Basil

A friend of mine kept telling me I had to make it to Basil on King Street for the best Thai food ever. I finally succumbed, grabbed the family, and headed downtown. I did not make a reservation since they operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. I was hungry and didn’t want to find the nearest parking garage, so I paid a hefty $7 for on street parking. I suggest using a garage since you would pay less by the hour. The restaurant looks like it’s located in what used to be an old diner, which made it look fun and quirky. However, the décor was up to date and stylish. At 6 p.m. the place was quite busy already, but we were seated as soon as we came in.

I brought two kids with me and was somewhat worried that they did not offer a children’s menu. However, the waitress pointed out that the appetizers or a shared meal would be appropriate for the kids. My kids chose to split the Beef Fried Rice ($12.95), which comes with onions, scallions, carrots, and green peas. I went with the popular Basil ($15.50), which comes with your choice of beef, chicken, tofu, or shrimp (add $2 for shrimp). I chose the beef and my husband the shrimp. The meal also comes with hot jasmine rice.

The beef Basil was absolutely scrumptious. The perfect amount of spice and the veggie to meat ratio was right on. The jasmine rice was cooked perfect. I can’t get over how yummy the sauce was. I definitely could have sipped a bowl of this sauce all on its own. My husband liked the shrimp option, but said he actually preferred the taste of the beef version of Basil better. The split dish of Beef Fried Rice was just the right amount for two hungry kids and they gobbled up and said they wanted to come back again for more.

My only complaints were that it was loud and tightly packed. Trying to navigate to the bathroom requires some maneuvering. I wouldn’t recommend this for a first date, unless you really don’t care to converse too much then this would be ideal. I think it would make a great Girls Night Out because it is a laid-back atmosphere. Next time I go, I’m going with Aimee’s suggestion of Three-Flavored Fish (Market) or the Signature Crispy Red Curry Duck ($23.95).

Basil on Urbanspoon

TAPS Brews Summerville

It is so stinkin hot! I don't feel like cooking and I don't even want to get in the car to go eat. You know what sounds good when it is sweltering? A nice cold beer. As soon as I tell you about it, I'm logging off and going down there to get me a cold Left Hand.

My thirst thought...excuse me, my first thought when walking into TAPS Brews is Starbuck's with beer. This is not a bar, it's a tasting room. The people hanging out here are friendly and most of the conversation is about which beer is best. My favorite part of going is scanning the shelves. They have over 350 varieties of beer and are still growing.

Another cool thing about TAPS Brews is that they are frequently changing out their nine beers on tap. I typically go with the 5 flight sample for $6 bucks, but they also have options to do all nine. If you really like one of the beers on tap, you can fill a growler to take home. If you decided you are a fan of TAPS Brews and will be coming back, you can pay $20 to be part of their beer club. This gets you $1 off of every beer consumed while your visiting and you earn points toward purchases. There are milestones you can reach that earn you prizes such as a six-pack of beer or a mug.

If you are worried you don't know enough about beer to blend in here, no worries. Look for co-owner Emily behind the bar and she will educate you. I have heard her referred to as the Yoda of beer. Trust me, I don't think there is anything about beer this girl doesn't know. Some people rip off baseball stats, she rips off beer stats. It's awesome!

Definitely check out their Facebook page where they update which beers they have on tap: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TAPS-Brews/152046821518053

Food Truck Rodeo Wrap Up

I am so tired and my tummy hates me for putting more in there than should ever go into one human being. The Food Truck Rodeo brought a crowd. Luckily, we arrived around 6:30 in the evening to beat the largest of the crowds that would stand in amusement park lines.

My first stop was the much talked about "Roti Rolls." Their menu lists ingredients that are produced locally. After a thorough scanning, I decided to go with "Porky's Revenge." Korean bbq pork, cucumber kimchi, and spicy potatoes are wrapped up in their original Roti bread ($7). One bite and my thoughts...Holy mother of God! This stuff is amazing! The flavors complemented each other wonderfully and that Roti bread is a tortilla like wrap on crack. If you have not experienced Roti Rolls, I beg you to consider it soon, or as they say, "Get your Roti On!" Check out their facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/roti.rolls

After fighting off the gnats that began to swarm, I cursed myself for not bringing bug spray. Learn from me before your next Food Truck Rodeo. However, this did not stop me from heading to Strada Cucina to try out the Italian beef sandwich with cheese and spicy peppers ($8). I had a hard time deciding on what to get so I went ahead and also go the Chicken cutlet with prosciutto, arugula, mozzarella, and pesto on a ciabatta roll ($8). These sandwiches were monsters. They were both very good sandwiches, but I would put the Italian Beef top on my list. The meat was juicy and tender and the cheese melted throughout. I love how the peppers were diced small so they didn't fall out of my sandwich.

