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5Church Charleston and The Charleston Christmas Market

We made it out alive! We ended up finding almost all of our Christmas gifts walking around downtown yesterday. We hit the market, some shopping on King St. and finally the last Christmas Market of the season in Marion Square. But before we did all that shopping we had, in our opinion, the reigning Best Brunch in Charleston at 5Church Charleston. Maybe it was a little bit of the atmosphere that pulled me in, but the food, along with the presentation made the whole experience.

Located in the old Mad River (Who remembers Mad River? I know y’all do.), the dining room is enormous with super high ceilings. Words painted across the ceiling saying among other things, “There is only we.” give you a little bit of that Sunday morning inspiration while you knock back a Bloody Mary.

Panoramic of 5Church
Panoramic of 5Church
Inspirational Bloody Mary
Inspirational Bloody Mary

While I was busy admiring the surroundings and sippin’ on the spicy brunch cocktail, the great people at 5Church were busy putting this cute-ass thing together:

Coffee Platter
Coffee Platter

I already talked about how I have a thing for coffee, Bloody Marys, and cold water all together at brunch, but this little platter was over the top. I literally said, “Wow.” as our server set it down. And all I ordered was regular coffee! It was a touch of civilization in an increasingly unrest world.

On to the food!

Crab Cake Egg Benedict
Crab Cake Egg Benedict

I had the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict and it was beautiful. Inside and out. The cake was moist, but crunchy on the outside and the sauce mixed gorgeously with the runny, poached eggs. I had a side of home fries with the dish that were perfectly cooked and would definitely have been enough to share. I admit that when I looked the restaurant up online before we went I saw this plate and had already decided to order it based on it’s beauty alone, but the flavors of the crab cake, the sauce, and the egg would have blown me over even if I had been blind-folded.

Runny egg
Runny egg

Alfonso had salmon with a beurre blanc, poached eggs, and potatoes. His choice had a decidedly French air to it and was insanely good. The salmon was juicy and cooked to perfection which went well with the salty potatoes and creamy egg. Alfonso said it was the most perfectly cooked salmon that he has had at a restaurant. They sure were knocking it out of the park yesterday at 5Church.

Salmon, beurre blanc, potatoes, and eggs
Salmon, beurre blanc, potatoes, and eggs

Alfonso ended his meal with an espresso.

Beautiful
Beautiful

Before we headed out we made a plan to come back for dinner. I can’t wait to be impressed again.

There is only we.
There is only we.

After brunch, we headed through the market and up King St., ending up in the Charleston Christmas Market. This is the last Saturday market until the new season in the Spring so it was great to catch it before it goes! We stopped at the Tiverton Farms spice and salt stand and were able to pick up a little Christmas pressie. We were given lots of samples freshly ground into our hands of different spice/salt combos. There were brining kits, sweet and savory spice rubs, and lots of ways to amp up your home cooking. I was impressed by the quality of the spice mixtures even when tried on their own.

Tiverton Farms Stand
Tiverton Farms Stand

By the time we had done the shopping and wandered around Charleston several hours had passed and we were ready for a little snack. We were excited to try a kielbasa with homemade local mustard from the Hot Links Homemade Sausage cart. Man, it hit the spot! We shared one, because they were so huge and washed it down with a freshly squeezed lemonade from Lowcountry Lemonade. Perfect ending to a great day and we even made it home before dark!

All the dogs and the homemade mustards
All the dogs and the homemade mustards
Kielbasa
Kielbasa
Lowcountry Lemonade
Lowcountry Lemonade

Get to know your local food scene and make some reservations this holiday season- see you after Christmas!

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