonade or a Ting from the fridge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/91fca21c-3d9b-4e6f-8d1c-5e9d81214039/IMG_4624.jpeg Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - KUKA Juice Craving a little sweetness that will light up your day? Take a detour to Kuka Juice. Drink a colorful smoothie. Or treat yourself to one of their toasts. We’re especially fond of the Bee Sweet Toast on Great Harvest Bread topped with almond butter, banana, chia seeds, bee pollen, and honey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/b3467eb0-de46-49da-bb44-92ff6d51ede8/IMG_1090.jpeg Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - Asia Pacific Supermarket Prewrapped and ready to go, look for these little treats on Fridays when they come in fresh from Atlanta. You can choose from a variety of options ranging from sweet to savory—all in the cases by the registers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/91493d09-b7e2-4437-a0a6-1cbdc680a8dd/IMG_4493.jpeg Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - Automatic Taco Another satisfying highlight from The Commons is the Indian Butter Chicken taco featuring Masala Matters spice mix and topped with jalapeño, crema, pickled onion, and a touch of cilantro. Your life is now complete. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/5a47cf84-db49-44c5-9a76-914f837ed922/IMG_1787.jpeg Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - The newest contender, CAlifas These Birria Pupusa Bombs from Califas rank up there with the most bang for your snacking buck. An order of two fried masa balls, STUFFED with dripping birria beef and cheese, with a side of encurtido (pickled jalapenos and such) and salsa roja is enough to satiate even the hangriest among us and hit every corner of your tastebuds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/f949d631-8b5d-42e7-aba7-266f4aa474c6/IMG_5386.JPG Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - The DROP-IN STORE If you’re anywhere near downtown Greenville, you’re close to Maria’s Drop-In Store at the entrance of the North Main Neighborhood on Stone Avenue. The butter chicken tandori wrap is a winner. And to be honest, they’re all winners. IYKYK. Here’s a link. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c94af0e0-4ffb-494d-9ac7-4b7b404d842d/IMG_4483.jpeg Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - Bake Room Can we talk about this ET (everything) bagel croissant? We don’t mean to gossip, but this is one tasty love child born from a Flaky French Pastry and a Greenfield’s ET Bagel with scallion cream cheese. Conveniently located at the Commons next to Unity Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/76f1a7a2-2c63-49ad-b27e-000064d30481/IMG_4645.jpeg Featured-blog - SNACK HACKS. WHERE TO FIND A TASTY, QUICK BITE - Sacha’s Cafe And let us not forget the Colombian-style empanada. She’s a savory yellow corn dough turnover stuffed with seasoned chicken or beef mixed with cooked potatoes. Instructions: 1. Bite the top off vertically 2. Fill hole with liquid salsa goodness 3. EAT 4. Mouthgasm 5. Feel the love 5. Repeat https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/plant-based-restaurants-vegetarian-greenville monthly 0.5 2023-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d33ba269-1e61-4654-a99e-3c7b244b4371/Sunbelly+Cafe.jpg Featured-blog - Fork Around and Find Out. . . . DeAndra's Favorite Meat-free Restaurants - Full Meal Options Naked Vegan At this vegan safe haven in the Upstate, they’ve got it all—raw wraps, healthy salads, freshly pressed juices, smoothies, raw sides—SOUP TO NUTS . For those not-so-healthy days, they’ve got vegan versions of ribs, burgers, chick’n sandwiches. Plus, you’ll love the names of the dishes including the fan-favorite “Hooker in a Skirt” (kale wrap). Sunbelly Cafe If you are looking for unique plant-based cuisine, this is the spot! Sourcing a majority of their produce from Mill Village Farms, you are literally eating farm to table. Enjoy Ethiopian stew, house-made plant-based burgers, delicious Asian dishes like curry, spring rolls, and more. Everything is made fresh to order. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1c9d9814-b2eb-47f3-a664-e7bf5f3af8eb/272486565_350226866682789_3128943522745389568_n.jpg Featured-blog - Fork Around and Find Out. . . . DeAndra's Favorite Meat-free Restaurants - DeAndra Reasonover-Winjobi DeAndra Reasonover-Winjobi, MPH, NASM-CNC, NASM-CPT, AFAA-CGFI is the owner of VV Spot, a small business in the Upstate that promotes plant-based eating and a healthy lifestyle. VV Spot’s website is a resource, offering various lists by category of vegan-friendly restaurants in the Upstate. Their services include food tours, grocery store tours, personal training, and nutrition coaching. You can learn more by visiting www.vv-spot.com. Follow VV Spot at @vv_spot or follow DeAndra at @vv_spot_fitness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d218cc90-d2cf-49e2-aa59-a5b8bf74ea8d/Kuka+Juice.JPG Featured-blog - Fork Around and Find Out. . . . DeAndra's Favorite Meat-free Restaurants Kuka Juice A must-have when in the Village of West Greenville! Grab a quick snack like their protein bites, have lunch there with some of the best salads and unique sandwiches you’ll find in the Upstate including their Taco ‘Bout It Salad with cashew “meat” and Grilled Cheese Sandwich (vegan option available). Daily specials include a rotation of vegan cheesecakes and yogurt parfaits and other offerings, including juice plans. Southern Pressed Juicery Known for their cold-pressed juices but they offer so much more! Their smoothies and smoothie bowls are unmatched in texture and flavor. They offer vegan-friendly macaroons, doughnuts, cheesecakes, cookies, and puddings, plus various salads and other meal options. The Herbal Farmercy With a name like that, you know you are eating well for the body. This fully vegan restaurant’s offerings change weekly but are always delicious. Order their meal plans or simply grab a daily special. With meals like loaded parfaits, tasty oatmeal, tempeh salads, chick’n salad sandwiches loaded with veggies and more, it’s clear why they made the list! Plus, for those wanting a plant-based/vegan alternative, they also have offerings like meatloaf, mac n cheese, okra, dump cake, garlic roll, and lemonade. It’s some of the best vegan soul food in the Upstate! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/b40b6817-4dbd-4d6c-a3b6-fe85374a9839/Coco+Bowlz.jpeg Featured-blog - Fork Around and Find Out. . . . DeAndra's Favorite Meat-free Restaurants - Snacks and Desserts Coco Bowlz This local chain started in Greenville as a food truck is now “on the grid “with multiple locations throughout the Upstate. Offerings include tasty bowls and smoothies. Order one of their signature menu options or create your own. Absolutely delicious! Canela’s Smoothies Hey plant-based friends in Anderson, we have a spot for you! Canela’s is a smoothie bar that offers delicious smoothies, detox juices, and bowls made with 100% organic ingredients! Their menu even tells you the benefits of what you are ordering, like the “After Midnight” juice, which helps with reproductive health, or the “Aloha” that helps with heart health. Village Blend If you can blend it, they make it! Get a peanut butter cookie milkshake, a Mega Energy Tea, like the Wild Cherry Berry, or a protein shake! Whether it’s a physically healthy choice or a mentally healthy choice, this place will leave you feeling good. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3a794af5-a856-42db-ac32-531548b81298/_AE_9758.jpg Featured-blog - Fork Around and Find Out. . . . DeAndra's Favorite Meat-free Restaurants - *Note For the purpose of this article, the term “plant-based” refers to Oxford's definition: (of food or a diet) consisting largely or solely of vegetables, grains, plants, or other foods derived from plants, rather than animal products. Here are some other eating types that can fall under “plant-based” eating: Vegetarian (consumes dairy and other animal byproducts) Vegan (a lifestyle and diet that includes no animal products) Whole food plant-based (oil-free, unprocessed food) Ovo-vegetarian (consumes no animal products except eggs) Pescatarian (consumes fish + vegetarian diet) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/220387dd-447e-4bf7-95a5-24c86fd32376/Credit+to+Health+in+Hand.jpg Featured-blog - Fork Around and Find Out. . . . DeAndra's Favorite Meat-free Restaurants Tasty as Fit (Greenville location) With their grab-n-go set-up, this is a hot spot for a quick lunch. They have amazing smoothies and acai bowls. And as is standard in the plant-forward restaurants, the menu changes seasonally. Enjoy the healthiest snickers bars you can ever find and other amazing options that are entirely plant-based, gluten free and minimally processed. Health in Hand For our Spartanburg friends, this spot offers delicious juices and smoothies. You can also enjoy their acai bowls and tasty lunch and breakfast options. The Kale & Hummus Wrap is angelic! (image provided) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/4402c2bc-9a83-4195-afc5-c8609d9fe703/SWAD.JPG Featured-blog - Fork Around and Find Out. . . . DeAndra's Favorite Meat-free Restaurants - A Greenville OG… Swad Indian Restaurant It’s possible you didn’t realize a Greenville staple offers entirely plant-based Indian cuisine! Swad offers authentic favorite breads like garlic naan, Roti, Chapati, and more. Other tasty options include their Vegetable Pulav Rice or the Daily Special Thali where you get two veggies, lentils, Roti, rice, and papad. Yum! Sadly, Swad closed Summer 2023 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/2022-best-off-the-grid-worthy-restaurants-in-the-upstate-sc-f5emg monthly 0.5 2023-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/176c02d5-e46a-4541-939b-ed4eaa8efa85/IMG_1057.jpg Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Bar Margaret The fries and house Thousand Island dressing dipping sauce. That’s really all you need to know about our favorite quirky restaurant and bar combo in the Village of West Greenville. But we’ll tell you more because there is so much more to love. For one, very important thing, the kitchen stays open slightly later than typical restaurants, which is important if you’re looking for a snack to balance out the cocktails, which are a delight. Secondly, there isn't a bad bite on the menu from the tacos to the Damn Good Burger (we concur). But thirdly, we’d like to give a special mention to the new vegan nachos (yes, they taste like the real deal) making late-night bar food accessible to all, which happens to be a hallmark of this love-affirming and an inclusive haven for everyone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/07d6c1c4-043c-44a3-8456-7c0f361bb686/OTGG_2022_Top_Ten_4450.jpeg Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Irie Caribbean Cuisine Pack your bags and transport yourself to Jamaica at this bonafide oasis on West Antrim Drive. What to order: A variety of perfectly cooked traditional dishes (brown stew chicken and small beef oxtails pictured here) served with equally delicious accompanying sides. Grab a few Jamaican beef patties and a couple of sodas/beverages for the trip home. Order to go or take a seat and get ready to sit back and enjoy the taste of the islands. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/61b02e34-6c84-4539-bcf1-7409d1a900dc/OTGG_2022_Top_Ten_4445.jpeg Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Empire Deli UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP 10/2023 Owners Jen and George are not looking for fame, but their food certainly deserves an award. Just behind Haywood Mall, this winner that opened in 2021 is a New York-style deli with housemade pastrami, freshly sliced meats, subs, clubs, melts, and salads all made to order. You can taste the dedication to their craft and love for serving delicious food to their guests in every last sandwich – each one well-balanced and beautifully executed. With a huge menu and a daily special board, we have a feeling this is just the beginning of a good thing. Good food takes time: Expect to wait. If you do not like to wait, try visiting during off-hours. We ask you to please not rush perfection and understand that at the time this story was reported, there was no room in the kitchen for additional help. The owners are the only employees. Let’s help keep them around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/85baa2ee-975e-459a-b6d9-7993bc717d8e/IMG_1319.JPG Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Honorable Mentions Comal 864 TruBroth Spaghetti Westurn Woodside Bistro Abanico Tapas Bar (pictured here) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9482d1b3-392d-48b9-b0f9-28d8403832b1/IMG_0578.JPG Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Stella’s Southern Brasserie There’s a dream team situation happening in Hollingsworth Park that has landed this Charleston-reminiscent restaurant on the map. Executive Chef Anthony Gray, formerly of Bacon Bros. Public House, joined the Stella’s family mid-pandemonium, and just last spring, his former Bacon Bros. pastry chef – who happens to also be a former South Carolina Chef Ambassador – Tania Harris came on board. Together, they’re creating savory and pastry offerings consistently respectful of regional ingredients and cuisine with their own unique twists, as you’d expect if you’ve ever dined at one of their previous establishments. Expect the menu to have dishes like The Lions Mane Mushroom “Crab Less Cake” with basil aioli, tomato-cucumber salad, blistered shishito peppers that will trick everyone at your table into ordering another round. It happened to us. Pictured here is Tania’s top appetizer pick, the Crispy Fried Brussel Sprouts, served with gochujang aioli, bourbon-tamari glaze, jalapeno, peanuts, cilantro & scallions (pictured with egg). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1a57d0c7-1408-44e7-9103-54a0fec0db00/offthegridgreenville-Instagram-2602-ig-18147071881089068.jpg Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Pita House Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know it’s been six years in a row, but how do you NOT include the Pita House? It’s a Greenville favorite. Why? Always consistent, incredibly tasty, and fresh. The grocery store is always stocked with a variety of Middle Eastern products we love to take home, including buckets of olives, fresh pita, cheeses, and an impressive variety of spices. Most importantly: #cashonly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1cc0fcd6-3a92-43f8-916b-5cf2f272e1fc/OTGG_2022_Top_Ten_4451.jpeg Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Asia Pacific Restaurant and Supermarket Long-time Greenville residents remember the original Dragon Den in this South Pleasantburg location, and newcomers often pass by the nondescript shopping plaza for months until someone does them a favor and tells them what we also learned four years ago – inside, you’ll discover a little bit of Hong Kong in GVL. It seems much of Greenville is catching on and agrees with us that this is the BEST Chinese food being served in the Upstate. There’s really no competition in terms of variety and quality. Learn more about Asia Pacific Greenville https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/5a16ef85-6162-4295-80b2-66acc0cb7c69/IMG_3565.jpg Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Taquería Mixtapec The International House of the Tlayudas Looking for some actual south of the border specialties? Head to Taquería Mixtapec on North Pleasantburg Drive for tlayudas. They’re not pancakes or quesadillas– they’re more like "Oaxaca pizza.” Pronounced, clayuda, this authentic Oaxacan cuisine is a handmade dish with a large, corn tortilla toasted crisp and covered with refried beans and loaded with your meat choice and a variety of tasty traditional toppings. Instead of slicing like a traditional American pizza, you take a knife and crack the tortilla in a few places and dive in. Have extra napkins on standby. Prefer a neater delivery method? Skip the abierta (open) and opt for the dobladas (folded/bent) version. When it comes folded, it has fewer ingredients and costs a little less. Pssst… Don’t miss their unbelievable tacos. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/4b2688b2-d033-4a15-a136-72128e198f40/OTGG_2022_Top_Ten_4452.jpeg Featured-blog - 2022 Best "Off The Grid-Worthy" Restaurants in Greenville, SC - Sushi Go Pictured: Hamachi Kama - grilled yellow tail You truly will not find authentic, traditional Japanese dishes like this anywhere else in the Upstate. What owner and chef Max Godo has managed to maintain for nearly a decade is not only a dedication to quality sushi but also the commitment to serving specialty items unknown to that average sushi diner. With one of the best weekday lunch specials downtown, the points of entry are many. In other words, if you haven’t visited the corner restaurant on North Main yet, you have no excuse. Sushi Go is so much more than sushi. https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/the-2022-flushies-off-the-grid-greenvilles-bathroom-superlative-awards-smly5 monthly 0.5 2024-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/624b036c-a9fe-457f-a097-1b84125d5fe2/51CE31D0-D40A-42D7-8BDE-9877C9FB3967.JPG Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - This sexy little number… is a lil fancy mixed with a lot of luxe. In its evening attire, this normally dark, candle-lit lounge is the perfect spot for feeling the mood on your next date night. Plus we all know that hand towels are better than roses. Trust us on this one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/bf4d3002-6a67-4719-8006-3aa3a587306e/Wine_House_4491_story.jpg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most Premium Amenities Wine House We like details. And the Wine House owners have paid attention. While those special touches might not be as obvious as some of the other throne rooms on our list, rest assured they are present and accounted for. The first-class body products (hand soap, lotion) and Diptyque candles making your private time a pleasure are the same ones the owners use at their own homes. Next time you’re in the market for a couple of glasses or a bottle, don’t miss the chance for a premium potty experience, too. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/7dd3e7a5-6fe3-42b4-b950-d927fc3ef0af/The_Rabbit_Hole_4522_story.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Why build a bathroom like this? "Why not??” The Rabbit Hole https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/769dd809-f8fe-4a41-ba37-da2a0750e618/The_Rabbit_Hole_4539_story.jpg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most Likely to Fall In The Rabbit Hole Anyone else either prank your siblings or fall victim to the ol’ seat-up-on-the-toilet trick? It’s a stink or swim moment. Thankfully, that’s not what we’re talking about here… (really, how many jokes could we make that we won’t?) Newly opened, The Rabbit Hole has made a splash for both its stellar wine list and also its Alice in Wonderland-themed WC that will have you falling into a dream-like state, but only until the next visitor wanting to sneak a peek knocks on the door. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/15745721-0f27-46f2-a4d5-224d39571ae0/Camp_Selfies_2022_story.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most Selfied CAMP While a picture may be worth a thousand words, the picture is the story at CAMP with restrooms fit for the IG Kings and Queens and their followers. And frankly, with the stunning wallpapers’ providing the perfect backdrop in both restrooms, actually using the toilets might be priority No. 2. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/faedce57-0df4-4243-8f14-ccdc5c6ccc27/Bar_Margret_4476_story.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most Likely to be Sponsored by the Humane Society Bar Margaret Q: What do you call a dog you find in the bathroom? A: A POOdle A holdover from the original GB&D location, these walls of good boys and girls keep the human occupants from feeling even a twinge of loneliness. Or maybe it just reminds you of how your furry best friends are always by your side, even whilst taking care of business. Either way, take a quick read while you pop a squat and discover some names that may inspire your next pet adoption. As statement art lovers, we can’t help but lurve “Banksy.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/20e4266f-4162-4c03-baa5-78074d10f6f2/Camp_4516_story.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Tag #theflushies #offthegridgreenvilleflushies on your next CAMP selfie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/fc7b0008-8c8b-4580-8ba3-7159907d99d2/IMG_0986+2.jpg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most Committed to a Color 4 Aces Kitchen and Cocktails So there are color palettes, and then there is this dedication to a single hue we have yet to encounter elsewhere. And tile to boot! Easy to hose down and most likely to resist a rogue Sharpie-ing . . . or worse. We applaud this pink potty, rosé restroom, blush bathroom, and light red lavatory, for being as committed to the monochrome as we are to alliteration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/6ff33667-c193-4fea-8ef5-38e714e8179c/38D6BB08-1289-40DB-9CDA-F0D68B46302B.JPG Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most off the grid Albino Skunk fest’s OutHouse …with so many porta potties to choose from, it’s a treat to sit in this retreat by the stage bedecked in festival history. “Welcome, all” is the motto of the Upstate bi-annual Skunk Festival where hospitality doesn’t stop even when it comes to taking that private moment. Posters from past festivals line the walls for some entertaining reading material but don’t camp out too long. With running water, plenty of toilet paper, and a lock you can keep your eye on, the line for this enviable potty grows longer every minute. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ece23ba4-f990-4bf5-bdc1-9047248f15cb/IMG_4149+3.JPG Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most Inclusive HipBurger We’re all about celebrating diversity and inclusivity at OTGG, and we like this vibe, especially during this never-ending germ war. Remember, NO MATTER WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE WE DON’T GIVE A $H!T, JUST WASH YOUR HANDS. Please, and thank you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3b7a1332-fde8-4eea-88ce-a4427fb53d27/521ADFA0-7933-4528-8A1C-6919C4473115.JPG Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Luxest Loo Swordfish Cocktail Club https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/81bdbb1d-f001-4e36-bccc-7c1fc3031944/IMG_8072.jpeg Featured-blog - The 2022 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville's Bathroom Superlative Awards - Most Gruesome Potty Greenville Army Store It wouldn’t be the Flushies if we didn’t include this oasis. Once again, the honor of the most gruesome potty goes to the newest location of the Greenville Army Store on Laurens Road. Trigger warning: we don’t want you to see something that might burn your eyes, so we’ll let this little crab do the looking for you. (Random trivia: this crab is a staple from the downtown Greenville Army Store’s latrine.) While Owner Jeff Zaglin admits that the original location is the real winner, this one comes in a very close second place. https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/together-nonprofit-love monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626803395107-LE0ZE20WNWMJKZ6QHDM9/Screen+Shot+2021-07-09+at+3.34.36+PM.png Featured-blog - In It Together - Join us! Tickets are live now for Off The Grid’s 5th Birthday Brunch on Saturday, August 21st. If you don’t know already, we only throw a party every five years, so don’t miss out! We’re selling only 100 for each session. Click here to buy your tickets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626653992774-JXBNU13H3VT0GWO3E1W4/61730484048__0B4A3499-0AF6-4CA2-BA30-ACBC36868B64.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - We’re in your corner Running a business hasn’t been easy for many, but our AAPI communities have been especially and unjustifiably marginalized in the last year. Off The Grid has relentlessly combated hate and stands behind our AAPI community members. We’ve worked closely with Alva Suk-Yin Mak and the Asia Pacific team to help expand their demographics, showcase their incredible talents, and boost their business. Pictured Here: A behind-the-scenes shot of Jackie and Alva during a brainstorming session. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626803672324-4GM50H8ZXJO992AQVFXV/IMG_3421.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - Gratitude for our Supporters We’d like to offer our sincerest thanks to Leah Grabo for being a huge supporter of Off The Grid Greenville! This beautiful soul is one of our biggest donors. Leah loves our local community as hard as we do, and she knows that her contributions allow us to do amazing things for our beloved town. Off The Grid pours donations back into our own neighborhoods. Our sponsors allow us to uplift underrepresented and grassroots business owners through education and empowerment initiatives. If you love Greenville and the work we’re doing to improve our community for all, please consider supporting us! How else can you support us? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626704684489-SI50VS5OMJZVIJIQBWUV/INKS_0696.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - “I have always lived by two adages: Never again but better; and You never know what you don’t know,” says Stacey Desrosiers, owner of Inky’s Philadelphia Cheesesteaks. “To find others that live these mantras is extremely rare in today’s world. Enter Jackie and Off The Grid Greenville. The moment I met her I knew my soul recognized a kindred spirit. An individual with a fire for greatness and a thirst for the advancement of knowledge and those around her.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626654375048-QGNL2B0HFJJWV0E8F880/Screen+Shot+2021-07-18+at+8.25.29+PM.png Featured-blog - In It Together - Off The Grid helps businesses expand their reach Because of Off The Grid’s efforts, Asia Pacific is now considered one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Upstate and has received numerous accolades for its cleanliness and food quality. During the height of Covid last year, Off The Grid rushed to Alva’s aid with measuring tape and posters to help them prepare the retail portion of their store for safety and compliance. Jackie also helped them space out the tables in their restaurant to the mandatory six feet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626653852830-NSU8IAETFGF4I9ST1IKI/Myles_Pizza_8.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - Off The Grid helps you find your footing When Meredith Myles left her family business in Ohio and moved her family to South Carolina in 2016, she knew she’d reopen a pizzeria eventually. She just didn’t know where to begin. Her real estate agent connected her with Jackie. “I was feeling desperate. I just called her and told her who I was and what I was doing. She talked to me for probably an hour or two helping me flesh out ideas and locations,” says Meredith. A couple of years later, Myles Pizza Pub opened its doors. “I knew that she worked with restaurants, but I didn't fully know the extent of it. When you come to a new town and know so little, it's so helpful to have an organization like Off The Grid to help guide you.” Pictured Here: Meredith with her parents and daughter. Myles Pizza Pub is a family-owned and operated business. