A Barbecue Bone to Pick
BY TOMMY WERNER
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From the city corner to city hall, this is a place with characters. Here are some of the people who’ve built Charleston into the craftsmen-friendly, creative and quirky community that it is. Even they've got their rants, and following is a list of their ideas about what makes Charleston tick or what really ticks them off.
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Cory Burke, founder of Roti Rolls, on Charleston’s being voted into the Daily Beast’s 2013 Top 25 Drunkest Cities:
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I feel like everyone in Charleston lives to drink. That's why brunch is packed at restaurants and there's an event basically every night of the week based around drinking. What can I say, Charleston likes to party.
Rachel Kate Gillon, musician, on a food trend that
needs to die:
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If I had to choose one food trend that needs to die, it'd be carnival food. Really y'all? Deep fried butter? Deep fried Oreos? Do we really need to feed this fine country's obesity issues? Rickety rides and carnies were enough for me—I'd rather not be puking my guts out on them. Ick. Then again, I give in to all the food trends—chocolate covered bacon, avocado, chicken and waffles, bánh mì sandwiches, sriracha: I'd hate to see them go! I wouldn't want the fair to die either. It probably wouldn't be the same without all fried [food] all the time ... Come to think of it, I love food. I love to eat. I haven't met a food that I don't like, really. Got any new trendy food suggestions? I'll give in.
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Caroline Nuttall, publisher, Charlie magazine, on how she describes Charleston to out-of-towners:
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When you come to visit Charleston, you should be prepared to move here. Consider yourself warned! There's a reason Charleston is ranked the No. 1 city in the world: it's beautiful, charming and quaint. But what is so surprising about Charleston is that it is filled with incredible restaurants, art galleries, shows, fashion and music ... all the things you'd expect from a big city, but in small, picturesque Charleston.
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Jamee Haley, executive director of Lowcountry Local First, on Upper King's transformation:
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I have watched the transformation of Upper King over the last 18 years, and some of it has been disheartening, like the closing of Alice's Fine Foods (our only meat and 3 on the upper Peninsula), Bookstore Cafe and 52.5. I still wish there were stronger support for what was once the "Design District" to give more balance to the explosion of restaurants and bars. If what we need as humans is food, clothing and shelter, there are a couple of those elements missing there.
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