Pin Point – Black Heritage along the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
January 3rd, 2012 by Teresa
Pin Point is a small African-American community located just southeast of Savannah that has been struggling to maintain its black heritage and lifestyle. First settled in about 1896, the community prospered when Varn Seafood located a processing plant there in 1926, and for the next 60 years life was, well, idylic. Now part of the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, the tiny hometown of Supreme Court Justice Clarence aims to tell the story of freed Sea Islands slaves who founded Pin Point, and to preserve what may be the last piece of Georgia coastline still owned mostly by African-Americans.
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The Savannah Tea Room
December 10th, 2011 by Cami Nicole
My name is Cami, and I’m married to the delicious dish that does the cooking and such. I’m a blogger.
I have a new favorite restaurant: The Savannah Tea Room on Broughton. Granted, my great friend Helen works there, and I lurve seeing her pretty face. But I also double lurve hot tea, and every meal comes with a endless supply. Heaven!
I must admit, the place is a bit fancy for my taste:
But the food is delicious. The meal starts with soup (the soup on this particular day was egg
drop…and, sadly, I thought it was too salty and should’ve opted for the fruit plate):
The entree I ordered on my first visit was tuna tartare (I. love. fresh. tuna!):
Wowza. It was perfectly marinated, seated on a bed of spinach. Honestly, you must, must, MUST drop by and try it yourself; words don’t do it justice.
Savannah’s Best Kept Secret?
November 22nd, 2011 by Teresa
- Have you ever wondered what Savannah’s Best Kept Secret might be? Is there but one secret? Personally, I think that Savannah Innkeepers know lots of secrets, I certainly do. For instance, what is the best time to head over for some mighty fine Southern cooking during lunchtime? Have you wondered if there really is a good ghost tour of Savannah that isn’t, well, hokey? Where do I go for some rib smackin’ good BBQ? I think you get the idea. Well, yesterday, I learned another best kept secret, and I’m sharing this with you, my guests and friends.
By mere happenstance yesterday evening, an old acquaintance stopped in to fill me in on a new adventure (more on that later) that my Savannah visitors were sure to find hauntingly delightful. We conversed for a bit, my friend and I, joined by a guest, Leigh Cort of Leigh Cort Publicity. As Leigh picked the brain of my friend to pieces, stories of lives past and future dreams emerged. This secret agent, however, had another story that resonated with Leigh and I – both closet foodies. Closet foodie? What the heck does that mean? Well, it means we love food, all kinds of food, and we go in search of the best with every venture that comes our way. It means we share our opinions with friends, but are not secure enough in our nose and palate to wax poetic on the dishes set before us – so we stay in the closet.
Where do you find that shortcut to heaven - who is the “go to” person that knows the best of the best in the town you plan to visit? Enter Foodie Agent 008 at your service! The Mission? “To find what’s worth a foodie’s time!” Qualifications? A former chef, entrepreneur, guide to Savannah’s past, and, quite frankly, darned easy to look at (not that it’s a requirement… but it sure fits secret Agent #008). Foodie 008 has signed on to give my guests an insider’s glimpse into the best that Savannah diners can experience. Watch for these fantabulous insights into dining in Savannah, coming soon to the “B&B of Choice” in Savannah.
Azalea Inn and Gardens, a Savannah GA bed and breakfast inn, invites you to reserve a room today and begin enjoying the best food experiences in our city, which Travel + Leisure Magazine acclaimed as a “World’s Best City” in July 2011.
Best Savannah Events and Things To Do
October 30th, 2011 by Teresa
Your innkeeper is the door to the best Savannah events and things to do both inside and outside the Hisitoric District. The staff at Azalea Inn & Gardens are pretty serious about the recommendations we make whether its where to dine or where to fish, what’s the best house tours and scariest ghost haunts, and what will it be: trolley ride or scooter rental? We don’t have a laundry list tucked under the front desk – we have experiences and memories and passion. Ask the innkeeper where to eat and she can easily waltz you through the plethora of fine dining experiences each with its own ambience, point out the hands-down favorites for BBQ or burgers, seafood or steaks, and even the best hidden dining spots for the romantic evening of your dreams. Ask us – make us show off for you!
