Taste of Florence is tomorrow night at the Florence Civic Center.  Just looking at the Vendor list makes me want to go!  This is a very nice event.  I hear the Pee Dee Foodie will be there, and you may spot my blue hat walking around checking out the dining selections!  It looks like most of my favorite places to eat will be there.

The 1st Annual Taste of Florence is a family friendly, community-wide event that will showcase over 40 restaurants and dessert professionals from around the Pee Dee. Enjoy light entertainment and socializing with friends while you sample some of the best cuisine in the area. You’ll want to “Savor Tuesday’s Flavor.” The event takes place at the Florence Civic Center on October 18, 2011 from 5pm to 9pm.

Guest Judges include Nathalie Dupree, author of 11 cookbooks with her most recent being “Southern Biscuits.” WBTW Meteorologist Chris Still and Carolina Live host Cecil Chandler will also judge this year’s participating vendors. A visit from South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is also scheduled so guests will have many opportunities to visit with “famous” faces.

The Taste of Florence is sponsored in part by Adams Outdoor Advertising, Miller Communications with Star 93.7 and Frank FM, and OM Ships International. A live remote broadcast with Star 93.7 will take place during the event at the Florence Civic Center, located at 3300 West Radio Drive, Florence, South Carolina.

Admission tickets for the event may be purchased at Sweet! Gourmet Cupcakes, Bravo! Event and Party Rentals or Locals Grill for $5 in advance or $6 at the door. Students 18 and under are free with a paying adult. Once inside the ballroom guests may purchase food tickets for $1 each. Vendors will offer up to three items each, ranging in price from 1-3 food tickets.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

(Above picture is from their website)

Is it a coincidence that I have gained three pounds since Sweet opened on Celebration?  I do not believe so…

Sweet is a cupcake store that bakes specialty cupcakes.  In true martyr fashion, I have now tried almost every flavor cupcake so I can give you the MOST accurate review.

I love Sweet, I love their decor, I love the idea, and I love most of the cupcakes.  It is a very peaceful place to sit and relax.   I think they had a very busy first week and if that is the only time you went– you should go again.  In week 1, I did have a dry cupcake and a couple of cupcakes with substandard icing.  For a $3.00 cupcake I want the icing to be perfect, (As it is in the pictures on Pee Dee Foodie’s post)  and the cupcake to be moist throughout.  (Pee Dee Foodie did a very nice review, check it out as well!)

In week 2, that is pretty much how every cupcake has been.  Here are some pictures of the actual product– they did not know me from Adam’s housecat, nor do they have any idea I was doing a review so these are accurate photos.  These are how I got them in the box.

At Sweet, the cupcakes are displayed BEHIND the counter.  The lighting is VERY dim.  I am a highly visual person so I want to be able to look at what I am buying closely.  I don’t want to have to point and gesture and squint to see.  They are also just sitting out… not covered.    I also don’t love the credit card payment on the iPad setup.  Its very cool and all, but I have some security concerns that make me prefer the old fashioned bank provided credit card machine.

I have also sacrificed my waistline and been to “Cupcake” on King Street in Charleston.  I think the two compare very well, but Cupcake only charges $2.75 a cupcake.  They have been doing this longer, so every cupcake is perfection.  I truly believe that Sweet can get there.  The other thing I prefer about Cupcake is that they have a plexiglass display case right at the counter so you can SEE the cupcakes.

This is the way the icing on one of Cupcakes cupcakes (heh) appears:

All that aside, I am going to keep going to Sweet and keep eating cupcakes so that I can be CERTAIN that I can tell you how good each one is.  Here is a list of the flavors.  So far, these are my favorites:

Apple Harvest: Oh.My.Gah.  This didn’t sound all that appealing until I tasted it.  Y’all.  It has little chunks of real apple and pecan in it.  This one is worth you heading out there RIGHT THIS SECOND.

Salted Caramel – (brown sugar cake, caramel center, butter cream topped with caramel and sea salt) This WAS my favorite until I had the Apple Harvest.  It is the PERFECT combination of salty and sweet.

Night and Day – (chocolate cupcake with vanilla butter cream) You just can’t go wrong with a classic, truly.

