Well, if you don’t know yet, the Shop Tart has a few suggestions for you. Surprised? Kick off the weekend with a free wine tasting at Simply Savory, today from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. While you’re there, grab some crackers, smoked Gouda pimento cheese and a can of mixed nuts to serve at the After Party at your place.

Before the After Party, you have choices. You could hit Hunter Gatherer for a light dinner before a movie at the Nickelodeon. “Brick Lane” is showing tonight. If a movie’s not your thing, go to Baan Sawan. Sure there are other options out there, but having dinner at the bar with Sam, co-owner and wine connoisseur, is a great way to unwind. The Shop Tart recommends the Pad Ginger…or the Larb Salad…or any of the specials…and the Tod Mun appetizer…never mind, it’s all good. Just make sure you ask Sam for a wine or beer recommendation. He is full of knowledge and interesting anecdotes!

Saturday morning, head over to Rosewood Market for the All Local Farmers’ Market. If you were, ahem, over-served Friday night, the breakfast will cure you. Grits from Anson Mills, Wil-More Farms eggs and sausage from Caw Caw Creek, served with a side of strong, hot coffee. It’s all local and it’s only four dollars. What’s not to love? After breakfast, check out the goods. The Shop Tart never leaves without several cartons of Wil-More Farms eggs, as many loaves of Heather’s artisan bread as she can carry, loads of fresh vegetables and a huge bunch of flowers from Floral and Hardy Farm. Name a price and ask Donna to create a bouquet for you. She’s an artist - and an amazing gardener!

Lay low this afternoon. Go to the gym. Take a nap. Do a little shopping (always the Shop Tart’s choice!) Have a late lunch at the Gourmet Shop (Seasonal Green Salad with a side of smoked salmon, if you like). If you’re still there at 2 pm, enjoy their $1 wine tasting. This week, they’re pouring a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Malbec and two surprises. Don’t forget to take a look at the cheese case. In addition to the usual fabulous selection, there are lots of new choices. Pick out a few and have a few people in tonight for wine and cheese.

In fact, why not have a casual dinner party? In the Shop Tart’s experience, most people overthink the idea of having people in. No one, in the history of the world, has ever been invited somewhere and said on the way home,

“Why did those horrible people invite us in? DId you notice that the house wasn’t perfectly clean and that the dinner wasn’t perfect? And can you believe they asked us to bring an appetizer? Ugh! Their hand towels weren’t even ironed!”

People like being invited to your home - they do! And if you really care about crisp hand towels, but hate to iron, go get some cute ones at Gibson’s. The Shop Tart loves the tan linen ones with chocolate brown initials on them. You will have to iron them next time you use them, though.

No need to make dinner difficult. Grab some ready made pizza crust from the grocery store and make pizza with fresh vegetables you bought at the Farmers’ Market. The Shop Tart recommends fried eggplant pizza, not as labor intensive as you might think! If you don’t want to cook at all (understandable!), grab a few things from the case at the Gourmet Shop - maybe chicken salad, pasta salad and pâté. Don’t forget the baguette! You can make a salad from the fresh greens you picked up at the market this morning (that’s not really cooking, is it?)

Sunday morning, after church of course, grab a newspaper and head across the bridge for brunch at Cafe Strudel. The Shop Tart recommends the Hangover Hash Browns, whether you need them or not. Strudel has everything you could possibly want for brunch, from smoked salmon on a bagel to pancakes.

After you eat, take a walk by the river and relax, because you have a full week of shopping, sipping and socializing ahead!

Share on Facebook

Email this • Share on Facebook

Filed Under Eat and Drink, Sip and Shop |  

Comments

• 
  

• Shop Tart Live!

  The Shop Tart and Kristian Niemi of Rosso talk yams. And crack themselves up.
  
  Please click here to see it larger.
  
  
  
  The Shop Tart. In a swimsuit. Demonstrating how to clean a blue crab.
  
  Please click here to see it larger.
  
  
  
  

• The Shop Tart Loves...

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Elsewhere on the Shop Tart

  Frequently Asked Questions
  
  South Carolina Designers
  
  Contact the Shop Tart
  
  Who is the Shop Tart?
  
  The Calendar
  
  Exclusive Deals
  
  

• Recent Posts

  • We have two winners!
  • * whimper *
  • Break Fast.
  • Clothes that make you feel impossibly happy.
  • The weekend, what she didn’t eat and what she wore.