• A Taste Of The Islands At Caribbean Delight,Shakeima Chatman

    A Taste Of The Islands At Caribbean Delight

    Have you been dreaming of the islands but can’t go on vacation any time soon? In this episode of The North Chuck Hookup, we’re going to introduce you to Vanessa Campbell and her restaurant, Caribbean Delight. We’ll learn about all of these popular Jamaican dishes that will give you a taste of the islands right here at home. A Taste Of The Islands It’s easy for Caribbean Delight’s Chef Paul to craft the delicious dishes featured at Vanessa Campbell's restaurant. Starting each day early in the morning, everything the kitchen serves up is made fresh from scratch. Main dishes like chicken, oxtail, and curried goat are seasoned two days in advance for optimal flavor that goes right to the bone. While all of their island specialties are fan favorites, oxtail, jerk chicken, and curry chicken are some of the best-selling dishes. Their seafood offerings include three main types of fish—with escovitch fish a popular choice. This fried fish is topped with onion, bell peppers, and carrots. Another favorite dish is the brown stew fish. The fish is fried and cooked down in brown gravy with bell pepper, onion, carrots, and a blend of special seasoning. Lastly, the steamed fish is cooked in gravy and coconut milk for a truly traditional Jamaican experience. How It Started Vanessa Campbell, the owner of Caribbean Delight, began her business with her husband, Ambrose. Working at the local rubber plants, Ambrose dreamed of creating his own business where he could work for himself. As Jamaican natives, the pair grew up knowing how to cook. The pair started the restaurant in 2015 and has been going strong ever since. Since not everyone can hop on a boat to Jamaica, they’ve brought Caribbean food right here to Charleston. Though Jamaica is a small island, they’re known worldwide for their food, music, and love—which is manifested in every dish they create. Along with Jamaican native Chef Paul, Caribbean Delight successfully serves up authentic island dishes to the community. Not Missing A Beat One of the things that Caribbean Delight prides itself on is consistency. Even if there’s a new cook in the kitchen, the food is always a top priority. For example, new cooks follow a seasoning guide with measurements until they get the recipe down. This ensures that each dish always has the same delicious flavor on every visit. Vanessa and Ambrose recently opened another restaurant in Monck’s Corner. Customers would travel far and wide to get a taste of Caribbean Delight’s cuisine—and they’ve been asking for a second location. When the opportunity arose in 2020, the new Monck’s Corner location was opened. Despite being in the middle of a pandemic, they took the risk and were rewarded with plentiful business since opening day. Because of limited dining options, the Monck’s Corner customers appreciate Caribbean Delight’s presence in the community. Of course, Vanessa says the feeling is happily returned. The larger location—which features a bar—is a great place for friends and family to gather and enjoy the island ambiance. The space even allows them to host events like parties and conferences. Enjoy The Flavors Of Caribbean Delight I hope this gave you a good idea of everything that Caribbean Delight has to offer. Whether you’re homesick for island food or want to try something new, make sure to stop by to sample authentic Jamaican cuisine at its finest. Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode of The North Chuck Hookup, the one show all about Charleston living. Stay tuned to the next Foodie Friday to see what tasty fare I feature next!

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  • Experience The Ultimate Mobile Gaming With Carolina Gamerz,Shakeima Chatman

