Author: Debbi Covington

‘Tis the season! The season for outdoor gatherings, that is. Spring in Beaufort is the most wonderful time of year to invite friends over for cocktails on the deck while you’re grilling vegetables to go with dinner. Of course, the no-seeums will run you back into the house when it’s actually time to eat supper, but that’s part of Beaufort’s charm. Vince and I recently hosted a dinner party for some of our Lowcountry Weekly friends.

And they’re off! More than just a horse race, the Kentucky Derby is a wonderful reason for hosting a gathering. In 2019, the Kentucky Derby will be held on Saturday, May 4. Since the race only lasts for about two minutes, Derby Day food and drink will be needed to make your party a grand success.  

Easter Brunch after the Sunrise Service Awaken this spring to all things new, to gardens revived and friendships revisited. Easter, also called Pascha, is the most important religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Christians believe occurred on the third day after his crucifixion some time in the period AD 27 to 33.

I always wanted my nephew Ray to see me like Auntie Mame from the movies. She was flamboyant and fun and kind of exotic. It was not meant to be. When Ray thinks of me, I imagine he’s thinking about food. The recipes and photos in this issue are revamped from almost six years ago when my nephew and his dad had come to Beaufort for a visit.

Strawberries are the first fruit to come into season in the Lowcountry. When the strawberry farms open, we flock out to the fields to get our first taste of spring.

What do you do when life gives you lemons? Easy. You make lemonade. What do you do when you end up with a bunch of leftover pulled pork barbeque? That was my dilemma earlier this week.

Saturday, March 4, 2017 was a tough day. Our kitty, Giz, had undergone surgery the Friday before. She’d had a bad night and I’d spent most of it awake trying to comfort her. Vince and I knew in our hearts that we needed to prepare to lose our beloved pet. I was despondent and exhausted. Saturday, March 4, 2017 was also the first anniversary of Pat Conroy’s death and the occasion of the first annual commemorative event, March Forth, to celebrate Pat’s life at Penn Center on St. Helena Island.

Celebrating BIFF,  Italian Style   Guess what I just received in today’s mail? My very own copy of Dee Dee and Paul Sorvino’s cookbook, Pinot, Pasta and Parties. What a great cookbook! The recipes are simple and easy, and totally Italian. I recommend their book with great enthusiasm. You absolutely must purchase a copy!

Roll out the red carpet! The 13thAnnual Beaufort International Film Festival cranks up on Tuesday, February 19thwith film makers, directors, screen writers, movie stars and lots of film-loving fans. Our local film festival is a heatwave of fun and excitement during what is typically a chilly February. According to MovieMaker magazine, the Beaufort International Film Festival has been rated as “one of the 25 coolest general film festivals in the world.” 

If these yummy-looking sandwich photos have caught your fancy and you’re thinking that you might be feeling kind of cheesy, before you even start to read this column, take a stick of salted butter out of the refrigerator so it can come to room temperature. Go ahead and do it. If you don’t, when your stomach starts growling and you have to wait, you’ll wish you had. I’ll explain why later.