If you missed getting your tickets back in August when they went on sale, well then you might be in need of some options for the Wine +Food Festival weekend. A handful of cool things to do have cropped up recently — here’s a quick rundown.
The Maverick Group is hosting Chris Hastings of the Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham. He’ll be coming to town for the Wine + Food Festival as an author this year, promoting his very beautiful new cookbook and making an appearance at FIG’s Dine Around on Friday night. But on Tuesday, Charleston Cooks! will get him in their kitchen for a demonstration of his spring recipes. And on Wednesday night, he’ll be returning to his hometown of Pawley’s Island, where the original Hot & Hot Fish Club started, to prepare a wine-paired dinner at High Hammock with Chef de Cuisine Steven Musolf.
Elsewhere in town on Wednesday night, Chef Sean Brock will be hosting a celebuchef-studded meal at McCrady’s, partnering with Top Cheftestants Eli Kirshtein and Richard Blais, both from Atlanta, for a seven-course molecularly-gastronomical dinner extravaganza. We guarantee this will be a fun experience with these three Willy Wonkas in the back, conjuring up all kinds of wondrously delicious dishes.
Brock will also be hosting a Lowcountry Lunch and Chef’s Tour on Saturday afternoon, which any Southern foodie would be remiss to miss. Of course, the suggested donation of $500 will probably keep many of us away, but the money goes to support the Oxford American, a literary-minded Southern magazine based in Arkansas, which will be in town launching their Southern food issue. John T. Edge of the Southern Foodways Alliance guest edited the edition, and he’ll be holding court at the luncheon, which will also feature Matt and Ted Lee and Frank Stitt among other promised “Southern food icons.” Brock will talk about his food, give a tour of the kitchen, and feed you too.
Later in the day, from 5-7 p.m., the Oxford American will move their launch party over to Billy Reid on King Street for a free Benne & Bourbon reception (now we’re talking!). This event will include food, drinks, and a discussion of the 2010 Southern Food issue featuring John T. Edge and contributing writers. The benne wafers will be provided by McCrady’s, and Jim N’ Nick’s will tend the bar.
Of course, if we weren’t tasked with covering the festival and didn’t have an unlimited budget (or comp tickets), our Saturday would begin and end with Ted’s Butcherblock’s Locals First Block Party. Ted will be barbecuing some brisket and selling it for a mere $12 a plate. He’ll have live music from The Bushels, craft beer on tap, wine pourings, and plenty of samples of artisanal wares throughout the day. It’s a convivial celebration of great local food, and a great way to cement your dedication to real food.
If you’re a locavore with a limited budget, then Fish has crafted a meal just for you. Nico Romo has brought back his popular 100-Mile Dinner, which will be offered Thursday through Sunday nights. Romo will source every ingredient — eggs, milk, protein, vegetables — from within a hundred miles of Charleston and put together a three-course meal for $35. It’s a great deal and a great meal. Make reservations for that one, cause it will fill up fast.
And you can count on the Lee Bros. to be doing something very local to promote their latest cookbook. On Sunday afternoon, Matt and Ted will be taking over the sidewalk in front of Blue Bicycle Books for a boiled peanut-eating, book-signing extravaganza. That’s a free way to mingle with Charleton’s favorite food writers.
If you know of other happenings, send them in and I’ll add to the calendar.
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