Zagat eyes Charleston dining scene

Given all the fine fare in Charleston, it's not unusual to see a local restaurant featured nationally.

But in what could be boost or a bane — depending on the tone of the reviews — Zagat is considering publishing survey ratings on area dining establishments under an expansion of its highly influential where-to-eat guides.

Zagat co-founder Tim Zagat told USA Today that Charleston is one of about 20 U.S. cities being studied for inclusion in 2008. How the results will be published — in print, online or not at all — likely will depend on how much information the guide publisher is able to gather.

Zagat's seeming indifference toward the Lowcountry dining scene drew the attention of prominent culinary writer John Mariani, who, after attending last year's Charleston Food + Wine Festival, opined that the Holy City boasts "the most vibrant food community" in the South.

"It's interesting to note, therefore, that there is still no Zagat Guide to Charleston or anywhere else in South Carolina, while many other cities with far less indigenous gastronomic pleasures get coverage ..." Mariani wrote.

In the pool

Fans of CSI: Miami can see it now: Lt. Horatio Caine, the protagonist forensics cop played by veteran actor David Caruso, lowers his dark shades, tilts an eyebrow and — on cue — delivers one of his trademark hammy one-liners.

Only in this case, instead of "Book 'em," he'll say, "Rack 'em."

Caruso is among the cast of celebrities scheduled to be in Charleston next month to help promote the game of pool and raise money for ovarian cancer research by attending the inaugural Chix with Stix Teal Tournament, which is expected to feature some of the top female players in the game.

The venue is the Francis Marion Hotel. Proceeds from the Jan. 18-20 event will benefit the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (which will have local nutrition physician Anne Kultze and other docs on hand to talk about the deadly disease) and Charleston's Center for Women.

Spectators will be able to bid to run the table against celebrities including Caruso and CSI: Miami co-stars Emily Proctor and Eva La Rue, as well the ever-perky Kelly Ripa, co-host of Live with Regis and Kelly.

The event also will feature trick shot exhibitions, luncheons and clinics for would-be pool sharks. Log on to www.chixwithstix.net for more details.

In the pipeline

Jerry Zucker has increased his investment in a supplier for Canada's energy patch.

The Charleston industrialist and billionaire with a penchant for businesses north of the U.S. border recently snapped up another 436,268 shares of Garneau Inc. The buy brought his stake to 1.75 million shares, or nearly 15 percent. Previously, he controlled 11 percent of Alberta-based Garneau, which makes high-performance protective coatings and linings for oil and gas pipelines. The Toronto Stock Exchange-listed company also designs and manufactures oilfield equipment.

The media-shy CEO of North Charleston-based conglomerate InterTech Group Inc. became an overnight business celebrity in Canada last year through his takeover of Hudson's Bay Co. , the country's oldest and largest department store chain.

Reach John McDermott at 937-5572 or jmcdermott@postandcourier.com.