    Experience The Ultimate Mobile Gaming With Carolina Gamerz

    Did you know there’s a way to bring some fun right to your backyard? In this episode of The North Chuck Hookup, we’re going to introduce you to Carolina Gamerz, a mobile entertainment provider that brings the games to you. We’ll chat with owners Jerrica and Corey to find out all about their business and how you can get take your party to the next level. Ultimate Mobile Gaming Carolina Gamerz is a business that has no location—and by no location, I mean that it can be wherever you want it to be. Jerrica and Corey had a brilliant idea to start a mobile gaming truck to create the ultimate gaming experience for you. On the outside of the truck, two large TVs can be hooked up to an Xbox or Playstation 5—with all of the gaming systems the latest, top-of-line models. For the TVs inside, virtual reality can be added to each station, with each station hosting up to four people. Overall, the stadium seating in the gaming truck can accommodate up to 32 kids, depending on their sizes. The 40-foot truck is perfect for all types of events. Jerrica and Corey have hosted as small as two people in the truck up to a large school of 2,500 kids. They serve a 30-mile radius from North Charleston, and travel to anywhere within that area is included in the package. While the weekends are normally booked, they may be able to travel outside of the 30 miles during the weekday with an additional surcharge. More Than Digital While Carolina Gamerz’s video games are popular, it’s not the only thing they offer. For those not big on digital entertainment, Jerrica and Corey provide Carolina Battleball, foam archery, laser tag, and more. They’re always adding the latest and greatest to provide fun for local residents. Even those who aren’t avid gamers usually enjoy Just Dance. It’s one of Jerrica’s favorites, and she even used it to get fit after having her kids. Just Dance 21 is one of the most popular choices for clients as well, so you’ll have plenty to keep your guests occupied when Carolina Gamerz comes to the party. Fun In North Charleston I hope this gave you a good idea of everything that Carolina Gamerz has to offer. If you want their mobile truck to be the life of your next party, check out their website or call 843-900-0087 to book your experience today. If you have any questions about Charleston or the housing market, make sure to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to connect. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of The North Chuck Hook Up, my show all about Charleston living. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

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  • Explore The Natural Beauty Of Cypress Gardens In Berkeley County,Shakeima Chatman

    Explore The Natural Beauty Of Cypress Gardens In Berkeley County

    Did you know that Berkeley County is home to beautiful gardens featured in magazines, television shows, and movies? In this episode of The North Chuck Hookup, I’m going to take you on a tour of Cypress Gardens, a beautiful nature preserve with miles of nature trails. We’ll chat with Cypress Gardens director Heather McDowell to find out all about this amazing park. All About Cypress Gardens Cypress Gardens is one of my favorite preserves. This garden has been open to the public since the 1960s and has been a backdrop of major motion pictures—such as The Notebook and The Patriot. It's also near and dear to me because it’s the location that my husband and I took our engagement photos. I know you're going to love it as much as I do. Located in Berkeley County, Cypress Gardens is 175 acres full of nature to explore. There’s a large swamp with boat tours, miles of walking trails, the Butterfly House that’s open year-round, bird aviaries, playground equipment, picnic shelters, and more. There are also many areas that you can rent for weddings, receptions, and events. Rebuilding And Revitalization A new building, the Heritage Museum, is set to reopen soon. It was the last building that needed to be done after historic floods shut down Cypress Gardens in 2015. Since their reopening in April of 2019, many new and renovated areas have been added to the preserve. The playground has been largely expanded, now including some equipment that is handicap accessible. There is also the renovated Dean Hall, a gorgeous facility that’s used as a reception space. They’ve also changed the front lawn, creating a big open space without a walkway cutting through. Additionally, the floating boat dock is completely different than before the floods, receiving a beautiful makeover. Almost everything at Cypress Gardens has been touched up and enhanced, making the space even more pleasing to the eyes than before. Taking Flight One of the most popular attractions in Cypress Gardens is the birds, all of which were donated or rescued. Whether they sing or whistle a “good morning,” each feathered friend has their own personality. They all love to see visitors and mimic everybody they meet. In addition to birds, the Butterfly House is also home to winged creatures. There are often over 250 butterflies at any given time; these fluttering beauties are actually shipped frozen, thawing out in the truck by the time they reach Cypress Gardens. The butterflies inhabit their home year-round and are happy to land on the visitors that pass through. Enjoy South Carolina’s Natural Beauty So if you love beauty and nature, make sure you check out Cypress Gardens. You can find more information on their website, including tickets, events, news, and more. If you have any questions, you can also reach out to me and I’d be happy to answer them for you. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel so you never miss an episode of The North Chuck Hook Up, the one show that brings you the best of Charleston. Stay tuned to see what I feature next!

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