When we got a copy of Mission Chinese Food, chef Danny Bowien’s cookbook, in the mail two weeks ago, we figured a Charleston event was on the horizon. But we had no idea it would be this stacked. On Sat. Dec. 12 at 6 p.m., Bowien and Sean Brock will pair up for what they’re calling A Southern x Sichuan Lowcountry Boil and Fried Chicken Dinner at The Royal American. 

The event is to promote Bowien’s aforementioned cookbook, THE MISSION CHINESE FOOD COOKBOOK, co-authored by Lucky Peach editor-in-chief Chris Ying. Published by TV personality Anthony Bourdain’s Ecco/Anthony Bourdain Books, the snarky Parts Unknown host calls the the book, “not just a cookbook. Yes, there are recipes here for some of the tastiest, most insanely flavor-packed, dangerously addictive dishes you are ever likely to find….But it’s also a story — a uniquely American one — of how to do everything wrong and have it end up brilliantly, gloriously right.”

Mission Chinese Food began as a food truck in San Francisco, or as Bourdain writes in the cookbook’s forward, “The mutant offspring of a taco cart, a charitable pop-up, a loose gathering of chefs.” Today it’s two restaurants, one in San Francisco and one in NYC and both have made Bowien a 31-year-old phenom thanks to dishes like kung pao pastrami and scorching hot ma po tofu. 

Suffice it to say, this is a big deal and to miss this event will likely result in having your gastronaut license revoked. So let’s talk details, tickets are $55 per person and may be purchased here. Bonus: each ticket comes with a signed copy of the cookbook.

Act fast.


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