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May
28
“It’s your birthday! I have an idea!”
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That’s more or less what the Shop Tart told her sister before she talked her into heading to Solstice for a spectacular birthday dinner. (She also offered to pay for said dinner, so it isn’t all about her, see?) Also? She got there first, so she got to pick the wine. She promptly sent a message to Sam Suaudom of Baan Sawan — and promises to pay him a visit soon — because he is her official oenotherapist. He never steers her wrong.
The Avinyó cava reserva was lovely.
The Shop Tart had just started sipping when the rest of the party arrived. No one complained about the wine.
They also didn’t complain about the appetizer special she had ordered, ginger-lime seared scallops with sweet curry-peach chutney, black bean sauce, bok choy slaw, cilantro and lime. This, folks, is how you sear a scallop. Divine.
Then a treat arrived. Just a little taste of chilled peach and ginger soup with cilantro. Y’all. Total summer jam. Think we could get the recipe? Pretty please?
The Shop Tart’s sis — aka The Birthday Girl aka TBG — ordered cornmeal fried green tomatoes with smoked cheddar pimento cheese, sweet corn relish and petit mixed green salad. Don’t you love being southern?
This local celeb arrived and ordered a White Russian. ‘Cause, why not? He let the Shop Tart try it, at which point she remembered how very much she loves a White Russian.
Speaking of White Russians…no spilling!
Following the arrival of the celebrity guest, a little taste of Maison Nicolas ’06 Sauternes arrived…
…to go with the coriander-ginger seared Hudson Valley foie gras with mango-sweet chile jam, orange-ginger soy syrup, wasabi pickled onion and almond cookie. Please, please — if you are even remotely inclined — do go try this sometime very, very soon.
Another treat arrived! (Have you noticed? We haven’t even gotten to the entrees yet. In fact, they haven’t even been ordered. What has been ordered is a second bottle of wine, same as the first, per TBG’s request.) Tempura fried yellowfin tuna with sweet curry-mango chutney, black bean sauce and City Roots sunflower sprouts. Yes, please!
Enfin! It was time for dinner. Mr. Shop Tart had one of the evening’s specials, blackened Carolina Mahi Mahi with Cajun crawfish remoulade, citrus-green onion beurre blanc, a fried yellow grit cake and tomato-bacon braised black-eye peas.
TBG had the same thing, but asked for spinach instead of the black-eye peas. Hooray for accommodating chefs! Both dishes were delish.
The Shop Tart, her other sister and another table mate had the other fish special: coriander-pepper seared Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon with sweet-curry peach chutney, orange-ginger soy syrup, wasabi pickled onions, citrus-almond jasmine rice and sesame veggie stir fry. Since she is trying to eat more vegetables, the Shop Tart asked for the dish minus rice, plus extra veggies. So, so good, y’all. She used her leftovers the next morning in a breakfast quesadilla with sauteed spinach. (Shop Tart Tip: Always take home leftovers. You will love your breakfast!)
The steak selection at Solstice is really impressive. The sixth man at the table chose skillet seared flat iron steak with sherry vinegar reduction, foie gras butter, house-cut shoestring fries, roasted tomato ketchup and sautéed spinach. A smart guy, he asked for the chef to prepare it to whatever temperature he though was best. Always a good call. This one was medium rare-ish and positively delicious.
Also on the menu, a grilled 6-ounce filet mignon with spinach-Gorgonzola “fondue”, braised spring leeks, portobello fries, horseradish-pepper cream and buttermilk mashed potatoes. And…one of the specials for the evening was a Low Country grilled 14-ounce Angus ribeye with smoked cheddar pimento cheese, creole mustard jus, roasted new potatoes “fra diavolo” and sautéed asparagus. The next time the Shop Tart wants steak, she is so going to Solstice. She has a feeling this will be very, very soon.
At some point — maybe midway through the eating of the entree — more wine was ordered. This time, the table chose one from the menu of specials, a lovely dry rosé, Chateau du Donjon Minervois. Summer!
Birthdays must be acknowledged with dessert. You know what else must be acknowledged? An excellent cocktail menu. TBG took one for the team and ordered a cucumber-lavender martini, a summertastic blend of cucumber infused vodka and house-made agave-lavender simple syrup. Everyone who tasted it agreed: Hellz yeah.
But back to those desserts. The choice was not easy.
Mmmm…banana-kopita. As an aside, the Shop Tart hates bananas uless they are cooked or in banana pudding. Otherwise, the texture is just weird. This, on the other hand, was delightful.
Why go with just one? The pineapple-mango spring rolls were also worthy.
After dinner, TBG headed out to Woodcreek. What is Woodcreek? Well, it’s in Blythewood, possibly Elgin. Internet maps have yielded the knowledge that the pond is not called Woodcreek, that’s just the street. The pond, at least according to maps on the internet, is called F Coopers Pond. Who knew? The Shop Tart’s parents share a very, very rugged place there with a number of other families. Conveniently, it’s located just one exit past Solstice. Though the Shop Tart was chicken to spend the night, she did go the next day and it was heavenly. TBG, in all her glory…
Saturday night, the lovely Carlie made dinner at the pond, grilled salmon and corn on the cob. The Shop Tart contributed various South Carolina grown berries from Rosewood Market. There were also potato chips and green beans. And dry white wine. It was a lovely beginning to what’s sure the be the best summer ever.
