Gullah Geechee CATERING Excellence

Each year, the Charleston Wine + Food brings together chefs, food lovers, and culinary storytellers from across the country to celebrate the flavors that make the Lowcountry so special. Carolima’s Lowcountry Cuisine has proudly participated in the festival for the past four years, and it continues to be one of our favorite events. It’s always exciting to connect with locals and visitors who are curious about the food traditions that shape our community and the dishes we love to share. This year, we served a comforting Lowcountry favorite: okra purloo . Our version featured rice with fresh okra, shrimp, and smoked sausage, creating a rich and flavorful one-pot dish that truly represents the heart of Lowcountry cooking. On the side, we served crispy fatback , adding that perfect salty bite that many people remember from traditional Southern tables. It’s a simple dish with big flavor—perfect for feeding a crowd and introducing festival guests to one of the Charleston’s most beloved rice dishes. Purloo is deeply rooted in the foodways of the Gullah Geechee culture that helped shape Lowcountry cuisine. Ingredients like rice and okra , which trace their origins to Africa, became foundational in many dishes throughout the region. Enslaved Africans and their descendants were often given limited provisions or leftover cuts of meat and had to make something nourishing from what was available. Those scrap meats—such as pork jowls, also known as fatback, or what we affectionately call in the Gullah Geechee community “butts meat”—were combined with rice and vegetables to create hearty, flavorful dishes that could feed many people. For us, participating in Charleston Wine + Food is about more than serving great food. It’s about sharing the culture, traditions, and stories behind the dishes we cook every day at Carolima’s. Watching guests taste okra purloo for the first time, ask questions, and connect with the flavors of the Lowcountry is always a highlight—and we’re grateful to represent these traditions year after year.

Every year, the Charleston Wine + Food Festival feels like the Super Bowl of the Lowcountry culinary scene. For a few days, Charleston becomes the gathering place for chefs, pitmasters, winemakers, farmers, and food lovers from all over the country. What makes it special isn’t just the talent — it’s the storytelling. This festival celebrates the flavors, traditions, and cultural influences that make the Lowcountry one of the most dynamic food regions in the world. It’s where heritage meets innovation, and where rice, seafood, smoke, spice, curated wines, and handcrafted cocktails all share the same stage. In the weeks leading up to the festival, our kitchen moves into full focus — early mornings, rehearsal runs, taste tests, and plenty of “just one more tweak” moments to get everything just right. We talk through timing, refine seasoning, and think about how each guest will experience that first bite. It’s not just about cooking great food — it’s about delivering consistency, confidence, and a plate that feels intentional from start to finish. The preparation may be behind the scenes, but it’s where the magic really starts. For us, participating is bigger than serving a dish. It’s about representation. It’s about standing proudly in our Gullah Geechee roots and contributing to the larger culinary conversation. We’re bringing dishes that speak to tradition and community — the kind of food that tells a story before you even take a bite. And yes, there will be plenty of flavor and a lot of love behind every plate. If you’re attending, come find us, say hello, and pull up for a taste. We’ll be smiling, plating, and celebrating right alongside you. Charleston Wine + Food isn’t just an event — it’s a reminder that what we cook, where we come from, and how we gather around the table truly matters. Purchase Tickets Here: Charleston Wine & Food