Knowing I shouldn't (but I did) I hit up Diggity Doughnuts. These doughnuts must be good, because when the electricity failed in the truck and they couldn't make anything, no one left the line. We didn't move for at least 25 minutes. As I got closer to the front, I felt better about my decision to suck down these pastries when I saw they were dairy and egg free. Doesn't that make them somewhat healthier? That's what I'm telling myself anyway. I sampled the Coconut and Green Curry ($2.50), Mojito flavored ($2.50), and Vanilla with sprinkles ($2.00). The Coconut and Green Curry was somewhat odd. It was spicy yet sweet and I kept taking bites because my senses were confused. The Mojito had the tart lime taste yet still sweet. My favorite was definitely the classic Vanilla with sprinkles. They were warm and gooey and finished my night of gluttony.

Few words of advice for your next Food Truck Rodeo: Bring a chair and bug spray to get the most out of this event.

Food Truck Rodeo Tomorrow

Alright my fellow Foodies! The food truck trend has finally made its way to the Charleston area! This Friday from 5-10 p.m. the Brick House Kitchen on James Island is hosting the Food Truck Rodeo. You know what's even better...free parking, no charge to get in, live music, art, and local vendors. All you pay for is the tummy-pleasing goodness and a beverage to wash it down with. However, don't attempt to bring your cooler because I already thought about that and the official rules say "NO." If you come out tomorrow, not only are you filling hungry bellies, but you're supporting your locals....Good times people. The line up at the moment is Diggity Doughnuts, Geeche Island, Rotti Rolls, Strada Cucina, and more to be announced. Check out Charleston Food Truck Federation on Facebook for more information.

If you can't make it, the local food trucks also have set up shop on the corner of Morris and Coming Streets during the week. Locals are coining this area "Eat Street." Check out "Eat Street" on Facebook for more info on who is going to be there and when.

If you go, let me know what you ate, what you liked, and what can be passed on.

Tomatoes Italian Ristorante

Mama Mia! I was in the mood for some pasta and it had been awhile since I had given Tomatoes a chance. Tomatoes is located in Summerville in a not so obvious location. However, their website boasts that they have been voted the best Italian food in the Low Country 2007-2010.

Upon entering the restaurant, I noticed right away some major changes. Part of the dining area was now walled in to create a quaint bar with a couple of tables where you can order tapas and drinks. However, I was hungry and tapas was not going to do it tonight.

After being seated, I was told that the menu had changed since we last visited. Of course one of the deleted items was the only thing I have ever eaten at this restaurant, which was the Baked Penne pasta with Italian sweet sausage and ricotta and mozzarella.

What I did notice was the "Tour of Italy" selection that was added to the menu. There were two options available for couples. One was $60 and the other $50, depending on which main entree you and your guest order. You had a choice of house wine, salad, an appetizer, two entrees, and a small dessert.

I went with the $50 selection. I went with the most popular appetizer of fried calamari and the most popular entree, "Mark's Favorite." My husband chose Linguini with marinara, sausage, and a meatball. "Marks Favorite" had chicken, sausage, spinach, and capers with a pink sauce. Lucky lush that I am, my husband doesn't drink wine so I got to have both glasses of Chianti to go with my pasta.

Complimentary bread and olive oil are brought to the table on arrival. I really liked how they added roasted red bell pepper, olives, and seasoning to the oil. If you're not careful, you'll fill up on the warm bread and oil before your main course hits the table.

I chose the Caesar salad, which I absolutely loved. I could have just eaten this salad and the bread and walked away happy and with a lot more money in my pocket. If you like anchovies, they will add them to your Caesar at no extra cost.

I have heard amazing things about the calamari here, so what I'm about to tell you is hopefully a one time occurence. The calamari was B-L-A-N-D. The menu says that there is seasoning and roasted chilis. I saw some canned green chilis underneath this mess drenched in olive oil, but I was pretty sure someone forgot to season it before it came out. The pieces were cut so thick I felt I was chewing on rubber bands. Sad...oh so sad. We took a couple bites and sent it back barely touched.

