Weekly Specials CHS: May 9-15, 2025
Bar Contra's cocktail expert stops by Babas, FIG launches new dishes, and Chef Mina visits Sorelle. Plus, two new Blackbird deals, and Lewis BBQ will soon be releasing their secret sauce!
Happy almost end-of-the-week, everyone!
Similar to my disclaimer last week, I just wanted to let readers know that there are some Mother’s Day focused events on the list below, happening on the 9th through 11th. I’ve denoted them with a tulip emoji🌷. I know that Mother’s Day can be a difficult day for many, for a multitude of reasons. If you’d rather not read that content, just skip the bullets that start with a 🌷. Sending ♥️.
Weekly specials
Looking for last-minute plans tonight?
***POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN*** Bar Estrella is back home at Estadio tonight with their usual: fancy imported potato chips and bottles of bubbly! Stop by from 5-8pm.
From 6-8pm, Wine & Company is hosting Sonoma, CA winemakers Moret Brealynn Chavez and Adam Lee, who will be pouring up some of their faves. Even better, 100% of flight sales go to Charleston Animal Society, an organization that works tirelessly to help animals! I love it. No RSVP required, just stop by.
Friday, May 9th
JM Bros Provisions is back at Prophet Coffee from 8-11am with breakfast bagel sandwiches.
🌷 Burbage’s will be hosting a wine tasting from 4-6pm with Curated Selections Wine.
Bangin’ Vegan Eats will be at Wyrd Sisters Brewing from 5-8pm.
Half of bottles of wine tonight at City Lights from 5-9pm, plus locally-made Sarah’s Dumps! I love their veggie dumps.
Saturday, May 10th
🌷 Wine & Company is hosting a pre-Mother’s Day local artist and florist pop-up from 3-6pm, in collaboration with Danielle Cather-Cohen and Katie
Buds. Local artist Danielle Cather-Cohen will be offering a half off
discount on her original works today only, and she’ll also be doing commissions on hand-painted vases to hold beautiful florals by local florist Katie Buds. Moms will receive a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, too! Check out more info in the post below.
Bangin’ Vegan Eats will be at Odyssey Bottle Shop from 5-8pm.
Sunday, May 11th
🌷Macey Williams, pastry chef at Circa 1886, will be doing her first pastry pop-up at Sightsee from 9am to noon, or until sold out. Check out the menu in her post below.
🌷 Butter Half Bakery is popping up outside of Kultura from 10am-1pm (or until sold out) for Mother’s Day. She’ll have Filipino fusion treats, and Substack won’t let me embed her cute Instagram post here for some reason, but her desserts always look AMAZING!
🌷 Edmund’s Oast will have an all-you-can-eat Mother’s Day feast from 11am-8pm.
🌷 Treat Mom to a free mimosa on Bay Street Biergarten’s tab! They’re giving free mimosas for moms on the 11th, and will have crafts and live music, too. They open at 11am.
🌷 From 11am-2pm, Little Palm is hosting Harvest Moon Home for a pop-up, with special guests, adoptable pups from local rescue Dusty Tails! Book a reservation on their site here.
Monday, May 12th
Dave Arnold of Bar Contra on the Lower East Side of NYC is heading to Babas on Meeting for a one-night bar takeover from 6-8pm, and Sidekicks will be there with the snacks! This is part of the Charleston Wine + Food Festival’s Summer Sizzle, and you can find more info and get tickets on their site here.
Tuesday, May 13th
Every Tuesday in May and June, adoptable dogs from Bridge Between Animal Rescue will be at Tobin’s Market for Tasting Tuesdays! Starting at 6pm, pet a sweet pup and buy a tasting flight or a bottle to benefit Bridge Between.
Wednesday, May 14th
Cane Pazzo, former Indaco chef Mark Bolchoz’ upcoming Italian spot in Hanahan, is popping up at Stems & Skins tonight from 4-10:30pm.
The next local Reading Rhythms reading party is happening tonight from 6-8pm at a truly perfect spot: Philosophers & Fools! Buy tix here before they sell out.
