Indulgent Content

Ally Rogers and Richard Canestrari owned one of the Bluffton area's best restaurants for many years... They've since sold the restaurant earlier this year and have been doing private in-home chef events under the name "Pour Richard's Good To Go." Ally and Richard join me to talk about this new endeavor and how much fun they're having cooking and baking for private parties, special occasions, and other exciting events! They're two of my favorite people, and I'm grateful to have gotten to know them, and very fortunate to be able to have them join me on the podcast!

Marcus Walsh is a long-time local sports broadcaster who you can find regularly on WHHI programming as well as Lowco Sports, part of our Lowco Media umbrella... He joins me to talk about local and national football, food, and more!

Discussing the wonderful couple of hours I got to spend at New Leaf Produce on St. Helena Island with farm Owner/Operator Selma Davis! If you haven't enjoyed a salad, sandwich, poke bowl, or anything else that incorporates greens with LOCAL hydroponic, vertically-farmed greens, then you're missing out... Take a tour of New Leaf's farm with Selma and I as she shows us her entire operation, discusses the types of greens, flowers, and other produce she's growing on her farm, and how YOU can purchase her products directly at their (almost) weekly "Market at the Farm," Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM at New Leaf Produce! Enjoy, y'all!

Having a different conversation today than what we're used to about a very important topic with Courtney Hampson of Bluffton Self Help and CH2 Magazine!

My good friend Scott Hastings, Owner/Chef of Lulu Kitchen joins me to talk about their brand new menu!

Dave Peck, owner of Bad Biscuit and Pool Bar Jim's joins me for a fun discussion!

Joining me today are Amanda Fox, owner of Flatbread Grill Bluffton and her head chef, Ken Rowan!

Two Birds Greek Street food is the hottest Mediterranean sensation to hit Bluffton!

Talking to Chef Chris Sullivan of Mulberry Street Trattoria and Edible Memories!

Chatting with my friend Michael Penchansky, owner of Nosh NY Bagels in Ridgeland!

Catching up with Walker Venrick, Manager at The Smokehouse on Hilton Head

Catching up with Chef Matt Valentino of SlapTruck at Locals Only Taproom!

Chatting with Chef Bernard Bennett of Okan!

Talking with Victor Cruz, owner of the El Nopal taqueria truck in Hardeeville!

Chatting with Anders Graham, head chef of Lowcountry Catering in Bluffton, SC

Chef Kanlaya Ouychaisawad and co-owner Sawat Aunkaew of Thai Smile Cuisine present their Thai flavors as Chef Kanlaya shows us how they prepare two Thai classic dishes, Pad Thai and Pad Kra Prao. Sawat also mixes up a couple of delightful cocktails for us! Thai Smile is one of my absolute favorite restaurants, and you can see why their food is so delicious by the amount of thought, care, and preparation that goes into it... I highly recommend you go check them out on Hilton Head Island in the Island Crossing Shopping Center on Palmetto Bay Road right outside Sea Pines! Enjoy some of this excellent cuisine and tell them The Indulgent Islander sent you! Thanks to my guy RJ Torres of Visually Chopped Productions for recording and co-producing this with me! 🍜🍲

I was super pumped to sit down with Hilton Head music icon John Cranford at Coligny Plaza's newest restaurant, Slowcountry BBQ! John and I really enjoyed their "McMansion" burger, a sloppy brisket sandwich, and some shrimp and crab gumbo (all of which were delicious!) while we discussed this week's Hilton Head Island Jam, the big Rock N' Ribs HHI festival next month, and some of our favorite local grub (as well as some of John's picks up in the midwest!). Hilton Head Island is a hotbed for some super talented musicians, and John is one of them who has supported his fellow acts for many years. I had a blast having this conversation with him. I hope you'll enjoy it and get out there to check out some great live music this week! 🤘