Our entrees weren't horrible. I thought the sauces needed a boost of seasoning. I really liked the sausage meatballs and capers in my pasta, which helped lend flavor to the dish. I say get rid of the chicken in this dish and add more of the yummy sausage meatballs and this dish would be oh so scrumptious. My husband's lone meatball tasted like a ball of ground beef. Mix that mammoth meatball with some sausage and seasonings or leave it out.

After two small slices of tiramasu, we paid a decent price for an overall decent meal. I was not "Wowed." However, what makes you think about possibly going back here is the staff. The people who work here are genuinely nice and helpful. The seating is comfortable and the tables not too close. The noise level is just right. I'm going to have to check out a few more Italian restaurants to see if I agree with Tomatoes being the "Best Italian in the Low Country."

Middleton Place Restaurant

Anniversary dinners should be special and my husband and I picked a wonderful place to celebrate. I had eaten lunch at Middleton Place Restaurant (MPR) before and remember enjoying it. Before booking my reservation, I scanned the awesome restaurant.com website and found a deal for MPR. For $4 using their 80% off code, I purchased a $25 dinner gift certificate. The restaurant is located at the Middleton Plantation in a beautiful garden setting overlooking a picturesque pond. The view is absolutely amazing and perfect for a romantic dinner setting.

Since we are dinner guests, we do not have to pay to get into the plantation, which is a plus because I can still walk the gardens and enjoy the view after dinner. We were promptly seated at our reservation time at a cozy table by the massive windows to enjoy the view. We both decided to start out with the tomato bisque ($6) as an appetizer. The bisque consisted of smoked chipotle and herbs and was out of this world! I wanted to lick the bowl clean. I knew I was coming back for the soup alone.

My husband decided on the Grilled New York Strip with whipped yukon potatoes, local asparagus, and a veal reduction ($28). I decided to go with the special, which consisted of lamb chops, a sauteed mushroom mixture, red bliss potatoes, and grilled squash & zucchini ($36). I also asked for a glass of wine with my dinner at $10 a glass.

The food was absolutely phenomenal. My husband, who grills a mean dry aged New York Strip, loved the flavor of his steak and thought the veal reduction sauce was perfect. He raved about the consistency of the whipped potatoes. My lamb chops were out of this world. Cooked and seasoned to perfection, if it wasn't such a classy place I would have picked them up with my hands and cleaned the meat clear off the bone.

Although a little pricey, the foodie experience is worth a special trip to this incredible restaurant. Kudos to the chef and the wait staff.  MPR Rocks!

Social Restaurant & Wine Bar

Girls Night Out! Being wine drinkers, we have heard through the grapevine that Social was the place to go. After arriving without a reservation we found that the place was booked solid for the entire evening. We hovered in the bar area until a high top opened up and ran for it. Our waitress promptly asked for our drink order. The wine list is amazing and even better the wines are on TAP! The food is served tapas style and it came out one dish at a time. If you don't want to share you will be rudely eating in front of your friends or even worse, watching your friend eat while you patiently wait for what feels like forever.

My first choice was to try one of their many pizzas made in a wood burning oven. I opted for the Far East version ($15 to share with the table or $10 for yourself), which was topped with steak, shitakes, scallions, dry jack, and asian bbq sauce. The crust was extremely bland. It reminded me of a crispy flour tortilla. The toppings were haphazardly put in the center of the pizza, leaving a large portion of the bland crust with nothing  on it. I think I would have been more forgiving if the toppings stretched out towards the edge.

My last choice I was extremely excited about: Ground Kobe Beef Sliders ($11 for two or $14 for three). These come served with more Yukon Chips (minus the fondue). The sliders are served with fried quail egg, scallion aioli, crispy shallots, and tillamook cheddar. Unfortunately, there weren't any fireworks here. I'm not sure where the fried quail egg was and the toppings were applied very sparingly, which would be fine if the kobe beef wowed me. Kobe beef tastes best when the cooking time is minimal. These burgers were served at medium well, which left it tasting like regular old ground beef, which was a major bummer.

My conversation was good and the wine tasted great. The food left something to be desired and so did my waitress when she continuously asked me if I was ready for my bill. I will also warn that this place is loud. I would definitely go back here to sample the wine and maybe get an appetizer while I wait out my dinner reservation elsewhere.