“Taste of Charleston” 30 years of delicious fun!

October 8-10, 2010 will be the 30th annual Taste of Charleston. A three-day event that features some of Charleston’s best-known and loved chefs, Taste of Charleston explores the beautifully colorful sights, deliciously aromatic smells and delectable taste that is Lowcountry cuisine. To celebrate this milestone, the Charleston Restaurant Association, hosting the event again this year, is asking Charlestonians to submit your favorite photos from your visits to Taste of Charleston events held from 1980-2009 for a photo contest that highlights the fun memories of Taste of Charlestons past.  To enter, just upload your best pictures into Taste of Charleston’s Facebook page,www.facebook.com/TasteCharleston, “or e-mail them to Jordan@littledogagency.com. Winners will be chosen to receive a prize package, including tickets to the main event. ” “Taste – Iron Chef Competition” will begin at 6:00 pm,  Friday, October 8th, downtown Charleston at the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Palmer Campus on Columbus Street.  Some of the best local chefs will find themselves competing one-on-one to defend their culinary bragging rites in front of you, a live audience, in this 100 seat auditorium designed specifically for these types of events. “Taste of the Arts on Gallery Row” will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm,  Saturday, October 9th.  This walk through downtown Charleston’s Gallery Row will showcase the talent of local Lowcountry artists at various galleries while you, the guests,  indulge on a sampling of appetizers from some of Charleston’s most-adored restaurants. “Taste of Charleston (Main Event)” will be held from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday, October 10, at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. The event will showcase a sampling of culinary treats from more than 50 of Charleston’s finest restaurants. The fun Taste of Charleston traditions continue with the always-fun Waiter’s Wine Race, food and wine pairings, a selection of specialty and imported beers, live bands, including “Homemade Wine” performing on the main stage.  In the Kids Corner, we will entertain the younger members of your family with a Magic Show performed by Ronald McDonald and pony rides for the kids, too! And as if that wasn’t enough, the Taste of Charleston’s main event will also play host to officials from the Guinness Book of World Records, while an attempt to make the world’s largest snowcone takes place. I know you want to go this year’s events, so here’s the 4-1-1.  You may purchase the “Taste of Charleston Package,” which gives you admission to all 3 events for $40.  If you prefer, you may also purchase tickets for each day’s events separately.  Friday’s event, “Taste — Iron Chef Competition” is $20 per person, Saturday’s” Taste of the Arts on Gallery Row” is also $20 per person and tickets for “Taste of Charleston”, the main event on Sunday are $12 in advance and $15  at the gate.  You may purchase tickets at all Tri-County Piggly Wiggly locations or to purchase tickets online visitwww.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com and print the tickets to take with you, (a service fee per ticket applies when purchased online.)  If you are traveling from outside Charleston to attend this event visit www.cvb.com to make the most of our Southern Hospitality here in the Lowcountry. After enjoying the food and festivities that are Taste of Charleston, head on over to abundatrade.comto find a variety of Lowcountry cookbooks that will inspire you to eat well all year round, both in the restaurants of Charleston and at home in your own kitchen.  Bon appétit!