Southern Protocol

I had a lovely visitor last week: my mother! Amongst our numerous activities, she needed to find a cookbook with some delicious recipes to use for her dinner club in a few weeks. She found exactly what she needed one day when she was strolling around town in Carolina Cooking (she purchased her copy at Waldenbooks on Meeting), the cookbook version of the hit local show.

I met her at her hotel later, and after browsing through only 3-4 recipes in the book decided I absolutely HAD to have it! It’s a great cookbook for entertaining, as all recipes look mouthwateringly delicious and take relatively little time. I haven’t had a chance to experiment with any of the dishes yet, but here’s one that’s making my stomach rumble…

Prosciutto-Wrapped Wild Salmon with Mushroom Risotto and Garden Peas (4 servings)
From the Inn on Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

5 tablespoons butter
1/2 white onion, finely diced
1 cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup Chardonnay
4 cups hot chicken broth
salt and white pepper
8 slices prosciutto
4  (7-ounce) salmon fillets
Olive oil
3/4 cup English peas
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon minced shallot
12 fresh shitake mushrooms
8 chanterelles, morels or other fresh mushrooms
12 baby tomatoes

PReheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter, then the onion and sweat. Next add rice. Stir rice around in the butter and onions. Deglaze with Chardonnay and stir using a wooden spoon or spatula. Add enough hot broth to cover the rice. Continue to stir comstantly over low to medium heat. Add broth two more times while continuing to stir. Season with salt and whit e pepper.

While the risotto is cooking, lay 2 slices of prosciutto flat, then wrap around each piece of salmon. In a hot skillet, add a touch of olive oil. Sear the fish on all sides. Transfer the fish to the oven and continue to cook for about 5 minutes more, or until the fish is cooked through.

In a blender, add English peas with garlic, shallot and 3/4 cup chicken broth; puree. Season with salt and pepper. Strain through a wire mesh strainer.

In a small hot skillet, add a teaspoon of olive oil. Add the mushrooms and saute. Fold the mushrooms into the risotto and finish the risotto with 3 to 4 tablespoons cold butter.

Saute the pureed English peas and baby tomatoes. Ladle peas and tomatoes on plate. Top with mushroom risotto. Place salmon on risotto.

Enjoy!

We are head over heels in love with Charleston’s go-to wedding website, The Wedding Row. Della and all the lovely ladies over there have such a great eye for all things wedding, and have given many brides great ideas for their own nuptials.

So we couldn’t be happier that one of our most recent brides, Laurel (Britton) Laird, is filling up the top of their blog today in all of her 1920s/vintage style beauty! These shots are from her bridal portrait at Boone Hall Plantation, and were captured by none other than the uber talented Jennifer Bearden. I was lucky enough to be on site for the shoot, and had such a great time getting to spend that special time with Laurel. Her blue peep toe shoes became my obsession, and I’m always a huge fan of a birdcage veil.

Laurel – you are SO stunning and we miss you dearly!

T-Minus one week until our Petite Protocol camp at The Gibbes Museum of Art!

Next week, June 21-25, is for kids ages 4 to 6; the June 28 – July 2 session the following week will be for all 7-12 year olds. While the camp will cover basic etiquette – introductions, thank you notes, table manners, etc – we will also focus on international manners and how to behave in a museum. The 1.5 hour daily camp (12:00 – 1:30) will include time for lunch, activities, and a lot of interactive learning!

There are still a few spaces open for both weeks, so head on over to the Gibbes website and register today!

Last Thursday we had a raging success of a private event with J. Crew and King Street bridal registry Vieuxtemps. Fashion, discounts, sangria, and sweet treats were a perfect way to kick off the holiday weekend! We put together a few styling suggestions for weddings, running errands, the office, etc; Vieuxtemps did a marvelous job pairing their tablescapes and other merchandise with fashion items around the store. So clever!

While I had been highly anticipating all the deals that I would steal on J. Crew’s new summer collections, I didn’t anticipate how much I would fall in love with the sampling of merchandise Vieuxtemps brought with them. Their number one goal in partnering with us and J. Crew was to change the somewhat “older” association most people have with their store; and let me tell you, they were very successful in that!

Did you know that aside from china and other stereotypical bridal registry items, they have tons of vintage inspired home decor? Tableware that’s perfect for nice occasions or simple get togethers? Gorgeous woven ice buckets and matching serving trays? Every time I have passed the little shop on lower King I’ve never even thought twice about stopping in, and now I can’t wait to get downtown to see all the goodies they have in stock! Vieuxtemps is a must-stop boutique for all of you elegant home entertainers… or even for those of you who don’t entertain, but need a truly thoughtful and unique present for someone who does.

Check out their website for a bit more information on the boutique in general, but if you REALLY want to have some fun, check out their actual store at 180 King Street. 843.577.6811.

One of the best things to do on a weekend is attend a local Farmer’s Market. The atmosphere, food and trinkets are overwhelmingly delicious and unique; it’s such a fun way to spend a morning, and I couldn’t be happier that the Charleston Farmer’s Market in Marion Square is now in full swing.

