Chef Bob Waggoner of the Charleston Grill and his French Smart Collie, Kenny
Most dogs are trained to understand the words “heel,” “fetch” and “down boy.” But Kenny Waggoner, the 12-year-old collie owned by Chef Bob Waggoner, only understands Fermez La Bouche, Mangez Bien and Bon Chien. Kenny only understands French.
Bob Waggoner is the talented chef at the Mobil Award winning restaurant Charleston Grill in Charleston, South Carolina. The restaurant is located at Charleston Place Hotel, a luxury property owned by Orient-Express Hotels.
Waggoner purchased Kenny from a breeder when he was living in France. “I was running a restaurant in Burgundy called Le Monte Cristo and my wife and I decided we wanted a dog.” What Bob doesn’t mention is that he was the only American running an independent restaurant in Burgundy at that time, from June 1989 to May 1991. His talents were eventually discovered by a leading Burgundy wine negociant who recommended Waggoner to a restaurant in Nashville called The Wild Boar, an establishment with a flamboyant owner and an extensive wine list with 3000 different selections.
Orient-Express Hotels noticed the rave reviews and publicity Chef Waggoner had generated for The Wild Boar and they recruited him to Charleston to head up the stove at Charleston Grill, where he has been since 1997.
“Charleston is a great place to live and to raise a family,” said Waggoner who with his wife Christine and daughter, Joyce, age 11, live in the adjacent hamlet, called Mt. Pleasant. In his spare time, Waggoner enjoys fishing, cookouts, photography and collecting old cookbooks. Kenny usually joins Bob on the fishing trips. “Kenny’s getting a bit up there in years, so he moves slowly now,” said Waggoner. Of course, that’s one of the great reasons to live in Charleston…. things move at a slower pace, and people know how to enjoy the good life, or as they say in France – la belle vie.
At Charleston Grill, Waggoner quickly made a name for himself and helped bring the restaurant to the national forefront. His has since been nominated three years in a row for a James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Southeast. His food can be described as French with Lowcountry accents, or “high-Lowcountry.” Some of his signature dishes include pan-seared lamb sweetbreads over truffled grits, sautéed Smoky Mountain golden trout with Lowcountry crawfish tails and local young zucchini blossoms stuffed with Maine lobster. You can even purchase Charleston Grill’s Lowcountry grits at the hotel’s gift shop.
Charleston Place Hotel boasts beautifully appointed rooms featuring period fabrics and original and antique reproductions that capture the rich history of the destination. The hotel also features a full service luxury spa. Charleston Place is very pet friendly. When I visited with my Maltese, Chance, we were presented with a dog dish full of treats, bottled water, and a welcome note. Other pet amenities include: doggie biscuits, a designer St. John doggie bed, water and food bowis, and a special “V.I.Pet in residence” door hanger that shows your pet is extra special at Charleston Place. Puppies can also select from a V.I.Pet room service menu that includes a selection of wet or dry dog food. For that late night snack, rawhide bones and biscuits can also be ordered.
Charleston is the perfect city to visit almost any time of the year. Spring is popular for the annual Spoleto Festival of the Arts. Christmas offers a candlelight tour of Charleston’s famous mansions. Anytime of the year, you can experience incredible food, warm weather, and a scenic stroll through cobblestone streets lined with historic old homes.
For Bob Waggoner and his family, Charleston is as nice as living in the Burgundy countryside – a beautiful setting, gracious lifestyle, an abundance of outdoor activities and the unique regional Low Country cuisine. As for Kenny, he is a collie living “la belle vie.”
Charleston Place is located at 205 Meeting Street,
Charleston, SC 29401. For reservations, call 1-800-611-5545.
Charleston Grill is open seven days a week for dinner.
Pet recipe from Chef Bob Waggoner Charleston Grill
Kenny’s Soup du Jour
- 2 leeks (cleaned & chopped)
- 4 carrots (peeled & chopped)
- water or broth (enough to just cover the vegetables)
- Place in pot
- Cover with water or chicken or beef broth and simmer over medium low heat until almost all liquid is gone.
- Mix with equal parts of dry kibble and serve
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