We discovered the Colonial Milling Company, a small family owned heirloom grits operation. Their…read moregrits bowl was very good, not heavy and rich like grits with lots of added cream and butter. These grits get their natural, lighter, creaminess from the grits and proper cooking (stirring continuously) resulting in more corn flavor and a natural creaminess that doesn't overpower the dish. These grits result is an authentic bowl of creamy grits with complex and subtle corn notes that all too often is lost when chef's load up the cream and butter. I've heard it said that grits take on the flavor of what is added into them - well not if it starts with the "right" grits and knowing how to properly cook them.
We also enjoy Rio Bertolini's Fresh pasta - their shrimp, corn, and bacon ravioli; their braised beef short rib ravioli, the lobster truffle ravioli; sage brown butter sauce; sweet potato gnocchi, and garlic gnocchi are some favorites. 3 doz en ravioli for $20, freezes well.
Twin Creeks Lavender is a lavender farm with 7,000 organically grown plants located in Anderson. Their lavender candles are a delight. They also sell a variety of lavender potpourri, scents, soaps, etc.
There are several farm stands represented, vegetables organic poultry, beef, pork. Lots of crafts and flowers.
One of our most intriguing favorites is Forx Farms Cheeses, a couple who have introduced organic, hand crafted cheeses of all kinds into the local market reflecting their heritage from the Netherlands. Fresh cream cheese, no preservatives, same with Parmesan, cottage cheese, pimento cheese, aged Gouda, smoked Gouda, and my favorite - Leyden, a Dutch, semi hard cheese with cumin and caraway seed.
This is such an outstanding market and a pleasure to visit, open every Saturday 8-noon from May 1 to last Saturday in October. It covers both sides of three blocks of Main Street from E McBee to Court Street.