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626653904916-5928KDKEIE4ZQFPVS06V/IMG_9553.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - An untapped resource for independent businesses “Off The Grid has helped us so much with bouncing ideas around on advertising and marketing, and they’ve been super instrumental in getting us into different publications and getting us connected with people. They helped us get featured in Thrillist and make amazing connections with influencers in the area,” says Meredith. “I don't think the general public realizes what all they do because I didn’t before I started working with them. I think that a lot of people see them and think they have great suggestions for food. But behind the scenes, they're invaluable for a lot of us running independent businesses.” Pictured Here: Bridgette, Meredith Myles’ mother, rolls t-shirts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626704028505-FCZF712HW7BIQ8YHBC0Z/The_Seafood_Spot_2778.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - Off the grid greenville gets the word out We’ve received a lot of great feedback from customers who say they’ve seen us on Off The Grid,” says Kenisha Brantley who co-owns The Seafood Spot with her husband, Greg. “We’ve had a lot of customers come in just from their efforts.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626704041636-KWQVCB5I1UTA6U9C2WT8/IMG_9352.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together The restaurant has been open for three and a half years, and the Brantley family says that Off The Grid has been there for them all along the way. The restaurant’s success and expanded demographics have even allowed them to open a second location in Spartanburg. “Even pre-pandemic, they’ve always been awesome,” says Kenisha. “They’re always marketing us, tagging us on social, and supporting us. We appreciate them.” Pictured Here: John with FishEye Studios works with Greg and family on photography to showcase and market their business. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626654457997-D5IINLG9L71O831U6M2J/INKS_0704.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - nurturing growth in our small business community Like many of our independent businesses in the area, Inky’s is a family affair. When you work with Off The Grid, we consider you part of our family too, and we love to watch our family grow! We work hard to help businesses like Inky’s realize their potential. Stacey is now preparing to open an entire development called The Silos in Easley with multiple vendors and a new location for Inky’s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626653599156-Y0KFEBLI3PNRZWYSSQBP/IMG_0743.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - “there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.” Amanda Gorman https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626654885052-2YVAZNXIRVT5NI4CGQUW/IMG_7309.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together - Meet our jackie-of-all-trades “I’ve always enjoyed being behind the scenes. I’m not doing this to promote myself. I’m an artist and an educator. Having the space to teach, create, and connect makes me happy and fills my cup. I’m from a big city where diversity was the norm and was celebrated together. People of all walks of life came together for meals and experiences. This was commonplace, and it should be that way here too. I’m using all of my experience in PR, marketing, food and beverage, education, and personal relationships to help diversify and develop this community. I don’t claim to know how to do everything, but I can certainly connect you with people and resources who can.” Here are just a few of the ways Off The Grid helps Greenville’s independent businesses: ✨ Fostering connections and relationship development ✨ One-on-one consultations ✨ Local area guidance ✨ Community awareness ✨ Empowering marginalized demographics ✨ Liaising with publications ✨ Events and programming https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1626654435873-X6VY6UV2D8MQ7YLKU84I/INKS_2867.jpg Featured-blog - In It Together “One of the greatest benefits of working with Jackie and Off The Grid Greenville was the knowledge afforded to me about social media, photography, about the local business scene, and about the underlying ebbs and flows of the Upstate of SC,” says Stacey. “Her ability to kindly teach, to guide, and to lead you to understanding is a goldmine in itself. As a newer entrepreneur, there was so much that I didn’t know I didn’t know. As the years of our working relationship have grown, so has my knowledge. Jackie takes the time to find the diamond in the rough and to nurture it in a way that this world needs more of. Her empathy, her humor, and her ability to tell it straight have made me a better business owner and person.” https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/top-bites-to-beat-the-heat monthly 0.5 2024-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/7d3462df-78ca-4203-925d-510abb099f17/mangonadas.jpeg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - La Cabaña Antojitos Mexicanos This shaved ice is really saying “get on our level.” Sugar, spice but make it ice? We’re in. MANGONADAS •Shaved ice •Homemade mango purée •Chamoy sauce •Chile powder •Tamarindo candy All the right combinations. Along with this classic Cabo treat, they are currently offering MEXICAN HOMEMADE ICE CREAM (yes, you may get ALL CAPS excited about this with us) and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Image provided https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9aa7c4e9-33b7-47dc-95b0-ba4fd0708819/img_8316_720.jpg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - The Nomadik Few For some of us, shaved ice is synonymous with summertime. At The Nomadik Few in Piedmont, the icy, frozen treat of our childhoods gets an upgrade with powdery, snow-like texture, imaginative flavorings—Cinnamon and Dill Pickle are on the menu!—and some quite sophisticated options like Mojito, Lychee and Butter Beer. Or, pick your favorite colors to make an edible art project. Kids of all ages are welcome to ice down here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/acf45517-f3d8-47fa-ade2-81a737b484da/IMG_4631.JPG Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - O-CHA Is it a snack? Or a drink? How about yes! Boba is equal parts perplexing (for some) and delightful for many, but what’s most important is how quickly it can cool you off on a roasting hot day. Grab your favorite flavor of tea or juice with the tapioca surprise awaiting in the bottom of the cup, and stroll along the Reedy River for a waterfront experience downtown Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/efd409ae-b151-41eb-a3e4-09146ca1fc17/img_6778_720.jpg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - Dolce Italy Seriously, can we just escape to the Italian coast already?? If the answer is “no,” because, in reality, the next best option is gelato scooped by our friends at Dolce Italy. Upon entering the shop, you’ll immediately forget you’re in Greenville as the smells and sounds whisk you, if only mentally, thousands of miles away to Genoa. If you haven’t already forgotten the heat, one bite of gelato will do the trick. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ade941a5-01a8-4561-9213-f66bcefa4306/8f393125-aec4-4b58-a502-32d74af412b5_720.jpg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - Asada Sometimes having a cold dessert isn’t enough of a cool down. You need the full meal to help keep the temps low. The chilled shrimp and avocado cocktail at Asada is one of our favorite savory (and tangy) ways to chill out after a long day. And you know how we feel about the sangria—go ahead and order that, too, for a bright and boozy situation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ec6dc708-c41d-4516-b3e1-9b540c877d92/clares_720.jpg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - Clare’s Creamery Soon to offer double the pleasure with a fun second location in the Parkin’s Mill area, this Overbrook ice cream shop is *the spot* if ice cream in different ways is your coping mechanism of choice. From rootbeer floats to ridiculously sized banana splits, everyone in your crew will find a delicious way to cool down here. Image provided https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9533e435-6eb6-4602-bd65-ee4c30a433ae/IMG_9381.jpg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - The Jones Oyster Co. Fresh. Briny. And just above freezing, nestled on chewy ice. Oysters at The Jones Oyster Co. have become a go-to for team OTGG. With a rotating daily selection, you can be sure the freshest options are on the board, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Get there early (may we suggest happy hour? or a leisurely lunch?) so you don’t miss out on your favorite Beau Soleils or Malpeques. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d6539773-eb8b-4076-b4cf-d033d8e3620c/mylesfinal.jpeg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - Myles Pizza Pub Chip Myles knows more than just pizza. During those 30+ years in Bowling Green, Ohio, the Myles family also owned the Dairy Queen directly across the street from the original Myles Pizza Pub location. Combine co-owner and daughter Meredith Myles’s, passion for baking and you’ve got yourself an original Chipper Sandwich available during summer months only. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3b9fe834-3287-4211-9af9-e460cdcd946e/delicias_la_michoacana864.jpeg Featured-blog - BEST Bites to Beat the Heat - Delicias La Michoacana Ice Cream Shop If there was a genre for beautiful paletas, Delicias La Michoacana would win for their stunning creations. The newest addition to their collection is the watermelon (sandía) paleta, so picturesque that it's almost a shame to eat. You can also find these summer treats at Cucho's Tacos and Grille and Pangaea Brewing. From the owners: “We like to keep the authenticity while also providing new and unique flavors and mixes! We pride ourselves in the color, design, and flavor of our paletas! Made with ❤️!” Image provided https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/category/Lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/category/Flushies monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/category/food monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/category/lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/best+food monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/FishEye+Studios monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/Greenville monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/Greenvlle monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/best+restaurants monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/culture monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/best+bites monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/Upstate+best monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/Off+The+Grid-Worthy+Restaurants monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/best+bathroom monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/restrooms monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/feature/tag/guide monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post daily 0.75 2024-02-20 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/under-the-sea-greenvilles-best-fish-markets monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/276e0faa-020f-45c9-be24-d99bd7195c59/IMG_4600.JPG Eat/Drink - Under The Sea: Greenville's Best Fish Markets - Something for Every Budget Hooked Meat & Seafood Market, Stallings Road Hours: Tues-Sat, 10 am-6 pm With fresh seafood delivered five days a week, Hooked is a go-to for special occasion menus or weeknight dinner ingredients. Whether you’re looking for mussels or the seasonal delicacy that is fresh soft shell crabs, Hooked carries loads of fresh shellfish. Whole B-liner snapper, pompano, or sheep head are on rotation, and filets of swordfish, halibut, and cobia, among many other cuts, are ready for the skillet or grill. Their meat counter is also robust (local ostrich?!), as are their local dairy offerings. And don’t miss the made-in-house sides, like lobster mac-n-cheese, to round out your menu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/046e6730-6a20-49ed-88f8-365d92b388fb/IMG_4680.jpg Eat/Drink - Under The Sea: Greenville's Best Fish Markets - Premium Budget Broadwater Shrimp Supply Co., various locations + hours (check Instagram) Jason Janson started out with a cooler and a folding table to sell his fresh-from-the-coast shrimp. His operation has expanded in only a few years to include two fully operational seafood trailers (the one named Trailer Swift is a favorite) that post up at Strossner’s Bakery parking lot, Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery and other seasonal farmers markets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/cd188fe0-79c6-45cd-bcc2-5e067e2cc2cd/IMG_5448+2.JPG Eat/Drink - Under The Sea: Greenville's Best Fish Markets - Every Budget cont. . . . Asia Pacific Supermarket and Restaurant, North Pleasantburg Drive Hours: Mon-Sat, 10 am-9 pm; Sun, 10 am-8 pm As the sign reads, “Pre-order your favorite seafood on Wednesday-Pick up on your schedule!” The largest Asian market in the area, fresh seafood is a major perk of knowing about this gem. Plan ahead enough to pre-order and have fresh seafood for the weekend. When you pick up, don’t miss the vast variety of fresh and dried ingredients to complete your feast, and maybe even snag a bubble tea for the road. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/37c04258-3572-4eee-94b8-f9cb9df79f45/IMG_4691.JPG Eat/Drink - Under The Sea: Greenville's Best Fish Markets Janson knows his product can be harsh on a tight budget, but he also promises the freshest and highest quality fresh seafood he can find. Now offering everything from scallops to golden tilefish to salmon to housemade crab cakes and dips, he often sells out based on pre-orders before opening for the day. Since becoming an invaluable supplier for local restaurants, he’s also branched out with some more educational opportunities. He takes every chance to teach a new or hesitant seafood cook just how simple a delicious outcome can be. Have questions? Ask. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c4a94198-9867-4134-84dc-f2c13d71d9dd/Black+Sheep+Market.jpg Eat/Drink - Under The Sea: Greenville's Best Fish Markets - Budget-Friendly Seafood Black Sheep Market, Wade Hampton/Taylors Hours: Mon-Fri, 11 am-6 pm; Sat 11 am-6 pm This new shop is known as a quality butcher shop with a great meat counter (find affordable oxtail here!), and the whole fish offerings are fresh—like pan fry croaker (often called corvina), mullet, and Finnish bream. With prices less than $5 per pound, adding fish to the weekly dinner rotation doesn’t have to break the budget. Tito’s Fresh Seafood Market, White Horse Road Hours: Wed-Sun, 11 am-7 pm Hablan español! Latin flavors and preparations are available at this only-seafood shop, slinging whole fresh fish, octopus, shrimp, oysters, squid, prepared salads, and more. Look out for their seafood boil trays when the weather is more conducive to outdoor gatherings. They love to share recipes, so ask! Photo provided: Black Sheep Market owners Patrick and Angela Cheatham https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/garden-to-table-series-kick-off monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/259d9b1a-7a46-4afc-aabc-270428566ee6/mrearlewithfigs2023.jpeg Eat/Drink - Garden to Table Series Kick-Off - The man of the hour There’s simultaneously so much to say and not much that needs to be said about Mr. Oliver Earle, the urban gardener at the heart of our education and fun Garden to Table event. As a Certified SC Grower, Mr. Earle has provided fresh produce to his neighbors for decades, and for the last few years we’ve been privileged to help bring his garden to a broader market, quite literally. Through donations of time and resources, Mr. Earle continues to tend and grow a bountiful harvest each season. He’s taught us and many of his volunteers and customers more about gardening than we could ever hope to learn on our own. And now, we’re connecting what we do best—eating and teaching you where to eat—with what he does best. From Mr. Earle’s garden to our kitchen tables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/6821dc70-53ab-41c1-979c-6babf0647870/_LMC1481.jpg Eat/Drink - Garden to Table Series Kick-Off - And in this corner . . . Meanwhile, chef Josh Thomsen, most recently of Rick Erwin Dining Group, posted up on the side with some freeeessshhh—like straight from Mr. Earle’s garden kinda fresh—tomato sauce he’d whipped up hours before in OTGG founder Jackie’s kitchen. Don’t worry, we’ll share the recipe at the end (it’s ok if you go ahead and scroll, but we promise there’s more good stuff to read). Thomsen was a bit of a garden evangelist, telling folks about the bounty that awaited just down the street if they took a short walk to marvel at Mr. Earle’s garden. He was quite convincing and many folks made the short jaunt and returned with bags of Asian pears and swollen figs ready to be devoured. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a912647e-700d-4a26-ba8d-07575ba69097/_LMC1761.jpg Eat/Drink - Garden to Table Series Kick-Off - Chef Mike Sibert’s Carrot Green Pesto 1 bunch carrot greens (tops) 1 cup fresh basil w/o stems 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts 1 lemon, juiced 2 garlic cloves salt to taste 2 T olive oil 2 T ice cold water Combine all ingredients in food processor and pulse until uniform texture; add water as needed to adjust the thickness of sauce. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/31d96826-6aae-4df6-8ebe-fa260907ec98/_LMC1783.jpg Eat/Drink - Garden to Table Series Kick-Off - Chef Josh Thomsen’s Heirloom Tomato Sauce 2 cups olive oil 2 cups chopped yellow onions 3 small cloves garlic, peeled (2 oz) 2 tablespoons dried oregano 1 cup red wine 8 lb heirloom tomatoes, picked over and washed thoroughly (optional: blanched and remove skins) 4 bay leaves 6 oz tomato paste 10 stalks of fresh basil 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon fresh ground pepper Heat olive oil in a large stockpot and add onions. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes until nice and soft (no color). Add garlic, oregano, and bay leaves and cook for 5 more minutes. Turn heat to medium-high and add wine. Simmer for 20 minutes or so until the wine is reduced by just over half. Add tomatoes and paste into the simmering onion mixture. Bring the sauce to a boil and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Add the whole basil stalks (don’t chop the basil!!) Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9ec7eb22-cb28-434f-9b6a-e485ee0a9d07/_LMC1743.jpg Eat/Drink - Garden to Table Series Kick-Off - Speaking of devouring . . . The cheese. Oh my. OTGG friend and cheesemonger Michael Davitt, co-owner of The Cheese Wheel, wowed us all with cheese. If we’re being honest, we’re a bit easy in the cheese department . . . but his knowledge as a “Level 4 Master” from The Academy of Cheese and delivery made an easily consumable item a little bit more cerebral. We’re all about education here at OTGG, and especially when we can use it for good . . . like learning more about cheese. But we’re also intent on buying local, and Davitt was able to showcase cheeses made within a 50-mile radius of Greenville. That’s pretty dang cool. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/44776b29-3af1-4e43-b0aa-a9ffa90a687d/_LMC1857.jpg Eat/Drink - Garden to Table Series Kick-Off - Ain’t no party like a garden party The first Garden to Table event line-up reads like the set-up to a cheesy dad joke: Two chefs, a gardener and a cheesemonger . . . came together for a good cause—to show the community what can be done with fresh and local ingredients and a little know-how. Held at the community gathering area at FishEye Studios on Saturday, Aug. 5, the event featured chef Michael Sibert of White Wine & Butter and Anonymous Burgers as he whipped up recipe after recipe using produce from Mr. Earle’s nearby garden. The 30-some folks of all ages gathered around his cooking station were invited to get spitting-distance close and ask questions throughout. Sibert, fresh off an appearance on reality TV’s Guy’s Grocery Games, was adept at fielding comments and queries while not missing a step of dish assembly and cooking. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/cea68696-0eda-472d-92ad-778bcf08ae80/_LMC1714.jpg Eat/Drink - Garden to Table Series Kick-Off - Now what First, THANK YOU, for your support of all of the above. Secondly, we’d like to do more of this. More events, with more education, connecting more great providers and chefs, and of course, more eating and fun. To help us continue this series—with some of your favorite local chefs who’ve already made it known they want in on the next round—follow us on social media, tell your friends via shares and comments, and if you feel so inclined, drop us a note or email to let us know what kinds of free cooking events you’d like to see. Oh yeah, did we mention this entire event was FREE? ;) Speaking of which, scroll on for two great recipes from our partner chefs. Happy cooking! https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/dolce-italy monthly 0.5 2024-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0ba4d6ab-208a-4c5c-a5ac-57fedf1d0aca/img_5407_720.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Sweet Life: Welcome to Dolce Italy - Sweet escape In musical terminology, dolce means “soft and smooth,” so it makes sense to have another musical symbol—a treble clef—engraved in chocolate sauce in your frothed milk. After ordering your favorite café, ensconce yourself in a quiet little corner to sip and nosh on a cornetto (croissant’s eggy, sweet Italian sister loaded with hazelnut spread) and dream about your past, future, or present Italian vacation. To appease those at home, we recommend picking up a variety of pastries, made fresh daily, to enjoy later. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/152aa47e-fa24-4bb6-aadc-e5e72d8d9ee4/IMG_6773.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Sweet Life: Welcome to Dolce Italy - Buon appetito There’s not a bad sip or bite in the shop, but there are certainly family favorites. Francesco’s favorite item is espresso, which he and Luis share with their “No. 1 customer” Paulo Leonardo (pictured, right), who visits the shop every day at 3pm for a shot. Unsurprisingly, the most popular espresso drink is a cappuccino. Still, the menu also includes mochas, lattes, Americanos, and a marocchino, which is espresso and milk froth sandwiched between two dustings of cocoa powder. “Dad wants folks to experience an authentic Italian cafe.” And most importantly, to help them understand what true Italian coffee tastes like, Luis translates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9d144b05-cf5d-408f-94f3-10db3388d48d/IMG_6777.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Sweet Life: Welcome to Dolce Italy - We heart gelato Every which way, we love gelato, but especially when drowned in a shot of hot, perfectly pulled espresso. Hence, we have to agree with Dolce Italy’s prediction that their Affogatto will become a popular order this summer. Take note of other standalone gelato flavors—stracciatella, vanilla, pistachio—and some vegan options, too (lemon, passionfruit, strawberry, wild berry, pineapple, coconut). Anyone else ready for summer? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2851bac1-97f0-416e-a9f9-8277323aaa1e/IMG_7386.jpg Eat/Drink - The Sweet Life: Welcome to Dolce Italy - Dolce Italy 115 Pelham Road, Unit 7, Greenville Hours of operation: Friday, 11am - 8pm Saturday, 10am - 8pm Sunday, 2pm - 8pm https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/e2afb0b3-c019-40ef-9ea8-7b47ab5d5b85/IMG_5004.jpg Eat/Drink - The Sweet Life: Welcome to Dolce Italy - La Famiglia It’s all in the family at Dolce Italy. Originally from Genoa, Italy and Sicily, the DiGrazios opened the doors of their shop in summer 2022, ready to welcome Greenville into their culture and family. Their lineage includes a long line of bakers and pastry chefs, and their family pride and expertise shows in the quality of their work. Here’s who you might meet in the shop when you venture in: Francesco, originally from Catania, Sicily His wife, Susan, from Peru but moved to Italy at 15 years old (pictured) Their daughter, Francesca, who was born in Genoa, Italy Their son Luigi (Luis), also born in Genoa, Italy (pictured) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3bb81b9f-33be-43ed-94bd-70e78cfa4881/IMG_6767.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Sweet Life: Welcome to Dolce Italy - A little bit of Italy The signature savory items and handmade pastry magic horns, for instance, draw folks from quite a distance. Susan says she wants people to know that everything made in the shop is exactly as they would make for themselves. People who haven’t traveled to Italy may have a preconceived notion about what Italian food and pastries are, but if you’ve been there, you’ll know the second you open the door to Dolce Italy that you’ve entered into Greenville’s own Little Italy. The Greenville/Italy connection isn’t a coincidence. After all, Greenville’s sister city in the foothills of the Alps is Bergamo, Italy (which, incidentally, is about the same driving distance to coastal Genoa as Greenville to Charleston—we love a parallel ;)). Susan says she will continue creating a variety of authentic pastries, with quality always being the most important factor, and appreciates advance orders for customers’ favorites. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/30f57af1-24e0-40f9-b460-6d12c2f2adb8/IMG_6780.