A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of getting together with my friend Rebekah Cann and her team at Pilot & Park, a beautiful apartment and condo development at Eastern Wharf Savannah... Rebekah and I have a shared love for food and the incredible restaurant scene in Savannah, so we thought it would be a great idea for us to gather her awesome staff to enjoy some lunch from one of the best new dining hotspots in town, The Laundry Diner! This was a wonderful experience, and shines a light on one of the top destinations in town, set right on the Savannah River, adjacent to the Thompson Savannah (Savannah, GA) and The Park at Eastern Wharf... Lunch was absolutely delicious and the company was even better! Hope you all enjoy this one! 🏢🏨🌁

AMA Private Dining's Chicken Parm Pop-Up featuring Hardee Greens at lot 9 brewing co. was awesome! Thanks to Jakii Morrow for recording and helping produce this. My family and I are also partaking in AMA's "Sunday Sauce" Weekly Special #002 this Sunday for my brother's birthday... Chicken vodka parm with homemade rigatoni, Italian chopped salad, and homemade sourdough garlic bread, which serves 2-3 or 4-6 (with a peach crostata for dessert as an add-on!). Stay tuned for my full report on tonight's "Italian Traditions, Southern Roots" wine dinner at the May River Manor for more of our great friend and top fan Chef Antonio's amazing dishes. As always, #StayHungry, my friends! 🤌

Hello, beautiful people! Been out of pocket for a bit with some out-of-town shenanigans, and indulgences, of course... But I'm gonna make it up to y'all today with something I've been more excited about than just about anything else for quite some time. As anyone who follows me knows, I love, and in some ways LIVE for a good sandwich... And one of the best places in the area to grab a great sandwich (and much, much more!) is one of the oldest dining establishments on Hilton Head Island, serving them since 1986! I hope you enjoy my interview with local legends fellow Boston College alum Thomas Reilley and Jada Reilley Clark as we enjoyed a wonderful lunch and a super fun conversation at Gruby's NY Deli in the Fresh Market Shoppes on HHI. This special feature was recorded and produced by the talented Joseph Keith of Joseph Keith Photography. Gruby's serves breakfast five days a week (with breakfast sandwiches available Saturdays) and lunch six days a week, in addition to offering catering services for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. I have a feeling we'll be returning there soon to highlight some of their breakfast offerings, but in the meantime, feast your eyes on these amazing sandwiches and let us know what YOUR favorite is! We appreciate your continued support and are looking forward to sharing A LOT more content with you over the next few weeks and months, including TWO interviews this week with a chef from one of Bluffton's best restaurants, and another from one of the area's most popular food trucks. Stay tuned for all that and #StayHungry! 🤙

Talking to Locals Only Taproom's owner Shona Goldstein about her beer, food trucks, and the upcoming One Year Anniversary Party with the Tin & Tallow smashburger truck October 19th!

An excerpt from Episode 4 on Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana and why it made my "top picks" for Italian restaurants in the area... Really impressed with what Chef Robert Colson has been doing over there, and I can't wait to get back soon for dinner! 🍝

A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant was one of my picks on Episode 5 for comfort food... "A rite of passage for all who visit the island." You'll find just about all of your favorite Southern staples at ALCBR.

Our special guest interview with friend and sponsor of the podcast, Antonio Mancini Albano, owner of AMA Private Dining. How we connected, what he's been working on and with who, how he's building his business by developing relationships throughout the lowcountry food scene, and what's in store for the future. Very exciting stuff! 👨‍🍳

Our interview with Marshall Sampson, owner of Kung Fu Cantina, on Episode 12 of The Indulgent Islander, which dropped yesterday and is available on Facebook, YouTube, and all podcast platforms!

We interviewed Hilton Head Island music legend Martin Lesch about his love for Szechuan food, dumplings, noodles, and much more Asian cuisine, as well as learning about his experience living in China, dining in New York City at some of the best Asian restaurants you can find, and how some of our local options come pretty close to what you'll find in a major city like NY.

