Hilton Head Distillery, a world-class craft spirits producer located at 14 Cardinal Road on Hilton Head Island, will open to the public in September. The company received its long-awaited distilled spirits permit in late July, allowing the facility to begin production. Once it is operating on a full schedule, Hilton Head Distillery will produce many variations of rum, including its flagship, Two Traditions Dark 23 Rum, as well as a super-premium and incomparable Aermoor vodka.

Looking for a good southern beer? Here are the top 10 rated beers made in the South, as rated by Beer Advocate:

1. BDCS, Ozark Beer Co. (AR) 
American Double / Imperial Stout / 10.20% ABV

2. Ghost In The Machine, Parish Brewing Company (LA)
American Double / Imperial IPA / 8.00% ABV

3. El Gordo, Good People Brewing Company (AL)
Russian Imperial Stout / 13.90% ABV

The owners of Wren Bistro in Beaufort recently opened a Hilton Head Island restaurant called Jane Bistro & Bar. The restaurant is located at Shelter Cove Towne Centre, near Kilwins Ice Cream. Anne Sergent, the executive chef and owner describes Jane Bistro & Bar as “all about family and friends sharing time together over meals created from recipes passed from generation to generation."

Melissa Roy, the new owner of Twisted Cork Cocktail & Wine Bar, shared recipes of two new items that can be found on her menu. Her bar is located where Corks used to be at Festival Center Plaza, near the Sea Pines Circle.

A new pizzeria is opening at 1534 Fording Island Road in Bluffton. Black Balsam & Blue will serve New Jersey-style tomato pie once it opens in October. Find more information at www.blackbalsamblue.com. 

The Italians named it “pomodoro,” or “apple of gold,” and appropriately so, as Italy is famous for its tomato-based dishes. Amelia, Big Beef, and Celebrity are popular tomato varieties grown here in the South, along with smaller heirlooms Amish Paste, Black Cherry and Sun Gold. The Ugly heirloom, often misshapen with deep scab-like cracks and unevenly colored, shines as one of the most flavorful, coining the new adage “Don’t judge a tomato by its cover.”

It only takes a few common-sense steps to make sure that summer picnicking and other outdoor festivities don’t result in food-borne illnesses that can be very hazardous, especially to both younger and older people with more susceptible immune systems. Food-based bacteria multiply at a much more accelerated rate in hotter and more humid temperatures, so picnics and cookouts are potentially high-risk environments. Keeping the peace in the family and trying to get rid of guests who never want to leave are also challenging, but that is a different checklist!  

Title: Executive chef, Charbar Co.

Question: Who taught you how to cook?

Answer: I spent a lot of time watching my family cook growing up. Mom cooked dinner every night with my dad on the grill. When the whole family got together, everyone was doing something for the meal. The kitchen was always the place to be.

On August 11, Signe Gardo, owner of Signe's Heaven Bound Bakery Cafe will celebrate her 44th anniversary since opening her establishment in 1972 in the tiny (650 sq. ft) lighthouse keeper's cottage in HarbourTown.