Travel

Charleston is widely celebrated as one of America’s great food cities. But its cuisine cannot truly be understood without recognizing the African knowledge, agricultural practices, and culinary traditions that shaped it. From rice cultivation to the techniques and flavors that define Lowcountry cooking, enslaved Africans laid the foundation of what would become one of the most distinctive regional cuisines in the United States.

This four-night journey through Charleston and the Sea Islands explores those deep roots while also experiencing the city past and present — from its historic neighborhoods to the contemporary dining scene that has made Charleston one of the country’s most vibrant food destinations.

The experience will be guided by renowned Gullah Geechee chef and cultural preservationist BJ Dennis, who will help illuminate the history and living culture that continue to shape the Lowcountry table today.

Our time in Charleston begins on the water, where we’ll catch our own crabs before gathering for a dockside Lowcountry boil prepared by chef Amethyst Ganaway. We’ll walk through the city’s historic neighborhoods and explore the restaurants and kitchens that have helped make Charleston one of the country’s most exciting dining destinations. One evening will be spent at the home of Gullah Geechee culinary matriarch Charlotte Jenkins, whose cooking and storytelling offer a rare window into the traditions of the Sea Islands.

Beyond Charleston, we’ll spend a day on the Sea Islands themselves, where much of this history continues to live. With rice farmer Rollen Chalmers, we’ll learn about the history and revival of Carolina Gold rice, once the crop that built Charleston’s wealth and deeply tied to West African agricultural knowledge. On nearby St. Helena Island, we’ll gather beneath the oak trees at Morning Glory Homestead for lunch with Gullah Geechee land stewards Tom and Belinda Jones, whose work preserves both the land and the food traditions of the region.

The journey concludes with a backyard juke joint gathering inspired by the informal gathering places of the rural South — a celebration of the music, food, and community that remain at the heart of Gullah Geechee culture.

For the full itinerary and details, please get in touch.