FINALLY, The Indulgent Islander Podcast returns with Episode 15, the Season 1 Finale, Steakhouses! We appreciate all your patience waiting on this one... Tim recently got to have the experience and adventure of a lifetime, which we'll share with you all in due time, and came home from Dublin fighting a bout of pneumonia. To his credit, he fulfilled all of his trivia obligations this week, as he's tried to get back into game shape. We finally got to record the episode after a couple week hiatus, and we hope you will find it worth the wait, since there's A LOT to cover since we last spoke. Once again, I want to thank each and every one of you for all of the support and encouragement throughout this first season of what we hope will be a number of seasons where we bring you the best and brightest of the Bluffton and Hilton Head food scene; supporting, promoting, and getting more exposure for all those who work tirelessly to feed us day in and day out, week in and week out. etc. We're truly grateful for our food and beverage folks, and we will continue to find new and creative ways to spotlight them on our podcast. For all you mothers out there, we hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day, but before that let's hope the rain holds out for Mayfest tomorrow... We'll be back towards the end of the month with a brand new Season 2, which will have a MUCH different look, feel, and vibe. In the meantime, you can catch up on ALL of the Season 1 episodes here on our YouTube channel, on our Facebook page, and all major podcast platforms for the audio version. Have a a great weekend, enjoy the show, and as always, #StayHungry, my friends! ✊ Mentioned on this episode: Podcast sponsors: Anthony Mascolo Realtor - Keller Williams of the Lowcountry Lulu Kitchen AMA Private Dining Theme song "Ceviche" written, produced, and performed by Jevon Daly (stay tuned for Jevon's new music video, "Hilton Head Looks Good On You," produced by Harden Creative, coming out soon!)

Happy Hump Day, everybody! If you're dragging a little bit this week like I am after a weekend chock full of activities (both active with 15,000+ steps on Friday in Harbour Town and as passive as it gets for the next 48 hours of RBC Heritage and WWE WrestleMania watching), while also celebrating the holidays with your family and friends, we've got the perfect cure for you this week... Because, as you know, moderation is important, and in between indulgences it's always best to try and eat as healthy as you can. So without any further ado, here is Episode 14 of The Indulgent Islander Podcast: Healthy options! Tim and I open with some brief news and notes, highlighted by the eagerly anticipated opening of nosh NY bagels this week, and dive right into our top picks for healthy food options in the Hilton Head and Bluffton area. As we've mentioned recently on the show, we're winding down Season 1, with one more episode after this one on steakhouses. After that. we'll take a short break for a few weeks to reset, recharge, and refresh the program with some exciting enhancements we're sure you'll enjoy for Season 2! Thank you all again for your continued support, please enjoy this week's podcast, and please don't hesitate to send us your feedback. We'll see you next week for the Season 1 finale. Have a great rest of your week, a wonderful weekend, and #StayHungry, my friends! 🤟 Podcast sponsors: Anthony Mascolo Realtor, Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry Lulu Kitchen AMA Private Dining Theme song written and performed by: Jevon Daly

The Indulgent Islander Podcast is BACK, with Episode 13: Breweries and taprooms! One of the coolest parts about living here in the lowcountry is gathering with family, friends, and colleagues at unique locations, whether they be picturesque with water views, or amazingly among commercial buildings and offices yet still are able to somehow CRAFT an environment (see what i did there?) that attracts locals and tourists alike to enjoy a few drinks and indulge in some tasty food to go along with it. Whether you're in the mood for relaxation and conversation, competition or celebration, an entertainment production, a retail function, or a holiday promotion, we've got you covered with an Elite Eight list of brewing companies and beer purveyors that are sure to provide an afternoon and/or evening of enjoyment for you and your crew. Each and every one of these establishments has unique qualities and creative offerings, yet all of them consistently quench our thirst for delicious frosty beverages, whether they be beer, hard seltzer, or even some mead! Cheers to everyone who has supported the podcast thus far, and we'll be raising a glass or two soon for some HUGE happenings that are on the way from our growing team of sponsors, guests, and contributors. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks, and we hope you have a Happy Heritage/Passover/Easter Week, and enjoy any other holidays you'll be celebrating this weekend, whether it's Superstars of the squared circle or seated in a circle... We're gonna whet your appetite for those munchies. #StayHungry, my friends! 👌 Podcast sponsors: Anthony Mascolo Realtor - Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry Lulu Kitchen AMA Private Dining Theme song written and performed by: Jevon Daly

