What's left?
Charleston Wine + Food tickets went on sale yesterday and many of the Signature Dinners promptly sold out. You may have missed your chance to dine with Sean Brock and Mission Chinese Food's Danny Bowien in the McCrady's kitchen, but there are still a few gems left. Here a few to look at:
The Grocery Signature Dinner: Chef Kevin Johnson invites 2015 James Beard Foundation Best Chef winner for the Great Lakes region, Jonathan Sawyer, to collaborate on an Italian dinner for guests. If you attended the 2014 CHSW+FF, you may remember Sawyer's Sandwich Showcase creation — a meaty stack topped with Mortadella instead of bread.
Wild Olive Signature Dinner: Two modern Italian masters team up as Portland chef Joshua McFadden (Ava Gene's) joins chef Jacques Larson in the Wild Olive kitchen. Both of these chef's restaurants are considered the top for fresh, local takes on Italian plates.
Chicken S#!t Bingo: One of the more casual events of the Festival, John Lewis Barbecue welcomes guests to pile on the smoked meats and sides from The Lot and upcoming Harold's Cabin. And yes, there will be chicken shit bingo.
Dirt Works Incubator Farm + Lunch: Learn where your food comes from with a tour of Lowcountry Local First Dirt Works Incubator Farm on Johns Island. Discover how this organization helps new farmers in the area, and then have a lunch from The Glass Onion's Chris Stewart.
Mediterranea with Mike Lata + Friends: FIG/The Ordinary chef/co-owner Mike Lata welcomes attendees to dine on the grounds of his James Island home. He's also invited an all-star cast of chefs to help him cook: Alon Shaya (New Orleans’ Domenica and Shaya) and Michael Hudman and Andy Ticer (Memphis' Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, Hog & Hominy, and Porcellino’s). This year's theme is Mediterranean fare. If you attended Lata's backyard clam bake last year, then you'll remember the abundant food, wine, and overall rollicking good time.
Highway to Hemingway: Want to take a ride with pitmaster Nick Pihakis, architect Reggie Gibson, and writer/director of the Southern Foodways Alliance John T. Edge? Of course you do, when that bus charts a course to famed whole hog eatery Scott's BBQ. Ride to Hemingway, S.C. for some of the top-rated barbecue in the state. You might need a pillow for the ride back after indulging in pulled pork and beers.
Bouchon + The Big Easy @ Fish: Fish chef Nico Romo and Cochon chef Steven Stryjewski come together for a Lowcountry/French/New Orleans lunch on King Street.
Lana Signature Dinner: Asheville chef Katie Button (Cúrate and Nightbell) hops in the kitchen with chef John Ondo at Lana. Ondo is know for Mediterranean-influenced dishes and Button is a master at Spanish tapas.
The Macintosh Signature Dinner: This one might be sold out by the time you read this, but local chef Jeremiah Bacon and State Bird Provisions' chef Stuart Brioza take over The Macintosh courtyard to present a wood-fired feast for guests.
The entire 2016 Charleston Wine + Food schedule is available online.