42 www. ReadMPM. com | www.MountPl easantMagaz i ne. com | www.MountPl easantPodcas t . com As the temperature begins to drop and pumpkin patches begin to pop up on street corners, the smell of chili wafting through the crisp air is nothing out of the ordinary. Although chili makes its way onto the menu of many local restaurants, it is in the kitchens of Lowcountry residents where this dish is truly appreciated. For decades, the South has been a hotspot for chili recipes, passed down through generations to usher in the new season. Mount Pleasant resident and South Carolina state representative Mark Smith recalled that when his three sons were growing up, his wife Elayne Smith began making chili to sneak more vegetables into their meals. Their family quickly fell in love with the dish. Ever since, his wife has been welcoming fall into their home with a crock pot full of her infamous chili recipe, which proves to be one of Smith’s favorite parts of this time of year. For their family, chili is more than an annual tradition — it’s a go-to meal perfect for many occasions. He recalled when his wife brought in a pot for their staff at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home one day. “Everyone loved it and wanted to get the recipe from her,” Smith remarked. Whether it is with their family at home, with colleagues at the funeral home or even with friends at a tailgating party, Smith agrees that chili is a key part of autumn. Even those who weren’t raised eating chili quickly come to love it. Michael Antonelli, It’s Getting Chili A Taste of Fall from Mount Pleasant Leaders BY MAD I SON BROACH Mar k Smi th and f r i ends . Photo prov i ded. feature
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1