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Sweet Life: Welcome to Dolce Italy - Community & Culture Francesca, 23, (pictured) left Italy when she was 15, and loves introducing her family’s culture to others. Her favorite pastry is the strawberry eclair because of the combination of the creamy whipped cream with the crunchy texture. We’re sold. She also loves to be in the shop and meet new people, which is a major reason the DiGrazio family opened the shop. “We are here to help people to understand what Italian pastries and coffee culture are. We are not only a caffé shop and pastry shop—we are also a meeting point for many Italians and Europeans.” https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/whos-the-pit-boss monthly 0.5 2023-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1aa21de3-6449-490e-b7e3-ff6b65d0e116/IMG_4836.jpg Eat/Drink - Who’s The (Pit) Boss? - Side Show Sometimes the sides are the showstopper. We’ll let you decide if that’s the case, but both spots aren’t skimping when it comes to flavors in the secondary menu items. At Big Dave’s find homemade macaroni & cheese that is a reworked recipe as of reopening; cajun collard greens; potato salad; and a signature sweet potato crunch that is almost a dessert. Speaking of which, don’t skip PJ's Homemade Banana Pudding. At Moohogz, you’ll even find options that are accommodating of vegan and vegetarian dietary needs along with the omnivorous variety. All from scratch, potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, collard greens, red beans and rice and Rosalee’s Mac & Cheese can be a meal all on their own. To satisfy a sweet tooth, there’s creamy key lime pie, pink velvet cake, banana pudding, and pound cake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/678d80bc-47e3-4936-a9b8-663474e864c6/IMG_4631.jpg Eat/Drink - Who’s The (Pit) Boss? - MooHogz Craft BBQ Owner Graysen Walles has made a career out of taking the heat—first in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years; more than 20 years in education, including his current role as principal of Tanglewood Middle School; and now as the pit master of Moohogz BBQ. Moohogz is in the market for a brick-and-mortar location, but until that happens, find Graysen and his crew on the front lawn at Hampton Station on Saturdays until sell out. Moohogz’s 500-gallon smoker was built in Texas and installed straight into the food trailer, making it easy to “follow the smoke,” as Grayson likes to say, to find him each weekend under the water tower. Self-taught, Graysen cultivated his signature style by visiting, learning, and eating across the U.S., Jamaica and a few other spots in the Caribbean. His is a true fusion of regional barbecue styles while using the art of “offset,” a process that uses post oak hardwood (shipped directly from Texas), clean smoke, and simple spice rubs to flavor the meat. Clearly a meat-heavy endeavor with brisket, chicken wings, spare ribs, pulled pork, and Midwestern rib tips, Graysen also is proud to offer vegan-friendly options with jackfruit. So there’s a little (or a lot) of something for everyone. A true family business, you’ll be greeted by Graysen, his wife, Kenddal, and sons Lehtan or Colin at every visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d7841daf-221b-4af6-aa89-1492baaefbde/IMG_4846.jpg Eat/Drink - Who’s The (Pit) Boss? - Sauce Talk Aside from the debate over how juicy the brisket is, the next, all-important question for barbecue connoisseurs is ketchup or mustard? Or how about Alabama white? Or vinegar? These guys have you covered. Big Dave keeps it simple with his two signature sauces that are bottled and ready to take home if you can’t get enough in the restaurant. “97” BBQ Sauce (formerly "93" BBQ SAUCE) This sauce is named after D. J. Jones, Big Dave’s son, who played defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers as No. 93 and most recently the Denver Broncos at No. 97. This ketchup based bbq sauce is sweet and spicy and goes best with smoked and non-smoked beef and pork. HAWAIIAN BOLD GOLD For the mustard-based sauce lovers, this bold tropical/Southern infusion is a golden spin on a bbq sauce that pairs great with poultry and fish. Keep an eye out—he says he’s also working on a line of wing sauces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/43738a15-42a9-426d-9d6f-5476b9169222/IMG_4629.jpg Eat/Drink - Who’s The (Pit) Boss? Moohogz likes to mix it up with several options, depending on Graysen’s mood. With his inspiration drawn from the Midwest, South and Caribbean, the sauces reflect that while also keeping flavors simple and recognizable: Original Red Graysen’s signature sauce that’s sweet and universally enjoyed. A true crowd-pleaser and always on the menu. Some others you might find and taste test: Cajun Sweet Heat Alabama White Carolina Vinegar Carlina Mustard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c3124780-6130-4834-b13b-916d5f9b04b3/IMG_0345.jpg Eat/Drink - Who’s The (Pit) Boss? - For A Cause As a child, Big Dave attended Tanglewood Middle School. Graysen is the principal of Tanglewood. Both want to give their time and resources to help students of the Title 1 school, and they’ve found a way to meet their common goal through food. In 2017, Big Dave and his son established the D.J. Jones Foundation when D.J. was drafted into the NFL. A portion of proceeds from Big Dave’s sauce sales go to D.J.’s foundation, which helps underserved communities, including homeless and foster care children, to overcome adversity by teaching them leadership, discipline, and healthy lifestyle skills in a safe and fun environment. This past December, the D.J. Jones Foundation donated $10,000 to Tanglewood Middle School and established the D.J. Jones Peace Award that will be given annually to two Tanglewood students for each of the next 10 years. The award will recognize one male and one female student who exhibit strong leadership, relational skills, and academic excellence. That’s only the beginning of this new partnership and its impact on students. All because of barbecue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2e32cec6-d236-4830-a156-47977c4f9a9b/IMG_4864.jpg Eat/Drink - Who’s The (Pit) Boss? - Big Dave’s All-American BBQ David O. Jones is known as Big Dave, owner and pit master of Big Dave’s All-American BBQ. Though Greenville is his hometown, he made his name in Texas barbecue before returning home. Now, he’s back in a new location at 1193 W. Faris Road. A former Fountain Inn Police Officer with a background in psychology, Big Dave was laid off in 1989 due to an accident that left him disabled for two years. To fill his time, he began cooking, and the rest is culinary history. After moving to Texas, his hobby eventually led to feeding some of the biggest appetites in professional sports. While under the name of Lil' Red BBQ Smokehouse in Dallas, Texas, Jones was the executive chef to the Dallas Cowboys for several years. Upon his return to Greenville in July of 1997, Jones and his establishment became the official caterer to the Carolina Panthers for the remainder of their football season. For 30 years, Big Dave and his wife, Patricia (whom he calls his boss) have run restaurants and served thousands of pounds of brisket, smoked and deep-fried wings, and mac ‘n’ cheese. https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/traditional-indian-beverages monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/the-cure-for-your-post-european-vacation-woes monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/19c2aa78-1021-4ee9-a18f-0359e38b39e5/IMG_3522.jpg Eat/Drink - The cure for your post-European vacay woes Bakeroom For a croissant and baguette as close to the ones you’ll get in a traditional French boulangerie, head to The Commons on the weekends. Their hours tend to be on a more European schedule, too, so keep an eye on their Instagram for updates. Pizza Parcheggio Real, traditional pizza is hard to come by on this side of the Atlantic, and especially away from Italian hubs in larger Northeastern cities. This limited edition variety is on a first-ordered, first-served basis and worth the often three-week wait. Authentique French Creperie In a little corner of downtown Simpsonville, find both traditional sweet crêpes and authentic savory buckwheat galettes. La Reine (mushrooms, garlic, herbs, ham, Swiss cheese, and a sunnyside egg) or La Nutella Banane will whisk you away to France for brunch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/62425f4b-5935-4a85-b273-75fd63e3b38f/Between+the+Trees+pheasant.jpg Eat/Drink - The cure for your post-European vacay woes Between the Trees Foie gras and pheasant are just two dishes the new fine dining restaurant at the Grand Bohemian Lodge get exactly right as a destination for French cuisine. No surprise since the French-born executive chef, Nicolas Abello, held a Michelin star at his previous Manhattan restaurant, L’Appart. Topsoil Kitchen & Market Though the menu rotates based on the freshest ingredient availability, you can be certain the fresh fish mains or seasonal dishes like rabbit andouille and risotto will remind you of a dinner from your travels and make you miss it just a little less. Restaurant 17 A destination in Travelers Rest that excels in the “feels a world away” department, Restaurant 17’s menu of rotating fresh salads and larger plates hit all the northern and southern European notes while using authentically Southern ingredients. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/7802f876-c7f8-4c59-bd9a-4a7a76542dfe/6C23534D-86B4-4003-A983-F5475258C5C0.JPG Eat/Drink - The cure for your post-European vacay woes The Trappe Door For that northern French/Belgian flavor mashup, order the Moules Frites Mariniere (mussels and fries with a traditional white wine broth) or the Steak Frites with your choice of sauce. We recommend the au poivre. Looking for a taste of the Mediterranean? Moules Frites Provencale (tomato broth with fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil) will hit the spot. Hans & Franz Biergarten Feel a world away with Bavarian and Prussian specialties along with tastes of Hungary. Fans and shade keep the outdoor biergarten comfortable year-round. Fork & Plough On the menu since opening, the beef carpaccio is consistently giving the Venetian flavors we crave. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/b87b4b98-b54e-4342-9207-3a49483d6b65/IMG_3521.jpg Eat/Drink - The cure for your post-European vacay woes Rise Bakery Recently discovered a jambon-beurre? This traditional French ham and butter sandwich on a proper baguette is on the regular lunch menu at the bakery in the Village of West Greenville. They often sell out, so plan to get there at the beginning of the lunch rush. Dolce Italy Plan a little trip off Pelham Road to this Italian-owned pastry shop serving gelato, mousse ranging from vegan passionfruit to chocolate, traditional Sicilian cakes, and pastries. Enjoy an Italian espresso or affogato (espresso poured over gelato) while you scout treats for your next visit. Mr. Crisp Fish & Chips with mushy peas will take you back across the pond but also remind you why fresh fish on this side is even better. https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/boba-fte monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ec331bce-a1ca-493b-a0b8-06ad87e30152/Chef+21+Boba.jpg Eat/Drink - Boba Fête - Find your boba Many local Thai and Vietnamese restaurants also carry a bubble tea option, but here are some shops that are either strictly bubble tea or have a specific focus on beverages: LOCALLY OWNED Asia Pacific Supermarket Chef 21 Tea Republic Cosmic Rabbits Tea Company Ninja Warrior Coffee O-Cha Tea Bar Plant Stella TruBroth Coffee and Vietnamese Cuisine (Travelers Rest) White Rabbit Tea Shoppe (Powdersville) CHAINS WE ALSO LIKE Beard Papa’s Ding Tea FENG CHA Kung Fu Tea https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/cc1774aa-cd0d-49dd-a74b-123262447e2c/Boba.jpg Eat/Drink - Boba Fête - Here’s the break down This is not exhaustive, but a general overview of what you may encounter at any number of our dozen-plus bubble tea shops in the Upstate. Every glass of bubble tea starts with a generous scoop of tapioca balls or the increasingly popular jellies and is then topped with either tea and milk or juice. But about those chewy little guys: the texture is key. There's even a word, untranslatable to English, for that perfect consistency in Chinese—"QQ"—which means chewy. The balls/pearls/boba are made from tapioca, while the multi-shaped jellies are any combo of fruit, sugar, coconut, pectin, etc. Then there’s the popping boba—if you remember the 90’s-era candy called Gushers, you’ll understand the somewhat alarming sensation of bite-sized candies bursting with juice in your mouth. Order wisely. Tea options also vary. More commonly now, shops use powdered tea, though some still use fresh brewed tea, and the flavor options can number in the hundreds. Tea and juice can be shaken with or without milk or blended like a slush before it is poured over the boba. Each shop’s offerings will be slightly different, especially if they are locally owned, but this is one instance where Taiwanese bubble tea chains can also offer an authentic experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/789a65ba-091b-4b7c-b8f9-575e57ae294f/23B89E34-17D5-493B-860E-6427C1E18FF9.jpeg Eat/Drink - Boba Fête - Build Your Own Beverage We won’t sugar coat it: the ordering stress can be real when confronted for the first time with several columns and dozens of rows of flavor choices, including decisions about ice and sweetness levels. Shop owners and employees are used to seeing the wide-eyed look of sheer panic, so do yourself a favor and ask for help. Also here are some steps to follow: Step 1: Tea or juice Are you in the mood for creamy milk and tea or a juicy, lighter version? Picking a flavor is easier once you determine creamy or not. Step 2: Shaken or blended Do you want a frozen, slushie texture or something simply chilled? The method will not impact taste. Step 3: Tapioca, popping pearls or jellies Choose a flavor that will combine well with your liquid choice and whether or not you like to be surprised by your food. Step 4: Sugar and ice Many shops will let you choose how much ice (in the shaken version) and sweetness you prefer. As a general rule, bubble tea trends on the sweet side, so adjust accordingly. Majarais offers some flavor combination advice that can be applied to other menus as well: Mango milk tea with tapioca pearls; peach green tea with rainbow fruit jellies; honeydew melon snowcream (frozen milk tea) with fresh strawberries; or passionfruit juice tea slush made with green tea and add strawberry popping pearls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/37edf4cc-ef59-4cf8-a314-9b5139982f0b/Ding+Tea+OTGG.jpg Eat/Drink - Boba Fête - Let’s come to terms . . . . . . with the reality that the term “boba” is a Chinese slang reference to boobs, and those little boba—or tapioca pearls—we’ll discuss in a moment are also called balls. There. Now that we got that out of the way . . . let’s spill the real tea. The term bubble tea is used interchangeably with boba, depending on your geographic location, though the two terms have a different meaning. Mallie Majarais, the owner of downtown Greenville’s longest running bubble tea shop—O-Cha Tea Bar—shares some background on the name: “Bubble tea started in Taiwan in the 80’s as a snack option... shaking tea and flavor with ice in a cocktail shaker. This created a froth or bubbles. Hence, bubble tea. It actually originally had nothing to do with the tapioca pearls. They were added as an option a few years later as just an add in to an Asian dessert. But of course, they look like bubbles, so it makes sense that people assume that's where the name originated.” Prior to the beverage version, the tapioca pearls were eaten without the addition of tea as a part of desserts. At some point (there are many stories we won’t attempt to verify), the frothy tea and milk combo was poured on top of the boba, and voila—a new slurpable and chewy trend was born. Boba’s popularity grew and shops popped up all over Asia, eventually expanding to the United States in the 90’s with the Taiwanese immigration boom. https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/spring-2022-greenville-newest-local-hot-spots monthly 0.5 2024-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c5c5cc76-5bdd-4ab7-a802-d9e4832807c9/IMG_4460.JPG Eat/Drink - Spring 2022: Greenville's Newest Local Hot Spots - Feed and Seed Co. The long-awaited brainchild of Mary Hipp is open and running! The Green Market and Café offers fresh, local produce at affordable prices. While visiting, don’t miss their fresh Grab & Go selections for various snacks, sandwiches, salads, and local ingredient meals. The Café offers waffles (plain, whole wheat, and gluten-free) with a variety of toppings along with sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Do not miss their rotisserie chicken - you’ll want to go back the next day for more. While you’re there, you can learn about the Hayne Hipp Community Room and, most importantly, the Warehouse’s primary function of connecting farmers and institutions (schools, underprivileged, and everyday consumers). Thank you, Adam Strom, for the #bts tour. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3856a436-4646-40b5-af29-e956d11a2a28/OTGG_Community_Tap_1217.jpg Eat/Drink - Spring 2022: Greenville's Newest Local Hot Spots - Community Tap (Travelers Rest location) A Greenville OG, Community Tap is opening its third location in Travelers Rest. The new TR Tap location—right on the trail—features 20 taps, eight beer by-the-glass options, 14 by-the-glass wines, and their signature well-curated selection of bottles. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks will also be available. Inside, the Tap has a bar and table seating for 30, an additional 54 seats outside on the covered patio, and a flexible green space for expanded gathering options. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9f0943a6-982a-4db2-a49a-efed6bf58d1f/IMG_9417.JPG Eat/Drink - Spring 2022: Greenville's Newest Local Hot Spots - Rise Bakery What started as a 2020 cottage home project has blossomed into much more than that. Julian Loué has taken his popular loaves of bread (+ more) to a brick and mortar in The Villages of West Greenville. Get it while it’s FRESH! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c50b2b11-ab4d-4672-8990-ab406944e34c/B66B4DBC-B5B5-4587-AA0D-76AF807254A3_1_105_c.jpeg Eat/Drink - Spring 2022: Greenville's Newest Local Hot Spots - Pizza Parcheggio Say hello to Greenville’s newest pizza speakeasy. You’re not going to want to miss this truly hidden gem. These unbelievable pies are available on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The good news is not only will your mouth (and family) thank you. You can order anytime during the week in advance for the weekend. Highlights: ✅ Tasty, well-developed flavor in the crust ✅ Plenty of fresh ingredients ✅ Tomato and pesto sauce are both made in-house with simple, pure ingredients ✅ Cheese has the right amount of pull, flavor, and quantity to balance this NY-style pie https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/the-pickens-foodie-off-the-grid-finds-part-ii monthly 0.5 2024-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/19d4660f-97f3-49cc-be34-f887d693b351/IMG_2164_Original.JPG Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - Ruffage I got the French Toast Bread Puddin complete with almond/vanilla syrup, fresh blueberries, bacon, and get this... butter pecan ice cream. What an incredible presentation and it was just as delicious as it looks in this photo!!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/cc2d7afb-9f88-456e-8fa0-ad069c12ebab/IMG_1623.jpg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - But first coffee. 313 Cafe is the cutest coffee shop. I was in dire need of caffeine when they came through with this Honey Lavender latte (pictured here). If you’re a fan of Methodical Coffee, you’d be happy to know that 313 Cafe uses its magical beans in its shop. And, this is the best chocolate muffin I’ve ever gotten. FreeHand Coffee Such a chill aesthetic and killer drink specials to boot. This shop uses Taylors-based Junto Coffee for their coffee drinks and also carries freshly baked yummies from Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Martha’s Marvelous Munchies... all top-notch places. “All In” Coffee Shop “All In” has a wide assortment of coffee drinks including specialty lattes like Honey Lavender, White Chocolate Coconut and Chocolate Covered Strawberry Mocha, Cuban espresso and Vietnamese iced coffee. They also have some of the best desserts I’ve ever seen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/f94883c0-caf4-4e9d-832b-869aaefad3d7/IMG_8039_Original.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - Lao Hu Cheng Asian Bistro It is a bit of a hole in the wall and has a limited menu but oh did it make me drool…. Bibimbap, Bulgogi, Indian Chickpea Curry, Massaman Curry, Pad Thai, Sweet Potato Glass Noodles…. Vegetarian and gluten-free friendly! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c21ec846-185b-4146-ab27-a950ee375380/IMG_1622.JPG Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - Dimas Brothers Cafe The beauty of Dimas Brothers is that you can order breakfast or lunch at any hour. If you want a burger at 7 am, you totally can. If you slept in until noon and crave French toast, you can have that too. Phenomenal all the way around! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/311fbda9-c73e-4314-b640-bf3fabd7f4e9/Mac_Smiths_Country_Store_1626.jpg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - Mac Smith’s Country Store and Grill I got the Bacon Mac & Cheeseburger with onion rings and baked beans. I could really taste the love in everything because it was all so delicious. The burger was nice & flavorful, the baked beans tasted homemade, and I don’t know what kind of magic the onion rings are battered with because they are so amazing!! Evolve Kitchen and Table I got the Pipeline Burger: Grilled Ham, Pineapple, Swiss, and lettuce with a teriyaki glaze. I also got truffle fries as my side. PHENOMENAL!! All of it!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/da03cb37-ef93-46d1-b6cb-13b18d90f8d2/IMG_2842_Original.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - Brooklyn Style Pizza The cheese+sauce+crust combo on my Margherita pizza was insane. Absolutely delicious!! This pizza was made with so much love!! It didn’t need anything extra because it was perfect as is. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/96389135-7a34-4023-80ae-a7ac8fc48f40/Screen+Shot+2021-11-08+at+9.07.18+PM.jpg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - And at the end of a long day… Keowee Brewing Company Keowee Brewing has an incredible beer range that they brew in-house and they are mighty tasty! Super chill environment. Their Southern Oasis, a cosmopolitan cranberry lime hard seltzer is my favorite!! The Pound Cake Man The banana pudding pound cake is to die for!! It tastes just like the classic southern dessert. This bakery serves pound cake by the slice and pound cake cupcakes in a variety of flavors. There are also gluten-free options as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/f4abd4fd-7cbf-43b4-af54-c89e6cb3f123/IMG_1624.jpg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie “Off the Grid” Finds, Part II - Presst Food & Wine I’ve been to Presst a few times because they are at the top of the game when it comes to quality and consistency. They make everything from scratch—bread, dressings, sides, soups, and cookies—and also they provide complimentary tea and lemonade with your meal. Photo provided by Presst Food & Wine https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/the-seafood-spot monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1595944711296-EJ5MZDNM8BDDRKQ4M1V2/The_Seafood_Spot_2627.jpg Eat/Drink - The Seafood Spot - First timer? First timer? We’d recommend diving head first into this Garlic Snow Crab and Shrimp combo served with boiled egg, potatoes, and corn. Want more or less garlic butter? Ask. They will accomodate. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1595985475916-QNSU4X43FQF68C54IE5M/The_Seafood_Spot_2740.jpg Eat/Drink - The Seafood Spot - Community love Greg and his family fell in love with Greenville, and we aren’t surprised. Greenville offers a thriving landscape for small businesses, especially in the food industry. In July, the City of Greenville awarded $1,000 to small businesses, including The Seafood Spot. Greg said, “We are very thankful and humble...I believe that [Greenville] wants us to actually stay here.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1595958209747-MZQ257UWF4CP2OLB5BMQ/The_Seafood_Spot_2778.jpg Eat/Drink - The Seafood Spot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1595957649499-SM8HG3MKJQEIY8Q7TEC7/IMG_9343+2.jpg Eat/Drink - The Seafood Spot - Fresh seafood Growing up in Beaufort, South Carolina, Greg got his start in seafood at Broad River Seafood Company. After serving in the U.S. Army, he and his family decided to relocate to Greenville. Unable to part with the smell of saltwater and fresh seafood, Greg decided to bring it with him. Why Greenville? The initial motivation was to stay close to his two oldest daughters while they attended local universities, and the staying power has been the mountains and people of Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1595956475739-55VDOETCK3QTY09MZNXO/The_Seafood_Spot_2669.jpg Eat/Drink - The Seafood Spot - The newest menu item We also suggest taking the plunge into some mouth-watering crab fries. At the base of the mountain are crispy swirl fries that Greg explains, “don’t sog out on you.” Blue crab claw meat is layered across and throughout the fries, which are then topped with four large, seasoned, perfectly-cooked shrimp smothered in house-made lemon garlic sauce. LOOK AT THIS PICTURE. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1595985715957-TWYLOP3E1Y4IXEFFCWB3/image-asset.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Seafood Spot - Food connects When folks eat at The Seafood Spot, Greg wants them to “feel the love that we put into it.” The goal : To bring everyone together over plates of great food made with intention. The restaurant has received support from all demographics in the community, encouraging Greg to expand into the adjacent store-front to make a larger dining room so he can continue sharing his passion for fresh seafood with a growing customer base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1595985600395-KZQRDPFJBM1E6SGDLWVC/The_Seafood_Spot_2611.jpg Eat/Drink - The Seafood Spot - #killcovidnotsmallbiz Without question, Covid-19 has affected every business in some way. For The Seafood Spot, business boomed. Forgoing dine-in seating, The Seafood Spot was already designed for ease of carry-out, so with quarantine came an influx of orders. “We believe that we want to be a part of the solution, not the problem,” Greg said. https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2021-best-off-the-grid-worthy-restaurants-in-the-upstate-sc monthly 0.5 2022-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616267570650-Y9CUPRLFKIOXECHPO374/IMG_7509.jpg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Pupuseria La Estrella Formerly known as Pupuseria Mister, this Latin American gem is a true delight and a short drive from downtown Greenville. Some say it’s reminiscent of a family backyard potluck where the food is scratch-made by Tía, with seemingly bottomless portions. The pupusas are a highlight but don’t skip the rest of the menu that is full of flavor, love, and familiarity. Bonus: They’ve got a great patio. Image provided by Ariel H. Turner https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616263320273-LYZSY39FD8Y01SXH6XK0/IMG_2905.jpeg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Myles Pizza Pub Myles Pizza Pub has quickly emerged as a leader in “date-night” pizza. Full-size slices of deli meat and vegetable toppings are blanketed by half an inch of caramelized cheese – why did we ever assemble pizza reversely? They’re more than pizza, though – fresh salads, subs, cheesy bread, and housemade cookies and dressings. We understand why this family enjoyed nearly 40 years of rockstar recognition in Bowling Green, Ohio. Thanks to the Myles family for this great spot with plenty of outdoor seating, a full-length bar, and making #yeahTHATgreenville home. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616269145954-D9ZNNUKAWRVEYXJFJ5JV/161728198_3682618068522136_2369011599789476294_o.jpg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - The Kennedy, Spartanburg The Cribb family has been leading the dining scene in Spartanburg for years, and their fine dining restaurant, The Kennedy, became a fast favorite of discriminating diners around the Upstate. Sourcing quality local ingredients, The Kennedy’s dishes are a celebration of modern Southern cuisine in a Great Gatsby-inspired environment worthy of dressing up a bit, if you even remember how to do that anymore . . . Their take out meals when indoor dining was closed were well-worth the 30-minute drive, as their full-service dinner experiences have always been. Image provided by The Kennedy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616263589192-OKUDCMM2EJNBNIVZQMYP/IMG_2872.jpeg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Topsoil Kitchen and Market The team behind Topsoil has infused not only Travelers Rest with renewed culinary energy but also the entire Upstate. In addition to operating its own farm from which executive chef Adam Cooke sources menu ingredients, Topsoil also launched the Planted plant-based prepared meal service, weekend jazz nights, and Sunday night chef’s tasting with a different menu every week. Cooke’s being named a 2020 James Beard semi-finalist for Best Chef Southeast was less a surprise and more a recognition of what we already knew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616263211070-VIHT417XLH654OK19E70/IMG_8208.jpg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Asia Pacific Restaurant When we first discovered Asia Pacific Restaurant and Supermarket it was in a desperate attempt to find dumplings. Upon walking into a strip mall grocery store in the former Dragon Den space (remember that?) we had no idea the treasures hidden inside. Rows and rows of Asian sourced foods – including all manner of dumplings – in a spotlessly clean grocery store setting with a full-size restaurant attached. The chef serves up the most authentic Hong Kong-style dishes you can find in the Upstate, along with anything else you might miss from Chinatown waiting in the grocery. It's a win-win in our book, and we're grateful that Alva Mak and her family continue to thrive with our community’s support. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616258241151-9ABED85Q4TGZ0VVPRZPR/IMG_5559.jpeg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Asada Always winners in our book, Gina and Roberto Cortez continue to sling Asada’s signature two-hander Mission-style burritos and other Latin American fusion options we crave on a weekly basis. Their big smiles, vegetarian and vegan options, and the newest menu item – full-size sangria to go – got us through months of socially distanced living. Cheers! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616523890564-1REV1Z4B205DUJ7WMAW8/fullsizeoutput_c14a.jpeg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Honorable Mentions TruBroth The Anchorage Resident Dogs Sweet Basil Thai El Rincon Mexicolombiano Restaurant Maestro Bistro and Dinner Club (anything with chimichurri ) Who’s been on the list? Looking for other places to try? Check out our prior Best “Off The Grid Worthy” lists below: 2020 2019 2018 2017 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616267436431-Y5TT026J4XJDKX2GVJG2/IMG_7508.jpeg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - The Pita House Earning this coveted title five years in a row, we honestly cannot imagine another restaurant creating such healthy cravings for the tastiest, freshest food in the Upstate. We're grateful that even with closing the dining room this past year, the Pita House continued to provide quick service, a full market of ethnic groceries, and consistent quality that we've all come to depend on. And great news – the dining room is back open for full service. So don’t fear, fresh lemonade is back again with one free refill when you dine in! #cashonly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616268164007-59H7AQAPDSUZUL2RJHLW/IMG_7510.jpg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - HipBurger Having HipBurger both in Mauldin and roving around as a food truck makes it a little easier to stomach that In-N-Out Burger doesn’t have a location on the east coast. The crispy smashburger and signature fries are consistently perfect and have had us coming back for more since they opened. In fact, there’s debate among the OTGG team about whether HipBurger is better than the successful burger chain it was modeled after – Shake Shack. We’ll let you decide while we watch this baby grow. It won't be off the grid for long! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616268288197-ZYM3YOG9D2HUFVRW1IEX/IMG_0986.jpeg Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Irie Caribbean Cuisine Everything from oxtails, curry chicken, rice and peas, patties, and a variety of flavors of Ting, this legit Jamaican joint has it all. Located next to The Seafood Spot, don't miss this gem. Block some time on your calendar to fully experience the authentic, slower pace of the islands that truly celebrates living in the moment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1616266872579-S5PU57FKZL471UEKRL3B/IMG_2002.JPG Eat/Drink - 2021 Best "Off The Grid Worthy" Restaurants in the Upstate, SC - Restaurant 17 Transport yourself to a world away by driving a mere 35 minutes from downtown Greenville. At the base of the foothills with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Restaurant 17 at Hotel Domestique continues to provide excellent service and beautifully thoughtful dishes using ingredients from its own farm – Stage 22 Farms – and other local providers. Because of its serious cycling clientele, the kitchen, led by executive chef Haydn Shaak, is also adept at accommodating dietary needs when necessary. https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/not-your-average-burger monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1619462815787-43ERXUT7ZEXLAHS6VEW9/Velo-Fellow-GVL.jpg Eat/Drink - Not Your Average Burger “The Velo Fellow’s Falafel Burger is a unique variant of a veggie burger,” says head chef Mikie Richards. “Our Falafel Burger gives our customers a savory vegetarian alternative to a traditional burger.” House-made falafel is formed into a patty, deep-fried, and topped with smoked Gouda, yogurt sauce, tomatoes, and mixed field greens wedged between a hefty Kaiser bun. If you prioritize eating food grown in your own backyard, check out the Local Veggie Burger at Farm Fresh Fast. “We tried to create something we could keep local throughout the year," says owner Jonathan Willis. "The sweet potatoes are local and then once other vegetables that we want to include in the burger come into season, we buy them from local farmers as well. We use only fresh herbs and spices so the flavor is a little more intense and sets us apart from other veggie burgers.” Photo Provided by Velo Fellow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1619561825062-NMWEL6QY98PZ0NIV1FUZ/IMG_7556.jpeg Eat/Drink - Not Your Average Burger Carnivores looking for something other than beef will find refuge in Ji Roz’s Lamb Burger. Juicy, gamey, and packed with Greek flavor, these burgers are topped with tzatziki sauce, spinach, tomato, and feta on a brioche bun. Need more meat? We’ve got a Burger Guide to the Upstate coming out soon… Photo Provided https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1619361253504-63GG5A4Q3S8B4UYOEUEJ/veggie+burger+snackworks.jpg Eat/Drink - Not Your Average Burger Snack Works Smoothie Café & Bodega replaced their soy-based Boca Burger with a new plant-powered offering that is jam-packed with protein. This vegan burger patty is savory and juicy with a meaty texture that will make you forget it’s plant-based. Snack Works serves up the patty on panini bread with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and a toasted sesame ginger dressing. You can customize the hearty vegetarian burger of your dreams at Universal Joint. Make their house-made, gluten-free Black Bean Burger a “Firecracker” with jalapenos, cheddar, scallions, and jalapeno aioli, or amp up the umami with mushrooms and a layer of melty swiss cheese. Snackworks Photo Credit: Olivier Blanchard https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1618323607217-3BRQFMCSHCIZE1EUTDV1/Greenville-Burger.jfif Eat/Drink - Not Your Average Burger When it comes to seafood burgers, let’s be honest...Kitchen Sync is swimming ahead on this one! Their Shrimp Burger combines fresh shrimp with parmesan cheese and spices served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and TK sauce, a signature smoky aioli. Photo Provided https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1619571027838-MSTT83UFP3QPVSMWBN4S/IMG_8700.jpg Eat/Drink - Not Your Average Burger “The We Got The Beets Burger is not only our namesake, but it’s also scrumptious and healthy,” says owner Brian McKenna. These vegetarian patties are made with fresh ingredients like kale, sweet potato, walnuts, chickpeas, garlic, soy sauce, and basil to name a few. The burger comes on a grilled Kaiser bun spread with scratch-made fancy sauce (similar to Thousand Island) and cashew aquafaba mayo and is layered with orange bell pepper and spinach. Photo Provided https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1619360837342-NVJWGWMXHXRRSVUTUET3/Goan+Burger.png Eat/Drink - Not Your Average Burger The Goan Burger at Maria's Kitchen at the Drop-In Store offers a hodge-podge of flavors with garlic and spices commonly found in Goan cuisine. The burger is topped with lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese, mustard, and secret sauce. Photo Provided by FishEye Studios, Greenville, SC https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/asada-latin-american-fusion-cuisine monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/myles-pizza monthly 0.5 2020-05-06 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/meat-in-the-middle-date-night-with-your-plant-based-partner-eat-your-veggies-part-2 monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/the-pickens-foodie monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614714692733-R4JMWH8KROZIPE6PNDHU/IMG_7490.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie Solid Grounds Coffee Solid Grounds Coffee in Liberty shows up a lot in my feed, for good reason. I’m addicted to the Campfire latte – dark chocolate, white chocolate, and toasted marshmallow. Sooo delicious!!! It tastes just like s’mores. The Grill For food that really tastes like cozy home cooking, head to The Grill. I got the meatloaf, black eyed peas, and fried okra and enjoyed everything. The folks who work here are really sweet and I even ran into some familiar faces. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614655361624-DGUQQWUVFIQXVXRJWJ18/IMG_3547.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie You Drive Me Glazy I had a bit of a sweet tooth one January evening so I went to @youdrivemeglazydonuts in Pickens. While I was waiting for my order, I was given a complimentary apple cider donut. The donuts are made to order so they are super fresh when you get them, and they have a wide assortment of toppings, glazes, and drizzles to satisfy anyone’s taste buds. Highly recommend for the days that you want something sweet. Moo’s Creamery Going to @mooscreamery in Pickens was a must to try out their newest and sweetest menu item... ICE CREAM FLIGHTS!!! I got all of the premium flavors: Cappuccino Crunch, A Better Brownie Batter, Oatmeal Cream Pie, Graham Central Station, and Brown Butter Bourbon Truffle. They are all so delicious but my personal favorite was the Oatmeal Cream Pie... it tastes just like it sounds. Chunks of oatmeal cookies all throughout. The owners are super sweet and the new layout looks gorgeous. It’s one of my FAVORITE places in Pickens!! I can’t stress enough that you must visit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614623480039-TD50DCDM2L9RH2X3FWNZ/IMG_2057.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie - EASLEY Tropical Burger Tropical Burger in Easley is known for their amazing burgers, but have you tried their pepitos? I got the Tropical Pepito, which has grilled chicken and steak, mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, pepperoni, pineapple, and sweet corn on top of a French baguette. And believe me when I say that it is super delicious!! Tropical Burger KNOWS flavor. The owner is super friendly and their quality is very consistent. Ninja Warrior Coffee When commuting to Greenville for an appointment, it’s only natural to stop at Ninja Warrior Coffee on the way. On Thursdays, they have quiche. I got the roasted vegetable quiche and it was soo yum, and the crust was on point. I’m also loving the orange spice latte – Delicious!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614703754840-91XIE6ACH54RYWK8WRZK/153258713_116717337051935_3727816548433689074_n.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie - Check out Part II including Clemson and Pendleton areas. Follow along to see all of Brooke’s eating adventures at @thepickensfoodie or online. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614621541730-E3CZNLJNX2DALMPRN66V/B15BA3AA-B5D1-450A-87C0-DDF860F6942A-1.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie - The Pickens Foodie I’m Brooke Carman. I was raised in Pickens, South Carolina, and have a 12-year-old son who is already taller than I am. I’m a U.S. Navy veteran and a recent breast cancer survivor. During my eight years in the Navy, I traveled all over Asia and the West Coast before coming back home. I started The Pickens Foodie to share tasty locally-owned restaurants in the Pickens County area with some other areas sprinkled in. I have a huge passion for trying new local restaurants and eating food. It’s my favorite hobby. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614623652804-YUF2ABZIQNHGPI0J0DGX/IMG_2013.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie - CENTRAL Mexican Taqueria La Texana This place is a true gem in the area, serving up street-style tacos as well as huaraches, sopes, quesadillas, tortas, and gorditas. The cashier did a great job at explaining everything on the menu to me. I went the adventurous route on this Taco Tuesday. I tried the cabeza (roasted head of an animal ), cachete (beef cheek), and lengua (beef tongue) tacos. All were very tasty, but the lengua one was definitely my favorite. But don’t fear, they have the normal chicken, beef, and steak tacos as well. This place had prepared bags of chicharrones available for purchase so I had to grab one to snack on the road. The cashier was kind to give me some hot sauce to go along with them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614713836838-7M7XL7AKEE0B6TVEMRVU/IMG_3972.jpg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie Inky’s I can never go wrong with @inkysauthentic in Easley. Coming here is always such a treat because their quality is very consistent, and it’s unlike any other restaurant in this area. These are truly authentic Philly cheesesteaks that are full of flavor. And that bread... It makes all the difference in this perfection of a meal. The service is top-notch as well. Taco Taco In addition to funky fusion-style tacos, Taco Taco does a really great job at keeping me on my toes with their super creative weekly specials, like the Tony Montana Torta Cubana. This was a beast of a sandwich: roasted pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, avocado, pickles, LTO, garlic mayo and sweet onion mustard. Lord have mercy... this was delicious!!! This was a really nice take on a Cuban and that bread... It’s authentic Telera bread that’s normally used with tortas. I think the Tommy Montana deserves a mainstay on the menu. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614703707504-YK1GFOJGDXAVY01LZ0HU/IMG_3605.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie Martha’s Marvelous Munchies Last month I finally got to visit Martha's Marvelous Munchies in Pickens behind Full Circle Vintage Modern Market. I got a coffee cake muffin and a blueberry scone along with coffee. These were baked with so much love... so perfect for that chilly morning. Martha was finishing up the biscuits as I grabbed my breakfast to go. Everything is made from scratch. They are currently open Wednesday-Friday. Burning Brick Tavern Bingo night at Burning Brick Tavern is usually my Thursday night ritual. It is so much fun! I always get the Fried & Crispy chicken wings along with seasoned fries. Burning Brick has killer drink specials as well. This is the neighborhood “Cheers,” as everyone knows everyone here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614623683676-HZ65K5ALLR0YW51TNSX0/IMG_1373-1.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie - LIBERTY Little Bistro As soon as I saw the Little Bistro lunch special, I knew I’d be eating there that day. I got the stuffed tomato filled with chicken salad, based on follower recommendations. And y’all were sooo right... it’s some of the best seasoned chicken salad I’ve ever had. I’m also a huge fan of their pasta salad, and the muffin on the side added a sweet touch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614623348249-2962YCJYG1102Q1WXTYG/IMG_1840.jpeg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie - PICKENS Big Cliff’s BBQ A perfect meal from @bigcliffs_bbq in Pickens – I got the pulled pork plate with street corn and Cajun collards. The pork was soo incredibly tender and juicy. I’m also in love with the Carolina Sweet sauce. Heidi’s Hot Dogs If you’re a local, you already know how incredible Heidi's LLC in Pickens is. I got the Chow Dog plate, and it’s definitely my new favorite. Also, let’s talk about the spuds... they are spiral cut potatoes and fried into tasty potato chips, served with ranch. I have been here several times, and I’m never disappointed because they’re consistently great. Highly recommended!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1614713986371-RXMMJ5DPW9GK29UZFJF4/141692718_109905587733110_841693467118831813_n.jpg Eat/Drink - The Pickens Foodie Siam Thai Cuisine On my second visit to @siam.thaicentral in a month I got the Mango Fried Rice, and it was sooo good. It had huge chunks of chicken and mango all throughout the dish. I also got Coconut Soup as it was part of their lunch special. They give you A LOT of food so you definitely get your money’s worth. The owner is super sweet and the place is really nice. So if you’re in the mood for Thai food, this is your spot. Bruno’s Donut Cafe I was lucky to be in the Central area one morning so I could finally try out @brunosdonutcafe. This is the cutest lil cafe with the friendliest owners. Their donuts are made fresh to order, and their flavors change daily. I got the Lemon Poppy and Chocolate Caramel Crunch. Soooo incredibly tasty!! https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2020-best-off-the-grid-worthy-restaurants-in-greenville-amp-spartanburg monthly 0.5 2020-01-08 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/26/mekong-vietnamese-restaurant monthly 0.5 2020-06-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/26/pita-house-middle-eastern-food-grocery monthly 0.5 2020-11-05 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/macsmith-country-store monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/pereira-bakery monthly 0.5 2023-10-10 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/la-costea monthly 0.5 2020-05-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/29/ojs-diner monthly 0.5 2020-05-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/sushi-go monthly 0.5 2020-02-17 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/stellas-southern-brasserie monthly 0.5 2020-04-22 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/the-drop-in-store monthly 0.5 2019-01-23 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/a-little-pizza-my-upstates-heart monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/birds-fly-south-ale-project monthly 0.5 2023-10-10 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/inkys-authentic-philadelphia monthly 0.5 2019-10-13 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/greenfields-bagels-and-deli monthly 0.5 2018-04-21 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/26/community-tap monthly 0.5 2020-11-05 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/smoky-dreams-bbq monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/29/city-scape-winery monthly 0.5 2017-10-16 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/o-cha-tea-bar monthly 0.5 2020-11-05 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/the-anchorage-bar monthly 0.5 2019-10-13 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/the-smokin-pig monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/27/happy-cow-creamery monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/2017/9/26/grateful-brew monthly 0.5 2020-11-05 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/category/picks monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/category/Lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/eat-drink-post/tag/beer monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post daily 0.75 2024-02-20 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/an-off-the-grid-greenville-euphoria monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/78bbb4b2-53f2-44dc-ba2c-6ddad41aebb1/IMG_2239.JPG Events - An Off The Grid Greenville euphoria - On The Fringe We could make a lot of jokes about living on the edge or being edgy etc. And honestly, they’d all apply to our motley crew and approach to festival fun. So it should be no surprise that when a major food festival is coming up, we start looking for the moments that might not be quite as publicized. For euphoria (and other large food festivals) that means finding the Fringe Events. What’s a Fringe Event? It’s a smaller, non-ticketed event or pop-up happening during the festival—often with euphoria participating chefs and other talent. It’s an opportunity for visiting chefs to throw an event or collaborate with a local restaurant, or for a visiting bartender to plan a cocktail throwdown with other industry friends. The public, regardless of euphoria affiliation, is invited to attend and get another little tasty peek into the lives of these talented folks. The organizers of euphoria recognize the opportunity to promote these additional events and do a great job of including the Fringe Events in their additional info. But you have to know to look for them, so this is your cue to check our IG stories next year. Long story slightly shorter, these events are often particularly accessible for folks who weren’t able to get event tickets or for whom a full festival seems daunting. Fringe Events serve as an amuse bouche (palate teaser) for those not attending other euphoria events and as a palate cleanser for those of us who are heavily involved and need to let our hair down for just a bit. ;) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/8cc39846-e3af-40be-b02a-60eb09d60a47/IMG_9724.jpg Events - An Off The Grid Greenville euphoria - The Full Spread One particular Fringe Event that’s become an annual and beloved tradition is Fork and Plough’s Midnight Brunch on the Friday night of euphoria. It’s exactly what it sounds like, and then some. Knowing that a fine dining dinner with euphoria’s visiting Michelin-starred chefs was hosted in the same space the night before makes the experience even more chaotic fun. From 10 p.m. to midnight, the restaurant opens with a ridiculously indulgent brunch menu with one of the co-owners playing DJ. When we tell you it’s a party . . . Dancing to old-school rap hits, noshing on deviled eggs, tots, and an irreverent corn dog, and marinating in specialty brunch beverages is a wildly effective solution for whatever may have been ailing you that week. We’ve begged the Fork and Plough team to host this raucous event more than once a year, but we also realize that scarcity makes it even more exciting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9d7343ec-9632-4e69-87a7-bf3597d7db83/IMG_0294.jpg Events - An Off The Grid Greenville euphoria - Made Connections They don’t miss, and neither will you when you pop in. These Fringe Events are as much for the service industry as for the guests. They foster connections that lead to future collaborations, more story ideas, F&B professionals finding camaraderie, and food memories for all. Spots like The Cook’s Station often host Fringe wine tastings, knife sharpening, or other low-to-zero-entry-level events for anyone. Held the first day or two of euphoria, these tend to be less chaotic and more conducive to real conversations and education if that’s more your speed. See above if you’re the party type. ;) It’s because of euphoria that these special events even happen, so once again, we find ourselves grateful to have such a vibrant food and wine festival in Greenville. We’re even more grateful for options like those on the Fringe that make the festivities even more accessible to a broader audience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/4936f4ce-af88-4180-a280-3277ab4b41f7/Hamfish+caviar+sandwich.jpg Events - An Off The Grid Greenville euphoria - Is It September ‘24 Yet? Yes, we actually can’t wait until next year’s euphoria after such an incredible 2023 festival. And no, it’s not too early to put it on your radar. Set those alerts and follow @euphoriagvl for schedule announcements and tickets. Dig just a little further for the list of Fringe Events, and we’ll see you there. ;) Pictured: Hamfish BBQ Caviar Slider https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ca4a5dce-8bd5-4c6a-a62d-1d81032044cb/Christy+Hamfish+Dog.jpg Events - An Off The Grid Greenville euphoria - You Never Know Who You’ll Run Into This right here is what it’s all about. We’re constantly championing the notion that food is the great connector, and literally, it’s because of the promise of delicious food at Fringe Events that we find ourselves in the same space with many industry friends. The rendezvous is almost never planned, which makes it even more delightful. At this year’s Fringe pop-up by Hamfish BBQ’s visiting chef Blair Machado at LaRue Fine Chocolate, team OTGG converged (without actually conferring with each other) at the same time because hotdogs and caviar were on the menu. While there, a slew of S.C. Chef Ambassadors, other visiting chefs, and friends-in-food wandered in. It made for an unexpectedly silly 90 minutes while enjoying espresso martinis and Machado’s signature H Dog (pictured here with Hot Dog Club® member Christy Kendig). We couldn’t have planned it any better had we tried. https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/back-to-our-roots monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/331524a7-beb4-4dfe-a39c-f394700f1352/IMG_5273.JPG Events - Back To Our Roots - Partners IRL At Southern Roots, you’ll find some real-life partners participating—like OTGG’s CEO founder Jackie and contributing editor Ariel. We consider eating, drinking and dancing with everyone for five straight hours “participating.” But we think it’s an even more compelling storyline that at least two husband and wife teams, who are wildly talented as individuals, are cooking up tasty dishes. Heidi and Joe Trull of Side Dish Catering (you may remember their former restaurant, Grits & Groceries) are returning this year and are always fierce competitors. Heidi won the pimento cheese competition at another festival we’re quite fond of—euphoria—in 2022, so consider this your heads up to stop by their tent. Teryi and Steven Musolf are married but are splitting up on separate teams. Teryi, executive chef of Camilla Kitchen, broke her foot the day before last year’s Southern Roots and still showed up. Steven, executive chef of Oak and Honey, has plenty of barbecue experience, despite his current Mediterranean cooking style. It’s safe to say both Musolfs are contenders, and we’re looking forward to some healthy and good-natured trash talk between the two. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/866b99e0-08fb-41b9-bafc-aa8e9a61c0cd/Southern_Roots_BBQ_Festival_2022_1224.jpg Events - Back To Our Roots - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1936fa93-e720-4547-9caf-ba2ba34a5674/Teryi+Musolf.jpg Events - Back To Our Roots - SC Chef Ambassadors We’ve counted half a dozen former South Carolina Chef Ambassadors in the line-up. What that means is these chefs distinguished themselves as stewards of South Carolina-grown ingredients and were chosen by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to represent the entire state in various culinary capacities for a year term. Pretty rad that we get to taste food from all of these fine folks in one place, and, we couldn’t help but notice all but one are from the Upstate… Here are those chefs, with the restaurant they’re representing at Southern Roots and the year of their ambassadorship: Haydn Shaak, Restaurant 17, 2022 (Travelers Rest) Chris Williams, Roy’s Grille, 2022 (Lexington) Sarah McClure, Southside Smokehouse & Grille, 2018 (Landrum) William Cribb, Cribbs Kitchen, 2017 (Spartanburg) Teryi Musolf, Camilla Kitchen, 2016 (Greenville) Heidi Trull, Side Dish Catering, 2015 (Belton) And we might get lucky with a sighting of 2019 ambassador Tania Harris if she’s on tap to support TR’s Topsoil Kitchen & Market team. We hope so. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/33075fdf-9b82-4ca0-90a7-8c55da239c65/Southern_Roots_BBQ_Festival_2022_1136.jpg Events - Back To Our Roots - See ya Saturday! Visit www.southernrootsreunion.com for more info and to purchase tickets. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3f422626-42fa-419c-8373-d0b45963dbc7/Resized_image000000.jpeg Events - Back To Our Roots - Very Important Party Southern Roots is a Very Important Party for many reasons, but primarily because of its benefactor, iDefine, a non-profit organization that was created to help families and children with the rare genetic disorder, Kleefstra Syndrome. Its CEO, Geoff Rhyne, is also the partner and chef with Charleston-based Red Clay Hot Sauce, which will be spicing up dishes throughout the event. Speaking of, expect to see plenty of Red Clay Hot Sauce in the VIP area oyster roast, provided by The Jones Oyster Co. VIP access will also include exclusive bites from John Lewis of Lewis Barbecue, Jason Janson of Broadwater Shrimp Supply Co. and Joshua Begley of the soon-to-open Indaco Greenville. So, if you’re looking to balance out the barbecue and sides, the VIP area will be flush with fresh seafood—Janson’s low country boil stole the show last year—and the bar will feature specialty pours from Wine House: A Retail Shop and Wine Bar, O'Darby’s Liquor Barn, Birds Fly South, Edmund's Oast and Pangaea Brewing Company. Image provided by Jason Janson of Broadwater Shrimp https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/34ef2db2-128d-4979-a225-e31cae6bebb6/Southern_Roots_BBQ_Festival_2022_1382.jpg Events - Back To Our Roots - OTGG Roots Bottom line, for us, though, is the role food plays in bringing us all together. We couldn’t have said it better than the Southern Roots FAQ section: Our favorite part about cooking BBQ is the way it gathers people together, and that’s exactly what we intend to do at Southern Roots. Our hope is that you’ll leave the event feeling like you just spent the day with family. https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/we-all-need-group-therapy monthly 0.5 2021-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1631802039643-5PX3B8AXUG6NMRUL4QFB/HubbMatt_Instagram+social+media+designs_ppv_19july2021_1200x1200_R02.jpeg Events - We Could ALL Use Some Group Therapy - How? With 18 holes of movie-themed mini-golf, all complete with a place to put your beer while you putt away your worries or lose yourself in the incredible designs by one of the partners, Matt Hubbard. With axe throwing, two lanes of curling on synthetic ice, and ping pong you’d think it couldn’t get better! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1631801667922-WC7YZ025F497GD385ZKY/HubbMatt_Instagram+social+media+designs_ppv_19july2021_1200x1200_R02.jpeg Events - We Could ALL Use Some Group Therapy - Get ready for some FUN Group Therapy will be provided by a team of three talented folks behind Big Air Trampoline Parks. Their mission is to inspire play through connection with others. https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/best-brunch-thank-you monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263291982-PXUHH896PZBU673YCA7I/otgg+brunch+5.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - Get your buns to Bake Room Bake Room’s Mini AM Buns are something carb-loving GVL residents look forward to snacking on every chance they get. It’s a go-to spot for discerning palates and lovers of French-style pastries. The delightfully fluffy mini-morning buns were a huge hit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263831801-ZB25SQOKZI6K7VBA8H2Q/otgg+brunch+18.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - We love Papi’s Tacos! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263683368-45MQ754TOR1XXCTIJNGW/otgg+brunch+15.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - The mini committee The Sound Committee holds a special place in the hearts of the OTGG team. Aside from pumping their fantastic tunes through the space at Fisheye Studios, this group was also the band at Jackie and John’s wedding. The Mini Committee, a pared-down version of The Sound Committee, brought the party and had guests toe-tapping all afternoon! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263760915-BPMB54RKXE2OY8YO6NR0/otgg+bunch+17.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… Local writer and cocktail expert, Sam Slaughter, treated guests to a lesson on cocktail making. After greeting guests with a thoughtfully-prepared welcome drink, Sam walked guests through how to craft the perfect Gin & Tonic using Old Dominick gin. Up for taking a cocktail class with us? Email hello@offthegridgreenville.com to reserve a spot in the next class at Exile GVL on October 5, 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263462958-YZ32IP26W56VPAVM8HQ2/otgg+brunch+8.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… Chilaquiles (chee-luh-kee-layz) are a traditional Mexican breakfast food made with lightly fried tortillas and topped with all the breakfast yummies! Papi’s Tacos topped them with fried corn chips, salsa roja, sour cream, pico de gallo, red onions, and lettuce. If you wanted a non-vegetarian option like the one pictured here, you can add flank steak. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263630132-LZY1DD9FZ9SPBI7XL1EE/otgg+brunch+13.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - Lasagna for brunch? Trust us on this. That’s the thing about this brunch: we brought together Greenville’s OGs and emerging creatives to give you an unparalleled sampling of Greenville’s culinary scene. Meet Alex, the co-owner of Cucina del Borgo, a newer concept in Greenville. Cucina del Borgo started out as a fan-favorite at the Farmer’s Market with the occasional pop-up. They’re known for their artfully hand-crafted pasta and amazing sauce selection. Their breakfast lasagna stood out from the crowd and was loved by all! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263233924-FOZI3KPB1XK01948LQX8/otgg+brunch+2.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - A little something special Our VIPs were treated to a special section with swag bags waiting for them. Thanks to CB Events for helping us build a space to give some extra love to our Platinum Sponsors! Oh, and the jaw-dropping plant wall? That’s all Savereign https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630415123160-9DUGPH5MRAL3J2BROIKA/Screen+Shot+2021-08-25+at+11.10.10+AM.png Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - Give it away (Quietly) We’re so grateful to all of our donors who helped us auction off some killer goods from around town during our silent auction! And for those who wanted to practice more than 6ft of distance, the auction was available for online participation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263507972-HW82V4VCXRPX6SKCBDJL/otgg+brunch+9.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - Fashionable Hyeji KIM matched her outfit to her table Hyeji Kim is pictured here eating one of Resident Dog’s brunch corndogs and enjoying tea from Snackworks. Unbeknownst to Hyeji, her stylish outfit was a perfect match for our table decor! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263270077-XC4K1I7CN1LNCZJT8MY7/otgg+brunch+4.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - A lil’ sweet, a lil’ spicy The sweet and spicy candied bacon was a knockout. Our guests didn’t have to decide between a sweet or savory bite – they got both! The sweet and spicy candied bacon, graciously donated by The Farehouse, was a major hit. Let’s just say everyone went back for seconds. Pictured here: Christy, proud owner of these addictive treats https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263731192-X4V3LI1DQ8ZHZDXZ2CKT/otgg+brunch+16.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… One of the most unique bites offered were the crazy delicious brunch corndogs from Resident Dogs. The brat was dipped and fried in pancake batter and then topped with whipped goat cheese and blueberry compote. The inventive minds behind this little concoction completely wowed everyone! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263864592-5S5U4UB3X5BHP10L4BXA/otgg+brunch+19.png Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - Keeping it in the family The OTGG community is a family affair. We support each other through good times and bad. (This brunch happened to be one of the good times!) After a crazy year lifting one another up through Covid, we can’t get over how amazing it was to finally get together under joyous circumstances. Pictured Here: OTGG founder, Jackie, and John Brooker of FishEye Studios https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263904907-3AU66OFEN3GKAREIFKQ2/otgg+brunch+20.png Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - Chewin’ with our crew Greenville’s Chew Crew showed up in full force, ready to volunteer and munch their way through all the brunchy bites, of course! We were excited to have the discriminating palates of this happy lil’ crew at our Brunch for a Cause and are thrilled to have their support. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630264090726-WE80O93S5XROYCT07FJ8/otgg+brunch+23.png Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263663409-8134212WY9E2589LK3ZI/otgg+brunch+14.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - We couldn’t do it without you… Thank you so much to our incredible sponsors, volunteers, makers, movers, and shakers who helped make this event a reality. We love you all! This event was a celebration of our community’s efforts in addition to supporting the work we do at Off The Grid Greenville. It goes around! Your support allows us to funnel more time and resources into championing our local small business owners. For that, we are forever grateful! If you couldn’t make it but support the work we’re doing, please consider making a donation: Donate Here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263947170-VHHKBI27V5QQZIN4P2WZ/otgg+brunch+21.png Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263537108-2UX5FD7HMXQZLNJ28JEG/otgg+brunch+10.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - and the fun keeps going In true OTG fashion, we wanted to teach our guests something new in a fun interactive way! Henna is the ancient art of decorating skin with ink made from plant extracts. Maria Emmi, a local henna artist, adorned our guests with these beautiful handprinted designs. Pictured Here: Maria Emmi of Henna Body Art SC putting henna on Tequila Maria https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1630263251942-D71PHZQN65R5XUKU4PT7/otgg+brunch+3.jpeg Events - From the bottom of our brunch-loving hearts… - P A R T Y P L A N T I N G Our work would be impossible without our community. From the food to the decor to the music, we are constantly impressed by our local Greenvillians who stepped up and made this day possible. While this Brunch for a Cause was certainly the event of the year, it was a heavy lift for our volunteers, and we’re so very grateful for their efforts. Pictured Here: Clink Events and Sassafrass Flower Farm helping us set the scene https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/albino-skunk-guide monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1629781358828-C9NZ4HPKX5AJX59DFS5X/IMG_0101.JPG Events - It's a Love Fest - But First, Music Where else in South Carolina could you have seen The Avett Brothers, Lake Street Dive, Billy Strings, and The War and Treaty, all on the same stage, and all before the rest of the world discovered them? Only at SkunkFest. The festival, founded more than 25 years ago by Glynn Zeigler as a celebration of bluegrass music, has expanded to include an eclectic mix of Americana, folk, singer-songwriter, alt-country, acoustic, roots, and rock music. Twice a year—in the fall and spring—Zeigler curates a line-up designed to help you find your new favorite act you won’t have heard of until they play the SkunkFest stage. He has a knack for it, like a musical match-maker for the hundreds of loyal attendees and bands looking to gain a following. Check out the fest line-up here: https://albinoskunk.com/lineup/ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1629783125956-TY0IM7FUAH0UH8TEEYD5/IMG_0244.JPG Events - It's a Love Fest - TRULY OFF THE GRID Named after the white skunks spotted on the grounds, the Skunk Farm at 4067 Jordan Road in Greer is about as off the grid as you can get and still have utilities. This works out pretty well since the whole point of the three-day festival is to forget the stresses and anxieties of real life. The thick tree canopy throughout the grounds provides the perfect surroundings for camping and, incidentally, ideal structures from which to hang canvas banners or giant swings for the big kids of all ages. They’re also great for hanging hammocks if that’s more your sleeping style. Whether you choose to camp the entire festival or pop in for the day, time seems to stand still once you arrive, or, at least, clips along at a less frantic pace than the outside world’s. Check out the camping guide here: https://albinoskunk.com/camping-rvs/ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1629784424708-66XN9RXGXIQJUC1FAUDB/IMG_0058.JPG Events - It's a Love Fest - MAKE ART, NOT WAR Visual and performance artists thrive here. Whether officially, as vendors in the craft area at the top of the hill, or unofficially, as musicians or theatrical performers breaking out into song around the late night campfires, the culture is strong. Tim TV & The Secret Cirkus bring out the stilt-walking and fire-breathing throughout the weekend. John and Karri Scollon of the Columbia Marionette Theatre work their magic with animal puppets – including a skunk, dog, and glowing jellyfish – that look more realistic than not as they make their way through the crowds. Henna artists, jewelry makers, and a variety of other artisans provide even more color to the festival. And of course, there’s plenty of tie-dye to go around. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1629784299581-1Q68YPIZUF55SEE5H63Y/IMG_0243.JPG Events - It's a Love Fest - FAMILY REUNION To immerse yourself in the full experience of SkunkFest is to join a family, of sorts. If you become a repeat attendee, you’ll be reunited each Spring and Fall with your new friends made during previous festivals. And while Albino Skunk Fest may not be for everybody, it certainly welcomes anyone. And it’s clear, from Zeigler on down to his loyal band of volunteers, that this is just about the happiest place in the Upstate where everyone is included, everyone is kind, and everyone is just so dang happy to be there instead of anywhere else. Want to join the fun? Tickets are available now for the May 11-13, 2023 Spring Festival: https://albinoskunk.com/tickets/ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1629784151617-3WBQ16QZWCKC0QAIED8Z/IMG_0075.JPG Events - It's a Love Fest - SOUL FOOD (AND DRINK) It wouldn’t be an OTGG story without mentioning the food and drinks. While you can bring your own coolers into the festival, there are plenty of food vendor options that might make you think twice about that. In the past, Upcountry Provisions has been a staple vendor with their signature pastries and pizzas fired on site. A rotation of other local vendors like Pound 4 Pound Sweet Treats, Mac Attack, Methodical Coffee, Boiled PNuts always provide a convincing argument to ditch the cooler and buy local if you can. Spring Skunk ‘23 food vendor line-up is available here, and it looks like a doozy in the best way: https://albinoskunk.com/vendors/#food Community Tap, which has been a mainstay of Skunk Fest for years, will be pouring beer and wine throughout the festival. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1629783458991-VIN3JH92WNXTPJ8CYGDW/IMG_0062.JPG Events - It's a Love Fest - FOR THE LIL SKUNKS Kids who’ve grown up frolicking through the Skunk Farm woods and climbing on the SkunkArt Bus are their own sort of independent. It’s like 1980’s free-range parenting was preserved in a time capsule at the Skunk Farm. The result? Pure joy and happiness and some of the muddiest kids you’ve ever seen. It’s not, however, an entirely unstructured weekend for the younger crowd. Kids events from yoga to crafts to magic shows are part of the regular schedule, because here, the under 18 crew is just as important, valued, and appreciated as the adults. For an idea of what to expect, view the Kiddieland activity schedule here: https://albinoskunk.com/for-the-kids/ https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/2017/9/27/salsa-at-sunset monthly 0.5 2019-08-05 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/2017/9/27/pickens-county-flea-market-pickens-bargain-exchange monthly 0.5 2019-08-05 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/2017/9/27/glamping-101 monthly 0.5 2019-08-05 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/2017/9/29/greekville monthly 0.5 2019-05-14 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/2017/9/27/albino-skunk-festival monthly 0.5 2021-04-09 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/otg-spartanburgfavorites monthly 0.5 2021-04-09 https://offthegridgreenville.com/events-post/2017/9/27/brick-street-cafes-cake-walk monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post daily 0.75 2023-06-18 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/the-makers-of-makers-collective monthly 0.5 2024-08-07 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/fall-leaf-peeping-guide-2018 monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/offthegridgreenville-elizabeth-logan-mcdaniel monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c152d2b6-de81-44a1-9370-6ec9cc298430/LaRueValentineTasting.jpg Lifestyle - We Found Love Right Where We Are Elizabeth's expert status is evident in every piece of handcrafted, small-batch, artisan chocolate, from the texture of the fillings and the balance in each complex flavor combination to the deftly painted shells. And speaking of ingredients, she sources local and organic ingredients such as Bee Well honey, Happy Cow Creamery butter, Bulls Bay sea salt, Queen's Cupboard sugars, and Nellie T's peanut butter. The quality is clear, inside and out. Allow us to whet your appetite with some of LaRue’s signature flavors: BOCA GRANDE tequila, Grand Marnier, lime, orange, salt, white chocolate ganache in dark chocolate. It's a margarita party in your mouth! THE EARL milk chocolate ganache infused with earl grey tea and honey surrounded by dark chocolate. SCHEHERAZADE orange cardamom milk chocolate ganache rolled in pistachios. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/5c3d9a54-1b98-4dcb-91ed-09629fe35563/larueportrait.jpeg Lifestyle - We Found Love Right Where We Are - Something For Everyone Elizabeth makes (thousands of) chocolates for everyone in her shop in the Poe West development in the Village of West Greenville. And she really means everyone. “Even when I wrote my business plan, I know that I’m not supposed to say my business is for everybody. But it really is for everybody who likes good chocolate. We get everybody in here, and it makes me really happy. I’m so glad it’s not just middle-aged white women, and I am a middle-aged white woman.” Emphasis on the good chocolate. Elizabeth is a graduate of Ecole Chocolat and holds a Professional Chocolatier certificate with honors. She has also achieved the rank of Maitre Chocolatier from the same school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/fcc8c145-4aec-4e82-855d-6fb79bcc6ed0/LaRueHeartsandBar.jpg Lifestyle - We Found Love Right Where We Are - Keep It Simple, Sweetheart Tempted to phone it in with a drugstore box of waxy and stale chocolates? “Don’t do that to the person that you love,” Elizabeth says. LaRue makes it really easy to nail the oft-times complicated gift-giving. LaRue's Valentine's packages come with an assortment of chocolates, flowers arranged by Elizabeth, and a bottle of wine paired with your chocolate selection. Each box contains signature chocolates and some seasonal flavors specifically designed for Valentine's Day. The best part? These are wrapped up and available for preorder on the website. How much easier can it get? And none are even close to “standard” holiday flavors: like DATE NIGHT made with strawberry puree, sparkling wine and a drop of rose oil in white chocolate; MINT TO BE filled with mint-infused honey; HOT LIPS that incorporates habanero pepper; the vegan LUCIOUS IS LUCIOUS with coconut cream, dark chocolate and raspberry; and STRAWBERRY VALRHONA HEARTS that are a burst of berry flavor. And that’s only a handful. So you can be sure, whatever assortment you order will both delight and entice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/190c0ce8-a0f7-4b9f-9884-6dfd8f4a626a/LaRueWine.jpg Lifestyle - We Found Love Right Where We Are - More Than Chocolates But wait! There’s so much more to LaRue than a pre-order chocolate shop. In the market for an off-Main date night out? Or a boozy book club? A Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators, Elizabeth has created a wine and cocktail program to enhance the dine-in experience, whether you’re stopping in for a Friday night out or a Saturday afternoon with a book. She’s ready to pair chocolates with wine or composed drinks and recommend a tasting experience that everyone will enjoy. Most recently, that includes cocktails using her newest toy—a cotton candy machine—to create whimsical and tasty garnishes. Her Valentine’s Day concoctions include 50 SHADES OF GREY, an Aviation served with Fernet Branca cotton candy; FRENCH KISSIN’, a side-by-side comparison of the French 75 with cognac and gin; and SIDE PIECE, tequila, passionfruit with muddled jalapeno and topped with coconut soda. And even if chocolate isn’t your thing, the menu will accommodate other tastes, with treats like green tea ice cream with sesame seed brittle, cheese boards, ricotta pistachio cake, and many other desserts to make even a Tuesday night feel a little bit special. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/global-holiday-food-traditions monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/e0c9921e-d341-4807-bcfb-71c726cad739/IMG_9285.jpg Lifestyle - Happy (Food) Holidays from Around the Globe Jay Desai, owner of Green Laundry Lounge: ”We have two popular Indian cold festival drinks: Rose Falooda (pictured) and another one is Custard Milk with apple, grapes, pomegranate, and banana. Fruit salad is special during winter festivals like Diwali and Hindu New Year. Falooda drink is more during summer months.” (Get both family recipes here.) Roberto Cortez and Gina Cortez Petti, owners of Asada Restaurant: ”We make and eat Gallina Rellena, a traditional Nicaraguan dish usually served during Christmas and New Year’s, to be enjoyed with family and friends. Ours is a family recipe that has been passed down and it’s a roasted chicken with stuffing made with pork, celery, carrots, prunes, and bread. We also enjoy a drink after midnight mass on December 24th, called Ponche Navideño, which is a hot spiked cider with fruit in it.” Katie Chaney, owner and proprietor of Hester General Store: ”One of my family's fun holiday traditions is making Beef Wellington on Christmas. I always go get a beef tenderloin from Revival Butchery and make it myself. Instead of the traditional puff pastry, we use the pie dough from Hester General Store and fold it multiple times. It feels like a more formal meal, but we always enjoy it in our pajamas after a long baking season. “ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/04663f99-da98-492f-8ced-e8c55ab0bb38/IMG_5675.jpg Lifestyle - Happy (Food) Holidays from Around the Globe Anna Okupinski, co-owner, of The Community Tap: ”My family LOVES to cook and we love to eat. We love to experiment, we love to savor, we love to share recipes, we love to discuss... Our Christmas Eve tradition for years has been for each family at my mother's home in the Pettigru district, for everyone to bring a dish or two to share. “Seems pretty standard—but this is not a potluck-style, fill-your-plate-then-stuff-your-face type gathering. Every dish is carefully prepared and presented one at a time throughout the evening. Often we move throughout the house/space for the dishes—one is enjoyed around the kitchen counter, another in the living room, another outside around the fire, and then maybe/finally around the dining room table. “The evening almost turns into a progressive tasting: each course is discussed as we go—where the ingredients came from, how it's prepared if there's a story—while that family also shares their gifts with the rest of the family, one by one. “The theme for the past few years has been "7 Fishes," which is an addition to the tradition from Mike's family!... His family has done this for years, with seven seafood-based dishes.