The Obstinate Daughter

The Obstinate Daughter originally published on Food and Fond Memories on November 15, 2016 by sandyaxelrod 2 Comments (Edit)

Steve and I recently visited one of our favorite cities Charleston a couple of weeks ago and virtually ate our way through it! We started our feeding frenzy upon arrival by having a quick dinner at Sesame Burger. Which is always fabulous. On that Monday evening we decided to try The Obstinate Daughter on nearby Sullivan’s Island.

Welcome to The Obstinate Daughter

Looking down at a lawn and bare trees at night

The view from the dining room at The Obstinate Daughter

The Obstinate Daughter is owned by the same people who own Wild Olive an Italian restaurant that we adore. It only opened about two and a half years ago and we have been wanting to try it ever since. The atmosphere is inviting, cozy and casual with a tropical vibe. It is, after all, on an island! The main dining room and bar are upstairs; with outdoor seating and a dessert shop on the ground level. Steve and I sat upstairs at the bar and enjoyed the camaraderie of the bartender/servers and the guests was delightful. But the highlight was certainly the food.

A large white dish with gnocchi and red sauce topped with grated cheese and parsley

Ricotta Gnocchi with Short Rib Ragu at The Obstinate Daughter

A large white plate with beans and rice and clams

Seared Swordfish Paella at
The Obstinate Daughter

We had a drink while waiting for our seats and someone at the bar was served a gorgeous slice of Tarte Tatin with a nice big scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. We decided right then and there that we would skip an appetizer to make sure we had room for dessert. So Steve ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi and I got the Seared Swordfish “Paella”. Both were great options. The gnocchi were light little pillows that were enriched with a fantastic short rib ragu with horseradish and pine nut gremolata. I kept sneaking little tastes. Shhhh! Don’t tell Steve. My fish was perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor in every bite of the swordfish, saffron rice, chorizo, mussels, scallops and shrimp. And then there was that dessert. OMG. Was that ever delicious.

A white plate with the tiniest remains of red sauce

An official member of the clean plate club.

A white plate with just a little reddish juice left on it.

I made all gone – now I can have dessert!

The name, The Obstinate Daughter, has an interesting history. It is an homage to the rich Revolutionary War history of Sullivan’s Island. On June 28, 1776, under the command of Colonel William Moultrie, the defenders of Fort Sullivan foiled the British fleet’s attempt to capture the city of Charleston in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. This first American Patriots victory inspired a London political cartoon of the defiant defenders of Charleston: “Miss Carolina Sulivan, one of the obstinate daughters of America, 1776”. To us, The Obstinate Daughter is a beautiful reminder that the stubborn refusal to change one’s course of action can change the course of history.

With their varied assortment of plates, pasta and pizza and those glorious desserts I know we will return on our next visit to the Low Country.