SouthEastern Wildlife Expo 2024

One of our most favorite events of the year, the SouthEast Wildlife Expo, or SEWE as the Charleston, SC locals call it, has drawn to a close. Each year, we don our Barbour jackets, country boots, and fresh felt hats adorned with brackish lapels for this special occasion. SEWE weekend is a celebration of all things wildlife and Lowcountry. Local farmers converge on the peninsula to share their agricultural expertise and produce, conservation scientists engage in enlightening discussions to promote eco-friendly initiatives in our community, local chefs delight us with culinary demonstrations and insights into their profession, and vendors entice us with their exceptional products. 

On the first day, we eased into the festivities at Brittlebank Park. Enjoying a few cold Coors Lights, we marveled at the impressive athleticism of the dogs as they adorably dove off docks and herded sheep. Witnessing their intelligence, instinct, and remarkable training was truly inspiring.

Saturday marked day 2 for us as we indulged in a culinary adventure at the Food Vendors Market at Marion Square. One of the highlights for me was the vendors’ generosity in offering samples at their booths- a savvy sales tactic that also sparked delightful conversations. It was a pleasure tasting and chatting with everyone and learning about their processes and journeys.

Among our purchases were a packet of Gluhwein spice blend from Charleston Spicy Company, Cornbread mix from Altman Farm and Mill, perfect for baking in a cast iron skillet for a summertime feast, and an Apple Chai Jam from Sakhar, which I was told is delicious in oatmeal. 

We’re thrilled to experiment with these fantastic products from the wonderful people we met, and are committed to continuing our support for local businesses in the food, beverage, and home decor industries.

Our final day was the perfect conclusion to such an inspiring weekend. We returned to Marion Square to witness Chef James London, head chef at Chubby Fish, work his culinary magic on a stunning piece of fish, expertly paired with local vegetables. His emphasis on sourcing ingredients from local businesses resonated deeply with us- we wholeheartedly believe in supporting family run businesses in the farming industry.

Next, we ventured to the Garden & Gun office in the historic Cigar Factory for bourbon cocktails and an engaging discussion on turkey conservation with Mike Chamberlin. Although I had initially forgotten what the event topic was (oops) I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed delving into the world of Wild Turkeys- their behaviors, and how we can contribute to the preservation of their population. 

All in all, it was a truly inspiring weekend. I can’t wait to dive into the kitchen and experiment with the wonderful products we bought from the incredible people we met. I'm eager to continue supporting businesses in the food, bev, and home decor industries that are making remarkable contributions in their fields.