Overall?  Sweet has the potential to be a great success in Florence.  Remember to shop local and support local merchants– head out to Sweet!  Today!  Tell them you saw it on Flossip, and report back to me what you think!

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

September 26, 2011!!! I just got this email:

Thank you for your support and patronage. I am so excited to announce to you that we have set a tentative date for our opening for Monday, September 26, 2011 for lunch and dinner service. I want to encourage you to check out our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Olde-Europe/282686428412337 and click on the “Like” button so you can keep up with our progress, upcoming events and dinner specials. Please feel free to post your comments, pictures, questions or suggestions on this page and I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.
Again, thank you for your support and continued patronage.

(No worries about my patronage! I will be there!)

OLDE EUROPE
804-C LOOP RD. (Huntington Plaza)
FLORENCE, SC 29505

MAIN: 843-661-0707 FAX: 843-661-0708

If you are not sure where – old “Florentine Cafe” location and most recently “Fatburgers” Right next door to Moss Pharmacy!!!

Please feel free to call ahead for reservations. Lunch begins at 11:00am and dinner at 5:00pm Monday – Saturday.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

This post is written in its entirety by Mr. Flossip. We don’t agree on everything, especially the part about Clemson. Divided house!

Before I begin my foray into the Sim-City on Crack world of digital expression let me first introduce myself to all of you.

Yes it is true – Mr. Flossip does exist.

In a nutshell, I am an average Southern male who loves anything that feeds my ADHD, believes that wetting yourself while laughing is better than any medicine you will ever take, and that emoticons & internet slangs (lol, rofl, omg) are the work of the devil. (By the way, yes it is required to capitalize Southern.)

Formal introductions complete, let us begin to discuss something of regional, if not national, importance – a topic that has been a Pandora’s Box to some civilizations, and guiding light to others…the neighborhood bar.

According to my good friends at the Cambridge University Press, a bar is defined thusly:

- bar, noun (DRINKING PLACE) a place where especially alcoholic drinks are sold and drunk, or the area in such a place where the person serving the drinks stands.

I always laugh when people say they went to Broadway at the Beach and ‘hit all the bars’. Those aren’t bars. They are Jersey Shore knock-offs where people go to begin their eventual walks of shame.

In college we were surrounded by bars. As in any college town, most of them were similar to those described above. Others were that rare Cheers-type bar.

Then, in the late 1990′s a hybrid bar was born – the micro brew. The beer is produced, consumed and celebrated all in one place. And now it has come to Florence.
Recently Southern Hops opened in Florence.

This is not a chain, so the owners do not have the benefit of corporate training, corporate finances or corporate advice. These guys are learning as they go, which is why they are going through some start-up pains.

The wait staff is slow at times and needs to have more confidence in dealing with the world of micro-brewing. It takes more than just knowing what beer is on the menu – people want to know what it tastes like, what dark versus light stout means, and why someone would name a beer Dogfish Head. You don’t have to be an expert, but you should at least know what you are selling. And speaking of selling, an empty glass is an empty register. Wait staff should be very mindful of that fact.

The staff should also realize that your bar exists in a blue collar town. We work hard for our paychecks which means a Friday night date-night often involves kids (going out is expensive enough without having to pay a babysitter). Kids need food fast – have food that can be prepared quickly and brought to the table with little fuss. Happy kids make for happy parents…happy parents will soon return without the kids to consume more than just chicken strips.

Enough with the negative – here is the positive.

Southern Hops is a perfect addition to Florence. It is a true neighborhood bar run by local guys who went to school to learn how to make beer. (Dear high schools guidance counselor, thanks for not telling me that I could go to school to make beer…)

What truly makes South Hops a great addition to Florence is its uniqueness.

To begin with, the location is marked by what I can only describe as a large 20′ tall still proudly watching cars drive down Hwy. 76. Now this is not meant as humor, this is meant to describe a landmark. Ask anyone where to get BBQ in the city and they will reply, “under the brown/white pig on 2nd Loop”. After parking my gas guzzling vehicle in the gravel parking lot I stepped onto a small porch that seemed to beg for warmer nights. I have to tell you, any place that has a front porch is tops in my book.