By the way, Solstice is closed today — sorry! — but they are hosting a spectacular dinner on Wednesday night. From Chef Rocky’s recent email:
Wednesday, May 30th at 6:30 is our much anticipated MEAT LOVERS WINE DINNER with BIG MOON FARMS of Leesville! We are very excited to welcome John & Catherine Oxner of Big Moon Farms for this very special meat-centric wine dinner, and here are the details…
-Cost is $55 per person. tax included, gratuity not-included.
**All Reservations must be made by calling us at 788-6966.
-No on-line reservations are permitted.
**A credit card is required to reserve your reservation and there is a $25 per-person charge for day-of cancellations and no-shows.
**Minor substitutions due to allergies only can be made if mentioned at the time you make your reservation.
So, you read the fine print, now for the important stuff…the food!
first, reception style
Select Big Moon Farms Sausages & Bratwurst with carraway mustard, sweet onion confit, bagna cauda grilled veggies and texas toast
-La Marca Prosecco, Italy-
second
Chile Rubbed Pork Shoulder with sweet corn relish, City Roots arugula, bbq peach vinaigrette
-Adelsheim PInot Gris, Willamette Valley-
third
Balsamic-Rosemary Grilled Beef Sirloin K-bob with SC peach relish, worcestershire-orange steak sauce, sweet potato chips
-Meiomi Pinot Noir, California-
fourth
Mustard-Thyme Grilled Boneless Pork Chop with truffle-blue cheese cream sauce, garlic butter grilled broccoli, Joe’s roasted potatoes
-Evolution Red blend of Syrah/Grenache, California-
fifth
Alan’s Peanut Butter-Chocolate Ice Cream, Oreo brownie, chocolate sauce
-have some more of your favorite wine or enjoy a cup of coffee!-
Yum! Who’s in?
In today’s post…
- Solstice, 841-4 Sparkleberry Lane, 788-6966
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
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Comments
16 Responses to ““It’s your birthday! I have an idea!””
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The Shop Tart Loves…
I would have liked to read this, but I couldn’t get more than a few sentences in before the writing style got to me. I actually cannot read it. Not only is it silly, inane and annoying, it’s actually done quite sloppily.
Someone recommended this blog as a hate read. I can’t even give it that, it’s purely drivel. I hope you’ve enjoyed writing it.
Ouch! lol Sorry about that. Thanks for the feedback, though.
I’m not sure if you were actually curious, but I do enjoy writing this blog, though some days are more fun than others.
Edited to add: For those of you who are curious, because of the large number of spam comments, I do have to approve every comment. The only ones I don’t approve are either spam (bots) or direct criticisms of an individual’s appearance, because that’s just unnecessary. Criticisms of my writing, I can totally take. It is what it is.
I think the writing is fun and easy to read, I always find myself giggling at your comments and like quirks. All in a good fun way, exactly what this blog is. I believe someone is jealous and taking this great blog a bit too serious…
I think A’s last name must be “Hole.” Shop Tart has her own writing style, and it’s fine for you not to like it, but you don’t have to insult her for it. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. Jerk.
Anyhoo, ST, hubby got the banana-kopita at Solstice for our anniversary dinner last year and I took a picture of him eating it because it was a look of sheer joy. Everything we’ve ever had there has been amazing.
Looks like one of my “fans” found you Ann! For what it’s worth, just know that the a-hole who wrote that is either jealous of you, or they are simply the kind of uptight, pretentious jerk that can’t understand that there are dozens of ways and styles to writing.
I get notes like that a couple times a month with someone telling me that our restaurants aren’t all that. I usually agree, but then ask them where their restaurant is??
I have yet to have anyone respond to that question.
Keep doing what you are doing and thanks for the awesome post about Solstice!!
Anne, thanks for your willingness to post a contrary comment. I enjoy your blog and think what you are doing is awesome! You handled that very graciously and I respect you even more.
Wow…. ‘A’ sure does know a lot of adjectives. But who IS ‘A’?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa1LkaxtCZ0
I second Kelly’s comment! Something my mama told me about how if you don’t have anything nice to say…sheesh.
Well, I recommended this blog to my sister (who lives in Montreal) as a fun read and she loves it as much as I do. What ever happened to “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say something at all?”
It’s very convenient that “A” can remain anonymous in his/her criticisms and disdain. Cowardly and mean, more like it.
What on EARTH is a ‘hate read’? Is that what just happened when I read that person’s comment? Honestly, who wastes their time seeking out active things to hate? Cynicism is a bad fit on anyone, maybe ‘A’ would learn that if he or she read more of the Shop Tart.
My feelings are the same as always…dont care to leave your name, I dont care what you have to say!
love your blog, love your writing style. Some people take life way too seriously.
I subscribe to your blog via email so when I read the subject I thought she remembered my birthday but how did she know? Then I read the blog & was pleasantly surprised to find out it was your sister’s birthday which is awesome because May babies rock. I was slightly sadden by the knowledge that you didn’t know my birthday but elated at the great wine recs & food shots. All in all, I LOVE the post & keep them coming. Glad to see you’re feeding the blog back positive words instead of negative ones.
I..LOVE..YOUR..BLOG..Period the end. You (and your blog) are smart and funny and make me want to try something new all the time! I love the way you view Columbia and Charleston and I have gotten some very good ideas about where to frequent in both cities. Keep up the good work!!!
Shop Tart I love you and your style of writing. You make me laugh ! Too bad some people take themselves so seriously and think we really care that they are not going to be reading you blog anymore. Keep doing what you do.