Continuing with our Asian theme from last week, The Indulgent Islander Podcast is back with Episode 12: Sushi and Japanese! While sushi seems to be a "like it or you don't" food category, even those who won't eat raw seafood can find something that will suit their liking at any of these restaurants. I, for one, am a sashimi guy... So most of these satisfy my craving for raw fish, in addition to my strong affinity for tasty appetizers and accompaniments! Tim thought himself to be not-so-into sushi, but as we went through the list he was actually pleasantly surprised at how many of the establishments I selected he's enjoyed. In addition to the sushi conversation, we got Antonio Mancini Albano of AMA Private Dining to join us for a few minutes in between appointments to share his experience as he's burst on to the private in-home dining scene recently in Bluffton, Hilton Head, Savannah, Beaufort, and everywhere in between. His approach has been to build strong relationships throughout the local food community, and his collaborations are an inspiration for both restauranteurs and customers alike, as is his glowing attitude. Antonio shares with us what's coming down the road for AMA, this weekend's "panzerotti" drop, and hints at some big news (which he'll rejoin us very soon to discuss). Since we had one great short interview, we decided to add another more topical one that's a little bit longer, as Marshall Sampson of Kung Fu Cantina (and Santa Fe Cafe) was kind enough to spend some time with us discussing how this "Asian Latin" fusion choice came about for their new restaurant, the changes they've made to accommodate their patrons, and how it's a priority to keep the business busy throughout the entire year as opposed to just depending on the busy tourist season on HHI. Marshall and his team have created special experiences like their sushi class and joint events with other local businesses to foster deep meaningful relationships in the Moss Creek area and beyond. Alright, that's enough out of me... And yes, we know these have been running long, and we're hard at work to tighten things up for you as we wrap up Season 1 and prepare for Season 2, so please bear with us and stay tuned for some exciting improvements to come! Have a great rest of your week and as always #StayHungry, my friends! 👊 P.S. We'll be back next week with breweries and taprooms, followed by healthy options and then steakhouses to round out Season 1! Podcast sponsors: Anthony Mascolo Realtor -Keller Williams Realty of the Lowcountry Lulu Kitchen AMA Private Dining (+ guest interview)

The Indulgent Islander Podcast is BACK, with Episode 11: Chinese and other Asian cuisine! I've been looking forward to this one for quite some time, as Chinese food is one of my absolute favorites, with Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean being right there with it. Tim and I go through my top picks for this category, and bring in a true ringer to cover the subject, local music legend Martin Lesch! Martin shares his experience living in China for several years, his frequent trips to New York City for Szechuan, dumplings, and noodles, and tells us how a couple of locals match up with the amazing restaurants he's visited since becoming an afficionado of Chinese and other Asian food. We also introduce a brand new segment called "Flavor Innovator," thanks to our friend Tyler Bowdish's inspiration, and review a few other establishments that I've patronized recently. It might be redundant at this point (and some might argue so are our episodes!), but I want to thank all of you who have listened to and supported the podcast thus far. We are truly grateful for all of you, and your endorsement really fuels us to keep this meal train going, as we're looking ahead to more guests on the show, live events, and other exciting endeavors. So queue up the podcast here on Facebook, on my YouTube channel, or anywhere else you get your preferred audio programs, and enjoy as we take you on a tour of China and other Asian countries with local Lowcountry flavor. And don't be shy to "over-order" as we're prone to do, because it's always great to have some leftovers. We'll be back next week with Episode 12: Sushi/Japanese! #StayHungry! 🤟 Thanks to our sponsors: Anthony Mascolo Realtor - Keller Williams of the Lowcountry Lulu Kitchen AMA Private Dining