As soon as I walked into Southern Hops I felt right at home. Although the inside is very spacious, it has this small town feel to it. In the pre-fab environment of commercial construction it was refreshing to be surrounded by, dare I say, actual wood. It’s as if South Hops has always been there – we just couldn’t see it.

Despite the openness, the layout allows for areas to be ‘claimed’ as your own. If you and a friend want to focus on a game, you can sit at the bar. (As an avid Clemson Tiger fan, sitting at the bar seemed the best place to help wash away my tears.) If you would rather play a game, you may sit in another area. If you and a date want to eat and occasionally check the score, you can sit at a smaller table. If you want to celebrate with friends, the staff will quickly pull a few larger tables together.

The bottom line is that no matter where you sit, you can carry on a conversation and enjoy the company of your entourage.

Although the food service was slow – the food was very good. The pepper Buffalo wings were very tasty, as were the varied styles of pizzas. Of course, had I not been busy trying beverages I’m sure I could have found room for more food.

Southern Hops is not quite ‘there’ yet. They still have some kinks to iron out. But considering the tough environment that exists for people who have never operated a restaurant/micro brewery trying to open one in today’s economy and in the snowiest winter on record, they are doing very well.

March Madness is right around the corner, warmer nights are visible on the distant horizon and college football will be here before we know it. You can not deny that these events will be made better with beer names like ‘Goldilocks’ or ‘Leroy Brown’.

Next time I will have to try something called a Sweet Tea martini. I’m not sure I am ready to jump into this metro-sexual identity but I am a sucker for good drinks.

If you are going:
911 S. Sunset Acres Drive,
Florence SC
(Off Palmetto Street near Celebration)
(843) 667-1900

(Flossip notes: a) Mr. Flossip is alone in his love of Clemson. b) I’m withholding my thoughts until I go back for the second time. c) We certainly had a designated driver, you should too.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

From the Florence Civic Center:

We are currently looking for staff to work the Kids Jamboree event in various positions. The pay is $7.50 per hour. Must be 16 or older to apply.

Event Hours are:
Saturday, February 5th 9am-8pm (staff here at 8am)
Sunday, February 6th 10am-5pm (staff here at 9am)

If you or anyone you know may be interested, please contact Rod Saavedra via email at rsaavedra@florenceciviccenter.com with your name and contact info. He can also answer any questions you may have regarding working. Please do not ask a parent or family member to email for you. Email inquiries will only be accepted from those who are asking to work. PHONE CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

Apparently Lake City is the place to be September 16 – September 19. There will be two great festivals in one: South Carolina Tobacco Festival and the Heritage Music and Arts Festival. There is a website with a lot of information here.

Three great days of music start on Thursday, September 16th at 8PM with gospel performances by Crystal River, Eric Taylor and The Plantation Singers. On Friday, September 17th, the Band of Oz take to the stage with a Beach Music street dance. Then, on Saturday, September 18th, the music starts at 1PM and will feature Ten Toes Up, The Movement, Randy McCallister, The Plaids, and Jeffrey Allen Edwardsleading up to a special performance by Uncle Kracker at 8PM. A spectacular fireworks show will immediately follow Uncle Kracker’s performance. For tickets to Saturday’s event click here or visit the National Bean Market Museum Gift Shop or Lake City Chamber of Commerce.

Did you read that carefully? Uncle Kracker? Way to go Lake City! This sounds like it is well worth the drive down 52. Saturday’s tickets are $15.00 and you can purchase them online here.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

There were a few comments yesterday that made me think back to the time that Mr. Flossip and I decided to move home. Actually, we didn’t decide as much as fate decided for us. You generally go where the job offers are. We had not been home in seven years and it was difficult at first. We were in a nice pattern in Columbia– friends, supper clubs, parties, lots of places to eat, always something to do. At first when we moved back we had to find out who are friends were. High school friends? People we knew peripherally in high school? New people to Florence? I joined some clubs and met some people. Some of those clubs were for me, and some were not. However, in each attempt? I met at least one person that made the experience worthwhile. Fortunately, socializing is also a part of my job so we started going to a lot of functions. It was at one of these functions that I sat across from someone that went to high school with me, but I didn’t know her that well. She was talking about one night prior to that evening where she had run into a few people from high school that she really did not want to see. What really stuck with me was her attitude– she said “If I want them to accept me as a changed and better person, I have to be willing to look for the same qualities in them.”

