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Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
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Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
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Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
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Eliot VanOtteren Photo Courtesy of Sea Island
The Market at Sea Island is a magical place. It’s like Fantasia for the foodie! The enthusiasm of the staff for their products and fresh ingredients is contagious. The lunch crowd brings productive hustle-bustle to a relaxed, open air, casual atmosphere creating a pleasant mix. Jordan Poteat, Executive Chef of External Services for Sea Island and Chef de Cuisine of The Market, oversees it all with infectious energy and a winning smile. His aim is to make “farm-to-table” not just trendy buzz-words, but a lifestyle embraced by the community. He says the reception The Market has received since opening has exceeded expectations and they are making additions and changes daily to meet the needs of their fine cuisine loving clientele.
Poteat explains that The Market was opened with the goal of sharing Sea Island quality via a centrally located neighborhood market. Through The Market, organic produce, high quality meats, such as Wagyu beef, Naked Bird poultry, and fresh caught fish, artisan bread and cheeses of the same caliber as what is used in the kitchens of the Georgian Room and Tavola, are now made widely available. This lets people not only get a taste of the fine cuisine for which Sea Island is known, but also gives them the ability to take those same ingredients home to their families.
The Market allows shoppers to fill their basket with items such as locally and regionally sourced produce, smoked bacon from Sea Island Farms at Broadfield, roasted coffee from Wake Up Coffee Co., cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy, and steaks from Halpern to prepare at home. There is a vast wine selection that includes the exclusive Sea Island brand wines, as well as other hard to acquire bottles. In addition to the affordable and unique wines offered at The Market, if you have a love for a certain wine you have not been able to find or if you are a local wine enthusiast looking for assistance in stocking a personal cellar, wine concierge Guy Trapani is up to the challenge. They also stock craft and imported beers as well as vintage-style sodas for the kid in us all. Sea Island logo apparel, as well as glassware, cookware, serving pieces, and other lifestyle items are all available for purchase in The Market.
Open 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, The Market also serves as a bakery, coffee shop, and upscale deli. The variety of fresh-baked pastries, coffee (Try the cold brew!) and teas available provide a perfect start to any day. When lunch rolls around, you can sit at a table in the sun with friends or pick up sandwiches, soup, or salad to go. Looking for healthy choices? Tuscan kale and quinoa salads are delicious and nutritious. Sandwiches go beyond your typical deli fare: the chicken salad includes dried cherries and roasted pecans; bacon jam complements the homemade pimiento cheese; Broadfield smoked ham is divine when paired with aged sharp cheddar. Poteat notes that the quality of the breads used for the sandwiches, ranging from wheatberry to sundried tomato basil focaccia, is just as important as what goes between those slices. Even the “After School Special” bologna sandwich has somehow been turned into an appetizing-sounding gourmet treat. Tomato slices are fresh and flavorful. The lettuce is green and crisp. The pickles are house-made using Poteat’s own grandmother’s recipe.
Dinner entrées change daily and again are a departure from your traditional pre-prepared convenience dinners. Offerings include roasted chicken with fennel and farro risotto, braised short ribs with truffle and potato gratin, slow-roasted prime rib, lasagna, and other fresh-made pasta specials. If you are indulging a sweet tooth, you won’t be disappointed either: a giant chocolate brownie-cookie creation is positively sinful, coconut macaroons, fruit tarts, apple crumb, peach, and pecan pies are just waiting to be devoured.
When describing several of the items stocked on The Market’s shelves and in the deli cases, such as the cheeses, olive oils, and sea salt, Poteat noted that they are some of his favorites. It is important to him to be able to stand behind the quality of the products they offer. He says, “We want to work with suppliers who are passionate about product, not profit.” This attention to superior quality and detail is the hallmark of Sea Island and is clearly demonstrated in the The Market.
Stop by The Market at 351 Sea Island Road today and discover this exciting new shopping and dining experience. For menu and other information, visit seaisland.com/dining/the-market.
