Dec 19, 2010

A Day with Grandparents: Square Onion and the Aquarium

On Saturday, my Grandparents drove down from Flat Rock, NC to spend some time with my youngest brother and me. It was a rather dreary day, but that didn’t stop us from good eats and fun. Our first item on the agenda was lunch. After several recommendations from random Charlestonians on twitter, I decided we needed to try the Square Onion, a gourmet lunch spot in I’on.DSC_1556 (1280x916) Upon entering, we were greeted with a large chalkboard display of favorite menu items and daily specials. They specialize in soups, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and take-and-bake dinner items. Both their everyday menu and catering menu feature fresh and healthy elements and use local ingredients whenever possible.DSC_1550 (916x1280)The tiny, but cozy building has a few tables with mismatched chairs in which you can easily sit back and enjoy your lunch or a cup of coffee with dessert. After chatting with the very friendly owner, Cary Zapatka, I learned that he and his wife opened their restaurant in 2003 after many years of working and managing other well-known Charleston restaurants. Cary previously worked at the Boathouse Restaurant, and his wife, Mary, managed Cypress and Magnolia’s.DSC_1551 (1280x853)After taking much more time to decide than everyone else (as their menu has so many interesting items), I finally chose the Turkey Parm Sandwich – turkey with pepper Havarti, parmesan mayo, lettuce and tomato on rosemary focaccia. For my side I chose an orzo salad with tomatoes, feta, and onions. DSC_1553 (1280x853)The little brother chose a Pastrami Sandwich with a side of chips. DSC_1554 (1280x853)Both sandwiches were delicious and very fresh. My only complaint is that both the sandwich and side were pretty small for $8-9. Still, I will definitely return to the Square Onion! It’s such a cute place to have a quiet lunch with family or friends.
Square Onion on Urbanspoon

Next, we were off to the South Carolina Aquarium. Our aquarium isn’t the greatest, but I did lug around my camera like a tourist to snap some fun pictures.

Fish:DSC_1566 (1280x914)Coral:DSC_1575 (1280x915)Turtles:DSC_1616 (1280x853)Stingrays and starfish (that you can touch!):DSC_1602 (1280x914)DSC_1628Skunks. Don’t worry – they can’t spray. I thought they were so cute! DSC_1581 (1280x853)Before grabbing some dinner, we stopped by Barnes & Noble for some books. Grandma says she will always buy us books if we promise to actually read them. Grandpa says, “to a certain age.” I’m 26 – I hope I have a few more years. I picked up a giant cookbook:
Do you know hard it was for me to put this book down and actually socialize with my friends? Very hard, but I did. Later that evening, my friend Rob participated in a spicy tuna roll challenge at Bushido that was featured on Man Vs. Food. Did Rob end up eating all 10 levels of habanero filled tuna rolls? To be continued…

23 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun day :) Josh and I have been wanting to make it to the aquarium, but we never seem to. I've never been to square onion. The food does look fresh, but I know that will never fill up Josh. Hope you're having a nice Sunday :)

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  2. What a fun weekend! Thats so cool that your friends did that challenge, I love that show! And hilarious about your grandparents. Thas so adorable!

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  3. Cool. Did you meet Adam Richman? My husband and I like him a lot.

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  4. I love hanging out with my gparents! What a fun day!!!

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  5. Sounds like a great day and YUM to the food.

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  6. I have been wanting to try the Square Onion, I am just hardly ever over that way! I can't wait to tell the hubs about the challenge. He has been wanting to try it forever. We are kind of obsessed with Man v food here at the Mason household. Hows the cookbook? I feel like you can never have too many cookbooks!

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  7. love the square onion. the meredith is my favorite sandwich!

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  8. The restaurant looks great. I'd try the sassafrass!

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  9. I love days out with the grandparents - they do things at such a different pace to everyone else. My grandparents laugh and giggle like teenagers, which i love.

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  10. that place is adorable looking! i love it. especially since it was enjoyed with the grandparents. makes it so much more special!

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  11. Oh my god, that is sooooo cool about your friend!! You will have to let us know when it's on. I want to participate in a spicy tuna roll challenge!

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  12. Sounds like a great day with your grandparents! I love getting new books. They make me so happy!

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  13. Um, what are those two skunks doing to each other?

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  14. The square onion sounds delicious--your meal sounds so good!

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  15. Skunks are SO NOT cute after you've been sprayed by one. True story. :P

    Glad you had fun with your grandparents though!

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  16. What a cute restaurant! Your sandwich looks so good!!!

    Jen
    http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/

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  17. I haven't been to an aquarium in ages- the last time I went was actually with my grandparents! My parents are the same way about paying for books. I get in trouble for spending too much at the grocery store, but I can drop $100 at Barnes & Noble and not hear a word :)

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  18. I saw through twitter that you checked in at the aquarium... it made me think 'how fun!!'

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  19. I wish there were more Square Onion-like lunch spots in this world!

    I always head for the cookbook section when I'm in bookstores...they're gifts that keep giving! (Assuming that you actually make the recipes and don't simply drool over the pictures, like I tend to do). :-)

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  20. Looks like a great day. I love books about cooking (or food). Those are my favorite books in the bookstore. )

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  21. Hi love! I gave you an award on my blog so be sure to check it out :)

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  22. CUTE!!! Love the hands on, so important:)

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