So when it comes to expatriates in Chiang Mai, you've got people from all over. Europe, North America, Australia, you name it. Of those from The U.S.A., you've got two groups: those from California and everybody else. I say all of this to make it very clear that it is hard to come by people from your home, your true home. I'm lucky to be living with another South Carolinian of sorts, and when we connected with another couple from our state, sparks just flew (let me go ahead and apologize for all the ridiculous descriptions to come in this post).

Pam and Glenn invited us over to their beautiful home, which felt like just that the moment we walked in. Watercolor paintings of Charleston and other pieces by our host lined the walls of their quaint, airy home. The night started out simple enough, a bleu cheese salad with cranberries and a vinaigrettete dressing.

As our conversation tilted toward the South, the next course arrived: Meeting Street Crab. This dip was to die for, a cheesy, seafood-y goodness on croutons. This was my first time to try a dish of its kind. The flavors were impeccable, and I swear I could hear the sound of waves at the Battery.

As the sun set and the candlelight glistened through our glasses of sweet tea, Glenn brought out the main course, the whole reason we gathered: shrimp and grits. With bacon as an alternative to the traditional sausage, a flavorful gravy with mushrooms and greens accompanying the grits, this may have been the best rendition of shrimp and grits that I have tasted. Glenn mentioned that this recipe was a first for them, different from what they've put together on the dish in the past. Even so, there weren't any leftovers on my end.

We finished off our four-course with a banana pudding dessert. This one had a bit more class than I was used to, served in a martini glass with a thin waffle instead of Nilla wafers. A huge thanks to Pam and Glenn for making us girls feel at home away from home. I'm ready for the second round of SC in Asia: low country boil.