FUND-RAISER | Feed your face and feed the kids
Taste of the Nation Charleston
Sun. May 20
4 p.m. (VIP reception at 3:30 p.m.)
$75/$125 VIP
Lowndes Grove Plantation
266 St. Margaret St.
1-877-26-TASTE
tasteofthenation.org
Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Charleston sets up on the grounds of Lowndes Grove this Sunday for a fund-raiser to fight childhood hunger. Coordinating chef Ciarán Duffy from Tristan has brought together the chefs from Carolina’s, Circa 1886, Charleston Grill, Rue De Jean, McCrady’s, High Cotton, Cypress, Cordavi, FIG, and let’s just stop there. Like most humanity-driven food events, there will be wine to wash down the delectable goodness and an auction for gamblers. Pay an extra Benjamin for VIP status and you’ll have access to a tent with flamenco guitar music and endless champagne. Every penny raised goes straight to Share Our Strength area charities like Charleston Area Garden Project, which educates inner city children about gardening and nutrition in an attempt to nix poor eating habits. SUNDAY
Ground Great Grits
Anson Restaurant is one of the few restaurants in town that stone-grinds its own grits. Chef Kevin Johnson will bring the gristmill to class, show how its done, and prepare some recipes with, you guessed it, grits. Wed. May 16, 6:30 p.m. $45. Charleston Cooks!, 194 E. Bay St. 722-1212. www.charlestoncooks.com
Earth Fare
Cooking Classes
Chef Kim continues her free cooking classes with two sessions in May. Learn the tricks of the trade and create sensual summer delights as Mango Gazpacho with Pickled Shrimp and Mango Kulfi, an Indian Ice Cream Treat. Later in May, professional Casey Price of Jeremiah Farms will provide a hands-on lesson on goat cheese making. Thurs., May 17, 6:30 p.m. and Thurs., May 24, 6:30 p.m. Free. Earth Fare, 74 Folly Road. 769-4800. www.earthfare.com
A Taste of the Lowcountry
Another Third Thursday event with Chef Fred Neuville featuring grilled finger sandwiches, pecan crusted chicken, and Lowcountry boil. For the drinking, Muscadine wine from Irvin-House Vineyards or mixed drinks like Planter’s Punch will be served, and the Black Tie Swing Band will perform. Thurs., May 17, 5:30-8:30 p.m. $25. Historic Rice Mill Building, 17 Lockwood Dr. 723-7952. www.goodfoodcatering.net
Viva Italia
Explore the wines and cheeses of Italy, just in time for Spoleto. Fri. May 18, 5-7 p.m. $1 donation to Hospice of Charleston. Ted’s Butcherblock, 334 East Bay St. 577-0094.
20th Annual BBQ Cook-Off Festival
Join Carolina Children’s Home as judges decide this year’s BBQ Champions and offer a day full of family fun with stage performances by local children’s groups and meet-and-greets with favorite mascots. Sat. May 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $8. South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr. 803-782-1421. www.carolinachildrenshome.org
3rd Annual South Carolina Day
Whole Foods Market teams up with Edible Lowcountry and the SC Specialty Food Association to present the 3rd Annual South Carolina Day, a showcase of local farmers and specialty food producers. Such tasty treats will include award-winning Muscadine wine, fresh shrimp over stone ground grits, aromatic rice and cow peas, as well as delicious chutneys and jams. Sat. May 19, 12-4 p.m. Free. Whole Foods Market, 923 Houston Northcutt Blvd. 971-7240.
Charleston Farmers Market
Every Saturday, the market features the finest local produce, plants, flowers, and herbs along with food, fine art and crafts, and live entertainment. Each Sat. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Through Dec. 16. Marion Square, Calhoun and King. 724-3746.
Flight Night
Sample varying flights of wine, focusing on Spanish flavors. Tues. $12-$25. Raval, 453 King St. 853-8466.
Charleston Tea Plantation Tours
America’s only tea plantation, now owned by R.C. Bigelow, is open to visitors. Take a narrated bus tour of the fields and see how tea is made, talk to tea experts, and sample American Classic Tea. Each Sun. 12-4 p.m. and Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Charleston Tea Plantation, 6617 Maybank Hwy. 559-0383. www.charlestonteagardens.com
Romantic Wine Dinner
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Robert’s with a romantic three-course wine dinner paired with Robert Dickson’s intimate serenades. Please RSVP. Tues., May 22, 7:30 p.m. $85. Robert’s of Charleston, 182 East Bay St. 810-0088.
Thoroughbred Club Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea with all the trimmings; reservations strongly suggested. Each Mon.-Sat. 1-4 p.m. $22/Classic Charleston, $27/ South of Broad. Thoroughbred Club, 205 Meeting St. Charleston Place Hotel. 722-4900 x7689.
Around the World
Pasquale Pellicoro will host a wine tasting featuring wines from Chile and appetizers traditional to that region. Tues., May 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $10. J. Bistro, 819 Coleman Blvd. 971-7778. www.jbistro.net
Summer Wine Strolls
Stroll America’s oldest landscaped gardens and sample a variety of summer wines. Stay for dinner and get a complimentary dessert. Wed. May 23, 5:30-7 p.m. $5. Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Road. 556-6020. www.middletonplace.org
Arlaana Wine Tastings
Tasting of wines from around the world accompanied by hors d’oeuvres. Each Wed. 6:30-8:30 p.m. $20. Arlaana Restaurant, 259 Seven Farms Dr. 471-2400. www.arlaana.com
In Good Tastings
Informal weekly wine event. Each Fri. 5-7 p.m. $1. In Good Taste, 1901 Ashley River Road. 763-5597.
Wine 101 Series
In this wine education series, Maverick Southern Kitchens Wine Director Patrick Emerson will talk about red wines of Burgundy and the Rhone Valley (May 19), and white wines of Germany and Austria (June 23). Light appetizers will be paired with the wines. Sat. May 19, 6:30 p.m. and Sat. June 23, 6:30 p.m. $30/class, $75/all-three. Charleston Cooks!, 194 E. Bay St. 722-1212. www.charlestoncooks.com
Wine Lover’s Happy Hour
Wine flights of five different wines of varying themes. Each Tues.-Sat. 5-7 p.m. $5 for 5 (2 oz. pours). Amuse, 1720 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. 573-8778.
Wine Tasting
Grazi’s Shoe Cafe and Wine Bar varies the four wines offered each Friday, so stop by for a surprise. Each Fri. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $5. Grazi’s, I’on Square. 216-2087.
Wine Tasting at O’Hara and Flynn
Weekly wine tastings and cheese pairings selected by the staff. Each Fri. 5-7 p.m. and Sat. 3-5 p.m. $5 donation. O’Hara & Flynn, 160 E. Bay St. 534-1916.
Wine Wednesdays
Enjoy live music by local performer Eddie Stonaker and half-off any bottle from the new wine list. Each Wed. 5:30-8 p.m. Fish, 442 King St. 722-FISH. www.fishrestaurant.net
E-mail cuisine calendar items to editor@charlestoncitypaper.com or fax to 576-0380 by the Wed. before the week of the event.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No newspaper subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations from downtown to North Charleston to Johns Island to Summerville to Mount Pleasant.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.