Charleston, South Carolina Lodging Gears Up for 2009 Charleston Food + Wine Festival

Oct. 24, 2008 - PRLog -- CHARLESTON, SC – The Mills House Hotel, a popular choice in Charleston, SC luxury hotels, is already starting the preparations for next year's 2009 BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival. This prestigious event, named one of the nation's finest food festivals by Forbes Traveler, exemplifies the very best of Lowcountry cuisine across four action-packed days of demos, tastings and celebrity appearances. A proud sponsor of the festival, the Mills House Charleston Hotel is offering exclusive festival packages featuring luxury accommodations and tickets to the event.

The BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival began only two short years ago in 2006 to immediate acclaim. The formula was simple: the food shouldn't overpower the wine, and the wine shouldn't overpower the food. This approach culminated in a festival experience that truly managed to be about both, all the while celebrating the modern rise of haute cuisine in the Lowcountry.

Next year, the tradition continues with over 50 events from the Art Institute of Charleston's returning "Bubbles & Sweets" dessert pairing showcase to the brand new "Legendary Evening in the Lowcountry", which takes a deeply personal stroll through Southern Comfort cuisine with four of the region's top chefs.

The heart of the festival is the Culinary Village in Marion Square. Here, two Grand Tasting Tents represent the food, wines and products of more than 70 local companies from catering specialists to four-star restaurants. Attendees purchase tickets for a specific timeslot to visit the tasting tents and from there are free to roam from booth to booth, feasting as much as they like on all the epicurean delights that have made Charleston and the Lowcountry one of the newest culinary sensations.

Visitors of the Culinary Village are also free to catch a one-of-a-kind demo at the SCE&G's Cooking Demonstration Tent. Prized national and local chefs as well as authors will take the stage to show off their expertise, and chef meet and greets are also planned for after each demonstration. The nearby Green Living Tent hosts informational demos and exhibits on preparing sustainable food and maintaining a green kitchen.

Still later, the spirit of friendly-competition will take over the festival when the Certified SC Grown Cooking Competition, hosted by Top Chef's Richard Blaise, takes the main stage. This exciting event pits local and national chefs against each other in an Iron Chef-style cook-off complete with secret ingredient. The winner is then declared by the audience.

Attendees may even win the chance to cook on-stage with celebrity chef and Food Network personality Bobby Flay. The event will be selling one thousand raffle tickets and announcing the lucky winner during the opening ceremony on Friday morning. Call 843.727.9998 ext. 4 to order tickets. Bobby Flay will also be hosting a "Southern Style" luncheon and a cookbook signing.

The 2009 BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival will be held March 5-8, 2008 in several venues around Charleston, South Carolina. Many events are included in the basic Culinary Village package, however some events do require a separate admission charge. For more information, visit the web site at http://charlestonfoodandwine.com/2009/

Save on the price of the tickets and enjoy an historic Charleston hotel experience at the same time by booking either of the Food + Wine Festival Packages at The Mills House, the quintessential Charleston hotel. For more information on The Mills House and festival packages, visit the web site at http://www.millshouse.com/food-and-wine-festival.html

About The Mills House Hotel:
Immerse yourself in the lush beauty and unrivaled service of one of the most beloved hotels in Charleston, SC, The Mills House Hotel. For over 150 years, the Mills House has set the standard in Charleston, SC accommodations, and a multi-million dollar renovation has recaptured the splendor of a bygone era while providing guests with every modern convenience. The walls of this Charleston hotel are rich with beautifully-maintained antiques, and the soothing accommodations are second to none. A Conde Nast Traveler Gold List hotel. Take advantage of exclusive Charleston hotel deals, or visit our web site at http://www.millshouse.com/