The Charleston Food and Wine Fest is a rip-off

There's nothing I like better than getting together with my buddies and hitting the road. Sometimes I even like traveling alone. Within the past year I've been to Washington D.C., Philly, Atlanta, Winston-Salem, Myrtle Beach and Columbia. I find myself taking more and more trips to M.B.---- I couldn't get enough of the ocean this summer and this winter I couldn't get enough of the BCBG and the Kenneth Cole stores at Tanger Outlets. Last weekend I went on a much anticipated trip to Charleston (my second time this year) for the city's food and wine festival. Plus I LOVE the King Street shopping district. Me and two of my friends made reservations at a hotel and bought $55.00 tickets to the festival's culinary village on Saturday. Needless to say, it wasn't worth the money. The tickets gave us access to the two Grand Tasting Tents from 2p.m. to 5p.m which featured cusine from local resturants and wine from several vineyards. Evidently, the entire state of South Carolina must have purchased tickets for that time slot. There were people EVERYWHERE. I couldn't turn to my right or my left without knocking someone down. And most of the food vendors were giving out these teeny-tiny samples. Granted, I wasn't expecting a 7-course meal at every booth but still----I'ma need from them to do better. And some of the wine vendors were just plain stingy. I asked one for a sample of this Sonoma Valley Pinot Noir that was on display. Next thing I know she whips out of bottle of cheap wine called "Rabbit" and gives me a sample from it. I guess she didn't want to give all the expensive stuff away. But the festival wasn't all bad....we all discovered a little bit more about our likes and dislikes. My friend Amber discovered she hates rice pudding----I found out I don't like red Zinfandel wine. (I've always enjoyed pink Zinfandel) But I renewed by love for crawfish. The highlight of the festival? We got free wine glasses. The highlight of my trip? My new Steve Madden shoes and riding across the Ravenel Bridge for the first time. ( I know, I'm a little late)

Posted by on 03/07 at 09:52 PM

Let me know the next time you head down to Chucktown. We’ll see about arranging you a tour by boat. The bridge is even more awesome when you’re on the water. Breathtaking at night when the lights are on. Lighting is seasonal. I think it screws with the turtle mating season. Fort Sumter is, well, Fort Sumter. You just have to see it.

Posted by  on  03/10  at  12:51 PM

You really didn’t like it? I thought it went really well, except for the over crowding. Granted, I didn’t find my standard go-to of the festival - she crab soup, but overall, my friends and I had great time visiting the booths and just chatting with strangers about food and wine. I only have two suggestions for the promoters next year… SPREAD IT OUT MORE!!!! and GIVE US MORE BEER!!!! Although it is the Food and WINE Festival, many people I spoke with just wanted a beer to wash down all the yummy grub being passed out, but the only two beer booths in the tents were swamped the entire time. The line for beer was consistently at least 20 people deep. But, despite a lack of beer, it was fun!

Posted by  on  03/10  at  01:17 PM

Thanks Mr. Mookie! I’m actually interested in looking at the bridge from the water. I’m also planning on going across it on foot this summer.

Yes Jamie D. I didn’t like the fest. It’s funny you should mention beer I think I saw something in our paper about more (or less) beer being at the fest this year. I’m not sure but I know the story was about beer ‘cause I saw the teaser on the front page.

Posted by  on  03/12  at  07:41 PM

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