One of Charleston’s most acclaimed and accomplished chefs, Ken Vedrinski, has expanded his restaurant offerings with his newest venture, Coda del Pesce (Italian for “tail of the fish”). The 70+ seat contemporary Italian influenced restaurants showcases the area’s most untapped asset - the ocean and the view and menu hightlight this incredible bounty.
Trattoria Lucca
Ken Vedrinski’s corner trattoria sings with the flavors of Italy. Located in Charleston’s Elliotborough neighborhood, Lucca’s natural-light-filled space is a darling of locals and visitors alike. Pasta, rolled out daily on the travertine marble bar, makes mouths water in dishes such as bucatini with foraged mushrooms, a soft farm egg, crispy guanciale and browned goat butter. Come on Monday night, when Vedrinksi cooks up his Italian version of potluck for the four-course family-style supper.
A couple of weeks ago, Charleston was treated to a double dose of Louisville Chef Edward Lee, which resulted in plenty of smiles, some great tips about techniques, and of course, some seriously outstanding food.
Every Day with Rachel Ray magazine features Chef Ken Vedrinski’s recipe.
Chef Ken Vedrinski of Trattoria Lucca and Coda del Pesce will be profiled in the September issue of Wine Spectator magazine in a piece on the country’s top Italian chefs.
He joins other notables like Michael White (Marea, New York), Dena Marino (MC Kitchen, Miami), Celestino Drago (Drago Centro, Los Angeles), Jonathan Benno (Lincoln Ristorante, New York), and Matthew Accarrino (SPQR, San Francisco).
In the piece, he shares a recipe and a wine pairing. Keep an eye out for the issue, which should hit newstands this week.
Ken Vedrinski’s Trattoria Lucca is home to some of the freshest and best Italian cuisine in Charleston. Vedrinski, who grew up cooking with his grandmother and traveled extensively in Italy to hone his craft, rolls out the fresh pastas daily at Trattoria Lucca.
Passion. To be passionate about what you do is reflected in your work, your outlook on life, and if you are a chef, in your food. Food created out of passion is good food and when many people (including other chefs) in Charleston, South Carolina are seeking really good food, they book a table at Trattoria Lucca. When you think of Charleston dining, the area between King Street and East Bay offers some of the finest restaurants in the Untied States. A few years ago we were directed off the usual path to dine with Chef Ken Vedrinski in an area of town that was very unfamiliar.
Pasta can often be a filling feast, but Tommy V‘s tummy can tango – “the food was seriously flavorful but still light.” He and a guest decided on “the gnudi, bucatini, and the shells with braised veal… all tasty.” Don’t disappoint Mama by being late for Monday Family Supper. Chef Ken Vedrinski puts together a four-course prix fixe menu served at a communal table for $38.
At Trattoria Lucca, which opened in Charleston, SC, in 2008, that means dishes that showcase fresh local seafood, from the crudo of grouper to homemade ricotta cavatelli with flounder in a shellfish broth. For a truly special treat, time your visit to the Monday evening family supper, a communal seating during which chef Ken Vedrinski serves a four-course prix fixe menu for $38.
Even though Ken Vedrinski’s Lucca is named after a town in Tuscany, this dish of fresh snails, creamy fresh Cresenza cheese, and a wild-onion broth wears its American pedigree proudly.
Chef Ken Vedrinski’s Family Supper, now on Monday nights, is the ticket. Sit down at a communal table and share the four set courses ($36) of antipasti, pasta, entrée, and dolce and cross your fingers that he’ll be serving the to-die-for crudo of grouper.
