A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"Taste the Flavors of Charleston" is from the December 2005 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

Seasonal tours, special dishes, and Lowcountry culinary traditions make this the best month to sample Charleston, South Carolina's distinctive flavors. As an added bonus, it's less crowded here now, and the understated elegance of December's finery adorns wrought iron gates and centuries-old doors.

You'll discover more than 300 years of food history, as Charleston was the port that introduced pineapples and okra, benne seeds and rice, plus a heaping helping of African cooking. Today, chefs show off a well-defined style that mixes regional tastes with international techniques. So come along, and join the yummy festivities.

Walking and Talking About Food
Amanda Dew Manning's wide-brimmed hat bobs up and down at the Holiday Farmers Market in Marion Square as she stops at a booth to tell how boiled peanuts came to town. She's leading our small group of 10 on a 2-mile Holiday Culinary Walking Tour of the historic district. Each two-and-a-half hour tour leisurely strolls to at least three stops, and no two tours are exactly alike.

left: Amanda Dew Manning takes time to explore the fresh flavors of the Holiday Farmers Market in Marion Square during her culinary tour.