Lowcountry Gem
We had been on a windy ride to Ft. Sumter on a sunny day - docked at the Liberty Terminals - and were thirsty and hungry On a tip from a lovely local couple we trekked almost two miles to a college neighborhood corner diner, Five Loaves Cafe, 43 Cannon Street (They also have a location in nearby Mt. Pleasant).
Their son is the chef there, so trepidation abounded. Born and raised in Charleston, Joe Fischbein (and wife Rachel) and partner Casey Glowacki have created an oxymoron - a gourmet soup and sandwich joint. It works.
The Smoked Salmon Salad was elegant and simple. The All Natural Chicken Salad Club was enhanced by apple wood smoked bacon - seemingly a ubiquitous ingredient in Charleston. The Peppercorn & Coriander Hormone Free Rare Roast Beef sandwich is not something you will find at the corner deli.
The Five Loaves wine list (in a diner?) is thoughtful and reasonable. FORIS PINOT GRIS, Rogue Valley, Oregon, is not a wine I expected to find in lowcountry and the terrific AMITY PINOT NOIR, Willamette Valley, Oregon, selection is absent from many a fine restaurant.
There are several overly-hyped and overdone restaurants in Charleston that could learn a thing or two from Five Loaves. Five Loaves is at its core a mirror-miracle performed by Jesus in Matthew 14:12-21.
