Tempest + Charleston Stage
Tempest
By Isa Miraldi, CharlotteBergerPR Account Coordinator
As foodies, hearing that USA Today’s Best New Restaurant of 2020 is located in our city - that’s big. But getting invited to a prix fixe dinner at that restaurant, followed by a show at America’s oldest theatre - that’s huge, and it’s exactly what the crew got up to at our last meetup!
Located in the former historic Harriott Pinckney Home for Sailors, just a few blocks from Charleston’s waterfront, Tempest pays homage to the sea in every aspect. From the breathtaking aquatic stained glass ceiling to the hyper-local seafood-focused menu, curated by Chef Partners Jamie Lynch (who’s also a Top Chef Alum) and Adam Hodgson, Tempest is a delight for all the senses.
We began the evening on a light note with some veggie-forward appetizers. The Frisée Salad featured bright greens and crisp apples balanced by rich walnuts and Fourme d’Ambert cheese. The Squash & Burrata featured candy roaster squash and benne seeds, dressed in balsamic dressing and served atop creamy burrata.
Next was the first course, which showcased a clever dichotomy of preparation techniques – the Charcoal Roasted Shrimp and the Beef Tartare served rare with a poached egg yolk.
The main course was the real star of the show, from delicate Flounder served atop local kale and dressed in a delicious lemon brown butter to melt-in-your-mouth Georgia Wagyu, accompanied by black lentils, marinated mushrooms, hearty greens and bone marrow. Despite being a seafood restaurant, the meat dishes were not to be overlooked. Seemingly simple, topped with just onions and bay sauce, “The Burger” truly wowed us with its flavor.
Despite having eaten to our hearts’ content, as soon as we saw the dessert we were immediately ready for some more - specifically the Some More, a luxurious twist on the classic s’more with a Bailey’s chocolate ganache, cookie butter mouse and toasted marshmallow. This irresistible finale tasted even sweeter knowing that $1 from every Some More sold from February 28 - March 28 is going to our Q1 nonprofit partner Charleston Stage’s education and outreach programs.
After dinner, we took a much-needed walk to the Dock Street Theatre for the opening night of Charleston Stage’s “The Trip to Bountiful,” the heartwarming story of 80-year-old Mama Watts as she runs away from the confines of her life to revisit her hometown of Bountiful, Texas one last time. The night ended with a standing ovation and left everyone with a full heart as we were left thinking about the true meaning of home.
32C N Market St., Charleston
