BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival 2008

January 8th: We were very lucky to hear from our own Angel Postell, Festival Director of Charleston Food & Wine Festival and fellow Rotarian. Having been involved in the Festival since it began and now in charge of the entire weekend, she was the perfect person to let us know what to expect this year.

First, for those that aren’t familiar with the festival, a little background may help. The purpose of the BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival is to highlight and celebrate Charleston’s extraordinary culinary history and culture. Some goals of the festival are to establish a world-class food and wine festival which supports funding for various culinary charities; to educate students and the general public about the historical significance of Lowcountry and southern cuisine styles, resources, products and recipes; to provide educational opportunities for students of all ages to learn from the various programming and efforts taking place during and around the Festival; and to preserve the components of Lowcountry and southern cuisine evident in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Festival will be held Thursday, February 28th through Sunday, March 2nd. There are over 50 events throughout the weekend that offer a wide array of entertainment. Key events include: Opening Night Party, Sip and Stroll, Bubbles and Sweets by Charleston Magazine, Lowcountry Gospel Brunch and BBQ, Blues and Brew. Most events will be in Culinary Village, designated the official hub for the Festival.

Postell highlighted some of the changes that this year’s Festival will offer. First, there is a new ticketing system. Everyone will have a badge for each event they sign up for. Be sure to go to the website for more information, but this new system should make it easier to purchase and keep up with tickets. Culinary Village has been redesigned. They have doubled the space, but the number of vendors participating is the same. So, lots of room for everyone to comfortably move around.

Postell encouraged all Rotarians to get involved in the Festival. It is such a great way to support our community and show others not from the Lowcountry all that it has to offer. Some ways to help are to become a sponsor, volunteer, buy tickets, donate goods and/or services, promote the Festival by word of mouth, or provide an on-line auction item for charity efforts. Auction items will be available on-line two weeks prior to the event.

The Festival is a great place to have some great food, great times and is a fun way to support your community. Remember, by supporting the event, you are helping raise money for the culinary programs at College of Charleston and the Culinary Institute of Charleston along with helping to feed the homeless. The Festival donates all leftover food to Crisis Ministries to help them help the homeless. For more information, please go to http://www.charlestonfoodandwine.com./

Submitted by Darby Hand, Keyway Committee