Fine Dining mixed with Romance your thing? Ask us to book you for the wine cellar dining experience or perhaps you would prefer to dine in an old bank vault. Tired of the same old tourist trap lunch places: have you thought about a delightful mix of international cuisines reflecting the very different cultural backgrounds of the proprietors – we have the answer! Best Burgers and Beer – now that’s a difficult choice cause we have two favs – one in a turn of the century rehabbed old beer joint while the other features local crops and grassfed beef and homemade ketchup! Yum. Okay, I am getting hungry so let’s change the subject.
Is there a music scene in Savannah (Are you kidding!) Are they any famous houses to tour in Savannah? Will the trolley come to the inn to pick me up – (you betcha!) I’d rather take a walking tour – what do you recommend? (Give us a minute to narrow down your interests and we will choose the best group or private tour available). Where’s Bonaventure Cemetary and can I walk there? Where is Forrest Gump’s bench (not where you expect it). Is the Bird Girl Statue in a museum? Are you a Civil War afficionado or is your thing the Revolutionary War? Challenge us to create an intinerary just for you!
Shopping – of every genre imaginable. Want a pair of custom designed shoe – the owner has four pair – which means they are very reasonable. Want to meet the Women of Whittaker Street in the Designer District? We know the who, what and where.
Indulge yourself, spend one night or spend several. Azalea Inn and Gardens, a Savannah Historic Inn, is the place with all the answers – check us out!
Neighborhood Soul Food in Savannah, GA – A Secret Treasure!
October 19th, 2011 by Teresa
I recently read an article that mentioned Neighborhood Soul Food restaurant in Savannah GA as one of the best soul food establishments in the city, I had been planning on checking it out one day soon as it is a selfless passion of mine to taste my way through Savannah’s best eateries to share with my guests. My sister, Sharon, then surprised with me with an impromptu visit and the statement she was ready for something good in her day. I usually interpret that to mean we need some serious comfort food prepared without any fuss. We grew up in a home with eight children and a mom who was gifted with the ability to turn the simplest ingredients into a memorable meal – we wanted something that clung to our ribs and evoked childhood memories. I headed towards the address I had jotted down just days before – 504-1/2 West 42nd Street – a transitional neighborhood that made my sister the cop a bit wary but she generously bowed to my passion for identifying the best Savannah restaurants.
We almost missed the entrance and the old faded sign – the building is that small, located just off MLK Blvd. I drove around the block and pulled over shutting off the car. After just a moment of silence, I opened my car door and stepped into the street with Sharon on my heels; I am, after all, the big sister. We crossed MLK and entered into a long narrow room with two sit-down tables and a step-up counter. The lady behind the cash register smiled hello and pointed to the back of the room where steam tables were set up on each side of tiny kitchen area.
This was Sharon’s first soul food venture and so I lead the way. One of the women stepped up and asked what we wanted after explaining you pick one meat and three sides or just a meat. I chose a smothered pork chop, rice with gravy, boiled cabbage and okra and tomatoes, with a side order of cornbread and sweet tea. Sharon chose the meatloaf, mashed potatoes, boiled cabbage and mac-n-cheese, also with sweet tea and cornbread. I spied a piece of sweet potato pie on the back counter and scooped that onto my tray as well. We sat at a table and quipped about each other’s choices and as sisters will do, reached across the table to sample each others’ meal. I loved the taste and texture of her meatloaf but after giving her one piece of my pork chop (which was heavenly – not dry, lightly fried, tasty gravy), I closed the door to sharing. Well, except for the sweet potato pie cause I did take the last piece. The meal turned out to be more than we could finish and we opted to bring it home with us for later.
