Rain, rain, go away… such was the story of the day in Charleston today. But, fear not! I made the best of the day despite the weather.
Have you ever been to a gospel brunch? If not, settle in and I’ll tell you about my experience at Hall’s Chophouse, where Sunday Brunch is a VBD (very big deal). When I started looking for breakfast options for this weekend, Hall’s Chophouse consistently came up for their famed Sunday Gospel Brunch. Having never experienced a gospel brunch, I immediately added it to my list. People make reservations months in advance, so there was no hope of reserving a table, but the bar seating is first come, first serve. I braved the pouring rain for the one-mile walk up King Street to Hall’s and timed my arrival around 9:30AM, not knowing how many others would also be waiting for bar seating. There was only one other gentleman waiting so I chatted with him and another couple who showed up until they opened the doors a little before 10AM. By that time, there was a line to get in.
And let me tell you, this was an experience. I was greeted at the door by a member of the Hall family and given a handshake like an old friend. The gospel choir was set up in a corner of the bar and singing “This Little Light of Mine” as we entered (the longest rendition of which I’d ever heard). The atmosphere and ambiance were great; the food wasn’t my favorite. The meal started with a popover. I have nothing against popovers, I just find them a little boring. My eggs Benedict had a smoked ham that wasn’t really my taste. Of course, both the peach bellini and subsequent mimosa were excellent. I’m glad I went, if only for the experience.
Given the continuing rain, I went back to my hotel for a bit of rest after brunch. A couple of hours later, I was off to learn more about the history of Charleston. The Old Exchange and Provost is one of the oldest buildings in Charleston and was once used to house prisoners of war during the American Revolution. It also served as the site where South Carolina voted to ratify the Constitution and housed a post office. It was interesting to see, but as usual, much of the history was lost on me.
For the next two hours, I walked up and down every street, alley, and passageway between Broad Street and the Battery. This is why I love Charleston: the feeling of getting lost among the old Charleston “single houses” while admiring the window boxes and courtyard gardens. The sun even made a brief appearance during my walk.
I wavered on keeping my reservation at Virginia’s on King for dinner because I wasn’t overly excited about the menu. But I decided to give it a shot based on the good reviews I had read. It turned out to be another meal that didn’t wow me. There was nothing wrong with my pulled pork sandwich and mac and cheese, it just wasn’t memorable. Thankfully, the peach cobbler redeemed the meal a bit. I’ve really been striking out on meals during this trip.
I am very thankful I brought a winter coat with me this weekend. The temperature didn’t rise above 45 degrees today, with feels-like temperatures in the mid-30s. All to say that it was cold for my after dinner walk around the Historic District. I stopped at River Street Sweets to pick up a pecan praline to enjoy back in my room, wandered around a bit, then decided to call it a night.
Traveling with Laura 