In this conversation, Trey McMillan of Lowcountry Oyster Company shares insights into the world of oyster farming, discussing the significance of location, the transition from fishing to oyster cultivation, and the crafting of the Lowcountry Cup oyster. He emphasizes the challenges and learning experiences in the industry, the importance of sustainability, and the unique flavor profiles of oysters. If you dream about a day on the waters of the South Carolina Lowcountry, then this episode will transport you there.

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What makes a restaurant make one of Stephanie's best of lists? Well, it is always an equation of passion and details that come together behind the scenes and feel effortless during service. Merci, located in Charleston, SC, ended up being one of her most exciting restaurant visits of 2025, so in this conversation, co-owners Courtney and Michael Zentner delve into the importance of community relationships and their event production company, The Drifter. The chef shares his insights into their menu development and culinary philosophy, and they both embrace the challenges of running a small restaurant.

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Just over the South Carolina state border from Myrtle Beach is Calabash, North Carolina, a small commercial fishing town that's been known for generations, especially for its shrimp. For many beach goers, including many in my family, a trip to the beach wasn't complete without a visit to a fish camp in Calabash. In this conversation, lifelong Calabash resident Chef and Captain Bob Taylor shares insights about his life at Waterfront Seafood Shack. He discusses the unique aspects of living in a tourist town, the importance of loving hard work, and the joy of serving fresh seafood. Bob also highlights his family's culinary traditions, including one special pound cake.

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For this "treat filled" Halloween conversation, Kaitlin Bryant and Mark Ekstrom, co-owners of Auspicious Baking Co. in Savannah, Ga., share their journey from humble beginnings to running a successful bakery with two locations, a wholesale business, and a full-service restaurant, Bread & Butter. They discuss their passion for baking, the evolution of their craft, and power of a just out of the oven chocolate chip cookie. The conversation also delves into the challenges of transitioning to a restaurant model and the balance between ownership and craftsmanship in the culinary world, but their enthusiasm for the journey will have you considering that dream that you've deferred a little too long.

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Tucked into a modest brick building beside the train tracks at the intersection of Bull and Victory in Savannah, Georgia is Late Air. In this conversation, Colin Breland and Madeline Ott, co-owners of Late Air, discuss their journey in establishing a unique dining experience in a city whose culinary community is popping with creativity. They share insights on the importance of intentional dining, the evolution of their restaurant concept, and the significance of a sense of place. Both use hospitality as their creative outlet, and with it, have created a buzzy restaurant that's one of the must visits in the city.

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St. Helena is a storied South Carolina sea island and the epicenter of the rich cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee community. Morning Glory Homestead is a family-run micro farm on the island, and through the work of farmers Tony and Belinda Jones, the stories of the island become rooted in the very land from which they spring. This discussion highlights the importance of sustainable farming, community education, and the preservation of cultural traditions. The couple share their journey of transforming their family land into a hub for learning and cultural enrichment, emphasizing the significance of their agricultural practices and community engagement in maintaining the Gullah Geechee legacy.

To keep up with Stephanie's work beyond the show, sign up for On the Menu with The Southern Fork, her free monthly newsletter that includes recent bylines, recommendations, and other fun tidbits. And for consistent visual peeks into the world of The Southern Fork, follow along on Instagram.

Within Sushi-Wa's small restaurant in Charleston, SC, there is a joyful sense of peace, anchored in an unlikely friendship where Kazu Murakami and Chris Schoedler have forged a schedule that allows them to joyfully show up to work and enjoy life outside of it too. This conversation explores the intricate world of sushi making, delving into the cultural influences, the joy of culinary exploration, and the significance of seasonal ingredients. The chefs share personal anecdotes about their journeys in the culinary field, the art of sushi presentation, and the relationships built through food.

