00:00AFR, I'm Tiana Attride and today I am wearing my stretchy pants because I am in one of my favorite cities in the United States to eat, Charleston, South Carolina.
00:11Known for its southern comforts and low country style cooking, Charleston is a regular headliner on lists of the best places to dine and drink in the U.S.
00:18And today I'm challenging myself to hit five places that have put the holy city on the food lover's map all in under 24 hours.
00:24From 82 Queen's legendary she crab soup to fried oysters at Leon's, I'll be eating my way through some of Charleston's most talked about dishes.
00:31The only question, can I make it through all of them before the day is out?
00:34Welcome to Meals Not to Miss.
00:37For breakfast, there was only one choice, Miller's All Day.
00:41Founded by chef Nathan Thurston and Greg Johnsman who mills his own grains, this bright mid-century spot on King Street is set up like an old pharmacy and serves brunch all day, as the name implies.
00:49The woman you see before you hear was a fool to believe in her ability to hold herself back from this plate.
00:54As soon as it was set down in front of me, any semblance of self-control went directly out the window.
00:59If this isn't the biggest, flakiest biscuit you've ever seen in your life, I'd like to know where you're hanging out.
01:04Coupled with runny eggs, hot bacon, and crispy, crackling potatoes, it was over for me.
01:09With a happy stomach and the early stages of delicious regret already beginning to set in, it was off to lunch number one.
01:14Tucked inside a pink 18th century townhouse in the French Quarter, 82 Queen is a Charleston classic that's been serving Gullah Geechee cuisine and championing black history in the Lowcountry for more than 40 years as one of the city's oldest restaurants.
01:26Hidden down an alleyway in a courtyard shaded by magnolias, it almost feels like a garden party, but instead of Earl Grey tea and crumpets, you're about to go all in on sweet tea and a plate of jambalaya.
01:34The star of the show here is the award-winning she-crab soup, a rich, creamy bisque made with two staples of Gullah Geechee cooking, the meat and roe from female blue crabs, which is where the dish gets its name.
01:43It's everything I love about food in Charleston in a single spoonful.
01:47Maybe it was the sweet tea re-energizing me or the soup soothing me, but my stomach felt miraculously ready for round three.
01:53Now you might call me a snob snob.
01:55If memory serves, I've been to this restaurant nearly every single time I've visited Charleston.
01:59Full name, slightly north of Broad, it's been serving elevated southern cuisine since 1993 when it first opened on East Bay Street.
02:05It was part of a larger wave of restaurants during that time that helped build up Charleston's reputation as a must-do for gastronomes.
02:11The dining room is utterly gorgeous, a nice, cool oasis from the afternoon heat, with a rich color palette and chandeliers that make this worth a visit on their own.
02:19And as is required, I went all in on Southern Classics done right, cornbread with a heaping pad of butter and piping hot shrimp and grits, plus a side of beef carpaccio to keep things interesting.
02:29I won't lie to you, by the time I made it to my fourth stop, your friend here was seriously questioning the capacity of my stomach.
02:34But when fresh seafood calls, I'm honor-bound to answer, so I loosen my belt and head inside for an early evening snack at Leon's Oysters set in a former auto repair shop.
02:43Now, the shame of my life is that I've never been huge on oysters, but not liking the char-grilled oysters here would have been like not liking puppies or world peace.
02:51I had to limit myself to six, but if I hadn't had one more restaurant still to go, I could have easily done 12 or even 24.
02:56Now, when the bartender recommended I also try the shrimp roll and scalloped potatoes, I logically should have said no, but my spirit said not to turn it down, and boy, was it right.
03:06By the time I arrived at my final stop, Magnolia's, I was ready to slow down.
03:10This spot has been a cornerstone of Charleston's fine dining scene since it opened in the 90s when it put low country cuisine on the national stage.
03:17The dining room is as romantic as they come, with white tablecloths and dim lighting, perfect for a special occasion, in my case, coming to the end of my challenge.
03:24I settled in at the bar with a glass of wine and pimento cheese dip, a classic Charleston appetizer, and sprung for a plate of honey Dijon glazed Atlantic salmon on a bed of sweet parsnip puree, piled high with veggies.
03:35And with that final plate cleared, I set my fork down and officially headed back to the hotel for a long, long, long night's sleep.
03:43Five meals later, and I still felt like I'd barely scratched the surface of what makes this an iconic dining destination.
03:49What are your favorite places to eat in Charleston, and could you make it through this foodie marathon?
03:54Let us know in the comments, and if you enjoyed this video, don't forget to like and subscribe.
03:58Thanks so much for watching, and happy dining!
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