Posts by : Gia Lee

Charleston's Upper Peninsula is an area that has undergone significant redevelopment and revitalization in recent years. It offers a vibrant mix of residential, commercial, and cultural spaces. Here are some of the neighborhoods you can explore in Charleston's Upper Peninsula.

North Central - one of my absolute favorite Charleston areas, North Central is a neighborhood that has experienced rapid growth and transformation. It features a diverse community and a range of housing options, including renovated historic homes and new construction. This area is also home to several local businesses, art galleries, and popular dining spots. Stop by the Record Stop Charleston on upper King Street ...

Pick up your copy of Charleston Magazine this month and check out two Lee Bros. recipes included in their round up of 10 quintessentially Charleston recipes!  Henry's cheese spread is super easy and great served at cocktail hour with carrots and celery.  And if you're a little more ambitious try the delicious deviled crab.  I remember in the spring of 2011 when Matt and Ted were testing recipes at our rental on Wentworth Street and they brought in fresh blue crabs directly off the boat and we spent the better part of the evening picking them!  While it was a lot of effort is was worth it and that may have been when I fell in love with all the beauty of Charleston because the following yea...

When the letter announcing that I had received Italian citizenship arrived, I couldn’t believe it was true. We were at the start of a global pandemic, it was February 27, 2020, and the letter was rudimentary enough—an 8x11 piece of paper typed (on a typewriter!) with an off-center rubber stamp at the top stating that, "we wish to inform you that you have been recognized as an Italian citizen by descent." I had spent almost two years gathering family documents, every birth, wedding and death certificate for every generation four generations back, and submitted them in person to the Italian Consulate in Miami. I was told to wait two years and not to call them before that (my first taste of ...

What books are your elementary and middle school children reading?

As the holidays approach I've been thinking about what books I'll purchase for my 5, 8 and 11 year old boys. There are plenty of year-end round ups, but my favorite resource for best children's books is Bank Street's "Best Children's Books of the Year" (I received my master's degree from Bank Street College of Education years ago, and view it as a lifelong resource for best practices in education--for all!).

Bank Street's Children's Book Committee (CBC) organizes the books by age (5-9, 9-12, 12-14 and 14+) which I find super helpful when trying to quickly navigate what will work for my varied children's ages! And they fl...

What are you all cooking these days?

I made a New York Times recipe for dinner last night that everyone devoured.
I didn’t have all of the ingredients, but I didn’t let that stop me from improvising and trying something new!
I made it work with some pantry items and fresh greens from the farm box my husband picked up.
Here’s my take on "Spiced Chickpea Soup with Coconut and Turmeric."

Saute an onion and 4-6 cloves garlic in 2-4 T olive oil (season with salt and pepper)

Add teaspoon minced ginger and sauté another few minutes

Add 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of ground turmeric and a few shakes of chili flakes.
Season again with salt. I picked up this bright orange,
fresh and fragrant turmer...

Our family has so enjoyed picking up carefully composed, GORGEOUS boxes of local vegetables, fruits, and other goodies (grits! eggs!) once a week from an assortment of local farms who have pioneered this model in the area. Instead of having to commit to an entire season of vegetables--the classic CSA model--Rooting Down Farms, Spade and Clover Gardens, GrowFood Carolina, and several others in Charleston County have stepped up efforts in the wake of the pandemic to push Certified South Carolina-grown produce directly toward people, box by box, at dropoff points in the city. This model fits our consumption and cooking habits better, since some weeks we aren't able to cook as much as others ...

What restaurants are you all enjoying for takeout these days?  Our go-to spots are The Glass Onion in West Ashley (best fries in town--eat them in the car), Hokkaido (salmon bento box please!) and The Grocery (the mezze platter is A-MEZZ-ING) on the peninsula.

A recent New York Times article made the point that when we order direct from a restaurant, and pick up the food ourselves, it helps save the restaurants TON$ of fees, commissions, and other crap that eats into their bottom line. Order directly from a restaurant's own web site (or phone!) and TIP LAVISHLY!  We need these treasured cultural centers on the other side. As a whole, restaurants contribute immeasurably to the quality of ...

https://charlestonmag.com/features/summer_supper_on_tradd

Try out these delicious kumquat sparkers from the Lee Bros!

Check out this article from Charleston Magazine! Meet my family and try my recipe for hot chili oil.

SOLD! Congratulations to the buyers and sellers of this perfect cottage at 207 Grove Street! #marshallwalkerrealestate #wagenerterrace #hamptonpark

Gia Lee | Marshall Walker Real Estate | 582 Rutledge Avenue | gia@marshallwalker.com