Charleston means different things to different people. To Australian chef Rob Teitzel, it means peace, tranquility and an oasis from the stresses of day to day life. It also happens to be the name of his new restaurant in the bustling Glebe Point area of Sydney. However, the story begins in the Big Apple.
Escape from New York
The Japanese have a medical condition called Paris syndrome. It's a kind of depression triggered by culture shock when visitors to Paris find that the city fails to live up to their expectations. If there is any US city that could trigger similar emotions, it has to be the Big Apple.
New York City is a place like no other. But it takes a special kind of mentality to live there day in and day out, as weeks turn to months that turn to years. Rob Teitzel was not the first person to fly in to JFK looking for a slice of the American Dream when he arrived in 2009. For a while, the Australian found it, working at one of the city's top luxury hotels in the heart of the financial district.
After almost a year, however, Rob needed a change of pace. He and his girlfriend found themselves in the low country, and when they stopped in Charleston, it gave Rob an idea.
A personal oasis
Rob explains that he and his girlfriend were on a shoestring budget. The city's high end restaurants were not for them. Instead, they sampled simple but delicious seafood from the city's smaller eateries along Charleston's historic waterfront.
Rob's idea was to see if he could recreate something of the atmosphere of Charleston as an oasis from the hustle and bustle of his native Sydney – a city that bears distinct similarities to NYC.
A break from the casinos, cocktails and clubs
It might be a fraction of the size with a fraction of the population, but in relative terms, Sydney is Australia's very own slice of New York. With a choice of nightclubs, two major casinos and a choice of real money casinos in cyberspace too, it can reasonably be called Australia's city that never sleeps. Whether you are into casino gaming, clubbing or trying out different cocktails, Sydney is a fabulous place to visit. But like New York, or indeed Paris, there comes a point where you need a break.
That's where the Charleston steps in. Rob explains “We're on a busy street in Sydney, so we wanted to build a bit of an oasis.” The décor certainly fits the bill. The dusty pink walls, exposed brickwork and periwinkle seating definitely conjure up images of the Charleston waterfront and those small cafes and restaurants that made such an impression on Rob and his girlfriend back in 2010.
The menu takes its inspiration from the shorelines of South Carolina from coastal Charleston to the Old South Plantations, according to Rob's website. Highlights include a lobster roll, baby octopus with minted pea puree, and mouth-watering brioche doughnuts with a homemade bourbon glaze.
Evoking the Charleston vibe extends to the entertainment, too. The Charleston hosts regular jazz nights that attract an incredible array of local talent.
A Charleston away from Charleston
Rob remarks that there are only a handful of diners who have visited Charleston, SC, and can comment on how well he has recreated the atmosphere. However, he takes comfort from the fact that “everyone who has been there is very fond of it.” He also jokes that his oasis in the heart of Sydney has inspired at least a couple of patrons to add Charleston to their travel plans when visiting the USA. We just hope for their sake that he has not let his personal attachment to the Holy City get the better of him – outbreaks of Charleston Syndrome in New South Wales would be just too much to bear.
