MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – A custom-designed oyster knife created by local company The Charleston Shucker Co. was used by one of the contestants on “Top Chef,” which premiered its 14th season on Dec. 1.
The Charleston Shucker, an oyster knife custom designed by Lindsey Ballenger, founder of The Charleston Shucker Co., was used by Gerald Sombright, one of the rookie chefs from Marco Island, Florida.
The popular cooking show on Bravo is a showdown between returning chef contestants and eight new chefs. It was filmed in Charleston earlier this year and even features local Emily Hahn, chef at Charleston’s Warehouse Bar + Kitchen.
In the second episode airing on Thursday, Dec. 8, Charleston Shucker’s own Lowcountry Steamer will be used to cook up some classic Lowcountry boil. The Lowcountry Steamer is the company’s all-purpose steamer used to boil, steam or deep fry and is large enough for parties and corporate events.
The Charleston Shucker Co. was founded in 2007 by South Carolina native Ballenger and her husband. They were searching for personalized oyster knives to give as Christmas gifts, but couldn’t find them anywhere. So they started an online shop offering engraved oyster knives. Eventually they designed their own oyster knife and began to offer a few additional, complimentary products.
Ballenger said she wasn’t completely sure her products would end up on this season’s “Top Chef,” so she was excited to watch the show and see her own oyster knife on the screen.
“We’ve remained a small, family-owned business offering products we love to use ourselves,” she said. “To see our labor of love featured on such a popular television show was so gratifying. We were thrilled to represent Charleston to the world.”
This isn’t the only press for The Charleston Shucker Co. this fall. The Palmetto Shucker is featured in the December issue of Southern Living magazine’s “Gifts Made in the South.”
About The Charleston Shucker Co.
Oyster lovers know a high-quality oyster shucker is essential for breaking open an oyster shell with ease, and a personalized oyster knife is a treasure that will last for years. As the original online source for custom oyster knives, The Charleston Shucker Co. offers classic Southern oyster products straight from the owners’ home in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, visit www.charlestonshuckerco.com.and