So, so true. I have used that motto almost every day since I moved back to Florence. My life is richer because of it. Now we have a wide group of friends– some from high school, some from college, people that moved here recently, people we never knew before, and some that we never took the time to get to know.

I used to love fun dinner parties with diverse friends from all walks of like. We would laugh and have interesting discussions. I’ll be honest– I worried that moving home meant that would never happen again.

The other night I was at one such dinner party. As conversation moved from every topic under the sun and every viewpoint under the sun was (respectfully) debated, I realized my life here is exactly what I have always wanted. I have a rich group of friends, healthy and happy children who are thriving, and we have a full calendar of things to do.

I’m not sure that I could ask for anything more.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I had a lovely lunch today at Fat Boys Backyard Grill. Fat Boys is located in th old Cafe Florentine in Huntington Plaza on Second Loop Road.

I had catfish, cream corn, and slaw. Not the healthiest option on the menu, but very good. I prefer a different type of slaw, but my catfish was cooked perfectly. Cream corn was delightful comfort food.  I also tasted my friends grilled chicken and it was great. (I wasn’t in the mood to be so healthy!)  I have been to a few fish camps in my lifetime, and this catfish is on par with any of them.  I took a picture of part of the menu so you can see the variety of options that they offer.

I have long lamented the loss of Cafe Florentine because it was such an easy place to meet friends for lunch.  I think Fat Boys, while a different type of restaurant, it has the same potential. They have updated the interior and it is quite spiffy looking.  The prices are reasonable and you can easily have lunch under $10.00.  It was approximately $18.00 for both of us, though the catfish is a pricer option.  They offer a very reasonable kids menu as well. (You can even shop at Pattycakes next door when you finish.)

It’s only their first week, so plan a few extra minutes if you go. Our waitress was so sweet and did an excellent job.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I hope that the currrent owners don’t mind that I have decided to move in with them. Its just me, the kids, Mr. Flossip, the barking Flossips… surely they won’t care?

The Claussen House is the oldest house in Florence.

(Howard-Harllee-Claussen House) Constructed ca. 1830, the Claussen House is an excellent local example of early nineteenth century Greek Revival architecture and late nineteenth century Italianate style alterations and additions. Built in the raised cottage form, the house is likely one of the most distinguished of its type throughout the upland coastal plain of South Carolina. The house was built for Charles Brown Howard, a planter and merchant. After he died in 1834, his wife married Dr. Robert Harllee, a prominent local physician who was actively involved in state government as a state representative and state senator. In 1870, he sold 1,150 acres, including the house, to Frederick W. Claussen of Charleston. In 1873 Claussen sold 210 acres, including the house, to his nephew William Frederick Claussen, who remodeled the house, expanded his holdings, and planted tobacco and cotton as cash crops on the property. William Claussen also introduced and experimented with several varieties of grapes and pecans on the property. The house remained in the Claussen family until 1985. The house also has a significant collection of domestic and agricultural outbuildings, including a smokehouse, gardener’s cottage, hothouse/greenhouse, chicken coop/outhouse, and carriage shed. Listed in the National Register April 11, 2001. The Claussen House is the oldest home in Florence.

The current owners have decided to rent the house for weddings and other functions. Can I rent it and have a party and pretend like I own it for a night? Email jen534@aol.com if you are interested. They have a large front porch and will allow the use of the two front rooms. They will also have a room for the bride to dress in and allow use of the kitchen.

(Slightly related– did anyone else have that Florence coloring book years ago that had a picture of the Bonnie Shade? I think the Bonnie Shade is the second oldest house in Florence.)

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

From Flossip’s backyard!

First rose:

Now, we are off to the Spring Plant and Flower Festival at the Farmer’s Market!

Guess what I have heard? Mr. Smith is returning to the Farmer’s Market! He is one of my favorite vendors, so I can’t wait to see him out there again.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.