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2d5e3a3f-7f62-4114-bf60-b947823cd04c/IMG_9BA61512DD0C-1.jpeg Lifestyle - Happy (Food) Holidays from Around the Globe - A Bonus Gift from Team OTGG: “You know it’s a Jewish holiday when you can smell matzoh ball soup wafting through our home. Pair it with some chopped liver pâté, roast brisket, sweet kugel, challah and a very jealous salad peering from the kitchen counter. Jewish traditions most often take place with family and friends at home.” — Jackie Shapiro Brooker “My holiday food tradition is bourbon milk punch. It goes great with pecan pie and any sweet, really. It's an excellent alternative to eggnog.” — Ashley Hay Mitchell “Since I was a child, we’ve made monkey bread (pull apart bread) on Christmas morning. The whole family gets involved. Now that I have my own children, they help me and love rolling the dough balls in the cinnamon sugar mix. While it bakes, we open presents. We serve it alongside fluffy eggs, candied bacon, and holiday mimosas (orange and cranberry juice with bubbles). And then we nap.” — Ariel H. Turner https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ad467175-8a97-491f-a5f9-67a188b20330/IMG_3372.jpg Lifestyle - Happy (Food) Holidays from Around the Globe Erika Mejia-Dila, owner and chef, of Califas: ”We make Honduran tamales for every holiday or when there’s a big gathering. It’s very labor intensive. When I was small I would make them with my mom, and it would take us a day and a half to make 200.” (Pictured: Erika’s family recipe for Honduran tamales uses plantain leaves, white and red masa, potatoes, rice, peas, onions, pork or chicken, and olives.) Meredith Bost, owner and chef, of Resident Diner: ”The only real tradition we have is cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. Just generic ol’ out-of-a-can cinnamon rolls. We’ve always worked a lot, so we like to keep Christmas Day super low-key, just me and Greg and Hugo. I cook pretty much every other day of the year so from the beginning of our family Christmases together, that’s been the move. It’s not real festive, but it’s incredibly nice to actually enjoy a couple of cups of coffee not on my feet or in the car and eat some sweet comfort food that I didn’t have to make myself!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/078f91a7-aef8-4ff8-9afb-3f535cc53780/IMG_5679+2.jpg Lifestyle - Happy (Food) Holidays from Around the Globe - Anna’s 2021 ‘7 Fishes’ Menu Smoked Mussels on Crackers (my mom actually shucked and smoked the mussels herself) Caviar "Bumps" with Champagne (from the Tap, of course) Smoked Salmon florets Scallop with Persimmon Ceviche served in shells Seared Octopus with mixed greens Lobster Tails Squid Ink Linguini with Shrimp “I adore this evening so much—because of the time we take to appreciate the food, the company, and LASTLY/leastly the gifts. I think for many families the gifts end up being the centerpiece of the gathering, this evening is the opposite. We take time to appreciate the love and effort put into the recipes, time to appreciate the experience of eating said dishes, and then giving of gifts carefully and thoughtfully with moments to appreciate each giver and each recipient.” https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/disc-golf-off-the-grid-greenville monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/5fc0c4a2-27b1-4e27-812b-6570a2e70bc5/IMG_5398.jpg Lifestyle - A Frosty Fling - Want to learn more? Groups like Clemson Disc Golf Club and Upstate Disc Golf Club are active and thrilled to help newcomers learn more about their favorite sport. The app UDisc provides course information for disc golf players worldwide: ⛳️ It ranks Greenville as the 70th-best disc golf destination in the United States and 2nd in South Carolina. ⛳️ Greenville County is home to at least four leagues, and in the surrounding area, there are - 83 courses, 15 leagues, and a dozen stores dedicated to disc golf. We aren’t typically joiners, but we might make an exception this time. See ya out there. Image by @upperparkdiscgolf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d98c5086-7290-4159-9636-e90776cd6266/IMG_5387.jpg Lifestyle - A Frosty Fling Timmons Park An 18-hole course that is hilly, fun, and mostly wooded. This park has an active pickleball league, baseball fields, two different jungle gyms and a couple pavilions with tables. Century Park 18 holes Slightly wooded and very beginner-friendly. Some tough shots but mostly easy par 3. An insane kids area with new features every time you go. Looks crowded the majority of the time, but the disc golf course is usually fairly clear. M. J. Dolly Cooper Park 18 holes Very challenging par 3 course. Great mix of wooded and open shots with some awesome elevation changes. Baseball fields and a walking path, so you’ll have to watch for people in a few spots. The Firecracker 18 holes On school grounds so times are restricted to when school is out. Very fun course that is deceptively hard. Occasionally they do let the grass grow too much before trimming. The park also doubles as a place to kayak. Image by @morganjreynolds at M. J. Dolly Cooper Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d4df400c-1a4f-4200-b0b0-af75259f4491/IMG_5397.jpg Lifestyle - A Frosty Fling Foothills 18 holes Extremely wooded course with 2-3 long open holes. This park’s claim to fame is an 816-foot par 4 that starts looking down—about a 100-foot drop—at a soccer field. The park is rarely maintained, though, and has debris EVERYWHERE. Bug spray is a must here. Not for beginners. Woodruff 18 holes More wooded with extremely tight tee shots than not but all enjoyable. Very hilly and challenging course that will test your patience. Convenient stairs built into almost all the hills to climb, and more often than not the park is perfectly manicured. Tyger River Last but not least, this course is a beast! Long 18-hole mixed course that can punish even the best players. An amazing park that hosts all sorts of softball, baseball and disc golf tournaments. The place is massive and the disc golf course reminds you of that with its mix of wooded and open holes. Bring water and a snack… you’ll want it. Image by @sirwickofline at M. J. Dolly Cooper Park https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/rabbit-crest-farms monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9b765396-efeb-4d61-ac15-11b17cf66454/IMG_1524.jpg Lifestyle - Meet The Farmers: Rabbit Crest Farms - Something New Starting over in a new industry with completely new colleagues and customers can be daunting. The local community embraced the Rabbit Crest team, and they’ve found a camaraderie they didn’t expect: “We have been surprised by our Farmer's Market customers' depth and breadth of knowledge of both vegetables and florals, and their excitement for and support of our farm. Our friends have also supported us in incredible ways. . . . Another surprise and delight of ours is the camaraderie among local farmers in the Upstate, and their willingness to share best practices, trade products, make or receive referrals, lend equipment, and embrace new farmers without hesitation. “Finally, after years of working indoors, we have a new appreciation for the seasons and the intricacies of the SWAPA (soil, water, air, plants, and animals) on our little slice of land. We are stopping daily to take pictures or to call one another over to see something new.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a3ddaa17-490a-4496-b87a-ecc88d79a408/IMG_1527.jpg Lifestyle - Meet The Farmers: Rabbit Crest Farms - Growing Partnerships Local partnerships are the guiding force for the culinary events Rabbit Crest hosts: “It is important to us to prioritize having fun, genuine partnerships that lead to thoughtful and inspired events. . . . We grow what we hope local chefs find exciting to cook, not just the standard Southern crops. Our time spent with local chefs has shown that they, like we, love a creative outlet and immersive customer experience. . . . “The Season's Tastings dinner series was the culmination of that very idea, with courses and drink pairings inspired by and prepared with an extensive variety of ingredients harvested that very day, often just feet from where the guests are sitting.” The Gardens event space itself was built with the help of a local farmer and woodworker Amanda Yoder of Coda Studios, and the seating was built by the Walters family of Cryptid Coffee. The first Season’s Tastings events featured Rabbit Crest friends and supporters chef Alex George and baker Jen Anderson of GB&D, as well as Stephen Phillips of Exile. They also partnered with Hester General Store to source ingredients for their pies, provide florals for catering spreads, and host an on-farm “Pie Fest.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/97eb07f5-d5fc-43cf-acd1-ea30fcf6745e/IMG_1530.jpg Lifestyle - Meet The Farmers: Rabbit Crest Farms - Rabbit Crest Farms Rabbit Crest Farms https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/6093902d-f65f-46ed-8a11-ac2f1f4bc95c/IMG_1510.jpg Lifestyle - Meet The Farmers: Rabbit Crest Farms - Stay in the Know They are planning to resume their Season’s Tasting series in Spring 2023 and are looking forward to announcing more partnered events. Follow @rabbitcrestfarms on Instagram for their farming adventures and upcoming events featuring local chefs and beverage experts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a814d84f-d666-41f0-9b41-81b0a2b07d3e/IMG_1516.jpg Lifestyle - Meet The Farmers: Rabbit Crest Farms - Who They Are The short version: Donna is the mother to SG, who married Eli. Donna is a licensed attorney who previously worked as in-house counsel for an Upstate hospital system. She loves all things floral and has re-ignited her creative side by taking courses on floral design and bouquet work. An 8th-generation farmer, she was raised on a tobacco farm with a half-acre family garden space in rural Kentucky where she learned the fine art of manual farming. Farming paid her way to college and law school and she "drove a desk, not a tractor" for 30 years before turning her interests to Rabbit Crest. SG’s (right) love of the perfect tomato is well documented; she and Eli grew a large backyard garden at their first home, where she honed her tomato cultivating skills and trialed many varieties of heirlooms. She previously worked as a graphic designer in the outdoor apparel industry and her design talents are on display throughout Rabbit Crest's branding, social media, and in their Farmers Market and pop-up sets. She also determines the color palette for their floral offerings, designs weekly market bouquets, and manages the farm's production schedule. Eli (left) brings culinary savvy to the farm. His love of all things spicy led to his developing "Rabbit Cult Hot Sauce"—the product that launched their branding and ignited SG and Eli's passion for growing. In their first year of farming, Eli worked in the kitchen at GB&D where he learned how local restaurants source, purchase, store and prepare their produce. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/flower-child monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/acfb2fa8-4430-48de-96ec-83c88c45d6a3/PXL_20220528_225800610+2.jpg Lifestyle - Flower Child - ‘I want to go to church’ DuBose took the event-hosting seriously and built a pavilion over the 2021-22 off season from which local musicians serenade her U-PICK guests and party-goers dance the night away. The next ticketed U-PICK is planned for June 12, a Sunday, during brunch hours. She’s never attempted this format before, but she envisions families, couples and everyone in between having a near-religious experience with Darby Wilcox on the mic and Fork & Plough’s locally famous shrimp ‘n’ grits and mimosas in hand. Picking flowers isn’t actually required, but is certainly encouraged. The U-PICKs are only the beginning of her plans, though. She’s booked corporate events, bridal showers, Blooms and Tunes for little ones, yoga classes, a new seasonal workshop series, and she wants to do more. “I want a 6 year old to come out and have a tea party, and go out and pick flowers,” she says. Get event information and tickets here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0dec6403-758c-41b4-a1e6-01293b57894c/PXL_20220528_225828075.jpg Lifestyle - Flower Child - ‘I’m From a Family of Gypsies’ DuBose attended five different schools in her four years of high school. “We moved around all the time,” she says. She’s the type to never meet a stranger, but she developed that ability because there was no time to waste. For all she knew, she could be moving again and wanted to make the most of the time she had with the people she met in every town she lived. “I remember seeing miserable people a lot. People lived in the same town forever and they were these bitter curmudgeons. I was the new girl in town, so I could be fun and exciting. I wanted to make people happy,” DuBose says. Often she felt she had to fake the enthusiasm. At one point as a teenager, she employed an interesting tactic. “I changed my name to my middle name, Liz, at one high school to be cool,” she says. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c56ec085-c843-43f4-8aac-0cf10242b674/PXL_20220528_230300172.jpg Lifestyle - Flower Child - ‘I’m A Sunflower’ DuBose laughs, begrudgingly, at her answer to the question: What type of flower from your farm represents you? To her, it seems almost too obvious of a choice with so many other options from which to choose. Sunflowers, however, with their tall, proud stalks topped with a golden yellow imitations of the sun are universally loved and enjoyed, bringing smiles and happiness to everyone who sees either a single stem or, in this case, a field bursting with blooms. That couldn’t represent DuBose more. Her ability to bring a smile to even the most curmudgeon of human is undeniable, and it’s a skill she cultivated out of necessity from a young age. “I learned the ability to be friendly and make people happy,” she says. “I had to make people be my friend quickly.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/fb99f1a0-c53b-4c1f-9cf9-c366eec1ee56/PXL_20220528_231640956.PORTRAIT.jpg Lifestyle - Flower Child - ‘I’m Just a Big Goober’ DuBose moved to the Upstate, landing in Anderson in 2005, when she got married. After her divorce in 2009, she moved to downtown Greenville, and it was then that she first began to really put down roots and cultivate a true group of friends. Prior to that, she’d worried deep down she wasn’t actually as cool as she wanted people to think she was. When she met her now-husband, George, and owner of Reedy River Farms, she shifted from work in a hospital system to learning to care for the earth. The idea for Sassafrass Flowers was born, and she moved to Easley to grow her family and new adventure. “Now that I’m in a garden and have centered my core on a farm, now it’s like ‘oh, people are still going to be my friend.’ That was the hardest part about moving out of downtown Greenville. For one second I had that fear that I was out of the loop,” DuBose says. Instead, she began to turn her working farm into a destination. For those who attend Sassafrass U-PICK events—during which guests are able to pop a bottle, enjoy a picnic, and cut stem after stem of gorgeous blooms—it’s clear DuBose has developed a place that not only welcomes all demographics but makes everyone feel at home. “I have this weird empathy. I can feel when someone’s uncomfortable, because I know how it feels to be on the other side,” she says. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0c38d6cb-305b-4e14-bff8-3b8ae390ba29/PXL_20220528_231826890.PORTRAIT.jpg Lifestyle - Flower Child - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/greenvilles-biggest-hearts-club monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/10c2a802-dfb7-49b8-87dc-9f98185b1f42/comal.jpg Lifestyle - Greenville's Biggest Hearts Club - Comal864 Comal 864 serves up Rio Grande Valley-inspired food and sits in the former Woodside Bistro space on Woodside Avenue, and owner Dayna says it’s important for her to continue the legacy that Woodside Bistro started in that space. Comal has a food fund that you can donate to (you can also donate in person when you dine in), and that food fund supplies community members with two loaded chicken tacos and fills their water bottles up when they come in asking for food. They also have already served hundreds of hungry community members on holidays for free in their short time open and will put the call out on their Instagram for volunteers to spread the word and help as needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/7a260e82-e0cd-42f2-b061-bd90f3523d54/IMG_3968.jpeg Lifestyle - Greenville's Biggest Hearts Club - Project host Project Host’s mission reads: “Using food as a tool to nourish the hungry and train the unemployed.” Their goal is to fight food insecurity in greater Greenville by feeding hungry Greenvillians, providing training and education for the unemployed, and paying it forward through their social enterprises, of which there are many. In addition to their daily soup kitchen, they also have a Cooking for Kids initiative that supplies local after-school programs with hot meals for kids living in food insecurity. As for education, their CC Pearce Culinary School is a six-week program completely funded through scholarships and gives students hands-on cooking and food safety experience to better prepare them for employment opportunities. That’s still not all. Project Host also recognizes the importance of paying it forward in the community through their HostMobile food truck, their bakery, and their urban garden. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/9f39a938-93c4-402f-88c4-f105a40c7c00/1DB86590-8C68-4596-B791-E32E9830965F.jpeg Lifestyle - Greenville's Biggest Hearts Club - Woodside Bistro Speaking of Woodside Bistro, upon their 2019 opening, co-owners Ken Frazier and Austyn McGroarty established a Pay it Forward program that first started as a board with vouchers for a free meal. Guests in need of a hot meal could walk in and redeem the card for lunch or dinner, pre-paid for by other generous guests. Now in the new expanded location just down the road in Woodside Mill, they’re also taking on larger efforts, such as a recent community fish fry held with Woodside Baptist Church that distributed hot meals and commodity care kits to those in need. Keep an eye on their social media for ways to get involved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/38b97f56-0903-4517-9fe7-fb2dff02526d/jasmine.kitchen.jpeg Lifestyle - Greenville's Biggest Hearts Club - Jasmine kitchen An extension of Jasmine Road, Jasmine Kitchen believes “everyone deserves the opportunity to flourish.” The lunch cafe provides a safe space for adult women who are human trafficking survivors and provides them with job training, employment, and other career-building opportunities. You can support them by stopping by the bright yellow house on Augusta Road Monday through Friday for soups, salads, sandwiches, and a must-order peanut butter cookie. The menu changes weekly, but it’s always tasty. Another great way to support the Jasmine Road mission is to volunteer, make a donation, or purchase merchandise from their online store. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/77a56de3-91be-4d1e-9b0a-7821fb7e585e/bridge.city.jpeg Lifestyle - Greenville's Biggest Hearts Club - Bridge City Coffee Coffee for a cause. Bridge City’s motto is “building value and hope in people through coffee.” In 2021, they partnered with Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery and The Village Grind to create the Bridge Fund Collective. This organization was born with the intention of providing assistance to service industry employees in areas ranging from health, housing, transportation, to education. How does the Bridge Fund Collective work? You can purchase one (or many) Bridge Cards, gift that card to a friend, and that card can be redeemed for a free coffee at any of the partnering locations. All proceeds from these Bridge Cards will go towards the Bridge Fund. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/green-laundry-lounge monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/fe89084a-4216-44fc-bcce-0b6a073b826a/IMG_0704.jpg Lifestyle - Green Laundry Lounge: Where Laundry and Chai Find Common Ground - ‘Be good to the earth’ Desai, born and raised in India, learned about the importance of sustainable practices from his father, who owned a large rice processing operation. Desai’s childhood memories include jumping into piles of rice at the plant, but he also learned to work toward a zero waste status through observing how his dad used every bit of the processed rice grain remnants in cattle feed and brick manufacturing. Desai’s childhood home was a three-story house with a metal corrugated roof, that during monsoon season, channeled water into a storage well. He brought that same style of metal to the construction materials used at GLL as well as laundry facilities that use as little water as possible. Bottom line, “be good to the earth,” he says. By the way, that spiral staircase leads to Desai’s crow’s nest office from which he designs systems for large commercial constructions as a mechanical design engineer. GLL is a passion project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2477e649-b884-4427-8ae2-72a40c1e6dde/IMG_6755.jpeg Lifestyle - Green Laundry Lounge: Where Laundry and Chai Find Common Ground - Keeping the Green in GVL So just how green, sustainable and local is GLL? Let us count the ways: 1. Reclaimed wood walls built by Soteria Community Development Corporation 2. Three murals—on the back wall and both gender-neutral restrooms— by local artist Douglas Piper depicting GLL forming a bridge between Indian and Greenville cultures 3. Menu development and ingredients are grown by Oak Hill Cafe and Farm 4. Coffee program by Due South that will eventually feature a GLL roast 5. 100% recycled cups in the branded GLL items and cafe 6. 100% sustainable sofas 7. Industrial aluminum or steel in structural materials or seating 8. Energy star-rated laundry machines 9. Custom GLL natural laundry soap and soda by locally-owned Nood Clean 10. Wet cleaning process that recycles water and uses no harsh chemicals for fabrics requiring dry cleaning 11. Higher ceiling height than typical in order to let in more natural light https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d070805b-193f-4b90-b1ad-0db7103ca133/IMG_0712.JPEG Lifestyle - Green Laundry Lounge: Where Laundry and Chai Find Common Ground - Prime location Located in the Palms at Brushy Creek at 3120 Brushy Creek Road on a stretch between Taylors and Greer that is primarily residential, GLL is positioned to be a central hub of diverse activity for the surrounding neighborhoods. It opened quietly this winter with the laundry facilities buzzing and a limited cafe menu available as they work toward their full operational capacity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/2497ec18-1f8b-456c-bdb1-011a1c386899/IMG_1345.jpg Lifestyle - Green Laundry Lounge: Where Laundry and Chai Find Common Ground - Green Laundry Lounge Where laundry and chai find common ground https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/e917a70b-6896-4de9-a6de-0309faebf99b/IMG_0713.jpeg Lifestyle - Green Laundry Lounge: Where Laundry and Chai Find Common Ground - Recipe for authenticity Desai and his family are big supporters of the local coffee scene and our growing restaurant community. For the coffee program and cafe menu, he chose to enlist the help of those already established in Greenville rather than enter the market as a competitor. But one thing was a non-negotiable: his family chai (NOT ‘chai tea’—chai is tea) recipe would be a highlight. He even had the recipe printed on a T-shirt you can buy. The only ingredient missing is fresh lemongrass (Oak Hill is working on growing it), and it’s traditionally poured from the brightly colored kettles above, but at GLL they’re for display only. Due South supplies the coffee and training for the shop, and a drive-thru window will open in April. Oak Hill’s executive chef David Porras and co-owner Lori Nelsen have been working with Desai on the menu that currently includes an assortment of pastries but will expand later this spring to include salads, bowls, and sandwiches, most of which will incorporate authentic Indian flavors and spices. With a growing selection of local beer and quality canned wine, this might be just the spot to kick back on the couch with a beverage while knocking out an otherwise mundane chore. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/4acaf39c-c66f-404d-bfef-bb17e8cf99da/IMG_1220.jpeg Lifestyle - Green Laundry Lounge: Where Laundry and Chai Find Common Ground - The future is bright As if all of that weren’t enough to get excited about, Desai can’t say enough about what’s coming in the next few months. On the grassy area to the left of the building, cornhole and other outdoor games will be installed, and a 25’ x 16’ wooden deck overlooking the neighboring townhomes will be constructed. The goal is to provide ample opportunity for families to spend time together—whether through using a laundry service to give them a few hours of quality time back or hanging out on the deck with some good food and drink. Speaking of which, every Friday and Saturday night Desai plans to serve Indian street food using what he calls “regular Indian spices—not toned down” to introduce more of his authentic culinary culture to the community. It will be late spring/early summer before all of his plans take shape, but already laundromat owners from around the state have begun looking to Desai for consulting and using GLL as a model for their new endeavors. He also says he would like to franchise, eventually. “I want more people to do this,” he says. “This should be the standard.” https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/new-growth-greenville-plant-stores monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624328235489-YDOXQWL9J8Y8ODI424KO/a3940994a2ee8c98c577b268bf1ea27ecf843c6f-2.jpeg Lifestyle - New Growth - “Plants really did change my life for the better,” says A.J. Arellano. The now-owner of Savereign first discovered his passion for plants while living in Chicago. The brutal winters took a toll on his mental health, but a plant gift from his mom offered a pick-me-up. Before long, he’d filled his 700 sq ft apartment with over 150 plants. “There are studies on the positive effects of plants. They’ve allowed me to take time to think for myself and meditate on who I am and what makes me happy. They have a calming factor and radiate positivity.” When he later returned home to Greenville, his plant passion came with him. But Savereign wasn’t founded on a love of plants alone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624365262779-JFDQKRRHCTTMZ9L0UZ4J/a3940994a2ee8c98c577b268bf1ea27ecf843c6f-4.jpeg Lifestyle - New Growth - Off the grid Loves all of our small business plant purveyors! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624387600145-LWR6XJ1C1IHFRRDP01DM/IMG_1112.JPG Lifestyle - New Growth - Leyly Bagherof and Brogan Jackson – the faces behind the newly-opened Sun & Soil – have been friends since high school. Both moved away to separate cities until they were forced to return home last year when the world turned upside down. Life disrupted their plans, but they took the hit as an opportunity to pursue other passions: plants and positivity. Photo Provided by Sun & Soil. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624395868105-HU806LB98H8EN79K8CH3/IMG_0585.jpg Lifestyle - New Growth - “We wanted to create a space that’s plant-related but also encouraging and uplifting,” says Leyly. When you walk in, you are immediately met with shelves overflowing with plants on plants on plants all locally sourced by small growers. Don’t miss the mural in the back created by Brogan encouraging visitors to “Grow Your Own Happiness.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624329858997-QOXRDY0JJ71HXLDJWL33/4b6d13104e78cd4906ef7bf5deb5498999ed1e78-1.jpeg Lifestyle - New Growth - “We’re not only a plant store. We also want this to be a fun, safe space for everyone. “This is a place where anyone can come and hang out if you need it,” says Leyly. “We have wifi, a chill lounge area, and bottled local coffee.” They’re also pet-friendly, have an outdoor space, and are partnering up with other small businesses to host future workshops and events for the community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624385937489-GKIZ3JAENATBWE021T5Q/IMG_1118.JPG Lifestyle - New Growth - "The whole point of the store, even more than the plants, is to be a safe place for queer people. I'm not a business person at heart; I just want people to feel good,” says A.J. “I saw no retail spaces for queer people in the Greenville city area. I knew I wanted to create a safe space and also a space owned by a queer, brown person, and let others like me know that you can do anything." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624329547932-UY5I0LYJF694Z5W5W493/IMG_0593.JPG Lifestyle - New Growth - Women Supporting Women The store sells unique plant accessories as well as plant-related jewelry, shirts, greeting cards, and more all made by fellow female-owned small businesses. Going forward, they plan to host events including in-store yoga classes taught by female-owned studio instructors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624386023463-1BQX5MR4RPFOOU7VSQT9/IMG_1120.JPG Lifestyle - New Growth - “The main reason for my existing here was to create change.” A.J. says the work he’s doing has helped him be brave because he wants to be brave for others. “I’m not afraid to speak out,” he says. “You can see that on my Instagram which I use a lot to give voice to others. That’s not just the store’s Instagram. It’s my personal page too. This is my life.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1624372129529-X3CP0XV70UKMA68WJBB2/a6df88dc061e6f392d40012b8fd188caa51a7bc4-1.jpeg Lifestyle - New Growth - Here are a few others we’ve been digging lately… Asia Pacific Greenville (Yes, they have plants too!) Aligned with Nature (Greer) Urban Digs La Flora Dose of Greenery Botanical Brew (Lyman) And if you’re looking for beautiful, handmade displays for your hanging plants, check out All Good Things. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/mother-natures-flex-five-springtime-gardens-you-dont-want-to-miss monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1620748711703-IPB4HRDPQNTU9XDBRU5S/unnamed-3.jpeg Lifestyle - Mother Nature's Flex: Five Springtime Gardens You Don't Want to Miss - Riverbanks Botanical Gardens Columbia, SC Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1620748694421-HZMH567HJIGXIVUZXBXZ/unnamed.jpeg Lifestyle - Mother Nature's Flex: Five Springtime Gardens You Don't Want to Miss - Rock Quarry Garden Greenville, SC Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1620748757414-HI8T4RNKHSXNXC5107QC/IMG_5268.jpeg Lifestyle - Mother Nature's Flex: Five Springtime Gardens You Don't Want to Miss - Biltmore Estate Asheville, NC Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1620748647061-TYN4OVWU6AE1MSS4IZIW/unnamed-1.jpeg Lifestyle - Mother Nature's Flex: Five Springtime Gardens You Don't Want to Miss - Kilgore Lewis House Gardens Greenville, SC Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1620748794940-458CYU5L3YYXDXA9KUR1/unnamed-5.jpeg Lifestyle - Mother Nature's Flex: Five Springtime Gardens You Don't Want to Miss - Falls Park Downtown Greenville, SC Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1620748667740-UHC7APSC139HD4BYJ98D/unnamed-2.jpeg Lifestyle - Mother Nature's Flex: Five Springtime Gardens You Don't Want to Miss - South Carolina Botanical Garden Highway 76 & Pearman Boulevard at Clemson University Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/joe-hindman-a-gift-to-greenville monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/snack-hacks-think-of-the-best-tasty-unique-and-affordable-snacks-in-greenville-sc monthly 0.5 2022-06-06 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/look-for-the-helpers monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599623668810-8CE1DQQ4GDNJV49T9D21/S8NAlKO1RvObmxE6A0sJww.jpg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - Virtual For our second class during COVID-19, we moved online to Zoom and will continue offering digital and in-person support as we are able and as it is safe to do so. Additional classes about navigating social media, the importance of digital marketing, and basics of public relations are in the works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599656366782-P1EM7232A3AVX85BTMJV/fullsizeoutput_bfc7.jpeg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - Help us help Greenville We love Greenville -- the people, the business owners, the cultural range, the inclusive environment. If you do too and value the small businesses that keep our community vibrant, consider a tax-deductible donation to Off The Grid Greenville that will allow us to continue offering programming and expertise to those who may need assistance, especially during this particularly difficult time. We’re here to help, and we need yours, too. DONATE HERE https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599620575538-UCMXJ8NCVUE96P1EYLM8/fullsizeoutput_c060.jpg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news,” Mr. Rogers once said to his television neighbors, “my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” While the quote was intended to help his young audience make sense of a confusing world, ‘Look for the helpers’ has become a commonly used assurance for all during difficult times. And 2020 has certainly been difficult, especially for the small businesses Off The Grid Greenville began highlighting in 2016. Since our beginning as a non-traditional media company, the businesses we’ve researched, photographed, and featured in our monthly stories on our website and on our social media accounts have never paid for coverage. We’ve chosen them for inclusion based on a high level of quality and value they provide the community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599623431584-PNFTNJJPMPMD4KZWO1K5/fullsizeoutput_bfa4.jpeg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - #yeahTHATculture By supporting the marketing efforts of many minority-owned businesses, we are, in turn, teaching the community about other cultures through food. These small businesses need the support of not only their own demographic but also the entire Greenville community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599656432638-BL6OCXY8IEGOH4BSRU46/chew_crew_black.png Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - Chew Crew We believe in the power of social media as an agent for positive support and change. One way we channel that is through the #ChewCrew -- a group of local food enthusiasts we organized who love to share their favorite foods and restaurants with their followers. Once a month, we meet up at a local restaurant who might need a little more Instagram love and share our experience. When the pandemic shuttered dining rooms, the Chew Crew rallied behind the take-out movement and encouraged followers to do the same. Our group continues to work behind the scenes with restaurants who need the support to make it through the limited dining room capacity and challenges that COVID-19 has presented this important part of our community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599624144415-KZBXXEMMXCV239W6E9VT/IMG_0739.JPG Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - Individual tutoring After helping local artist Liz Daly-Korybski of Daly Designs, LLC, located at ArtUp Studios at Hampton Station, she sent us this testimonial. We couldn’t have articulated her need and our ability to help better: “Due to COVID-19 and the lockdowns, social media is more important than ever. Social media helps generate orders to our website and helps us create a broader reach of clients. “My knowledge of the limits of IG, are hmmm... I don't know enough about IG to know the limits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599621345912-KN5FCX6LWKPKRYWSHYME/fullsizeoutput_bfa7.jpeg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - David’s Gardens Over the last few months, we’ve helped one of our favorite Off The Grid features -- Mr. Oliver Earle -- launch a booming farm stand on Augusta Street during a time when he felt uneasy about selling at a more populated farmers market. Operating under the name David’s Garden, Mr. Earle’s produce has sold out in a shorter amount of time each week. Equally as important as crucial sales, doing so safely was a priority. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599655812116-Z2TWETHS87ELBSGCSBZ1/Jewish-Film-Festival-Web-Quality-4-1258x840.jpg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - Programming Sometimes our help is a reaction to an immediate need from a singular business. Other times, it’s a proactive, organized event, like the classes we held in partnership with the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). The first “Marketing Yourself on the Internet” class we offered in person in February along with input from Ridge Media, was an SBDC class we adapted to fit the needs of the businesses we seek to serve as they need more knowledge to position themselves online. Participating businesses included locksmiths, salons, seafood markets, restaurants, apparel, a local film festival, and many more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599657194416-6IPT5CDYK8XFI2LTFJKT/IMG_9615.jpg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - A little more from Liz… “Jackie, taught me some invaluable lessons regarding IG. I had no clue how to create a good and clear profile. Honestly, I have had the IG account for years -- it was set up by my employees years and years ago. Due to COVID-19 many fellow artists and business owners begged me to start using IG again. A few weeks ago, Jackie and I made a short socially distanced video regarding a mask accessory I had designed. The short video aired on IG. Our website and studio had a nice uptick in sales. “I am so thankful for Jackie. She is an amazing teacher. Her class is very well thought out. She is a kind and patient teacher. Yes, we were outside, socially distanced, masked up in 95-degree-heat. Jackie is a trooper. I love Jackie's motto, If you can teach a man to fish....” Photo credit: Heather Grilliot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599622170278-R1X7JP8CF1ZEFTP3E4YC/IMG_0328.JPG Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - What did we do? Taught COVID-19 safety. Helped with marketing, donated new disposable containers, and set up the street sign in the right position. Assisted with networking and follow up. Set up in a new location, initiated collaboration with Modal’s new coffee shop opening, including follow up with the owner. Implemented smoother set up at Modal (changed aesthetics a bit to match property better) and switched masks to kn95 (easier to speak through). Plans to set up paperless payment. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599620147448-EG6J3UB6ZC3BUXCT6KQN/Drop_Inn_Store_8803.jpg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers Often, these businesses are minority-owned, family-run, and not widely known. In other words, they’re off the grid in Greenville. We work to connect businesses and their owners to a wider customer base that may not know they exist while also educating our readers about the extensive variety of different cultures making our community vibrant. And often -- through our own reach and other local and national media outlets’ sharing our photos and content -- their business increases rapidly after we feature them, allowing them to continue serving our community. That’s our goal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599622569960-2S7I05IC533ISD6J72ZI/fullsizeoutput_bfa3.jpeg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - Asia Pacific Supermarket English as a second language can be a major challenge for some of our local small business owners when it comes to following constantly changing regulations. Alva Mak of Asia Pacific called us very concerned about meeting the requirements for remaining open during a time with increased restrictions due to COVID-19. Immediately, we brought her supplies, printed signs, and assisted in-person to help set up her grocery store including 6-foot line markings, hanging proper signage, and updating their Google listing with adjusted operating hours. When dining restrictions were lifted to 50% capacity, we returned and assisted with the restaurant set up to follow regulations, removing chairs from alternating tables, and chatting with staff about capacity, curbside options, and researching third party delivery services. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599621170307-GTQ1U00YU1HIA352DUMP/Clark_Nesbitt_77829_INstagram.jpg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - Making it official… A little more than a year ago, Off The Grid Greenville formed as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to helping small businesses in the Upstate of South Carolina achieve brand awareness through marketing assistance and educational programs. Already a segment of Greenville that needs community support, local restaurants, farmers, and makers were suddenly left in a dire state when the global pandemic hit earlier this year. They needed help, and as of July 2019, we literally and legally exist to be their helpers. That’s likely news to most of you because we’ve deliberately waited to formally announce it until we were also able to illustrate for you what this designation means. But, instead of simply telling you, we’d like to show you what we’ve been doing over the last year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1599621885214-Y0GDOWHI7OPGGZPBQXTG/fullsizeoutput_bd13.jpeg Lifestyle - Look For The Helpers - The Seafood Spot Greg Brantly, owner of The Seafood Spot, is one of many business owners who we’ve helped, through our partnership with Fisheye Studios, learn more about the importance of engaging food photography for social media. We eat first with our eyes, and what better way to drive business than to make hungry people want to eat what they see on their screens. In this particular instance, our highlighting of The Seafood Spot and helping them promote themselves via social media increased their business, which has since led to their need to expand their current footprint as well as open a second location. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/fall-coffee monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1f90687f-71f9-45e7-aaed-5a64bf2459cf/11584B74-39D9-4C46-9302-3DE47BD668DB.JPG Lifestyle - Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice - Everything But the Pumpkin The name says it all – fall spices with a kick of bergamot for that peppery flavor without even missing the pumpkin. This one is similar to a dirty chai in terms of profile, if you’re looking for spicy without heat. By: @junto.coffee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/37de462f-3e17-4cea-861d-b14540556cf4/IMG_8665.jpg Lifestyle - Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice - Sweet As A Potato The most contested latte on the list – because it’s almost savory and not sweet – this one deserves a mention because it’s unique and delicious, though the flavor may not be everyone’s cuppa joe. By: @cohesive.coffee Image provided by Cohesive Coffee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/8c4f3358-bab6-41c1-b215-03962a5fed99/IMG_8664.jpg Lifestyle - Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice - Lumberjack Latte Smoked sea salt in coffee? Hellz yeah, especially with real maple syrup swirled in. This one took us by surprise, and we’re not mad about how much we love that smoky element. By: @mtngoatgvl https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/aeda8fb0-bc76-487d-bd58-ff7bac298c0a/Due+South.jpg Lifestyle - Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice - Cute With It Steamed cold brew, chocolate, and orange. It’s simple, balanced, and worthy of an honorable mention. By: @duesouthcoffee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/fc0c3aad-2ab4-4cec-8a89-f7d0bc48ed3c/IMG_8120.JPG Lifestyle - Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice - Spiced Vanilla Cappuccino First of all, no one ever does a specialty cap anymore. It’s almost like it’s vintage or something. And if that’s the case, all of us loving the 90’s revival taking place can get behind this newest vintage discovery: a cardamom spiced vanilla cap that makes a drive-thru coffee feel like the luxury it is. By: @bridgecitycoffee https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/4c504d35-84b0-4e01-a7e0-9bf0308236cb/Village+Grind.jpg Lifestyle - Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice - Pecan Latte This pie in a mug showed up on National Coffee Day, and if that weren’t the best celebration, we are out of other ideas. And who doesn’t love PIE? Sweet and nutty, this one hits the nostalgia feels of family Thanksgiving traditions. By: @thevillagegrind https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a4972d4f-1743-4ef3-a8ab-40feacd3455e/Modal+Mocha.jpeg Lifestyle - Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice - Magical Mexican Mocha Cayenne pepper, mocha, cinnamon, espresso – it’s a full flavor assault that’s packing heat, and we mean that in the best way possible. Not for the spicy-averse, but certainly worth a taste if you’re on the fence. We’re pretty sure we know which side you’ll land on. By: @staymodal Image provided by Modal https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/easy-trails-for-hard-times monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592852098159-Z6ZBFLWO8GPC1WBD3DER/7BD0D66B-F836-45CC-8A36-7D297885E31A.jpg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times - Fernwood Nature Trail in Cleveland Park | Greenville, SC Fernwood Nature Trail in Cleveland Park | Greenville, SC 0.5 mile loop through Cleveland Park https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592945327502-TNWI0AYTM2S463OAIZF6/IMG_6811-1.jpeg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592943421644-1EJOBPR910F3EBBCX4ZV/IMG_9208-1.jpeg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592944865232-9V492SS3XZVEHPO2PO1P/IMG_7237.jpeg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592946567590-ASGTJUEX9I00FYRGRMSH/IMG_0885-1.jpeg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592945134958-HMJT5IPL02KUARNENLI2/IMG_8940-2.jpeg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592854938911-HMJLYXHO4NCUMHRE1P3H/IMG_0818.jpg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592947037307-G76WUV5SU9C8MLRIXGSN/IMG_0808-1.jpeg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1592943549633-V83SGS31YJLP4BBNEGPH/Photo1.jpeg Lifestyle - Easy Trails for Hard Times https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/let-them-eat-birthday-cake monthly 0.5 2024-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1587392162258-PG6F0HXVWS0S61VCGX6A/OTGG_Buttercream_Bakehouse_83871.jpg Lifestyle - Let Them Eat (Birthday) Cake! Jenauri’s Vegan BakeryCustom vegan cakes Order 5-7 days in advance El Horno Bakery Grab and go or call ahead to customize order Couture Cakes Custom cakes available for pick-up on Fridays & Saturdays Order one week in advance Bakery Off Augusta Custom cakes available Order 1-2 days in advance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1587397203586-VK5NCEW3BTZ0JB1M0G8J/OTGG_Brick_Street_3311.jpg Lifestyle - Let Them Eat (Birthday) Cake! Strossner’s Custom cakes Delivery available Call for ordering info Tip Top Cake Shop Custom cakes Order 1-2 weeks in advance https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1587393689155-WQ2LEB3K83THYVTWYV7R/OTGG_Brick_Street_3490.jpg Lifestyle - Let Them Eat (Birthday) Cake! Swamp Rabbit Cafe Cookie cakes available in-store Brick Street Cafe Grab and go mediums or call ahead for other sizes https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/the-art-of-the-wrap-greenvilles-elves-at-work monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/24975dba-b192-4425-b249-6fb837a2d23b/IMG_9421.jpeg Lifestyle - The ART of the Wrap; Greenville's Elves at Work - Other OTGG favorites: O.P. Taylor’s The Elephant’s Trunk Custard Greenville Hollipops Fine Toys & Gifts The Pickwick Kate Carlyle Photo provided by Ariel Turner https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3e54b523-d5aa-4173-bd56-0164cd4fcd9a/DSCF2441.JPG Lifestyle - The ART of the Wrap; Greenville's Elves at Work - The JOY of gift giving . . . . . . is often as much about the outer wrapping as what’s inside. Just watch a baby go for a gift. They beeline for the shiny bow, grasping with a tiny fist. The way the paper feels and crinkles in their hands brings an instant smile and a squeal, and interior tissue paper quickly becomes confetti – shredded and thrown in the air – or waved around like pom-poms as they cheer on the festivities. The wrapping is the allure, and as you shop and wrap and give, we hope you find that child-like wonder and joy during this gift-giving season, maybe without completely destroying these temporary works of art. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/4c5491be-a104-43f9-8bef-01425a362040/IMG_0202.jpeg Lifestyle - The ART of the Wrap; Greenville's Elves at Work - Laughing all the way . . . Julie is a wrapping fiend at The Cook’s Station (pictured here) where shoppers have been keeping her busy with gifts of all shapes and sizes. Cook’s Station co-owner Kelly Colacioppo said that although gift-wrapping is time consuming, it’s worth it, and if they ever stop offering the concierge service, she’ll close the doors. Safe to say these Santa’s Helpers aren’t going anywhere. OTGG Tip: Grab lunch (and a drink) to enjoy while you wait for these elves to work their magic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/41519b07-8136-486e-aaae-4c594b28b685/IMG_0137-1.jpeg Lifestyle - The ART of the Wrap; Greenville's Elves at Work - Making spirits bright At Cottage Grove Vintage, gifts are wrapped up with cheer and a smile, and it’s one less thing for shoppers to worry about. After all, it’s the hustle and stress of keeping up with all of the holiday obligations that can kill the joy we’re supposed to feel in the season. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/a-very-off-the-grid-greenville-thanksgiving monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/3d6d2272-3b5e-4743-abe1-019e9bbd4fbe/IMG_2736.jpeg Lifestyle - A Very OTGG Thanksgiving - What are we drinking? You’ll want to drink something bright and acidic to cut through all of the rich food on the plate. We have some sure-shot recommendations that are big on value and will pair will all the flavors on the traditional Thanksgiving table! Bubulle Montlouis Sur Loire The experts say to start with bubbles. We recommend Bubulle Montlouis Sur Loire. Its tastes like a $100 champagne for only $35 bucks. You can find this wine at various local wine shops. Le Grotte Lambrusco Reggiano This wine is filled with the flavor of fruit and fizzy bubbles. While it’s on the sweeter side, it’s balanced with a dry finish. You can buy a delightfully-delicious Lambrusco for just $5 at Trader Joe’s! Sfera Rosso Pictured here, the Sfera Rosso is best served chilled. This wine has nice cranberry undertones that cut all the rich flavors on your plate. Buy at Graft in Charleston or Community Tap or Winehouse in Greenville. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/36027205-86de-443f-a1be-9efb606a8475/OJ_DIner_3136.jpeg Lifestyle - A Very OTGG Thanksgiving - Phenomenal Sides OJ's Diner While you can get your turkey and dressing fix early on any Tuesday, you can also order half pans of anything on the menu even if it’s not considered Thanksgiving specific. Good 2 Go GVL Here you’ll find sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, and a beautiful mushroom, leek, gruyere bread pudding. Order here. Fork and Plough Head to this sweet spot for collard greens, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mac and cheese, squash casserole, rolls, and gravy by the quart. Need we say more? Here’s the link to order. Home Team BBQ of Greenville https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/ca0e4033-2fe8-49b9-a858-84a98d361b6b/IMG_6601.jpeg Lifestyle - A Very OTGG Thanksgiving - Cakes, Pies, Cookies… Brick Street Cafe The Sweet Potato Cake at Brick Street Cafe has been referred to as Greenville gold, and we’re not gonna disagree! This cream cheese iced cake is a staple for many Greenville Thanksgiving tables. We recommend ordering ahead here. Swamp Rabbit Cafe + Grocery You can find the Chocolate Chess Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Apple Streusel Pie, and a myriad of other fantastic desserts. Order ahead here. Strossner’s Bakery There are 65 options for phenomenal desserts including pumpkin pie, caramel apple cake, pumpkin loaf, hazelnut torte, and more. Order online here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/12619529-f154-4737-a692-bbcc231f6ec8/IMG_3869.jpg Lifestyle - A Very OTGG Thanksgiving - Outsource the work There’s no harm in making your holiday a little easier, especially when you have the help of so many professional chefs and restauranteurs in Greenville! Henry’s Smokehouse Known for its fried and smoked turkeys along with smoked spiral hams, Henry’s cuts-off ordering on 11/20. We recommend getting your order in before 11/17 because the fried turkeys go so fast. Henry’s will have all of their traditional fixin’s available, as well as cornbread dressing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. All turkeys are 12-14 lbs. All spiral hams are 8-9 lbs. Email henryssmokehouse@gmail.com for more info. Bobby’s BBQ Here you will find whole turkey breasts, whole briskets, mac and cheese, corn pudding, sweet potato crunch, cheesy potato casserole, and banana pudding. Order ahead for pick up on 11/24 here. Swamp Rabbit Cafe + Grocery This is your one-stop shop for meats, sides, desserts, and wine! If you’re inclined to fully lean into having the work done by a professional chef, this is a great place to knock out the whole menu. Order here! CityRange Steakhouse https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/42f25212-c30a-460e-b12c-4d34e54d1c63/AFB4EDBF-5EEC-489D-8DB0-32F074644DF1_1_105_c.jpeg Lifestyle - A Very OTGG Thanksgiving - Who’s cooking? If you choose to cook yourself, these Greenville grocers knock it out of the park with locally-sourced turkeys and much more. Swamp Rabbit Cafe + Grocery Stop by to load up on locally-grown collard greens, squash, apples, and more. Aside from the turkey, you can get your fresh produce, cheeses, and breads, and gravy here too. Revival Butchery From the heritage-breed turkey to the sausage for the stuffing, you’ll be set on meat with a visit to Revival. Locally sourced-eggs, raw milk, and hand-cut bacon will also have you ready for breakfast on Turkey Day. Call to reserve your turkey. (912-777-8000) Hooked Meat & Seafood Market Call to order your fresh birds from Joyce Farms and pies from Carolina Bourbon Belles. (864-210-4948) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/6a6af29c-567d-4497-bbd0-3498bc3e89ca/kukajuice-Instagram-2602-ig-17902956881292477.jpeg Lifestyle - A Very OTGG Thanksgiving - …and why not more dessert? Wildflower Cupcakes + Dessert Bar As the name suggests, you can find more than enough cupcakes at Wildflower. We’re big fans of their cookie sandwiches filled with a generous dollop of frosting! Find the full menu here. Sidewall Pastry Kitchen Apple crumb pie, butterscotch pumpkin pie, derby pie and pumpkin Cheesecake. here you’ll find a plethora of gluten-free and dairy-free options but pre-orders stop on 11/15 at 9pm. Kuka Juice Get the beautiful and delicious vegan, gluten-free, pumpkin pie cheesecake pictured here. Place your order here. All orders must be placed by Friday, November 19th. Bossy Bakery Co. Don’t miss this little sweet gem off of Wade Hampton Bvld. Check their social for specials here. Stax Omega Photo provided by: Kuka Juice https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/mr-oliver-earle monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/five-magical-winter-hikes monthly 0.5 2024-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612799628855-MZUHLRTUIJCVCVLPCDCR/IMG_5595.JPG Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - Lakeside Trail at Table Rock State Park 1.9 Mile Loop | Easy If you aren’t into chasing waterfalls and looking for an easier hike, head to Table Rock State Park and hit the Lakeside Trail. It’s an easy 1.9 miles around Lake Pinnacle, with stunning views of Table Rock along the entire way. Take a moment to appreciate the architecture of the historic lodge, dam, and spillway, all of which we built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612799827712-LES6I0I8MYXQ3FX9CGZ7/IMG_5594.JPG Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - Nature is an escape Over the past year, we have learned a few things — that patience is truly a virtue, and that friends and family are everything. Along the way, we worked through all of the emotions: anxiety, fear, depression, hope, love, and gratitude. And then went through them again. And again. It’s winter and it’s easy to give in to the emotional desire for hibernation, curl up with a blanket, and binge watch Netflix. But haven’t we done enough of that last year? Grab your hiking boots, layer up, and find some of that icy magic. It’s good for the soul. