Category: Blog and Tips

Blog and Tips

Three Ways to Make a Better Cup of Coffee at Home

A day without coffee is like…just kidding. We have no idea. If you’re like us, you can’t start your morning without a hot cup o’ joe, whether you brew it at home or stand in line at your favorite coffee shop, wondering how the barista serves up everything from cold brew creations to specialty drip …

Blog and Tips

Eleven Christmas Traditions Only Southerners Would Know (and How to Get in On the Fun)

However laid-back the lifestyle is, we Southerners are known for going big on three things: our hair, our portion sizes, and Christmas. From the endless tins of Christmas cookies left on your front porch to the annual festivals whole towns know and love, there’s nowhere quite like the South at Christmastime – especially when it …

Blog and Tips

Not Sure If You Should Hire a Caterer for Your Holiday Party? Read This.

It’s that time of year again: party planning season. Decking the halls and donning your ugliest Christmas sweater is the fun part, but whether you’re hosting Friendsgiving at your house or have family flying into town for the holidays, cooking for a crowd is never easy. While everyone is mixing and mingling in the living …

Blog and Tips

What Southern Hospitality REALLY Means

Southern hospitality is more than a catchphrase for Lowcountry locals – it’s a lifestyle. If you’re from out of town, the saying likely conjures up images of rocking on the front porch, sipping sweet tea, and sit-down family dinners. But the roots of this down-home friendliness run deeper than inviting friends over every once in …

Blog and Tips

Ten Surprisingly Delicious Southern Foods

From creamy pimento cheese to crispy fried pickles, the South undoubtedly has some of the most decadent, delicious, and downright bizarre cuisines in the nation. Born from a rich mix of culinary traditions and ingredients you might not find outside of the bottom states, Southern food is truly unlike anything else – which tends to confuse visitors.

Blog and Tips

Seven Insider Tips for Shopping Your Local Farmers Market

Farmer’s markets are summertime staples, especially here in the Lowcountry. Between the sunny weather, fresh foods, and some good old-fashioned Southern gab, shopping the stands harkens back to a time when goods were bought and sold between friends and neighbors. We love our Bluffton Farmers Market vendors here at The Cottage, but we get it: …

Blog and Tips

The Cottage Grilled Bread Salad

The Italian classic panzanella gets a new spin when you grill the bread. This added dimension, I think, further brings out the summer sweetness of dead-ripe beefsteak tomatoes. The juxtaposition of the caramelized, toasted bread against the sweet-tart tomatoes makes for plenty of contrast in flavor and texture. You can also try this without grilling …