Thursday, May 15th
This is going to be veryyyy good: Chef Michael Mina of Mina Hospitality Group, of which Sorelle is a part, is stopping by for a special dinner. Guests will have the option to choose between two tasting menus: the Mina Menu, with dishes like lobster pot pie and ahi tuna tartare, or the Sorelle Menu, featuring Sorelle classics like their 'Pillows of Gold' ricotta tortelloni and lobster fra diavolo. This will be done in collaboration with Sorelle’s Executive Chef Nick Dugan, and diners will get a signed copy of Mina’s latest cookbook: My Egypt. Find the full menus and book on Sorelle’s website here.
Follow me on Instagram for real-time updates on foodie events and special dishes in Charleston:
Lil updates
Here are some new Blackbird deals happening this month!
Every day in May, Taco Boy (both downtown and at the beach) is doing a free two taco platter with rice and beans, when you pay with Blackbird and purchase any small plate.
From 4-6pm every Tuesday through Thursday this month, The Tippling House is treating folks to a $10 flight, when you pay with Blackbird.
Some other updates:
Lewis Barbecue has announced the release date of their secret sauce…now that there’s a new pope! Their latest posts teased that when white smoke would finally emerge from the conclave in Rome, the wait would over on their secret sauce. Updating this at noon, as I see white smoke and bells on the news! Their sauce will be released on Memorial Day, and you can pre-order it now on their site.
Psst…I don’t even eat meat, but I’ve tried their secret sauce, and I love it. I’ve used it as dressing for a bean and veggie salad, and I also think it would make a nice marinade for some tofu. I’m pretty sure that those are not its intended uses, though 😜
FIG just updated their menu for spring, with some dishes that sound totally delicious. They’ve got a new blue crab ravioli with shellfish pomodoro and a brioche-crusted flounder with artichoke dashi, among others. Find more info in their post below.
Here are the dishes and drinks that caught my eye this week:
Chef Dano Heinze’s new dish at Vern’s is made with Marsh Hen Mills’ farro piccolo, asparagus, brassicas, and dill. I love a springtime green and pink/purple dish, and this is really hitting that spot!
Alcove Market’s newest smoothie in their Allstars Smoothie Series is made in partnership with Linné Botanicals, a locally-founded skincare line. I can’t wait to try this: it’s made with banana, spinach, Needed collagen, spirulina, almond milk, orange juice, fresh ginger, turmeric, and dates.
Pani puri just dropped at Jackrabbit Filly! Looks so good. This new dish is made with smoked fish, potato, local beets, tamarind, and a cilantro chutney.
Honeysuckle Rose has some new NA beverage offerings, including their Flower Child, which they describe as “a refined twist on the classic gin martini meets gin and tonic”. This gorgeous creation is made with Seedlip NA herbal gin, tonic infused with rosemary, NA orange bitters, and a spray of spicy pickle and pepperoncini brine.
New openings
A new coffee shop is opening on Harborview Road on May 24th! Dawn Patrol Coffee is a surf-themed shop serving up not only java, but also burritos and pastries. Plus, they’ve already launched their run club. Check out the deets in their post below and stay tuned for their opening in a couple of weeks!
No specifics, but if you’re like me and still miss Bar Rollins, just a heads up that they’re still coming back! They are officially “working on a restaurant/bistro/good time”. I couldn’t be more excited.
Coming up
Sunday, May 18th
Lowcountry Local First’s 17th Annual Chef’s Potluck will be bringing together some of my favorite chefs and local farmers at the Porter Room at Holy City Brewing for tastings, drinks, and live music. I’m a huge fan of Lowcountry Local First’s mission to build sustainable and equitable local economies, including by supporting and partnering with Charleston’s restaurants and farms. Find more info and tickets on their site here.
Wednesday May 28th
Pink Bellies is collaborating again with New Orleans’ Banh Mi Boys™ on May 28th. They’re cooking up a a Vietnamese dinner with nods to both of their Southern American upbringings. Seatings are at 4:45 and 8:15pm and can be booked on Resy.
That’s a wrap!