5 Lowcountry-Inspired Dishes Your Guests will Love

Hamby Catering server passing mini crab cakes on a wooden tray

Dear Readers,

Lowcountry food is warm, welcoming and made for gathering. As Charleston’s most-celebrated caterer, Hamby Catering has spent decades celebrating Southern hospitality through food that feels both familiar and fresh. Timeless. Southern. Inventive. That’s our approach, after all.

These five Lowcountry-inspired dishes are curated by Hamby to give guests a true taste of Charleston, with a few signature twists along the way.

1. Creole Shrimp & Grits

Creole shrimp and grits served in glass bowls by Hamby Catering in Charleston

No list of iconic Charleston dishes would be complete without shrimp and grits. Hamby puts a Creole spin on this Lowcountry classic, pairing creamy grits with richly seasoned shrimp for a dish that brings a little extra flavor and personality to the table.

It’s Southern comfort food with a Hamby twist, and a  favorite for Charleston weddings and events.

Creole shrimp and grits served in glass bowls by Hamby Catering in Charleston

2. She-Crab Soup

She-crab soup shooters served in petite glasses by Hamby Catering

She-crab soup is one of Charleston’s most beloved culinary traditions. Our twist? Make it a shooter.

These petite portions turn the rich, creamy classic into an elegant cocktail-hour bite, finished with a touch of dry sherry for an extra nod to Charleston tradition.

She-crab soup shooters served in petite glasses by Hamby Catering

3. Chicken Bog

Lowcountry chicken bog with chicken, rice, sausage, peppers and onions

For the chillier months, there’s nothing quite like chicken bog. 

This Lowcountry staple combines chicken, rice and sausage with peppers and onions for a welcome pop of color and crunch. Hearty, comforting and made for gathering, it’s Southern comfort food at its best.

Lowcountry chicken bog with chicken, rice, sausage, peppers and onions

4. Mini Crab Cakes

Mini crab cakes with sauce and green onion served on a silver tray

Coastal flavor meets cocktail-hour elegance with Hamby’s mini crab cakes.

Golden, tender and easy to enjoy in a bite or two, they’re a natural fit for Charleston weddings, cocktail parties and coastal celebrations. Classic enough to feel timeless and polished enough for the party.

Mini crab cakes with sauce and green onion served on a silver tray

5. Deviled Eggs with Pickled Okra

Southern deviled eggs topped with pickled okra by Hamby Catering

It’s hard to get more Southern than a deviled egg.

Hamby gives the classic appetizer a Lowcountry touch with pickled okra, creating a passed bite that feels familiar, fresh and distinctly Charleston.

Simple, Southern and always quick to disappear from the tray.

Southern deviled eggs topped with pickled okra by Hamby Catering

The best Lowcountry food tells a story of place, tradition and hospitality. At Hamby Catering & Events, we take the flavors Charleston is known for and find inventive ways to make them feel at home at today’s celebrations.

From Creole shrimp and grits to she-crab soup shooters, these dishes are timeless, Southern and inventive, just like the gatherings we love to create.

With love,
Candice Hudnall, President + Owner,
Hamby Catering & Events

Photography credit, in order of appearance:

Samantha Jean Becker
Abby Jiu Photography
Dana Cubbage Weddings
Lauren Jonas Photography
Rebecca Sigety Photography
Aleece Sophia