Weekly Specials CHS: April 19-25
A Taylor Swift album release party with wood-fired pizza, sandwiches from New Orleans at Chubby Fish, and the end of an era at Edmund's Oast Brewing Co.
Andrew and I went to chef Ryan Wunder’s takeover of Kultura over the weekend. It was, unsurprisingly, amazing, because you know Kultura is always GREAT vibes, they’re going to be playing fun throwback music, and their patio is just delightful when the weather is nice. (Not related to this particular takeover, but it must be mentioned that Kultura’s Chef Nikko is also currently a finalist for the James Beard award for emerging chef!)
When it came to the food, I tried both of Wunder’s pescatarian options and loved them. Andrew said the pierogis reminded him of his Mom’s pierogies, which is the highest of praise from my half-Polish man-of-few-words! Wunder’s potato pierogies were a twist on the classic, as they were paired with miso butter, garlic chile onions, guajillo ponzu, crispy shallots, and scallions. The showstopper was Wunder’s take on “shrimp scampi”, which was kind of a cross between an aguachile and ceviche dish with salsa criolla, radish, and morita chile oil. Perfectly acidic, fresh, and beautifully cooked seafood: a perfect late spring dish for a warm evening in Charleston. I’ll definitely be following Wunder on Instagram and eagerly booking seats at any of his next events.
On a separate note, if you’ve been reading my newsletter for a bit, you may have noticed that the folks at Kultura, including Chef Nikko, have been doing a ton of pop-ups recently and seem to have their finger on the pulse of great culinary happenings and chefs both in Charleston and beyond. I really encourage folks to experience some new chefs and dishes at one of Kultura’s upcoming pop-up events or takeovers! They have never steered me wrong.
This week’s specials:
Looking for last-minute plans tonight?
Tonight is the Charleston County Parks’ second Toast Under the Oaks event of 2024 at Johns Island County Park! Food trucks Empanada Cuisines and Lib's Diner will be there. Tickets available here.
Friday, April 19th
Let the good times Aperol…The Charleston Place is kicking off their Season of Spritz in Market Street Circle (where their little circular fountain is!) Starting today, from Friday through Sunday each week through early June, they’ll be serving up a spritz menu from 1-6pm, featuring bevs like Aperol and Campari among others.
The Charleston Jazz Festival kicked off yesterday, and, as a celebration, Hotel Emeline is doing live jazz in the courtyard of their restaurant Frannie & the Fox! This evening and tomorrow evening, starting at 6pm, you can reserve a table to enjoy the sounds of a live jazz trio while you dine. I really love Frannie & the Fox’s pizza and negroni specials, too 🍕
🚨Calling all Swifties 🚨Fatty’s Beer Works is partnering with the Charleston Taylor Swift Club to host an album release party for Taylor’s latest album, the Tortured Poets Department, starting at 7pm. Mastro’s Fire will be there cooking up their wood-fired pizzas!
Saturday, April 20th
Chef BJ Dennis and the folks from Bintu Atelier will be hosting a Taste the Culture brunch on April 20th, with seatings at noon and 2pm (Resies are linked for each seating!) It’ll be a four- to five-course tasting menu with inspiration from both West Africa and the Lowcountry.
Renzo’s 7th annual 4/20 dinner is back 🍃 Their munchie-themed dinner looks pretty sold out on Resy, but you can set a Notify alert just in case!
Bevi Bene is livestreaming Coachella today and tomorrow! I didn’t think I’d ever be interested in Coachella at my *millennial* age but after seeing the Lana and Billie collaboration and the Gwen and Olivia Rodrigo moment last weekend, I’m like…should this be watched live?! IDK! Dropping it here just in case you’re similarly intrigued.
