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Southern Living has strong Charleston presence
By Holly Fisher
Supplements Editor
In addition to the Southern Living Idea House open on Daniel Island through early October, Southern Living magazine and affiliated publications are planning two other events in Charleston.
The winners of the Southern Living Cook-Off 2006 will be announced Oct. 5 at the Gaillard Auditorium in downtown Charleston. Three finalists are selected for each of the five contest categories: Your Best Recipe, Super-Quick Family Favorites, Healthy and Good For You, Party Starters and Southern Desserts. Each finalist will receive $1,000 and a trip for two to Charleston where they will prepare their dishes at Trident Technical College’s Culinary Institute of Charleston.
Marion Sullivan, culinary programs specialist at the institute, is looking forward to exposing her students to the country’s largest annual cook-off.
“The Southern Progress company is a very old and wonderful company and very respected. Southern Living, their demographics and marketing and distribution numbers are terrific. We’re excited about the out-of-city exposure and for the students to be able to see what this is like,” she said.
A five-person panel of judges selects a top winner from each category; those winners receive $10,000. Judges include Southern Living representatives along with Mike Lata, executive chef and co-owner of downtown’s FIG restaurant, and Nathalie Dupree, cookbook author and TV show host.
An overall winner is selected and receives a grand prize of $100,000. The finalists will also prepare their dishes before a live audience at the Gaillard Auditorium, after which the category winners and grand prize winner will be announced.
Hosting the event is South Carolina native Tyler Florence, chef and host of Food Network shows “Tyler’s Ultimate” and “Food 911.”
Prior to the cook-off, ticket holders can attend a tasting reception featuring 20 local restaurants and beverage distributors. Tickets for the events are $10 and are on sale at the Gaillard box office and through Ticketmaster.
The finalists will be announced in September, and the winning recipes will be featured in the January 2007 issue of Southern Living. For additional details, visit www.southernlivingcookoff.com.
The third major event is Savor South Carolina, set for Jan. 11-13. This is an editorial weekend in which Time Inc. publications plan events reflecting their specific editorial content.
While many of the details are still in the works, Louise Ballard, marketing director for the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said five events are planned. Coastal Living will host an opening reception Jan. 11. On Jan. 12, Golf Magazine is hosting a golf outing, Cottage Living is planning a shopping seminar and Southern Living is having a food and wine event that evening. On Jan. 13, Cooking Light is hosting one of its popular Supper Clubs.
Those interested in attending the Savor South Carolina weekend can purchase weekend packages with accommodations at Charming Inns of Charleston locations, the Mills House Hotel and Charleston Place Hotel, Ballard explained.
The weekend is a partnership with the CACVB and the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. Each event will be created with the entire state in mind, not just focusing on Charleston, Ballard said.
Even though this event is similar to other weekends hosted by Southern Living and Coastal Living, this particular concept “is custom-made for Charleston and for South Carolina,” Ballard said.
Additional details will be available soon at www.savorsouthcarolina.com.
Holly Fisher is supplements editor for the Business Journal. E-mail her at hfisher@charlestonbusiness.com.
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