This is an award we’ve wanted to hand out for years, frankly. We just couldn’t find enough candidates to make it a true competition. Since then, we’ve found a few more and learned a little bit about the people who bring you some of the region’s best food and drink.
In the Low Country, it’s Richard Canestrari and Ally Rogers at Pour Richard’s. He’s the chef (damn great one) she’s the hostess and ring leader. For nearly 9 years they have been wowing their guests in a strip mall on Bluffton Parkway. One guest recently called it “Art on a Plate.” Which is a perfect description. Even though their dishes are nothing fancy. The menu changes nearly every day, but you can find classics like Filet Oscar, Soft Shell Crabs or Catch of the Day. They also make quite possibly the most underrated pizza in the Low Country. The last one I had was Shrimp Scampi pizza. Yeah. Getcha some of that.
Ally for her part, is a classically trained Pastry Chef. She admits to many times eating her creations for breakfast. Her desserts are always amazing. But she hardly goes home at noon. By night, she makes sure the wine is flowing and everyone is happy while she tracks her seating charts and the flow of guests. The dining room fits about 60 people comfortably. Turning over 3 times is a challenge for one person and they make it all look incredibly simple. They are rock stars in Bluffton. If you don’t know, you should.
