In this special four-part series, join Unpacked host Aislyn Greene as she travels to Charleston, South Carolina, to unpack the city's deeper currents.
This week: Dive fork-first into Charleston's legendary food scene, where history and flavor collide. From the resurrection of she-crab soup to the recreation of a groundbreaking 1865 dinner that celebrated equality, discover how Charleston's culinary landscape tells the story of African, Native American, and European influences—one delicious dish at a time.
In this episode, you'll learn
How she-crab soup went from a presidential delicacy to near extinction—and its triumphant return at 82 Queen
The powerful story behind Nat Fuller's Feast, an 1865 dinner celebrating emancipation that was recreated 150 years later
Why you can find 30 different versions of shrimp and grits in Charleston (and why they're all "fat on fat on fat")
The essential Gullah Geechee influences that shape Lowcountry cuisine, from red rice to okra
How formerly enslaved people became Charleston's great caterers and shaped the city's culinary identity
What distinguishes Lowcountry cuisine from broader Southern cooking
Featured Guests
Chef Kevin Mitchell: Chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston, food historian, author, and host of Savers of Flavor
Jonathan Kish: CEO of Queen Street Hospitality Group, which owns 82 Queen, Charleston's first fine dining Lowcountry restaurant
Lamont Ferrebee: Executive sous chef at 82 Queen
Don't miss these moments*
[2:50] How Kevin's grandmother's tough love at age 6 launched his culinary career
[4:30] The emotional moment when the rain stopped during the Nat Fuller's Feast recreation
[7:15] Why turtle soup still haunts food historian Michael Twitty
[11:45] The West African okra variety grown specifically for its leaves
[17:00] The invention (and resurrection) of she-crab soup
[19:30] What happened when 82 Queen tried to change their shrimp and grits recipe
*Time stamps are estimated and may change due to programmatic advertising.
Dine around Charleston
82 Queen: Experience Charleston's first fine dining Lowcountry restaurant (since 1982) in their magical courtyard setting. Don't miss the award-winning she-crab soup and their unique barbecue shrimp and grits
Chef Scholar Dinner Series: Follow Chef Kevin Mitchell on Instagram for a chance to snag tickets to these intimate 16-seat historical dining experiences (April 15th: honoring Chef Patrick Clark)
Hannibal's Kitchen: Try their renowned crab rice and other Gullah Geechee classics
For dinner, try Fig, Kultura, Lowland, or the Ordinary
For coffee, pastries, or breakfast try Page's Okra Grill, Magnolias, Kudu Coffee, or Bad Bunnies Coffee
For a cocktail, try Babas, the Seahorse, or the Gin Joint
Resources
Read the transcript of the episode
Plan your trip to Charleston using our guide on afar.com
Follow Chef Kevin Mitchell and the Chef Scholar Dinner Series on Instagram @chefkevinmitchell
Watch Savers of Flavor to learn about heirloom Southern ingredients
Explore more Charleston restaurant recommendations on afar.com, including the best new restaurants and where to find the best Gullah Geechee food.
Next Week
Join us as we explore Charleston's vibrant music scene and cultural events, from intimate jazz shows to grand performance halls.
Stay Connected
Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.
Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
Unpacked by Afar is part of Airwave Media's podcast network. Please contact advertising@airwavemedia.com if you would like to advertise on our podcast.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices