The problem with the simple life is it's so hard to shop for
May 11, 2011 9:12 AM Subscribe
I'm trying to come up with a wedding present for two outdoorsy, unmaterialistic, grow-your-own-food, committed sustainable-living oriented types, and am looking for general suggestions as well as specific help. I'm thinking perhaps a gift certificate to a special extravagant meal, in or near Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Can anyone recommend a chic and sustainable-farming-oriented restaurant in or near Spartanburg, SC? Google maps tells me Charlotte, NC is within a doable driving distance; anything within a "google maps" hour would probably work. I know nothing of the area.
I'm looking for the kind of place that would come to $100-$200 for a couple of light-drinking omnivores. If they were near Boston, I'd be looking at Journeyman or Cragie St. Bistro or someplace like that.
Alternatively, I'm taking other suggestions on wedding presents -- I'm thinking "experiences" rather than things, though suggestions for things that rank high in the small/sustainable/useful/beautiful categories would also be welcome.
Can anyone recommend a chic and sustainable-farming-oriented restaurant in or near Spartanburg, SC? Google maps tells me Charlotte, NC is within a doable driving distance; anything within a "google maps" hour would probably work. I know nothing of the area.
I'm looking for the kind of place that would come to $100-$200 for a couple of light-drinking omnivores. If they were near Boston, I'd be looking at Journeyman or Cragie St. Bistro or someplace like that.
Alternatively, I'm taking other suggestions on wedding presents -- I'm thinking "experiences" rather than things, though suggestions for things that rank high in the small/sustainable/useful/beautiful categories would also be welcome.
If you don't go the restaurant route, what about a mortar and pestle?
They sound like they might like to grind their own herbs and spices.....
posted by zizzle at 9:49 AM on May 11, 2011
They sound like they might like to grind their own herbs and spices.....
posted by zizzle at 9:49 AM on May 11, 2011
Maybe a bunch of Clip-N-Seals or something else kitchen-y?
posted by davextreme at 9:54 AM on May 11, 2011
posted by davextreme at 9:54 AM on May 11, 2011
Might want to ask them about this first, but a vermiculture composting setup could be great. Basically it's a box of worms that you feed your orange peals and stuff to and they make great compost.
posted by davextreme at 9:55 AM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by davextreme at 9:55 AM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
One year for my birthday my dad signed me up for a small winery's wine club. Four times that year I got three bottles of their wine in the mail.
Sadly, that winery is now closed (actually they transitioned into an organic farm), or I would recommend them specifically. But I'm sure other boutique wineries do the same thing.
posted by Sara C. at 9:55 AM on May 11, 2011
Sadly, that winery is now closed (actually they transitioned into an organic farm), or I would recommend them specifically. But I'm sure other boutique wineries do the same thing.
posted by Sara C. at 9:55 AM on May 11, 2011
I like the idea of a fancy restaurant.
However, if you decide to go the "things" route, ime, the people I know that fit that demographic don't get themselves nice things because such things are frivolous. A really high end Japanese gardening tool, for instance, would be pretty cool; they last forever, but people don't tend to buy them for themselves because they're expensive. (I'm not finding that much great stuff online for Japanese tools, but maybe someone else will have more luck. Berkeley,CA has a brick and mortar shop but I doubt they're common in SC, not being on the Pacific rim and all.) Even high quality gloves, wrought iron garden obelisks (get them in person, not online, for better quality and more artiness), tomato cages, raspberry bowers, trellises, etc are nice treats if you know something about how they farm.
Also, the Wade Garrett catalog springs to mind.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:08 AM on May 11, 2011
However, if you decide to go the "things" route, ime, the people I know that fit that demographic don't get themselves nice things because such things are frivolous. A really high end Japanese gardening tool, for instance, would be pretty cool; they last forever, but people don't tend to buy them for themselves because they're expensive. (I'm not finding that much great stuff online for Japanese tools, but maybe someone else will have more luck. Berkeley,CA has a brick and mortar shop but I doubt they're common in SC, not being on the Pacific rim and all.) Even high quality gloves, wrought iron garden obelisks (get them in person, not online, for better quality and more artiness), tomato cages, raspberry bowers, trellises, etc are nice treats if you know something about how they farm.
Also, the Wade Garrett catalog springs to mind.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:08 AM on May 11, 2011
I also love those victorian era plant protectors- bell jars against frost, and tiny greenhouses for seedlings.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:16 AM on May 11, 2011
posted by small_ruminant at 10:16 AM on May 11, 2011
For this sort of thing you want Asheville, not Charlotte. I can't personally vouch for these but Yelp pointed me towards:
Bouchon
and for dessert
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
or alternatively breakfast?
Early Girl Eatery
posted by Jorus at 10:53 AM on May 11, 2011
Bouchon
and for dessert
French Broad Chocolate Lounge
or alternatively breakfast?
Early Girl Eatery
posted by Jorus at 10:53 AM on May 11, 2011
Donate a tree (or a pair of trees, since they're a pair) to be planted in their honor.
How about one of those ice cream balls --- just put in the ingredients and roll it a lot to produce ice cream when camping.
Or totally off the wall experience-wise: maybe take them out to a picnic, and surprise them when a bunch of friends pop out of the bushes and serenade them with every sappy love song you can think of! (So what if not everyone is a perfect singer: it's the thought that counts, not the skill-level.)
posted by easily confused at 11:05 AM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
How about one of those ice cream balls --- just put in the ingredients and roll it a lot to produce ice cream when camping.
Or totally off the wall experience-wise: maybe take them out to a picnic, and surprise them when a bunch of friends pop out of the bushes and serenade them with every sappy love song you can think of! (So what if not everyone is a perfect singer: it's the thought that counts, not the skill-level.)
posted by easily confused at 11:05 AM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These are all awesome suggestions, you've clearly got the spirit of it.
posted by endless_forms at 11:08 AM on May 11, 2011
posted by endless_forms at 11:08 AM on May 11, 2011
Seconding that Asheville would be a better choice than Charlotte for outdoorsy, hippy chic sort of places. Closer to Spartanburg, however, is Greenville - about 20 minutes away. It has a wonderful downtown area, and American Grocery is a fantastic restaurant that sounds exactly like what you're looking for if you go with the restaurant option.
posted by hefeweizen at 11:11 AM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hefeweizen at 11:11 AM on May 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
This might take a tiny bit of legwork, but it may appeal -- see what kinds of heirloom vegetables would grow well in your area, and then get seeds for those vegetables. If you can find a book/kit/etc. that tells specifically how to harvest seeds from those vegetables, even better, because then they can grow more.
give them those seeds with some really good gardening thing; possibly an Earthbox kit.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:04 PM on May 11, 2011
give them those seeds with some really good gardening thing; possibly an Earthbox kit.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:04 PM on May 11, 2011
If you do have them come to Charlotte, Harvest Moon Grille is a good restaurant choice. Spartanburg to Charlotte is kind of a trek just for dinner, maybe get them tickets to the Mint Museum as well so they can make an afternoon and evening of it.
posted by Daily Alice at 12:05 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by Daily Alice at 12:05 PM on May 11, 2011
What about a membership to a CSA? Depending on how much of their own food they grow, it make a nice supplement to their own harvest.
posted by tempest in a teapot at 12:28 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by tempest in a teapot at 12:28 PM on May 11, 2011
Speaking of the Mint Museum in Charlotte, a great new restaurant has just opened there that might fit the bill: Halcyon. But, as others have said, it's a haul from Spartanburg so if you can find something closer, that might be better as gas hits $4.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 12:57 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by Sweetie Darling at 12:57 PM on May 11, 2011
Another donation-in-your-name thought: something like Heifer International? (www.heifer.org/gift) It'd be tax-deductible for you, as well as in line with the happy couple's thoughts on sustainable food sources.
posted by easily confused at 6:46 AM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by easily confused at 6:46 AM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Laughing Seed in Asheville is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world. It is a vegetarian restaurant, but even meat eaters love it. And Asheville is much closer to Sptbg than Charlotte.
posted by Original 1928 Flavor at 9:26 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by Original 1928 Flavor at 9:26 PM on May 12, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ys at 9:44 AM on May 11, 2011 [2 favorites]