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The Group Travel Leader Going on Faith Select Traveler

Taste Meets Tradition in the Carolinas

Greenville, South Carolina

Though Greenville is a newer name in the rapidly emerging new Southern culinary scene, it’s growing at an amazing pace. There are more than 100 restaurants, most locally owned, on Main Street alone.

A favorite with locals and visitors alike, Soby’s was the first restaurant in Greenville, nearly two decades ago, to introduce fine-dining saucing and plating to Southern staples like shrimp and grits. Its private loft space, complete with bedrooms and dining room, can accommodate up to 100 using the roof deck.

One of the best ways to incorporate Greenville’s latest culinary creations into your meeting is to set aside happy hour or lunchtime on a Saturday to join the At the Chef’s Table Culinary Tour, which takes groups of up to 40 behind the scenes at five top restaurants for a generous portion of food and paired drinks at each stop. Small groups of up to 20 can also go on a culinary adventure into the surrounding area for a tour of some of the country’s top barbecue places and a proper South Carolina whole-hog experience. To wash it all down, take your group to Dark Corner Distillery, which produces its moonshine, absinthe and whiskey right on Main Street.

www.visitgreenvillesc.com

Charleston, South Carolina

As the unofficial birthplace of the new Southern cuisine, Charleston’s cobblestone streets are abundantly lined with places where groups can experience the city’s proprietary blend of farm- and ocean-fresh ingredients and lowcountry love. Each year, the city rakes in more James Beard nominations than most entire states, with 11 nods in 2015.

The Macintosh, home to three-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Jeremiah Bacon, offers groups of up to 55 the opportunity to set up in its secluded courtyard to dine in the heart of Charleston in all seasons with a built-in fire pit and standing heaters.

Husk, one of the city’s most awarded restaurants, combines the gastronomic genius of Chef Sean Brock with a historic dining room dating back to 1788, when it hosted the likes of George Washington, for once-in-a-lifetime private dining experiences for up to 44 people. Small groups can also soak up Charleston’s extant Colonial architecture at Husk’s freestanding bar, with a full interior of exposed brick, wine barrels for tables, craft cocktails dating back to the building’s origins in the 1700s and an award-nominated wine list.

New to the city and the James Beard nominee list, the Grocery puts house-made charcuterie, preserves and pickles at the center of a deceptively simple menu that focuses on preparing dishes with just the right amount of flourish so the main ingredients shine through. Its private dining room is best for smaller groups, with space for up to 32.

www.charleston.com