A "Taste of Pawleys" in every bite
Farella Smalls and Bessie Simmons

When we say that Get Carried Away offers a "Taste of Pawleys" in every bite, we mean it. Some of the fantastic dishes that are served at the historic Sea View Inn on Pawleys Island are also available at Get Carried Away Southern Takeout. You can get the same quality low country fare with the convenience of drive by pickup.

But there is another reason that we say we offer a "Taste of Pawleys". That is because of 2 sisters that began working there several years ago. These sister have prepared low country fare at some of the most popular and historic inns and restaurants over the last 45 years. Those sisters are Farella Smalls and Bessie Simmons. Many of our best sellers are carefully prepared with their love, soul and years of experience in and around Pawleys Island.

Farella Smalls worked in the 1960's, 70's, and 80's at Tip Top Inn, a historic inn on the Pawleys Island beachfront. She worked there until it was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Some the specialty items that Farella prepared at Tip Top included Pecan Pie, Lemon Pie, Ginger Bread, Homemade Rolls, and hearty Breakfasts. Farella says her mother and her years of work at Tip Top is where she learned to cook. In the 1990's, Farella worked at the old Channel Marker in Murrells Inlet as a buffet runner and food prepper. After that time, she worked at Pelican Inn and Hanser House continuing to hone her cooking skills and doing what she loves most.

Bessie Simmons also worked at Tip Top Inn alongside Farella in the late 1970's until the inn's last year in 1989. Bessie prepared cook-to-order breakfasts and prepared Fried Chicken, Casseroles, Chicken Pot Pies, delicious Stews and many desserts there. Bessie claims that she is a self taught cook. After her experience at Tip Top, Bessie accompanied Farella by working at the Channel Marker and Pelican Inn for several years. She then moved on to the Litchfield Fish House restaurant where she worked for 15 years while preparing various seafood plates, appetizers, and her delicious desserts.

At 71, Bessie is the older sister. Bessie was born and raised in Pawleys Island and lived here most of her life. She moved to Elizabeth, NJ for about 7 years but returned to Pawleys in 1971. Bessie has 5 kids, 4 that live and Pawleys Island and another that lives in New Hampshire. At 68, Farella has lived in Pawleys Island her entire life. She has 4 kids that live in the lowcountry towns of Conway, Sampit, Plantersville, and Pawleys Island. Bessie and Farella have an older sister Betty and a younger sister Mary Grate who also works at Sea View Inn and Get Carried Away part time.

Both of these ladies have settled at Get Carried Away and steadily produce many of our most popular items. Farella says her specialties are Squash Casserole, Shrimp Salad, Chicken Salad, Lemon Cake, Pecan Pie, Lemon Pie and Key Lime Pie among many others. Bessie cranks out our Shrimp and Crab Enchiladas, Chicken & Orzo, Chicken Tetrazini, many of our casseroles, and her ever popular Bessie Bars.

Bessie and Farella have worked together on and off for over 45 years. When asked what it is like working together, they say it is "comfortable, easy, and fun" and also said they are "best friends". They also said that they "take a lot of pride" in the food that they produce for our customers and "put love" into it. It is obvious that they enjoy working together. During a recent interview with them, they could not stop laughing while responding to questions and during the brief photo shoot. Drop in and say hello to these 2 ladies and enjoy some of the fine food that they prepare 5 days a week in the kitchen at Get Carried Away.