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.
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