Summer dinners and container gardens | Cieditorsnote

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The summer supper number is always a favorite. While cool weather foods like soups and stews have their merits and are certainly comforting, there is nothing tastier than the fresh tastes available during the warmer months. I’m sure most of you, like me, have ever grabbed a fresh, plump tomato, cut a slice of reflection, and placed it between two slices of white bread after coating it with mayo (Duke’s, j ‘hope), salt and pepper. There’s nothing so delicious as that first tomato sandwich, juice runnin ‘down your chin and everything. Of course, it doesn’t start and end with tomatoes. It’s the time of year for chilled watermelon, fresh yellow squash and zucchini, Vidalia onions, corn on the cob, and other delicacies.

Those fresh flavors are what the Coastal Illustrated feature highlights, from the plump blueberries in bartender RB Brown’s signature cocktail, to the savory blend composed by Executive Chef Ben Hankey of Sago at Sea Palms. Chef Hankey also gave recommendations for a starter of pickled pork chops and a side dish of oven-roasted potatoes and asparagus. The recipes in the feature for the main course and side are not Hankey’s, but rather, they come straight from my cookbook. This way anyone can, but not exactly, replicate the Sago at Sea Palms recipes. Enjoy.

Growing up in a family of gardeners, but not having a green thumb, I envy people who can make things grow, and I spoke with a few of those people for the Coastal House section of this number. With help from Dawn Hart and Theresa Fouché, ACE Garden Center, and Karen Summers Welsh, Coastal Bloomers, we take a look at methods of container gardening. Containers are ideal for homes with limited garden space and provide a pop of color wherever they are placed.

As always, we’ll introduce you to some interesting people. Our local Q&A features Melissa Bagby, longtime owner of Newcastle Market. Melissa shares her love of animals and her store. In fact, she can’t imagine being in any business other than retail. In her rare downtime, she enjoys standing and reading a good book. Connor Burke, a former educator who is now a real estate agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper, is also from the Golden Isles. Before settling, he spent 13 summers leading canoe trips in the Canadian wilderness and traveled for some time. Now the parents of five, Connor and his wife, Jessica, still find their favorite times to be outdoors with their families. Our Affiliate Q&A shines the spotlight on Gary Wise of Yates Astro. Gary also has five children and loves spending time with them and his girlfriend, Daphne, especially outdoors. Active with the Exchange Club of Brunswick, Gary supports his mission to help children.

Literary columnist Cary Knapp has a page-turner for us this time, which is a good thing, as she chose Maggie Shipstead’s “Great Circle”, which is 600 pages long. The book spans over 100 years and connects the lives of an aviator and a Hollywood rebel trying to start a career. It reaches all highs, including the celebrity scandal, acts of courage in wartime, and the promise of eternal freedom. Cary says that left her wanting more.

And, now, what we’ve all been waiting for – events to attend and then report on, so you have a front row seat for all the fun. We have pictures from Cabaret to benefit the Coastal Symphony of Georgia, held at the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort, and from STARgazing to benefit the STAR Foundation, the recent Drivin ‘and Cryin’ concert, both organized at Village Creek Landing. You will see a lot of familiar faces in these pages.

While waiting to see us again, go out and do something fun, and as always, don’t forget to wash your hands.

Enjoy the number!

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