I’m actually counting down the days to this weekend’s market, because I have the perfect recipe to shop for: a pasta salad with tons of veggies, herbs and flavor. Yes, I could pop into a grocery store to get all the ingredients – and normally I would, during the colder months – but why do that when I can get most of the produce and ingredients fresh and local? I will warn you, there are quite a lot of ingredients in this recipe, but I promise you it’s WELL worth the effort. Make it this weekend for all of your Memorial Day visitors and thank me later.

Pasta Salad (yields 12-14 servings)
2 cups fresh snow peas
2 cups broccoli flowerets
2.5 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 can (or 8 ounces if you go the market route) of whole pitted ripe olives
1 (8 ounce) package cheese stuffed tortellini, cooked and drained
3 ounces fettuccine, cooked and drained
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing:
1/2 cup green onions, sliced
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried whole basil
1 teaspoon dried whole dillweed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1.5 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and cover tightly. Shake vigorously until well mixed. Drop snow peas into boiling water; boil one minute and remove. Place broccoli in boiling water; boil one minute and remove. Combine peas, broccoli, tomatoes, mushrooms and olives. Combine coked pasta and vegetables with the dressing. Toss well. Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired. Chill several hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Lizz and I are having a monumental freak out here at Southern Protocol this morning. We’re reeling. Brace yourself, designer loving readers: it was announced this morning that Saks Fifth Avenue’s King Street location – really the only upper end department store in Charleston – will be closed by mid-July.

Taking its place? Fad retailer Forever 21.

Now I love Forever 21 as much as the next trendy bargain hunter, and have often wondered why it didn’t have a location in a place like Charleston. But did it HAVE to take the place of Saks?! Obviously Saks isn’t closing because Forever 21 wanted its prime real estate, but the irony of it is killing us. This is such sad news for a city that’s lacking in department stores to begin with.

To read more about the breaking news, check out the article on the Post and Courier.

The busiest two and a half weeks in Charleston are almost here! The SPOLETO events will commence on Friday, May 28, and we couldn’t be more excited for 17 days of arts and leisure.

We take charity work and giving back to the community very seriously here at Southern Protocol; in our greatest effort to give back we annually partner with the St. Matthew’s Outreach Learning Center and coordinate a week of manners camp. This year, however, we are SO happy to announce that we will be the featured guest speakers for St. Matthew’s Tea Room Kick-Off charity event!

St. Matthew’s has one of the most highly anticipated tea rooms during SPOLETO festivities, and each year they try to really amp up its opening. This year, we invite you to join us on Sunday, May 23 for a Family Tea. We will be giving a lesson on “The Art of Taking Tea” – complete with our faaabulous High Tea attire, I might add! – as well as tea etiquette and history. Immediately following will be a traditional tea party, complete with finger sandwiches, sweet treats, and entertainment. It truly is a great way to spend an afternoon!

To help fit in to everyone’s busy end of May schedules, we have decided to offer two tea times: the first will be held at 12:30 pm, with a second session following at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children (we ask only children ages 4 and up to attend), with all proceeds benefitting the St. Matthew’s Outreach Learning Center. This is an absolute STEAL for such a festive afternoon of learning and fun. Please RSVP to Christy at christyEstephenson@gmail.com, or 843.579.0420.

Grab your daughters, sons, mothers, grandmothers, or anyone else for this fantastic event! Can’t wait to see everyone there! For more information on the center, please visit www.connectinghands.org.

If you didn’t get to sip on any tasty beverages for Cinco de Mayo yesterday – or even if you did – Bashful Boutique in Avondale is giving you another chance!

The bang-for-your-buck boutique is holding a festive “Cinco de Seis” party at their 829 Savannah Highway store from 6:00 – 8:30 tonight. Treats include guacamole, queso fondue from neighbor Avondale Wine and Cheese, and some homemade salsa. Wine and Caribbean beer will also be served.

So if you’re in the mood for shopping and sipping, head on over to Bashful Boutique tonight at 6:00!

I’ll admit it: I’m a spray tan lover. When done correctly, it gives you a perfect extra glow – and I’m a firm believer that everyone looks just a little bit more toned with a tan. While I’ve dabbled in the Mystic Tan before (the machine that sprays you and leaves lots of anxiety concerning whether or not you’ve put enough of that lotion on your toes and fingers), if you’re comfortable with it the results are infinitely better with a live person spraying you. True it has the potential to be just a little bit awkward having someone a foot away from your almost-naked body, but the even and natural results are worth it.

I went on a quest to find the most reputable spray tanners around town, mainly by asking friends and random interviewees where they had had success. The exciting result: View Salon on Folly Road. The girls working there are beyond sweet and professional, the space is clean and soothing, and their services go way beyond the spray tan. Perhaps most importantly for me last weekend, the spray tan was perfection!

I’m pretty sure the salon doesn’t have a website, but they have a facebook! They’re definitely worth checking out if you need any of the following services:
Facials
Airbrush tanning
Manicures
Pedicures
Massages
Haircare
Waxing

The list goes on and on! I was also told that every Monday haircuts are half price – talk about an easy way to save some cash every month.

