Noshing Nirvana: June 16, 2016
This month’s Nirvana goes beyond the single dish to the whole experience. Self-professed foodies Edwin (age 15) and Emmett (age 13) Gately live in a personal paradise. After all, to know Charleston is to love the amazing meals she has to offer. But the Daniel Island brothers’ pick for favorite place to eat might just surprise you – it certainly caught us off guard. When we heard them out, however, it had layers of logic (which I realize does not sound delicious, but stay with me…). Here’s what the duo had to say:
“Out of all the places in Charleston to eat, the Art Institute of Charleston’s culinary school is one of the best. We always have a great experience there for a number of reasons – primarily, the food is thoughtfully prepared and a wide array of options is offered for each course. Another great reason to visit the AIC’s culinary school is the price. It is one of the best values in town; a three-course meal for four people is only $48. As well as the experience, the fact that you are helping future chefs chase their passion is amazing. Not only are you eating for a great price, but also fueling a school that will help grow our next professional chefs. The meal always leaves your stomach satisfied and your taste buds happy.”
Dad Bob and step-mom Reese concurred wholeheartedly. Reese added a bit more commentary:
“You sign up for (the Art Institute of Charleston’s Culinary Arts program) emails and they send you the menu for that week. It’s always different themes, which is cool. It’s $12 per person for a three-course meal, which includes options. Bob and I both like it because it’s a nice treat and something different to do with the boys during the summer. Bob likes it for the value. I like it because we dress up and the boys practice their manners. It’s kinda fancy… white linens and all! I tell the boys (or hopefully they do it on their own) to put their napkins in their laps, no elbows on the table, and no smacking. Any other manners above and beyond that is just a bonus. It’s always fun for us to have a conversation about what each person is getting and why. Of course, we share so we can all try all the dishes.”
The Art Institute of Charleston’s culinary school serves lunch Wednesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at its student-run restaurant, 24 North Market. Walk-ins are welcome, or make reservations and get on the menu email list by emailing 24northmarket@aii.edu or calling (843) 727-3500. Note that students are on break from June 11 through July 12. Their restaurant will reopen on July 13.
Need further convincing? Here’s a sample of 24 North Market’s most recent menu…
First Course: Pork Belly Steam Buns with Housemade Sriracha Sauce, Summer Rolls with Seasonal Veggies and Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, Tom Kha Gai with Coconut Milk, Lemongrass Broth, and Braised Chicken.
Second Course: Pork Ramen with Pork Belly and Soft Boiled Egg, Banh Mi with Ginger Lemongrass Chicken and Pickled Vegetables, Seasonal Vegetable Stir Fry with Teriyaki Sauce.
Third Course: Mochi (Fruit Puree), Thai Basil Ice Cream Sandwich with Almond Cookie Orange Glazed Custard Rolls with Fried Basil.
Want to share your tale of noshing nirvana? It’s simple – just respond to the following: 1) Where were you served the best thing you ate all month? 2) What was the food that left you speechless (mainly because you couldn’t stop horking it down)? 3) Can you describe what made the dish so magical? Be sure to speak slowly... 4) Dish more on the dish, if you can - price, portion size, availability on regular menu, and the psychological repercussions of consuming something so rad. 5) Please email a photo of your to-die-for dish and responses to the four questions above (don’t leave any out!) to jennifer@thedanielislandnews.com.