Our lunch, with drinks and the pie, came to less than $20 and we considered that to be a fair bargain and worth repeating! The restaurant serves breakfast from 6 am and closes its doors at 6 pm, Monday thru Saturday. The breakfast menu covers the usual eggs and meat with grits or hash browns, biscuit or toast for about $6 or you can get fancier with smothered shrimp or an omelet. Lunch and dinner offers a meat only or meat and three sides option with the meat choices ranging from turkey wings, neck-bones, or pork chops to shrimp, beef stew, oxtails or chicken and dumplings (to name just a few). They also offer a vegetable plate though it is probably not vegan worthy!
Don’t be fooled or put-off by the location – the food, the atmosphere and the experience are worth every finger-licking bite. Azalea Inn and Gardens highly recommends this off-the-beaten-path secret Savannah treasure on your next trip to our fair city.
Travel Value: Say NO to Hidden Hotel Fees – Stay at this Savannah B&B
October 3rd, 2011 by Teresa
When we plan a trip I keep travel value in mind. During our stay in Washington DC this past July as a part of “Renewal and Remembrance” at Arlington National Cemetery, I took exception to some hidden hotel fees that surfaced on our bill at checkout. I couldn’t help but compare that to our Savannah B&B, Azalea Inn and Gardens, and the B&B industry in general. Innkeepers offer an exceptional travel value every day of the year, you might even say it’s like an inclusive resort vacation wrapped in a blanket of personal service and attention to detail.
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Adventures in Eating Outside the Savannah Historic District – Think Blue Turtle Bistro
September 26th, 2011 by kolin
Tucked away in a building on Paulsen Street at 66th in Midtown is an instant new favorite for us. The Blue Turtle Bistro features homemade hearty meals with a healthy twist. The mid-mod style inside is all at once funky, extremely chic and sophisticated. Cool blues with pops of burnt orange here and there make for a fun environment accented by the warm glow of candles on each table and along the walls. We sat with our friends in the middle of the restaurant and it still felt very intimate – the Blue Turtle Bistro had made it a point to not crowd the tables leaving ample room to move around and mingle with other locals.
The menu is simple to understand and the very straightforward presentation of each meal makes The Blue Turtle a hit with me already! I’m all for simple food, good food, and healthy food. They definitely delivered! I ordered the Seared Pork chop with Homemade Mac and Cheese and Braised Spinach. Cami had the special of the evening, Chicken Picatta with Asparagus and Mashed Potatoes, while our guests savored Bacon Wrapped Beef Tenderloin with Haricot Verts, and Creamy Risotto with Chorizo Roasted Red Peppers and Manchego Cheese.
We were all eager to taste each others dinner and with the portions being as ample as they were, nobody refrained! Every morsel of each entree was absolutely mouthwatering. The Picatta sauce was bright and had just the perfect brineyness (is that a word?!) from the capers while maintaining a creamy subtle richness. My mac and cheese was velvety smooth and just sharp enough to compliment the crisp salty sear on the thick bone-in chop. We were all extremely pleased and so satisfied with our individual choices (and not at all shy about exclaiming over everyone’s choice.)
The service was prompt, friendly, and very welcoming even though we had arrived only 30 minutes prior to closing. There was a sense of real pride about the food and space that really draws you in, then the food is the real kicker that beckons you to be a repeat offender! Great ambiance, perfect company, and simple, elegant, scrumptious bistro fare is what you’ll find at The Blue Turtle Bistro in Midtown Savannah, Georgia!
For more suggestions on where to eat, sleep and indulge in all things Savannah, call our Savannah GA Bed and Breakfast, Azalea Inn and Gardens so you can see of all of Savannah and Tybee Island GA.
- Dining room
- Blue Turtle Bistro – fresh and local ingredients in a Yummy Salad!





















A "Thank You" Worth Sharing
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