Downtown restaurant Chasing Sage announced on Instagram last month that it will be closing its doors on Oct. 5. While the last day of service at Chasing Sage is this week, some local food and beverage professionals are taking over the kitchen for a collaborative dinner on Oct. 15.
You can join Joey De Mare of De Mare Raw Bar and Connor White of The Walrus Raw Bar (Holy City Brewing’s in-house raw bar) for a special raw bar and small plate menu. While reservations are almost fully booked (book yours now on resy.com), walk-ins are welcome and encouraged.
The oyster experts will be shucking Lowcountry Oyster Company (LowCo.) oysters with help from Jimmy Stracey, LowCo. Assistant farm manager.
“The special thing to me is the oysters,” Stracey said. “From growing them from seed to that market size takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Watching the customers enjoy the oysters is very rewarding.”
Diners can also look forward to drinks from Charlie Bolin, who will debus his new cocktail pop-up, Feral Cane, and dessert from Mia Wilkie.
“This night is about expanding the vision behind De Mare Raw bar, a true farm to table concept,” De Mare said. “I want to provide variety [and] creative, always fresh seafood for people to get excited about and enjoy each other’s company. There’s a lot of patience, a lot of care and attention to detail in ocean farming and to be able to share it with the people in Charleston is so important to me.”
One door closes, another pops up
De Mare debuted his raw bar earlier this summer, popping up at breweries and restaurants around town.
For this event, he brings together a crew of folks he’s worked with for a long time including his girlfriend, Sami Hooker, who works at The Archer.
Hooker said she’s excited to see De Mare Raw Bar executed on a larger scale.
“You are doing what you’re passionate about with other people who are also so invested in the industry,” she said. “And I think that’s really what hospitality is all about, bringing people together and having fun amidst all of the craziness.”
Follow De Mare Raw Bar on Instagram @de_marerawchs.
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