Sunday, April 21st
Sightsee is having their annual Earth Day Market today from 10am-1pm, and it’ll be their last market before they move to 698 Rutledge, near Hampton Park! Wake Refill will be there, and they do awesome work with zero-waste refills for personal care and cleaning supply products, including delivering orders locally each week. I just ordered more solid shampoo and conditioner from Wake (shoutout to my friend Isabel for turning me onto dip!) There will also be vegan baked treats from Lil Sprout 🧁
Monday, April 22nd
New Orleans’ famous sandwich shop Turkey & the Wolf, helmed by chef Mason Hereford, is coming to Charleston! The Turkey & the Wolf team is cooking at Chubby Fish this evening. It looks like it’ll be the usual Chubby Fish system (no reservations, doors open at 5, first come get seats or get to pick a later seating, line up along the street…you know the drill). Andrew has been loving the Turkey & the Wolf cookbook recently, especially their spicy cabbage salad, and has been to their restaurant in NOLA, so we might be in line for this.
Tuesday, April 23rd
Interested in regenerative ag and how regenerative farming practices can improve soil health in the Lowcountry and beyond? Catch the screening of Common Ground, a documentary featuring Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, and Donald Glover, held as part of Lowcountry Earth Week! After the screening, there will be a panel conversation featuring speakers from the Center for Heirs’ Property, Peculiar Pig Farm, and Enlightened Soil. The screening and convo will be held from 5:30-8:00pm at the MUSC Drug Discovery Building. Find more details on how to register here.
Wednesday, April 24th
Slow Food Charleston, a local chapter of the national Slow Food non-profit, whose mission is to achieve good, clean, and fair food for all, is hosting a #SlowWine night at City House Charleston. From 5:30-7:30pm tonight, you can enjoy a tasting of Chilean wines with light bites for a $25 suggested donation to Slow Food USA. It doesn’t seem like there’s a registration link so I would just…show up?! I’ll post any updates here if I see them.
Thursday, April 25th
The Gibbes Museum’s five-day Art Charleston festival is happening this week, and this evening’s Gibbes on the Street event will feature several local restaurants and chefs, including the Drifter, 167 Raw, FIG, Lewis Barbecue, and Kultura, as well as an open bar and live music. This year will mark the 14th Gibbes on the Street event! The party goes from 8pm and tickets can be purchased here.
Know someone who might be interested in one of the happenings above this week? Share this newsletter with them!
Lil’ updates
King BBQ is rebuilding after the fire they experienced a couple of weeks ago. They’re hoping to re-open today or tomorrow and will be changing their opening hours for the time being. They’ll now be open Wednesdays through Sundays 11am-9pm (including happy hour each day from 4-5pm).
Renzo just joined the NFT-based loyalty app Blackbird. I still can’t figure out all of the perks of the app at each Charleston restaurant yet, but message me if you’ve checked in using the app and gotten something in return there!
Farewell
R.I.P. Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.’s Power Hour!!! They have been running one of the best deals in town: half off all dine-in food and drink from 4-5pm seven days a week, but these good old days are ending soon. EOBC just announced their Power Hour is ending at the end of April, and starting in May, they’ll have a new happy hour from 4-6pm, new menu items, and drink deals. Enjoy the Power Hour while it lasts!
Coming up
The Little, a pop-up and private catering company helmed by chef Brad Schaffer, will be doing another takeover at Proof on King Street on the 26th and 27th. This is possibly subject to change, but it looks like their small plates menu will feature ingredients like SC peaches with a yogurt vinaigrette, tarragon, and pistachios, as well as smoked mussels on toast with aioli and gremolata.
Brewery Bevi Bene’s Spring Fest is happening on the 27th, featuring five dollar pours of Maibock Bavarian lager, strawberry lemon hard kombucha, and food by One Oak Barbeque. There will be a kid zone with face painting, as well as live music!
Kultura is hosting a wine dinner in collaboration with Tarpon Cellars on April 28th with seatings at 5pm and 7:30pm. Tarpon Cellars has a big local presence because one of the founders lives here part-time! For more info and to book, check out Resy.
Husk is hosting the team from Tatomer Wines (a California-based company that specializes in dry Rieslings and Grüners) for a wine dinner on Sunday April 28th at 6pm. Tickets available on Resy here.
That’s a wrap!
Know of a restaurant- or food-related event coming up that you think should be included in an upcoming Weekly Special? DM me!
Planning on going to one of the events, bars or restaurants mentioned above in the next week? Leave a comment and let me know your plans! I’m nosy!
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!