Soul Food Sessions Recap
Change happens by breaking the rules.
A pop-up dinner series created in partnership with Coca-Cola, Soul Food Sessions aims to uncover opportunities to increase diversity throughout the food industry. Soul Food Sessions encourages guests to tackle complex conversations on race and privilege. Chefs encouraged a general feeling of honesty and vulnerability as they shared their personal experiences growing up with Soul Food and creating their unique dishes.
Soul Food is varied and deeply personal.
Soul Food Sessions Chefs skillfully displayed the range and versatility of classic southern flavors. It was special to be a part of a plated Soul Food dinner that featured such rich seafood dishes. Highlighting their own range and versatility, The Cocktail Bandits created unique craft cocktails for the event using all Coca-Cola products. During Hors D’Oeuvres, the Cocktail Bandits served a light and refreshing mocktail featuring fresh juices and herbs. The drinks were perfectly balanced complements to a delightful evening.
The 7 course dinner featured
Hors D’Oeuvres
Chef Greg Collier
Mushroom Duxelles with marinated pulled chicken on toasted crostini with orange coulis
Chef Jaime Barnes
Blue Corn Cake and Green Tomato Marmalade with okra and tasso ham streusel
Chef Jason Sherrill
Blue Crab-stuffed Carolina Shrimp with spicy tomato jam, collard greens and pickled vegetables
Cold Appetizer
Chef Elaina Ruth
Smoked Trout Pontchartrain and Crab Salad with pickled mushrooms, black pepper tuile and Creole hollandaise
Hot Appetizer
Chef Michael Bowling
Rabbit Rillette Cake with potato and golden beet pave, crispy greens and smoked rabbit jus
Vegetable Course
Chef Mike Sheats
Tuskegee Soup with crab, sweet potato, scarlet queen turnip and benne seeds
Seafood Course
Chef B.J. Dennis
Creek Fish with Shrimp Purloo croquette and she-crab gravy
Fowl Course
Chef Kevin Mitchell
Pan-seared Duck and Sweet Potato Confit with bourbon-braised dinosaur kale and sorghum reduction
Featured Dish
Chef Greg Collier
Grillades over Cornmeal Waffle with green strawberry relish and smoked peanut dried okra crumble. Paired with a Coca-Cola
Dessert
Chef Jamie Turner
Poached Pear Napoleon and Goat Cheese Chiboust with cashew crumble and red wine gastrique
African-American Tourism Conference
The Annual African- American Tourism Conference is designed to show local residents how to engage with the Tourism industry.
It is also designed to show tourism Industry leaders how this niche can grow the overall industry by attracting millions of additional visitors interested in the African- American history and culture of our state. The event drew a diverse crowd that was curious about the impact social media could have on their business.
This year, the Cocktail Bandits were honored for their voice in advocating for African-American Tourism.
During the conference, they led a panel in which they discussed the valuable role that African Americans play in creating Charleston’s rich cultural identity.
The conference aims to connect entrepreneurs with the movers and shakers in the Charleston Tourism industry.
Get inside the room and hear key insights by listening to the Podcast!
Get more information at: https://scaat.us/
Lip Sync for Lungs
The American Lung Association in South Carolina is hosting its 3rd annual Lip Sync for Lungs Live Battle, presented by Motley Rice Law Firm, on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at Charleston Music Hall (37 John St, Charleston, SC 29403). This unique, action-packed event features five local celebrities in a wildly entertaining live performance that raises funds to provide lung health programs and advocacy in coastal South Carolina.
This year’s Lip Sync for Lungs Live Battle III performers include: Lauren Fox (President, Fox Events), Heather Holmquest (President, Maritime Association of South Carolina), Mike Lata (James Beard Award Winning Chef/Owner of FIG and The Ordinary), Buffie Bell Lilly (Owner, Charleston Wine Pairings-Exclusive Matchmaking) and Susan Pearlstine (Susan Pearlstine Sarcoidosis Center of Excellence and Owner of The Bend).
