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Chef Spotlight: Kay General and Steve Elliott of General Elliott Inn, Aiken

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Discover writers share all of the places, activities and adventure that South Carolina has to offer. Read more from some of South Carolina’s locals and discover what’s happening in the Palmetto State.
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Kay General and Steve Elliott
Kay General and Steve Elliott, Innkeepers at General Elliott Inn's restaurant, Aiken

Southern hospitality and luxurious comfort welcome guests at the General Elliott Inn, a bed-and-breakfast near Aiken in the beautiful countryside of Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina.

Located on three peaceful acres overlooking pastures of playful thoroughbreds, The General Elliot Inn is owned and operated by Kay General and Steve Elliot. To the delight of all, Kay and Steve have expanded the Inn's hospitality to include a fine dining restaurant open to the public by reservation only.

Kay previously owned and operated a restaurant (The Old Howard) in Hibbing, Minn. for 14 years. She has extensive experience with on-site and off site catering as well as day-to-day operations of a 310-seat restaurant. Kay loves to cook and entertain, which is why she wanted to open an inn in Aiken, SC.

During Kay's years in the restaurant business, she was featured in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune for many of her special dishes and recipe requests. Now her culinary talents are featured in the new 40-seat fine dining restaurant at the Inn. The restaurant serves dinners on Friday and Saturday nights by reservation only for the residents of Aiken and Inn guests to enjoy. The Inn's restaurant is also available for weddings, receptions, private dinners, luncheons and other catered events.

Steve was a corporate attorney in Palm Beach, Fla. area for 34 years. After they were married in 2004, Kay and Steve decided a lifestyle change would be great and the idea of a bed-and-breakfast seemed to fit their mutual enjoyment of entertaining people and of fine food.

They looked at many areas, but fell in love with Aiken. They chose to utilize their surnames (General and Elliott) to name the Inn.

Steve's father had prepared a family tree years ago that traced the Elliott clan from Scotland, through England and Ireland to the Maryland coast of the American Colonies in the early 1700s.

His descendants moved to Ohio as Presbyterian ministers in the early 1800s. Steve's brother researched the family further and found that a branch of the Elliotts settled in Beaufort, SC where three generations of Stephen Elliotts were born.

Stephen Elliott, born in 1832, became Brig. General Elliott during the Civil War, serving the Confederacy at Fort Sumter and suffering several battle wounds at Petersburg.

General Elliott died of his wounds, a year after the war, in Aiken while running for the Congress of the United States. Of course, General Elliott will have a place of honor at the Inn.

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Discover Writer
More from "Discover Writer"
Discover writers share all of the places, activities and adventure that South Carolina has to offer. Read more from some of South Carolina’s locals and discover what’s happening in the Palmetto State.