Keep the Pots Boiling

And, please, no frogs allowed.

Art by Jennifer Heyd Wharton, Beaufort, SC

Remember Sunday drives and those adventures along back roads? You might have one hand on the steering wheel, windows rolled down, sea breezes blowing through, and the other arm hanging out the window. All you need is a little devil-may-care swagger; life in no great hurry.

Sunday afternoons involve driving down dirt roads with sleeping dogs, gazing at houses painted haint blue to ward off evil spirits, or pulling into Machete Landing on St. Helena Island to see who’s out fishin’. Here, you might see local fishermen standing on the river bank gathering up pluff mud, mixing it with fish meal, and getting ready for their nightly trip down the river to bait shrimp. This day Trenchards Inlet is rough but not enough to deter men in search of some good eatin.’

No doubt those shrimp will end up in a good ‘ol backyard shrimp boil. That’s when the picnic table is covered with lots of newspaper and is about to be loaded with succulent shrimp, sausage, tender potatoes, and plenty of fresh corn. The thrill of communal dining and the eager anticipation of the feast is more than a meal; it's a celebration of our culture and a testament to our culinary traditions.