Danielle Miller

August 2025 Issue
by Lesley Kyle
Photography by Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC

Danielle Miller grew up on Hilton Head Island when it was quiet and had two-lane roads. 


Gatherings of family and friends took place almost every Saturday and Sunday at her grandfather’s home, and they were always centered around a lot of good food. Danielle was raised in a large family where old ways of traditional island living, like fishing and crabbing, were taught to her at a young age. These special pastimes created many fond childhood memories for Danielle.

Her grandfather’s place also had a lush garden that was planted every year. They all referred to it as “the field”. Danielle helped harvest the fresh vegetables for the week ahead, picking sweet ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, and the like. Wild berries grew in abundance nearby, and when mixed with a little chew on some sugar cane from the field, it was like heaven. These age-old Gullah traditions were instilled in Danielle at a young age and have been a part of who she is, ever since.

While majoring in business management at Winthrop University in Rockhill, South Carolina, Danielle longed for her family’s home cooking, so she reached out to her mom and aunt for recipes. “Cooking has always been a creative outlet for me,” Danielle said. After graduation, she followed her business degree and worked in management for 14 years. In her free time, though, she began cooking more and sharing her Gullah-inspired creations with her family, friends and co-workers. Their enthusiastic responses to her delicious, creative fare inspired her to pursue cooking and start thinking about new career options. “Introducing people to my take on Lowcountry and Gullah cuisine brings me joy. I think food brings people together. It’s the one thing we all have in common, no matter what ethnicity. It literally could be the sixth love language,” she said.

Danielle hails from a family of entrepreneurs, and while she knew she always wanted to have her own business, she wasn’t sure what it might be. A foodie at heart, Danielle watched many programs on the Food Network and was captivated by episodes of The Great Food Truck Race. A new business concept was soon born! In 2018, Danielle bought a used food trailer only to learn they were not yet permitted on Hilton Head Island. Two weeks later, she suffered a knee injury that required extensive surgery. With lots of downtime during her recovery, Danielle immersed herself in online research to develop her business. She began creating recipes and designing her food trailer concept.

Danielle’s father, who is a successful business owner, along with her network of restaurant business owners, advised and helped her in planning her fledgling business even though she was sidelined once again, this time by a car accident. Undeterred, Danielle continued marching toward her dream by reaching out and learning from other restaurant and food truck owners. “I joined the Facebook group, “Female Food Truckers”, and was inspired and encouraged by them,” said Danielle. Her older brother, Danny Miller, Jr., was a big help, too, with the remodel of the trailer.

Of course, she also brought some experience from her previous job to her new business. “Everyone needs to work retail and food and beverage,” said Danielle. “Those industries teach patience and to be a little more kind and courteous to people when you go out. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes.”

Next, Danielle’s food truck needed a catchy name. She knew she wanted to include the word “bites” in the name and turned to a co-worker to brainstorm to find a word that both suited Danielle’s personality, while also describing her food style. When they landed on the word, “authentic,” it was an instant hit!

When she was finally ready to roll, Danny Jr. towed the trailer to the various locations for her. However, since last July, Danielle has towed the trailer herself, backing it up and all! “It was a proud moment to drive that truck and trailer for the first time.”

Authentic Bites debuted last year to a huge crowd at her location next to Cohen’s Barber Shop on Squire Pope Road. “After all the planning, thought, and time I put in…, it was really happening,”Danielle said. She has found success by offering delicious niche products which differentiate her food from other local trucks. She likes to switch up the menu regularly but always offers her top sellers like the SOS Egg Roll, a tasty blend of shrimp, sausage, okra and all the Gullah goodness wrapped into an egg roll served piping hot. This is a take on one of Danielle’s aunt’s recipes, and people can’t get enough.

Are you hungry yet? Keep up with Danielle and Authentic Bites' expanding offerings and locations by following her Facebook and Instagram pages (@authenticbites). Her current home bases are Cohen’s Barber Shop and Eagle Baseball Field in Bluffton (155 Buck Island Rd). Typical food truck days are Thursdays through Saturdays, but they may vary. Also, look for the truck at upcoming festivals and new locations are always being added. No matter what, though, when you see her truck, pull over and get some authentic bites. Don’t forget to put your SOS blinkers on—people will understand.

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Up Close:

What’s Next: Danielle hopes to expand to Pooler, Savannah, Beaufort, and other nearby areas.

Secret Weapon: Authenticity, of course, in her food and life!

Favorite Food: Baked turkey wings and necks, shrimp and okra, and authentic Mexican cuisine.


Fun Fact: As a kid, Danielle wanted to visit the Amazon and be an entomologist!

Dream: To travel the world sampling different foods and experiencing various cultures like the late Chef Anthony Bourdain.