Savannah: Serene and Succulent

Taylor and her friend Jess at a historic  park in Savannah

    This beautiful city full of history, hospitable people, and more relaxed lifestyle draws the Skillen family back time and time again. Savannah affords us the gift of living life at a slower pace, while at the same time immersing us in art, culture, and of course, great food. We stayed in a renovated town house, circa 1854, with the kind of kitchen that allowed me to have fun cooking with local food. Taylor, my daughter who graduated from high school this past June, participated in her freshman orientation at Savannah College of Art & Design, where she’ll be attending in the fall. Another daughter, Lauren, had a great time attending workshops in jewelry design and filmmaking.
Even though cooking and relaxing are synonymous in my world, we do take time to eat out on occasion. We have two favorite spots in the Savannah area to which we frequent. We like them so much we have to share about them, so if you ever find yourself in Savannah, you can experience them, too!

    One restaurant the entire family goes to is The Crab Shack. It has been around since 1987 when a husband-wife team combined their fishing business with their love for cooking the sea food people literally had just pulled out of the water. Serendipitously, their “open door” style evolved to what today is a famously popular place to dine on fresh sea food. The restaurant is located on a creek bank surrounded by ancient oak trees. We sit outside when we dine there, soaking in the views, stuffing ourselves with the restaurant’s food, and sometimes being humored by the cat whose responsibility is to chase outdoor critters away. Check out their website: www.thecrabshack.com

    Another restaurant we enjoy is Mrs. Wilkes. The history behind this place is fascinating: In 1943, Sema Wilkes ran a downtown Savannah boarding house, and she prided herself on making homestyle southern cooking which she served family style. Four generations later, the restaurant’s owners endeavor to do the same, offering different fare each night and serving it up in overflowing bowls. From fried chicken and sweet potato soufflé, to black-eyed peas, okra, and cornbread, Mrs. Wilkes honors the tradition of true southern cooking. And, of course, each meal is topped off with nothing other than good ole’ banana pudding. You can find them online at www.mrswilkes.com.