109 ways to be wined + dined at Charleston Wine + Food
Poppin’ bottles since 2006, the Charleston Wine + Food festival brings together award-winning chefs, beverage professionals, + artisans over a five-day period (Feb. 28- Mar. 4) transforming Charleston into a foodie’s nirvana.
We’ve uncorked what makes this feastival a mouth-watering affair.
Charleston Wine + Food Festival | Photo by @charlestonfoodiebabe
By the Glass
- $0.92. The cents per dollar spent producing Charleston Wine + Food that are mission-based (more on that below)
- 109. Total events for this year
- $9.6 million. The economic impact over the five days of last year’s event
- 23,462. The total guests for 2017 (51% of them being local)
- $823. The average spending per patron at the 2017 event
Here’s a Tip
Whether you’re a culinary crusader, or a PB&J jammer, the signature event of Opening Night provides a casual atmosphere in order to get your lips wet. It is the only event that showcases true Lowcountry fare– featuring 35 local chefs + dishes from members of the South Carolina’s distinguished Chef Ambassadors. Tonight, 7:30-10 p.m. Marion Square. $150. 21+.
New on the Menu
Trot around the globe, in the 360° of Park Circle. The North Charleston Night Bazaar provides an international flair, set-up as an open-air night market where patrons can stroll past 20 chef stations while sipping on libations inspired by far off destinations. Saturday, Mar. 3, 8-10:30 p.m. Garco Mill Building Lawn. $75. 21+. Passports not required.
Tonight’s Special
#DYK Charleston Wine + Food is a 501(c)3? The nonprofit’s mission is to “support Charleston and the Lowcountry’s diverse culinary + hospitality community through financial contributions to organizations or persons that directly benefit our local foodway initiatives and strengthen our local community.”
One way they accomplish this– One80Place. One80Place works to end homelessness + they partner with Charleston Wine + Food to provide culinary training for future employment. The course administers five weeks of training– four being in the classroom, + then a 1-week partnership with a restaurant as an internship. #CHSWFF turns up the heat, by using proceeds to financially support the program, providing a Wusthof knife kit (a festival partner), + utilizing the festival as a paid externship. Last year, 100% of the chefs-in-training were hired by the chefs they partnered with for the week. Since April 2017, 95% of program graduates have been placed in jobs.
Interested in learning more/understanding how to get involved? Angela DuPree, the Director of Operations at One80 Place, will be speaking at this year’s ‘Pecha Kucha + Choir! Choir! Choir!’ event. Friday, Mar. 2, 7-11 p.m. Charleston Music Hall. $45. 21+.
A self-proclaimed foodie, I plan on not missing a beet of this year’s festival. Consider me the Joey Tribbiani of my friends’ group. 🍴
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Cheers Charleston! 🥂
– Nicole, Engagement Editor