Wakey wakey, eggs and bacey! I know, I know... I'm posting this at 9 o'clock at night. But it was for good reason, and you'll have to tune in next week to find out why! In the meantime, my tag team partner Tim Wood and I are back with Episode 10 of The Indulgent Islander Podcast: Breakfast and brunch! While this isn't one of our longer episodes (we know we're both long-winded, but that's how much we love food), it's definitely the longest "list" I've compiled thus far. We'll start out with my 6 "top picks," then move on to a "lightning round" (food-centric name needed, suggestions are welcome!), where we run through at least as many more that we know deserve to be mentioned in the conversation. Before that, we'll start out with some of the delicious food I enjoyed over the weekend and the grand opening of... You can probably guess that, but again, you'll have to tune in next week for the full report! We are also extremely excited for next week's guest, who is certainly the most qualified to discuss the topic for Episode 11, Chinese and other Asian food. Thank you all very much for your continued support, and we hope you'll enjoy this latest installment of the podcast... If it's too late to do so tonight, it would be the perfect content for tomorrow's morning coffee, workout, shower, or however you start your day! Finally, a very special shoutout to a great dude, one of the most talented musicians and overall entertainers in the area. My friend Jevon Daly wrote and recorded a brand new theme song for the podcast! We thank him for his support and appreciate everything he does to help local musicians and other entertainers and content creators. Survey says, another one for the good guys. Have a great end of March (I can't believe April's less than a week away...) and #StayHungry, my friends! 🤙 Mentioned on the podcast: Sponsors: Anthony Mascolo Realtor - Keller Williams of the Lowcountry Lulu Kitchen AMA Private Dining

The Indulgent Islander Podcast is back with Episode 9: Bars & burgers! While there might be a wide-ranging spectrum of opinions on who has the best burger in the area, there's no question that the restaurants on this list at least belong in the conversation... The general parameters were predicated simply upon where you'd want to go to enjoy a burger and a beer (or 2, 3, or 4 beers... Or no beers!) and some conversation with your friends, family, just your partner, or solo. Where would you go to catch a game, or just to have a chat with the bartender/server while enjoying your favorite burger? We had a lot of fun with this one, and we hope you will too. As always, your comments, feedback, and suggestions are welcome, and since we'll be constantly adding categories and picks for all different kinds of cuisine, we'll most likely be incorporating your recommendations at some point! Tim and I thank you all again for your continued support, we're grateful to be growing week-to-week, and we're excited for everything that we will be bringing you for the rest of this season and beyond... As always, #StayHungry, my friends! (By the time this episode was over I was starving... Gotta stop doing these on an empty stomach!) P.S. - Thank you to our sponsors! We appreciate your support! Anthony Mascolo Realtor - Keller Williams of the Lowcountry Lulu Kitchen AMA Private Dining

Tim and I are back with Episode 5 of The Indulgent Islander Podcast, where we cover a category that's probably the most befitting of the south, comfort food! My top picks range from a "lowcountry rite of passage" to cajun and creole creations, from a fried chicken kitchen to rebellious southern fare, and from Africa to the Caribbean to local farms. While our definition of comfort food may vary individually, we focused on cuisine that is the perfect cure for a chilly winter day, the soul-nourishing meal that warms your insides literally and figuratively and makes you feel like "home." Please comment below or message us with your favorite comfort food establishments on Hilton Head, in Bluffton, and around the local area. Stay tuned for next week, when we put on our best pair of pants for a special night out, visiting my top choices for upscale dining. Hope you have something nice planned with a loved one for Valentine's Day, especially if it involves some delicious food, and we'll have more on that for you later in the week as well... Thank you all very much for your continued support, and #StayHungry! 🙏 nosh NY bagels Cafe Al Dente Hilton Head Island Cafe Al Dente Take Out Kitchen A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant River Road Café Cahills Market Bad Biscuit Okàn Bluffton Lowcountry Fresh Craft Kitchen

Episode 4 of The Indulgent Islander Podcast is here! What better way to kick off a podcast about Italian restaurants in the area than to interview the owners of a BRAND NEW Italian restaurant coming to Bluffton in the next few months? Thanks to George Casalicchio, Mattia Bianchi, Camilla Eula, and Giandomenico Prestopino of Chez Georges Bistro & Bar for joining Tim and I today to talk about their new restaurant, Radici Italian Chophouse, which will be occupying the location formerly held by Pour Richard's for the last 14 plus years. We learn about their restaurant background in Italy and elsewhere, the journey that brought them to the lowcountry, and what they have planned for their space and concept. After that fun and exciting discussion we transition to my "top picks" for Italian restaurants in Hilton Head and Bluffton, and what unique qualities each of these eateries bring to the table, literally and figuratively. We're VERY excited about this one, and we hope you will enjoy watching or listening to it as much as we did recording it! Please feel free to comment on your favorite Italian restaurant in the area, as feedback is always welcome... Let's just try and keep it positive! Join us again next week as we cover a category that's specific to the south and holds a special place in our hearts, comfort food! The podcast is also available now on ALL platforms, including Apple, and YouTube. Thank you all for your continued support, we're truly grateful for all of you! And, as always, #StayHungry, my friends!

