Who better to share a charming Charleston menu than Southern food experts Matt Lee and Ted Lee. Do try this casual fare from their new cookbook on your own porch, deck, or patio.
How to Party on the Porch
The Hugo
Make this rum-and-ginger drink ahead, if you like. Follow directions through Step 1; cover and chill up to 24 hours. Proceed with Step 2 when you're ready to serve.
- Recipe: The Hugo
Savory Benne Wafers
The Lees turned the sweet benne wafer, a Lowcountry staple, into a crisp, one-bite cocktail snack. Benne, aka sesame seeds, can be found in bulk at health food stores.
- Recipe: Savory Benne Wafers
Romaine with Toasted Pecans and Pickled Strawberries
Use this recipe as a template for every season, substituting seasonal fruit such as plums, figs, or grapes for the berries. If your strawberries are large, cut them into eighths.
Rice and Ham Croquettes with Tomato Sauce
These ham-studded rice fritters are the Lowcountry version of Italian arancini.
Smoked Egg Salad Toasts
Recipe: Smoked Egg Salad Toasts
Liven up egg salad with the distinctive Lowcountry flavor of smoke. (Think hardwood-roasted oysters and pulled pork barbecue.) Serve these also as an open-face afternoon sandwich.
Pickled Shrimp with Fennel
Recipe: Pickled Shrimp with Fennel
Marinated, plump shrimp and crunchy sliced fennel make great passed hors d'oeuvres with toothpicks and an even better no-fuss cold salad.
Sorghum Marshmallows
Homemade marshmallows, especially these with a unique Southern flavor, are like nothing you've ever tried before. Brush or rub a 1-inch border of 1 tsp. vegetable oil around the top of saucepan to prevent sugar from boiling to the top.
- Recipe: Sorghum Marshmallows
Grapefruit Chess Tart
We adapted this recipe to work in a 12- × 8-inch rectangular or 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom as well as a 9-inch pie plate. Serve with whipped cream for an extra touch of sweetness.
- Recipe: Grapefruit Chess Tart
Buy the Cookbook
In their third cookbook, The Lee Bros. Charleston Kitchen, they bring this great city, its people, and its recipes to life. Get your copy now.