View Salon and Spa is located at 792 Folly Road. 843.406.6008.

We could all use a little pampering every now and then, and John’s Island’s newest luxury spa is exactly the place to do it. Nestled in lush greenery, tucked away from the crazy traffic of downtown, Cottage Aroma Bella day spa is a perfectly quaint little cottage with a huge touch of elegance.

Their services range from massages to facials to pedicures, with each service getting its own private room. I personally would kill for one of their pedicures – at $80 it’s a little out of my price range, but you sit in a gorgeous, antiquey looking stone room on top of a throne with lots of pillows… and the tub is literally a marble basin. Just a few steps above your average strip mall nail salon.

The spa held an opening party last evening, put on by the fabulous people over at Duvall. Yummy food, pretty lounge furniture, and great Acai berry martinis! If you and your girl friends are looking for a luxurious weekend of relaxation, make your way to Cottage Aroma Bella – you won’t be disappointed!

I love this time of year, when it is warm and sunny and people hold events outside! The Upper King “Design District” is holding its annual Spring Design Walk tomorrow night, April 15th, from 5-8 pm in the stores, then 8 til closing in all the restaurants. The list of happenings for the event is miles long, and every single one looks more fun than the last!

Literally there are way too many cool and artsy events to type out here, so below are just a few of the things I find most exciting. Check out the full list of details here!

*Mayor Riley will open the event at the corner of Radcliffe and King around 5:00 pm

*Grand opening of Macaroon Boutique at 45 John Street. A hugely anticipated patisserie…YUM!

*Tommy Dew and Charleston City Slickers will debut their iPad app that gives you a GPS tour of Upper King (sidenote: I am fascinated by iPads)

*Sea Island Habitat for Humanity will present their deconstruction program at King Street Kitchen Company. KSKC will serve sweets from Charleston Cookie Company, display one-of-a-kind florals by Stems (yay Anne!), and exhibit some cars from Baker Motor Company.

*Acclaimed food writer Holly Herrick will sign her new cookbook with delicious Southern recipes at SieMatic

*Franklin Smith will do “Intuitive Guidance Readings” at Seeking Indigo…I’m 99% sure that means the same thing as going to a psychic.

*DJ Sonar and Christophe Chocolatier at Dwelling

That seriously is only a small snippet of the events. If nothing else, go grab a drink outside at Chai’s or Joe Pasta and watch all the commotion!

The most commonly given beauty advice from almost every source is protect your skin; wear sunscreen. That comes from older women, doctors, anti-tanning bed advocates…and it’s a topic that we could all probably stand to know a little more about.

Sweet185 on King Street is giving you a perfect opportunity to learn! Join them on Wednesday, March 31st from 6-7 pm for an Organic Skin Talk. The event, presented by the boutique’s skincare professionals, will be informal and fun, focusing on how to best protect and nurture your delicate skin in the upcoming summer heat.

Of course there will be “sweet demonstrations and samplings,” too, including wine, Sweeteeth chocolates, appetizers, door prizes, and discounts exclusively for the event’s guests. There is limited space for the evening, so RSVP today if you’re interested in attending! 843.829.3500.

Attention all Columbia, SC readers! Bored with decor in your family room (or any other room, for that matter) but don’t have the budget to splurge on all new furniture and decor? Completely change the dynamic of said room just by investing in a new rug!

But where shall you go to find rugs of a fabulous, non-cheesy, high quality on a budget variety? House of Rugs at 1346 Carlisle Street. The chic retailer is having its much anticipated grand opening on Wednesday, March 31st from 10 am – 7 pm, and an encore day of celebration Thursday, April 1st from 10 am – 4 pm.

The owners of House of Rugs, Tressa and Anne, have taken their love of style and translated it into beautiful home decor; the website alone gives off the impression of trendy and fun – not stuffy and dated like many rug boutiques. Tressa started the company while on a mission to bring nice, hand-knotted rugs to every household despite the shaky economy. Everyone deserves to have gorgeous rugs in their home! (Head to their website for the full background story!)

Normal business hours will commence after the two-day grand opening, and will be Wednesdays from 10 am – 4 pm or by appointment.

Tomorrow is the fifth annual Charleston Women in Business Conference at the Charleston Marriott! Southern Protocol couldn’t be happier about teaming up with Little Black Book and celebrating all of the successful women-owned companies and female workers in The Holy City.

We’re particularly excited about what the Southern Protocol-Little Black Book team will have to offer (other than bowls of delicious Valentine’s Day chocolates): women can strike a pose and get their picture taken with Betty, the Little Black Book mascot; sign your name and email address and you’ll receive tips tailored to YOU about how to update and switch up your work wardrobe!

The conference will be held from 8:30 am – 4:00 pm tomorrow, February 12th, at the Marriott on Lockwood. Tickets are $100 for members, $75 for non-members. The day’s schedule includes breakout sessions (with topics like “Winning with People” and “Recharge Your Moxie”), a luncheon, and plenty of time for networking.We can’t wait to see everyone there!