At some point or another in our lives, we’ve all had to get dressed up and go to that fancy dinner (whether we may have wanted to, or not). But while the food may be like nothing you’ve ever tasted before, there’s just something unnatural about the whole experience. And sometimes, you might find yourself wishing you would have just stayed at home in your pjs, microwaved a tv dinner, and fallen asleep on the couch.
But every now and then you’ll get lucky and you’ll find that one special restaurant that not only has unbelievably amazing food, but also a restaurant that you just instantly feel connected to, like a place that feels like your favorite memory or your old stomping grounds back at in your hometown. It's the kind of restaurant that redefines the whole experience of eating out with your friends and family- the food tastes just like momma’s cookin’, the waiters and waitresses treat you like life long friends, and you feel like you’re just at home.
And it goes without saying that when Cassie and Wesley had the pleasure of photographing the Whistling Pig Cafe, they found exactly that: a restaurant that feels just like home.
When Cass & Wes told me they met up with the folks at 6am at Whistling Pig- I chuckled. I know they’re a whole lot like me, in the sense that we all agree back at the studio that mornings are for sleeping, and days & nights are for working. But they were both so enthused to show up & check out Whistling Pig that they simply had to get there first thing in the morning- and they definitely don’t regret waking up at the crack of dawn because when they got there, they were thrilled with what they had found:
Friendly staff, delicious scents, and a beautiful setting. They knew instantly that they had struck gold in terms of restaurants, and no, that’s not just because the golden sun was just beginning to rise.
It’s the kind of place that captures what a good ol’ Southern Charming restaurant truly is. There’s nothing quite being treated with Southern Hospitality, and instantly, they felt at ease & comfortable- they felt at home and knew they were going to take some of the best shots they’d ever taken before. From the sweet waitresses that address you as “sugar and honey” to the white boards advertising “Pig Lickin’ Cake”, Whistling Pig couldn’t be a better example of how good Southern Hospitality can make an already great restaurant, even greater.
But what gets people lining up out of the door day after day is the out-of-this-world and unbelievably delicious food. From the perfectly seasoned ribs that fall straight off the bone to the tasty fried corn that refines the whole way one should be getting their daily serving of veggies, the food from Whistling Pig is the kind of food that’s so good, you’ll be thinking about it for days and days after enjoying it.
Whistling Pig started out small, but after they experienced the deliciousness of what is Whistling Pig cuisine, it was understood immediately why the restaurant has had to continually expand to accommodate for its ever increasing returning customer base.
We recommend you don’t look at the following images if you’re hungry- because you’ll be practically dying to eat your computer screen after you see these tasty treats.
Aside from the delicious food, just the quirky details tastefully scattered around the restaurant truly separated from the sea of local barbecue shops. Customers honor Whistling Pig by bringing them unique pig statues, figurines, and decorations as a thank you for serving them such wonderful food. Cassie was surprised and never thought she’d take a picture of a Pin Up Pig figurine, but you know what they say… there’s a first time for everything. And these unique idiosyncrasies made for a pretty exciting photo shoot & some pretty interesting shots.
Cassie & Wesley can’t say thank you enough to Whistling Pig for having them come up and photograph with them. And if I’m being honest, after looking at these pictures of delicious foods, I might have to grab some of my girlfriends and make a road trip up to Whistling Pig and try this restaurant out myself.
- Cathy Marszalik