This is the season debut of the 10th season of The Southern Fork, and this season Stephanie focuses on the stories of the Carolina and Georgia coasts, a region supremely close to her heart. With its varied cultural influences, it has been an incubator for American cuisine since the 17th century, and today, is one of the top travel destinations in the world. The music featured on this season is courtesy of musician and producer Jimbo Mathus.

To keep up with Stephanie's work beyond the show, sign up for On the Menu with The Southern Fork, her free monthly newsletter that includes recent bylines, recommendations, and other fun tidbits. And for consistent visual peeks into the world of The Southern Fork, follow along on Instagram.

I have a passion for sustainable seafood, and it's been both an important subject here on the show and the subject of many of my written pieces throughout the years. When I first interviewed Sammy Monsour in 2020, I discovered that we shared this passion, and I've watched as he has really blossomed into a chef leader on this front. Therefore, when I first heard that he and Kassady Wiggins, his wife and beverage director partner, wanted to write a cookbook about Southern seafood, I encouraged them to go for it. What has resulted is Salt & Shore: Recipes from the Coastal South, filled with stories, sips, and plenty of recipes and photographs that will make you long for sea breezes if you're missing them. It's a vibe, something that Kassady and Sammy excel at in their restaurants, which include the now-closed Preux & Proper in LA -- that gained a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019 -- and Joyce Soul & Sea, also in LA where they teamed up with founders and operators, Prince and Athena Riley. Joyce was named a "Southern oasis in LA" by LA Times food critic Bill Addison, and the Carolina natives bring Southern flavors to both the food and beverage programs. They are living bi-coastal these days between LA and Charleston and dreaming of their next project. Me? After this conversation, I'm dreaming of hushpuppies, so I'm glad there are two recipes to choose from in their book.

Other episodes you might enjoy:

Sammy Monsour: Preux & Proper (Los Angeles, CA)

Eric Montagne: Locals Seafood (Durham, NC)

When I first spoke with Chef Michael Toscano in 2017, he and his family were just getting settled in Charleston with the opening of Le Farfalle. Now, seven years later, the chef seems as if he's truly settled into a new rhythm between NYC and the Lowcountry. He and his wife Caitlin currently have four restaurants: the aforementioned Le Farfalle, da Toscano in New York's Greenwich Village, da Toscano Porchetta Shop in Charleston, and Fugazzi, a small spot inside Charleston's Revelry Brewing that serves what Michael calls unauthentic Italian-inspired American food. The last two are decidedly casual, a new turn for a chef that's been anything but when it comes to his career. He was a sous chef at Mario Batali's Babbo by the age of 21, was nominated three times for Rising Star Chef by the James Beard Foundation, and opened his first chef-owned restaurant, Perla, in 2012, which made Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America list. He's always pursued his passion for cooking, but now that passion is a team sport, where he looks to grow and support the rising stars in his own restaurants as well as the farmers he loves to work with. And one way he does that? By topping soft, crusty focaccia, fresh out of the oven, with all sorts of delicious things.

Other episodes you might enjoy:

Michael Toscano: Le Farfalle (Charleston, SC)

Craig Richards: Lyla Lila (Atlanta, GA)

Deborah Freeman is the creator of Setting the Table, a multi-award winning podcast exploring Black foodways and culinary history that in 2023 was honored by the International Association of Culinary Professionals as "Podcast of the Year." She's also a colleague in the food writing world, with contributions including to Eater, Condé Nast Traveler, and Garden and Gun, and is the food editor for Richmond's Style Weekly. We sat down via Zoom to talk about her most recent project, Finding Edna Lewis, a new docuseries for Virginia Public Media that explores the life of the Black female trailblazer who was a celebrated chef and author. As a proud Virginia native, Deb champions Virginia foodways and the power of personal history as a through line in food that can teach us about ourselves and connect us to our ancestors. It's something that Edna Lewis' work illustrates and the kind of work Deb is doing in the world, too; therefore, here's another Southern Fork sustenance conversation, diving deep into the foundational "why" when it comes to the power of food.