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CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA: CHARLESTON WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL
The sixth helping of
The Charleston Wine + Food
Festival provided yet another delicious and delectable trip to the
Lowcountry. Star local and visiting chefs (like David Burke, Donald Link,
Dean Max, Frank Stitt, Bryan Voltaggio, and a half-dozen Top Cheftestants
headlining the list) made this annual event better than ever.
The Culinary Village was the heart (and some would say stomach) of the event, featuring more than 80 culinary-related businesses, including top restaurants, food purveyors, wineries from around the world, culinary merchandise, and more. Events also included cooking demonstrations, cookbook author signings, wine tastings , a one-ingredient Top Chef challenge with one Top Chef contestant from each of the first 6 seasons and Charleston’s own version of “Iron Chef” (hosted by famed Charleston chef Bob Waggoner).
Specialty events included: The Salute to Charleston Chefs Opening Night Party, featuring top Charleston’s chefs preparing signature dishes; The Restaurant Dine-Around, treating participants to phenomenal meals at famed Charleston restaurants like Slightly North of Broad, High Cotton, Charleston Grill, FIG, McCrady’s, Peninsula Grill; Cypress, Trattoria Lucca, and Magnolia’s with local chefs teamed up with visiting chef superstars; and Festival After-Hours, which featured late-night munchies, sweet tooth delicacies, fine champagne, and signature cocktails prepared by several area and nationally-known mixologists and pastry chefs.
Specifically wine-oriented events
included: The Perfect Pairing Winemakers Luncheons; “Wine” Around
the Garden at Middleton Place; Winemaker Receptions in Private Historic Homes;
on- and off-site wine seminars covering a wide variety of topics (and wines);
and the King Street Sip & Stroll.
Other highlights included: The new Locavore Luncheon, featuring a menu made entirely from ingredients produced within 100 miles of Charleston, the Lowcountry Farm-to-Table Excursion (including visits to Burden Creek Dairy on John’s Island, Charleston Tea Plantation, and Irvin-House Vineyards); a Celebrity Cookbook Authors Reception at a private residence and garden in historical downtown Charleston; several Beermaster and Craft Beer Dinners; the Lowcountry Gospel Brunch; and BBQ, Blues & Brews (featuring southern barbeque and music by The Blue Dogs).
With a tasty serving like this, you can be sure that we already have next year’s Charleston Wine + Food Festival on our menu (March 1-4, 2012).