Should you need a place to get away, especially from the hustle and bustle of the U.S. east coast, Charleston, S.C. should be on your list. Beaches, history, dining, golf, southern style architecture, a relaxed pace, and friendly people make the South Carolina city a nice place to vacation. Before coming to Japan, that’s exactly what I did after attending my brother-in-law’s medical school graduation. We ate at several good restaurants, including the new Black Bean Co. on James Island right off Folly Road. Billed as an “energy food restaurant” Black Bean uses fresh and local produce from the Charleston area. Some of the vegetables are picked in the morning for use in wraps and salads that very day; as Managing Owner and Chef Ellis Grossman likes to say, “a local guy, in a local spot, serving local food.” When I visited the restaurant several months ago with my family, the reviews of the food and the interestingly decorated dining area were overall very positive. Personally, I thought it was a little pricey for what you get, though the idea is that people are willing to pay a little more for the fresh and locally sourced ingredients. I had the black bean wrap in the picture below. It was definitely fresh and tasty but I would have liked a little more sauce and an extra piece of chicken (they have plenty of vegan options and tofu choices for non-meat eaters). Also, the pasta salad that came as a side was delicious, but way too small to leave me satisfied.
On the way out the door, I saw someone who seemed to be in charge. It was Ellis himself, with a few employees bringing in some brand new equipment for the kitchen. We talked briefly and he gave me a card which eventually led to this post. I only spoke to him for a few minutes but he emphasized the local and fresh nature of the food and seemed very excited to be growing his currently two restaurant business. They seem to be doing very well so far and let’s hope it continues to be successful. There definitely seems to be demand in Charleston for local, fresh vegetables served in creative and healthy ways. Here’s to the Black Bean Co. going after its vision and to getting the word out to support them on their way. If you’re in the Charleston area, stop by to give it a try. There is a location in downtown Charleston, in addition to the one I visited on James Island. Click on the video below for more from Ellis and his concept for fresh and healthy food. [Images by author]
