On Tuesdays, On the Menu provides the latest news from the Charleston area’s extensive culinary community, including new restaurants, new menu items and upcoming events, as well as details about local chefs. Submissions should be sent to dailyjournal@scbiznews.com.

When you think of Independence Day in the South, there’s no doubt corn on the cob, pulled pork sandwiches, watermelon and tomatoes definitely come to mind. Circa 1886, the AAA Four Diamond, Mobil Four Star restaurant on the grounds of the Wentworth Mansion, will put its own spin on these Southern summer staples at the Fourth Annual Sizzling Southern Celebration at 7:30 on July 4.

The event offers guests the chance to enjoy a multi-course dinner prepared by Executive Chef Marc Collins while enjoying live music and drinks. Afterward, the crowd heads to the mansion’s cupola with panoramic views of the city to catch a bird’s eye view of Charleston’s fireworks display and have a glass of champagne.

On the Sizzling Summer Celebration menu are butterbean bean salad with bacon and cracked pepper dressing; toasted coriander and benne seed coleslaw; watermelon and cucumber salad; Wadmalaw tomatoes with white balsamic emulsion; butter-poached corn on the cob; and grilled Mepkin Abbey oyster mushroom and Vidalia onions.

For the main course, selections include mesquite-smoked pulled pork sandwiches with tangerine mustard barbecue sauce; crispy fried cornmeal crusted shrimp; or grilled Caribbean jerked organic chicken. As the finale, guests may choose from several desserts, such as red velvet cake; white chocolate mascarpone strawberry shortcake; blueberry cobbler with Tahitian vanilla ice cream; chocolate truffle pops; and confetti cookies.

The cost to attend the event is $70 per person, including a glass of champagne, but excluding tax, gratuity and additional beverages. Wentworth Mansion also is offering a package for those who want to stay overnight, including a two-night stay for $975 per couple, excluding tax. The package includes the Sizzling Southern Celebration for two, as well as tax and gratuity, but not beverages for dinner.

==========================================

For many, July 4 is all about the beach, the boat or the backyard, grilling out, hanging with your friends and the perfect fourth foods. This year, Caviar and Bananas presents “Fourth Features” —  two ways to make the fourth that much more delicious.
Choose from the “Ready to Grill,” which includes five Kobe beef hotdogs, five Kobe burgers, five marinated chicken breasts and all the garnishes and condiments for $48.

Or, leave the cooking to us with the “Backyard Bag,” which includes organic blue corn, fried chicken and your choice of three sides, either red, white, blue potato salad, Greek pasta salad, blue cheese coleslaw, or black bean and corn salad for $76.

Call to reserve ahead of time at 843-577-7757. Caviar & Bananas is located at 51 George St. in Charleston.