The Indulgent Islander Podcast is back with Episode 3, where we discuss one of the most exciting food subjects in the lowcountry, food trucks! Over the past several years Hilton Head and Bluffton have become a hotbed for food trucks, and we cover a number of our favorites, while also discussing how these businesses have taken advantage of social media to spread the word about their delicious food. We start off with the recent success story of Tin & Tallow, who started with their food truck just over a year ago and have transitioned to a permanent brick and mortar location on Hilton Head Island. A few of these "phenomenons," as Tim stated, have created a ton of buzz throughout the area, and continue to innovate while churning out an incredible amount of excellent offerings to their patrons, many of whom have become loyal, regular customers of these local gems. We hope that you will enjoy this latest episode, and please feel free to drop your suggestions in the comments and let us know what you've been enjoying recently from these outstanding chefs and their staffs. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce's Restaurant Week continues into this weekend, so it's a great time to take advantage of the warmer weather and support your favorite restaurants and food trucks! Tune in next week when we tackle a subject that's very special to me, Italian restaurants. In the meantime, please enjoy our talk about food trucks, and as always, #StayHungry my friends! 🤟🏼 La Birria Loca School Pizza FOOD SAVVY, LLC Dominick's Steak Shack (Chase English) The Southern Peel Young's BBQ The Hot Dawg House Pitchin’ Berries All About That Bean Lowco Grub Taste of Mexico Lowcountry Lobster

Tim and I are back for Episode 2 of The Indulgent Islander Podcast, where we tackle the ever-controversial subject of, you guessed it... Pizza. That's right... We're going right after it. Just like that first impatient, overaggressive, premature one bite (everybody knows the rules) that torches the roof of your mouth. Keep in mind, these are my "picks," and several others that I enjoy might not have made this cut, but I'm sure you'll be hearing about them at some point. Feel free to drop your picks in the comments, remember to please be kind, and enjoy yourselves. After all, what's more fun to eat and talk about than pizza? Thank you for listening and stay tuned for much, much more! (P.S. Stay safe out there in the snow tonight!)🤙 Tin & Tallow School Pizza Pour Richard's Ralphie's Pizza Fat Baby's Pizza and Subs Dough Boys Pizza Hilton Head Dough Boys Pizza Bluffton Lapizzeria Bella Italia Hilton Head Island Local Pie Local Pie Bluffton The Southern Peel Sunset Pizzeria The Upper Crust Okatie

I'm thrilled to present to you the very first episode of The Indulgent Islander Podcast! Special thanks to Tim Wood for collaborating with me on this new endeavor... This first one runs a bit long, but that's because we tackled a subject that I'm especially passionate about: Sandwiches! Tim and I discuss my "Nick's Picks," what I identify as my top sandwich spots in the Hilton Head/Bluffton area (in no particular order). We hope you enjoy the podcast and look forward to presenting a new episode every week, where we will cover a different food or drink category. Please comment or message us with any suggestions for future podcasts, and feel free to add your feedback as well. We only ask that you try to keep things positive, as that's part of the mission statement of The Indulgent Islander, where we spotlight the outstanding restaurants, food trucks, chefs, and other food and beverage businesses throughout the HHI area. Thank you very much for listening, and #StayHungry, my friends! 🤙🏼 Tin & Tallow Stu's Surfside Subs Michael Anthony’s Market Café Gruby's NY Deli Grooby's, Too Downtown Deli Downtown Catering Company Southern Spice Deli & Catered Events Sprout Momma Breads Locals Only Taproom Side Hustle Brewing Co. TJ’s Take & Bake Pizza Company