Noshing Nirvana: February 18, 2016

Sponsored by Chase Payne Law Firm and Paisley of Daniel Island

Remember when duck was fancy food? Not that it’s pedestrian or dumbed-down today by any means; it’s just more accessible and less à l’orange. On the other hand, it appears that our old reliable, chicken, is having kind of a makeover moment.

Reader Julie Hessenthaler shouted out on Facebook (almost literally, if that was possible), her love for Mike’s Famous Duck Club at the Tattooed Moose downtown Charleston. Multi-decked with duck confit, applewood smoked bacon, hickory smoked cheddar, garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, and red onion on sweet Hawaiian bread, this same sammie has been swooned over by Guy Fieri on “Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.” The duck club rings in at $14.50, which our happy reviewer says is the “best ever spent in the Lowcountry,” suggesting the likelihood of a portion to share or take home. Hessenthaler treated her table to a basket of duck fat fries, too, because why not. She also says to arrive before the Moose opens to avoid a long line, but concedes that any wait is worthwhile for the fun atmosphere and that sandwich. Oh, that sandwich. “Triple layers with duck, bacon, and garlic aioli… need I say more?” Hessenthaler asks. No, Hessenthaler, you needn’t.

Keeping on the sandwich theme, but featuring a different fowl, teen resident Emma Johnston is mystified by a messy, magical creation at Boxcar Betty’s (her most recent moment of nirvana occurred at the eatery’s Summerville location, though the flagship shop in West Ashley serves up the same menu). Emma’s not sure what Betty’s does to make their fried chicken so perfectly juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, but what she does know, she loves: “They use cage-free chicken with no antibiotics, and you can tell it’s natural chicken, not some circle of meat.” What really blows her mind is what they pile on top of that chicken breast to create what is known as the Boxcar. “It’s got pimiento cheese, peach slaw, housemade pickles, and spicy mayo,” Emma reports, “which sounds really weird, but it’s so good.” Our young respondent tells us the Boxcar is the ideal size, “not too big and not too small,” so forking over $7 for it seems totally reasonable. A generous portion of handcut fries – kind of a must, according to Emma – will set you back another $2. That’s a lot of happiness for less than a Hamilton.

Want to share your tale of noshing nirvana? It’s simple – just respond to the following:

1) Where were you served the best thing you ate all month?

2) What was the food that left you speechless (mainly because you couldn’t stop horking it down)?

3) Can you describe what made the dish so magical? Be sure to speak slowly...

4) Dish more on the dish, if you can - price, portion size, availability on regular menu, and the psychological repercussions of consuming something so rad.

5) Please email a photo of your to-die-for dish and responses to the four questions above (don’t leave any out!) to jennifer@thedanielislandnews.com.