Weekly Specials CHS: December 6-12, 2024
A truffle dinner at The Charleston Grill, a vegan chili bar at Wine Shop OV, a free oyster roast at Blind Tiger, and a cocktail for a good cause at Bon Banh Mi. Plus, Petit Merci opens this week!
Happy Thursday! I’m working on so many holiday roundups for y’all that even I am starting to get confused! If you want this week’s specific events (the regular newsletter) skip down to the Weekly Specials heading below.
If you’re looking for ***holiday vibes***, then here’s the plan:
Earlier this week, I published a roundup of holiday markets, pop-ups and special holiday-themed events at local restaurants. If you’re looking for a list of holiday special events through December 20th, check out that newsletter! I keep adding more…I just added some holiday markets happening this weekend at House of Brews, Hobcaw Brewing, and Sunday Brunch Farmer’s Market, where there will be food from Big Tent Pizza, the Wedge, and Fiddler’s Fire, respectively.
Tomorrow, I’ll be sending out my roundup of the Charleston restaurants that are taking reservations for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Plus, I'll include details on holiday pre-orders from my favorite bakeries and shops in Charleston, too. Look out for that in your inbox or on my Instagram.
Weekly specials
Looking for last-minute plans tonight?
From 5:30-8:30pm, Hotel Emeline is lighting up their 12-foot tree, complete with carolers, complimentary hot cider, cocoa, holiday cookies, and cocktails.
Friday, December 6th
Fresh bread Friday is back on at Tiller Baking Co from 6-11am. Follow their Instagram for updates on their stock and if/when they sell out!
Saturday, December 7th
Point Break Coffee is celebrating their third birthday from 11am-3pm with vendors like the Muffin Drop, Big Tent Pizza, and Mabel Maes Bakery.
At this week’s Old Village’s annual Holiday Stroll from 3-7pm, Wine Shop OV will have a vegan chili bar, and The Post House will be donating proceeds from all drink specials to the Special Olympics of South Carolina.
In addition to the usual Sea Island Farmers Market from 9:30am-1:30pm, there will also be a special holiday night market from 4:30-8pm!
Starting at 8pm, Sweatmans Garden is hosting drag queen bingo with Ava Clear, and there’ll be ramen by Weems Ramen! Check out more deets on their Instagram here.
Sunday, December 8th
Blind Tiger is having their second oyster roast of the season from 3-6pm. It’s free, and there will be live music and drink specials, too.
The Toadfish Conservation Coalition is having their annual Shellabration event at Bowen’s Island Restaurant with raw bars from four different restaurants, and small plates from CudaCo, Holy City Hogs, Raw Lab, Darling Oyster Bar, Rappahannock Oyster Bar, Harvest Catering, and Bakers Bar. General admission goes from 3-7pm (VIP tickets get in at 1:30!) and you can buy tickets here.
Calling all truffle lovers (the fungi, not the chocolates)! The Charleston Grill is going all out with truffles this evening for their special five-course truffle dinner. Learn more on their site, and book on Resy.
Wednesday, December 11th
Vern’s is doing the third dinner of their Volumes guest chef series, this time with Chef Brian Baxter (who was most recently the Executive Chef of The Catbird Seat in Nashville, and is a former Chef de Cuisine of Husk Nashville.) The menu will feature dishes like burrata with brassicas and yuzu kosho, and sunchokes with brown butter and ricotta salata, among others. Find the full menu by swiping through Vern’s Instagram post below, and book on Resy.
Thursday, December 12th
The Charleston Place recently commissioned their Senior Executive Pastry Chef Fabrice Benezit to build the most giant and magnificent gingerbread house ever! Starting today, they’ll kick off their 13 Days of Christmas by unveiling a new daily pastry special inside the gingerbread house. These pastry specials will be available at their coffee shop, Community Perk.
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for real-time updates on the best events and dishes in Charleston this upcoming week:
Lil’ updates
Sullivan’s Seafood & Bar (formerly known as Sullivan’s Fish Camp) just announced a fun set of weeknight specials every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday! Check out their post below for their deals on burgers, wine, martinis, and oysters throughout the week. Hoping to get out there on a Wednesday night sometime soon…
We love a cocktail for a cause! Bon Banh Mi is partnering with NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) to raise funds so that NAMI Charleston can support folks with mental health conditions and their families. Bon Banh Mi’s Hope for the Holidays drink special (only at their Ben Sawyer location) is a rosemary honey red wine spritz, and a portion of the proceeds go to NAMI Charleston.
Here are some dishes that caught my eye around Charleston this past week:
Jack of Cups’ saag burrata looks like the perfect dish for a chilly day. They top the saag and burrata with cilantro cream and a drizzle of their house chili oil.
LOVE a grain bowl. Basic Kitchen’s ancient grain bowl is made with hot honey roasted carrots, arugula and a pistachio carrot top pesto (carrot top pesto is a great way to use the whole carrot!)
Costa’s hamachi crudo almost looks too pretty to eat. The hamachi is topped with heirloom radishes, brown butter, and yuzu. (P.S. Costa just won “Best New South Carolina Restaurant” in the 2024 Eater Carolinas Awards! Congrats, y’all!)
Last but not least, let me share some lil’ holiday treats, too.
You might know Life Raft Treats from their Not Fried Chicken® ice cream, but did you know they also make figgy toffee pudding? Theirs is made with Bourbon, figs, and brown sugar, and is available for Charleston pickup starting 12/19 when you order at www.liferafttreats.com.
I’ve been on a big matcha kick recently, and Clerks’ candy cane matcha looks like it would hit the spot. They use peppermint syrup and ceremonial grade matcha, and can make it iced or hot.
I have gotten my whole family hooked on Annie O Love’s vegan and gluten free funfetti cookies, and they just released their new holiday menu. Swipe through below for cookie goodness.
Finally, how beautiful is Baguette Magic’s eggnog supreme? Their circular pastry is filled with eggnog cream and topped with whipped cream…yum.
New openings
Petit Merci, the fine foods and provisions store at 17 Montagu Street will be opening on Wednesday December 11th! If you’re a fellow superfan of the Drifter, then you NEED to go, as it’s run by the same team, who do beautiful work.
Petit Merci is such a gorgeous space, and the food is unreal. My family ordered basically our entire Thanksgiving dinner from Petit Merci (from apps to sides to dessert…I don’t eat turkey!) and every dish was 10/10. Stop by for fresh baked breads, prepared foods, wine, and produce from local farms on their opening day from 11am-6pm.
Plus, stay tuned for the opening of Merci, which will be a European-inspired bistro, around the corner on Pitt Street.
Farewells
It’s farewell, but not forever, as Jackrabbit Filly is moving! Their last service at their current location on Spruill Ave will be December 8th, for their “everything but the kitchen sink” brunch. They’ll be closed from the 9th through the 26th while they move to a new location on East Montague.
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!