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Article

Where the Chefs Eat with Chef Geoff Blount

  By  Ashley Daniels

Where the Chefs Eat with Chef Geoff Blount

One of Our Finest Chefs Reveals His Favorite Restaurants

There are more than 1800 restaurants in the Grand Strand area! Where do you start when looking for a great place to eat? From fast food to Calabash buffets to fine dining, the Myrtle Beach area truly has it all.

We interviewed Chef Geoff Blount of the International Culinary Institute of Myrtle Beach at HGTC to learn about the school’s restaurant and to see where he likes to eat when he gets some time off.

First, he discussed the wonderful Fowler Dining Room which is located in the culinary school on The Market Common campus at 743 Hemlock Avenue, Myrtle Beach. The student-operated Fowler Dining Room provides training in a real restaurant setting where students are taught food preparation, plating, menu development, serving and more.

HGTC Fowler Bistro

During the fall semester, The Fowler Dining Room is open Monday - Thursday for a lovely three-course lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. During the spring semester, the restaurant offers excellent five to seven-course dinners on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reservations are first-come, first-served and they often sell out! Make reservations at tock.com.

Chef Geoff also identified three Grand Strand restaurants that he particularly enjoys with his family:

Rivertown Bistro is at 1111 3rd Ave in historic Conway, just 15 miles west of Myrtle Beach. Chef Darren Smith is a graduate of the HGTC Culinary Institute, and his menu focuses on high quality, locally-sourced foods.

Rivertown Bistro Conway

Wicked Tuna has two locations: 110 North Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, and 4123 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet. This restaurant provides the very freshest seafood, great service in beautiful settings, and amazing desserts!

Wicked Tuna Sushi

Hook & Barrel is located at 8014 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. Chef Geoff loves their efforts toward sustainability, their fresh fish, steaks, and shrimp!

Hook & Barrel appetizer

There are many other great restaurants in the Grand Strand area, and we will be interviewing many more chefs to get their list of favorite restaurants!

Shelbi Ankiewicz

Shelbi Ankiewicz is a senior at Coastal Carolina University studying communication, journalism, and intercultural studies. She is originally from Montgomery, Alabama, but has resided in Myrtle Beach for 14 years. She is the Editor-in-Chief of CCU's student newspaper, The Chanticleer, and is a member of a two-year leadership program called the Wall Fellows. Shelbi enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling to major cities in the SouthEast, and attending concerts. In her free time you can find her hanging out with her frenchton bulldog, Oma, or visiting the local trails Myrtle Beach has to offer.