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612797145902-VHZBYY64F7BE9W3O6M0X/IMG_2931.jpeg Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - "Respect your physical limitations.” The cable crossing over the creek, as shown above, makes for quite the adventure. Just know that it can be difficult for little ones. As a sign on the trail further down says, "Respect your physical limitations.” After crossing Matthew's Creek, you still have a ways to go before arriving at the falls. You will pass several markings and signs along the way. Pay attention to these and your map and you will be there in no time. Moonshine Falls is stunning, with lush green mountain laurel surrounding the gorgeous 40' waterfall. You can even explore behind the falls, where rusty, old brewing barrels have been left behind. During winter, you can find a winter wonderland with icicles everywhere if you are lucky. It’s a beautiful escape that will leave you feeling completely refreshed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612797393018-RN1SCTXL5SLDBD4FGVBW/IMG_5596.jpeg Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - Raven Cliff Falls and Dismal Trail Loop 8.8 Mile Loop | Difficult Further up 276, past the stunning views from the Caesars Head State Park overlook, you will find the trailhead to South Carolina’s tallest waterfall. Raven Cliff Falls and Dismal Trail Loop will take you on a spectacular, challenging hike through the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. Get ready - when we say challenging, we mean it. The trail weaves through rough terrain with narrow paths, switchbacks, and ladders, testing you every step of the way. Eventually, you will cross a swinging suspension bridge offering spectacular cascade views. It’s most definitely a highlight of the hike. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612901629750-1FMXRSYCSLZT12GAS9SW/IMG_2896-1.jpeg Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - Known as “the cathedral,” …the huge rock face you will find along the trail is an incredible natural feature. When covered in ice, it is unbelievable. The trail system can be confusing and difficult to navigate, so be sure to plan ahead. Bring a map, plenty of water, and wear proper gear. OPTION #2: If you want to see Raven Cliff Falls without enduring a nearly 10-mile hike, you can take the moderate-rated 4-mile out-and-back trail. You will find an observation deck that offers views of Raven Cliff Falls from a distance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612799740103-GBZI7ES1USON4N5565ZG/IMG_5593.JPG Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - Yellow Branch Falls Trail 1.5 Miles One Way | Moderate Yellow Branch Falls is easily one of our favorite hikes in the Upstate. Located right outside of Walhalla’s quaint main street, this moderate out-and-back trail totals three miles. The trail is gorgeous, meandering through hardwoods and deep ravines. You will encounter several water crossings, so be prepared to test your balance as you hop from rock to rock. The trail eventually leads to the spectacular Yellow Branch Falls. We’ve seen it when it’s just tricking and after a rainstorm when it is surging, and either way, it’s a most memorable experience. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612796954183-44AZ2EMGDXI5Y5KBYCP5/IMG_5599.JPG Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - Moonshine Falls at Asbury Hills 2.8 Miles One Way | Moderate Hike Tucked away in the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains is a camp called Asbury Hills. You might have driven past it on your way to Caesar’s Head State Park and not even noticed it. Located on 276 (Geer Highway), this camp is home to the trailhead that will take you on an exhilarating hike. Asbury Hills is kind enough to let folks access the trail to Moonshine Falls through their camp. The entrance is gated, however, and you need a code to get in on the weekends. Call ahead or email them - they are very quick to respond and quite friendly. Trust us - you do not want to drive all that way and then not have a code to get in (been there, done that.) Be sure to download or print off Asbury Hill's map before you go. The trail is marked with red blazes, but it gets a little tricky as there are quite a few connecting trails along the way. For example, the Natural and Trust Trail, whose blaze is pink and looks kind of like red, can easily lead you far from Moonshine Falls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1612799467759-PFKG3XH3TAGSPVZ76EAJ/IMG_5598.JPG Lifestyle - Five Magical Winter Hikes - Rainbow Falls at Jones Gap State Park NOTE: CURRENTLY CLOSED 1.6 miles one way | Difficult Rainbow Falls is striking, but for us, the journey to get there makes this hike one of our favorites. There's just something magical about hiking deep in the forest, surrounded by lush green mountain laurel, listening to the river's cool water rushing by. The hike up is difficult, so be prepared. Wear proper shoes and plenty of layers, and bring water. And of course, don’t forget the snacks. Also, this is quite a rocky trail, and there are steep ravines, so watch your step, or you may end up with scrapes, bruises, or worse. Most importantly, enjoy every bit of it. Take a moment to breathe in the mountain air (especially after climbing up a million stairs). Pick a big rock by the falls and just look up in awe. It’s an incredible form of therapy that every single one of us can benefit from these days. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/gather-your-gals-for-galentines-day- monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/d346f094-3bf5-42de-b571-1e9ad0c13674/IMG_5596.jpeg Lifestyle - Gather Your Gals for Galentine’s Day - If you love to host… You don’t have to celebrate Galentine’s Day by going to a million different places. Instead, host the perfect Galentine’s Day bash in your home with the right ingredients. Pick up a sweet cake from Strossner’s Bakery, a few bottles of rosé from Wine House, and some meats, cheeses, and fruit from Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery. If you truly want to be the hostess with the most-est, keep it simple for all involved (stressing about any of this is not cute) and order some takeout from a place you and your friends all love…it’s no secret that Pita House is one of our faves—don’t forget the cash. Now you have a recipe for a great Galen-time! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/44aee8ef-29f4-44c0-815a-c313eb0cb8c1/272828808_216096837393708_1766349626068173188_n+2.jpg Lifestyle - Gather Your Gals for Galentine’s Day - Have another suggestion? Comments are open. Please keep it KOSHER, folks. We are PG-rated. Image provided by Ridge Media https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/a0da2c7a-1ced-49fc-a18b-ae65d6ab1452/DA31A290-4CEF-4883-9502-5525B49EF13BIMG_9458.jpeg Lifestyle - Gather Your Gals for Galentine’s Day - For your foodie friends… If you and your girlfriends prefer to bond over food with a side of sass, snag tickets to Larkin’s Galentine’s Day Drag Show brunch happening Feb. 13. Or if you have more of a sweet tooth, head over to this boozy dessert class at Plate 108 for some hands-on activities. If eating without any of the work is more your speed, take your friends to Better Than Sex - A Dessert Restaurant to have a girls’ night filled with sweet treats and laughs. The Cookie Nookie Pie and Blueberry Birthday Suit are delish. If you prefer to celebrate a little after the holiday, you can take your crew to Foxcroft Wine Co. on Feb 16 for a four-course meal and learn all about responsible farming and the wine ecosystem. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/97fbb10d-b3c8-4e33-af59-5c536f6a66bd/_K5A1829.jpg Lifestyle - Gather Your Gals for Galentine’s Day - For your shopaholic friends… Makers Collective is having a Valentine Pop Up Shop Feb. 11-13 so you and your girl crew can shop ’til you drop. Click here to see all of the participating makers. Not into your typical flower arrangements? Take your girls to pick out a new houseplant (or two, or three) from Savereign, Sun and Soil Plant Parlor, or Botanical Brew. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/69d635db-16a1-4e72-b7ea-d8241c8a64e6/66502860105__B84DC656-5975-4311-875D-9D0C85B7C3D9.jpeg Lifestyle - Gather Your Gals for Galentine’s Day - For your “treat yo self” friends If self-care is your game, plan a spa day with your bestie or whole crew—there are plenty of places in Greenville to get pampered. Get a fresh set of nails at Nails on the River (extra points if you get festive holiday nails), book a couples massage with your closest friend at Oase Day Spa, or get a facial at River Falls Spa. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/women-on-the-rise monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/clark-nesbitt-actor monthly 0.5 2020-05-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/saigon-market monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/soup monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632333624086-1NE9GI89516HO1O0DUCE/IMG_1768.jpeg Lifestyle - SOUP. - Step 2: Get the boxed mix There is no shame in using boxed mix when the instructions can be read by your child and it eliminates the need to question yourself when the matzoh meal fails. Cause it always does. Pro tip: do not mix brands, make sure the boiling water is flavored, and DO NOT open the pot while steaming - unless you want the sinkers your Bubbie made. Folks usually like their balls big and fluffy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632341398730-7PVBEMMZQM5D24D0ZVMQ/IMG_0778.jpeg Lifestyle - SOUP. - Local soups to pick up We’re so lucky to have so many global soup options here in the Upstate. Asada: Mexican Pozole Cucina del Borgo: Italian Minestrone, Pappa al Pomodoro - Tuscan Tomato soup, Zuppa Di Zucca (squash soup) Asia Pacific Grocery & Restaurant: Everything from wonton noodle soup, hot and sour all the way to seafood and duck soups. Sushi Go: Provides traditional soups such as the Japanese Sukiyaki Udon, Miso Ramen soup, all the way to Tempura and Nabeyaki Udon soup. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632333821285-Z6UAVOZM4L5U7S4IFHET/IMG_1276.jpeg Lifestyle - SOUP. - Freeze the goods Utilize your freezer and stock up! Whether you’re feeling sick, don’t want to run to the store, or want to drop some on the doorstep of a quarantined friend, a quart in the freezer goes a long way! We’ve been known to freeze a small portion of what we’re making or stock up when we're out of town. The Okra Soup pictured here is from Lowcountry Fresh in Bluffton, SC and we buy it in bulk whenever we are in town. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632326429597-4ESDLG5H17RQ1MTW7979/IMG_8127.jpeg Lifestyle - SOUP. - Plant-based Broccoli and “Cheddar” Having been raised on the gloopy broccoli cheese soup that comes from cans and boxes, and then figuring out as an adult that making my own with whole foods was so much better, it (almost) pains me to admit how good this plant-based, healthy version from Kuka Juice is. It’s shockingly diary-like and perfectly savory, and literally guilt-free, unless you’re allergic to cashews, in which case, you’ll have to pass on this one. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632330850579-E5EEOVMW4DGXO9JW4AN8/kukasoup.jpg Lifestyle - SOUP. - As good as the real thing With only a few key ingredients, Kuka Juice has managed to provide all the comfort feels for those with specific dietary choices, and even omnivores don’t know the difference. Trust me — I’ve tricked a few. Pro tip: watch for the IG announcement that it’s on the daily menu, and buy it by the quart. Any leftovers are just as good the next day, or fold into some whisked eggs and bake in a pie crust for some of the easiest and best homemade quiche you’ve ever had. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632333660257-AYQJT2FAJPNCWFUQLL4A/IMG_7907.jpeg Lifestyle - SOUP. - Step 3: Eat bubala* Strain or remove some of the greenery and bones. *Bubala: A term of endearment, darling. It's like, “oh sweetie!” But more fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632333682307-14DKSZPM1WHEKTDPJ2OP/IMG_2868.jpeg Lifestyle - SOUP. - Chicken Soup really does “soothe the soul...” but when you add some matzah balls and some old school, you’ve got yourself Jewish Penicillin. A remedy prescribed by mothers and doctors for decades, the well-earned nickname comes from 12th-century Jewish philosopher and physician Maimonides in his book “On the Cause of Symptoms.” The challenge? Finding matzah ball soup in the Upstate. Let’s face it, we don’t have the Jewish population of cities like Atlanta, NYC, or the region of South Florida. Other than Greenfield’s Bagels and Deli or an invite from one of your Jewish friends, it’s going to be up to you to make it. It’s really not hard, just follow these steps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632341619033-QUWTJZM6FW5VOV0XVYCA/Rosner-Robert.jpg Lifestyle - SOUP. - When you need soup fast On a chilly Saturdays the windows are open, football is on the TV, and soup is in process. If I don’t have time to get lost in a recipe, I make Roberto, Helen Rosner’s recipe for a deliciously-quick sausage and kale soup. Roberto has come to the rescue a couple times, but it’s particularly nice when I need the fix immediately. The ingredient list is short and the soup comes together in just 25 minutes. Click here to make a bowl for yourself. Image credit: Jacob Pope https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1632349946829-08F4I4U9NIWRL35N0JMK/62291620866__DBAB0BC5-C7FC-4B9A-9ACA-7EAE2929F6D1.JPG Lifestyle - SOUP. - Step 1: Make chicken soup Think about it, this chicken soup comes from years of feeding many with little effort. Don’t make this hard. Load a large stockpot with an organic chicken, a quartered onion, a few carrots, and a quartered parsnip. Skip the celery. Trust me. Cover with water and top with a twisted handful of dill, parsley, and salt n pepper. Skim off the yuck and pour yourself a drink, ‘cause you’re gonna be babysitting for two hours. https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/earn-your-spartanburg-sparkle-badge-part-2 monthly 0.5 2020-05-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/the-2019-flushies-otgs-toilet-superlative-awards monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/jeff-zaglin-collector monthly 0.5 2019-01-23 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/emily-mcsherry-cannabis-forward monthly 0.5 2020-06-03 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/off-the-grid-goes-cabo-mexico monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/kelly-vanleeuwen-maya-movement-arts monthly 0.5 2020-05-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/abandoned-upstate monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/the-note-ropers monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/colonial-milling monthly 0.5 2020-04-22 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/eat-your-veggies-the-10-best-vegetarian-friendly-spots monthly 0.5 2019-10-13 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/teresa-roche-art-light-gallery monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/favorite-places-feeding-five monthly 0.5 2021-04-13 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/off-the-grid-ways-to-celebrate-the-holidays monthly 0.5 2020-06-03 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/liz-daly-artist-and-pioneer monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/russell-biles-artist monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/quit-your-day-job-daytime-activities-in-greenville-sc monthly 0.5 2020-05-30 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/jen-hanna-for-the-love-of-dog monthly 0.5 2018-01-13 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/2017/9/27/yelena-crosston monthly 0.5 2017-10-04 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/category/picks monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/category/Lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/lifestyle-post/category/lifestyle monthly 0.5 https://offthegridgreenville.com/derrick-cannon-distinctfitness-ciderroom daily 0.75 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221435931-3U1QRTDEJCKF9Q8D6RMP/Derrick_Cannon_3132.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221435931-3U1QRTDEJCKF9Q8D6RMP/Derrick_Cannon_3132.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221410510-XGJ37Q4809OYMU63FE5I/Derrick_Cannon_2926.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room Owner and operator, Derrick Cannon lives what he refers to as an “80/20 Life.” 80 percent healthy and 20 percent fun! It was his love of fitness and touring local breweries that led him to create Distinct Fitness and Training and Distinct Cider Room. His beautiful and talented fiancé Heather Bramlett, plans to offer healthy lifestyle classes, fitness tutoring, and fitness summer camps for children. How does she have time to teach 5th grade? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221407283-C12KK5TUDXAOX09R2CWL/Derrick_Cannon_2899.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room Nestled behind the Greenville Downtown Airport, you’ll find Derrick’s brilliant amalgamation of fitness and cider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221414075-J003LI9T0VG8MYR7L3M9/Derrick_Cannon_2935.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room Whether you’re a fitness novice or an exercise guru, Derrick and his gym welcome all people. He and his staff have created a space that is relaxed, productive, and fun. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221418798-Q2ZS1SCYBLMUJTNWSJPU/Derrick_Cannon_3035.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221426911-6YNIHJFYV96T7CSDLVQ6/Derrick_Cannon_3078.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room Chris Kaplan, a regular gym member, enjoys the camaraderie and savors a well earned, ice cold cider. We at OTG think you should too, because calories from cider don’t count after a workout, right? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221432183-ZWTB4T3FKT1T7WW465YT/Derrick_Cannon_3083.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221419032-SSWXQGPTHY5ME17U6SH2/Derrick_Cannon_3038.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221574731-KR2NOBRSEQWCVFRQO767/Derrick_Cannon_2966and2967A.gif Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room These folks are excited because they have burned enough calories to enjoy two ciders!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533221426493-0MZFAUXZ7ISR3HQP0STJ/Derrick_Cannon_3064.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room With over 15 years in the fitness industry, Derrick is hanging around waiting for you to try your first exercise class for FREE. Link at end of story. Did we mention he’s also a former CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, a TRX Certified Trainer, AND CPR/First Aid certified (*breathe). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533758333451-XSLYYH69J83H4TTZHLGW/Derrick_Cannon_2927_Story.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room The Cider Room is the perfect place to relax and unwind after a workout. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533758333248-J4LSGJX8KWHXENNBZCYJ/Derrick_Cannon_3121_story.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room The Cider Room offers 8 different canned ciders, 10 different bottled ciders, and 5 different regional and local ciders on tap. Watching your sugar? No problem, Derrick knows his ciders. He’ll school you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/1533758335213-DP059P27CBCXJVYZS6CL/Derrick_Cannon_3170_story.jpg Derrick Cannon Distinct Fitness & Cider Room We had a blast hanging with Derrick, Heather, and his crew. Derrick plans to incorporate a covered outdoor seating area, a stage for outdoor performances, and Greenville’s first Ciderfest, which will include local breweries. Give them a follow on social media to keep up! DM or email derrick@distinctfittrain.com for a FREE trial class Distinct Fitness and Gym FB & IG Distinct Cider Room FB & IG https://offthegridgreenville.com/archived-stories-2 daily 0.75 2023-08-15 https://offthegridgreenville.com/archived-stories-2/fall-for-gvl-coffee-2022 monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/99ceeaf5-423d-4fa2-b587-675efdd2de5b/IMG_4044.jpeg Archived Stories - Fall for GVL Coffee 2022 - Plums & Fig Leaves & Tamarind, Oh My! Honestly, what a surprising bunch these are. Collect them all: A Walk in the Woods (pictured) Junto Coffee House made plum—with that signature tanginess—and brown sugar syrup set the mood. Something Wicked Junto Coffee A truly unique seltzer crafted with tamarind (!) soda water, pear syrup and espresso. The Oz Effect Cryptid Coffee Fig leaves infuse cold foam on top of cold brew with cardamom. Image by Ariel H. Turner https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/0d186b1b-e79b-4722-bd7c-55f33e1a43c3/FullSizeRender+%281%29.jpeg Archived Stories - Fall for GVL Coffee 2022 - Apple of Our Eye Apple-themed drinks are all the rage this year. Our picks: The Gala (pictured) Barista Alley A latte made with house made apple cider steamed milk that is finished with a cinnamon dusting to balance it out. Apple Bottom Jeans Cohesive Coffee Their take on the classic caramel apple, but as a latte, that will transfer you straight to the orchard. Apple Cinnamon Latte Due South Coffee Roasters It’s giving steaming hot apple crisp vibes but in a warm mug. Image by Kayla @interlacedvibes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/6e7f2c84-e079-4bec-a677-0a5432b92b12/IMG_1180.jpg Archived Stories - Fall for GVL Coffee 2022 - Ginger Spice & Everything Nice She’s spicy and pairs well with sweet. Ginger made quite the impression this year: Autumn In New York (pictured) Mountain Goat Not-too-spicy ginger-infused caramel balanced with perfectly pulled espresso and steamed milk. The Rosemary-Ginger Snap Bridge City Coffee An with sweetened, herbaceous without the milk. Image by Jackie Shapiro Brooker https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/16540133-1ec2-40ec-ae13-0def4a61cf2c/IMG_4456.jpeg Archived Stories - Fall for GVL Coffee 2022 - Curry Up Now When we tell you these two fall lattes featuring masala spices blew us away . . . You’d better beeline for these special beverages before they’re gone: Sari, Not Sari (pictured) Camilla Kitchen, inside M. Judson Booksellers Unapologetically savory with a custom garam masala mix, this is the only pumpkin—and truly spiced—latte on the list. Maple Masala Latte Green Laundry Lounge Our taster’s words deserve repeating: Warm and toasty like your favorite cozy blanket on a cold winter’s night. GLL’s culinary partner Oak Hill Cafe crafted a maple syrup infused with Indian spices, and GLL adds cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and Indian masala powder on top. Image by Ariel H. Turner https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/c2702ace-17ee-4f64-992c-a2dfd7e39915/IMG_6354.jpeg Archived Stories - Fall for GVL Coffee 2022 - Candy Land IRL Sweet, yet sophisticated, with a definite outdoorsy vibe. These are trending like oversized flannels: Campfire Latte (pictured) Scändi Tiny Coffee The complexity of mocha and cinnamon meets the whimsy of a floating marshmallow. Children of the Corn Cryptid Coffee It’s corn! Real caramel corn (not the candy), corn milk and a shot of espresso. Image by Adriana @plentifulbites https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5734ad7c4c2f8582b589657d/b2feb315-6b11-4e30-a281-615dc23b7070/IMG_4313.jpeg Archived Stories - Fall for GVL Coffee 2022 - Cinnamon Sticks the Landing Riding that fine line between seasonal and bitter can be tricky with cinnamon. These bevs nailed it: Nitro Cinnamon Honey Latte with oat milk (pictured) Grateful Brew Imagine a frothy, dairy-free, and caffeinated cinnamon Teddy Graham. Cinnamon Roll Latte Unlocked Coffee Roasters A cinnamon bomb that delivers on the name’s freshly baked pastry promise. Image by Ariel H. 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It was a full 360 vibe between the boats passing by, the ocean breeze, and a table full of flavors! Simply relaxing with Sangria in one hand and Crab Huevos Rancheros in the other. Imagine that while also keeping my eye on my next slice of Jalapeno Cornbread. Pure Bliss in my book