A Charleston Lunch with Garden & Gun

Last weekend in Charleston, we joined our friends from Garden & Gun to host a one-of-a-kind lunch in the garden. This garden gathering marks our third year of events in partnership with Garden & Gun, but it was our first chance to visit their hometown. We felt immediately at home thanks to their incredible hospitality, as well as the warm welcome we received from the guests who joined us (more than half traveled from outside Charleston especially for the event!). Read on for just a few of our favorite moments from the day. 

Our lunch was held at a private home, graciously opened to guests by our wonderful hostess. Throughout the event, attendees had a chance to tour the home's beautiful and expansive garden, one of the largest in Charleston. Design by Terrain crafted centerpieces and botanical installations using a mix of seasonal and foraged stems from Pennsylvania and South Carolina. A color scheme of moody metallics was accented by silvery green foliage like eucalyptus, Spanish moss and dusty miller, plus kangaroo paw and dried live oak branches in shades of gold and bronze. 

The day's menu celebrated the best flavors of both Pennsylvania and the South Carolina low country. Guests were welcomed with a Blueberry Sage Spritz, made with Black Trumpet Blueberry Cordial and Powderhorn Vodka from Philadelphia's Art in the Age and New Liberty Distillery. Garden Cafe Executive Chef Ryan Bloome joined us in Charleston, partnering with the culinary team from Harvest Catering to create a menu highlighting seasonal flavors.  

Throughout the menu, we incorporated some favorite foods from Pennsylvania purveyors. Cheese was provided by The Farm at Doe Run, accompanied by honey from BumbleBerry Farms. Their honey also flavored a special sweet to end the meal: the Garden Cafe's Salted Honey Pie. Another cafe classic kicked off the lunch; a local Charleston bakery recreated our signature bread pots. The sun-soaked afternoon was one of our favorites in recent memory -- we can't wait to visit Charleston again!

Photos by Maggie Armstrong for Garden & Gun.