TV chef Bobby Flay will host two events

One of the best-known faces on food television will be the headliner for the 2009 BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival.

Bobby Flay, a national restaurateur, cookbook author and star of multiple cooking shows, will host two events during the festival, which will be held March 5-8. One is a Southern-style charity luncheon that partially benefits the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital. The other is an hourlong gourmet burger demonstration. Flay also will appear at a book signing.

Additionally, the festival is raffling off a chance to cook with Flay on stage during the burger event. One thousand tickets will be sold at $25 apiece, with the money being used to offset Flay's price tag — $75,000.

"He's not only coming, he's bringing five of his executive chefs from his restaurants ... We're thrilled to have him," says Erika McMillan, the festival's media/marketing manager.

Otherwise, with an eye on a shaky U.S. economy, festival organizers

"We're heading into this year being cautious, selective about new events," McMillan says.

Those include two new wine events, a "Pinot Envy Uncorked!" session to be held in Mount Pleasant and a 1,000 Point Wine Tasting and Auction, which will pour 10 wines rated at 100 points each.

"The goal is to bring in that key demographic, wine aficionados, people that enjoy upscale wines," McMillan says. "We think the festival is ready for that."

Also new will be a "Legendary Evening in the Lowcountry" dinner. The $500-per-person ticket buys a five-course meal in a private residence prepared by local chefs Frank Lee of Slightly North of Broad, Brett McKee of Oak Steakhouse and Bob Waggoner of Charleston Grill, along with chef Rick Tramanto of Tru in Chicago.

While not new, the festival's popular restaurant dine-around is growing: Four new restaurants are joining the roster. Hominy Grill, Lana, Mercato and Red Drum Gastropub bring the number of participating restaurants to 18. Local chefs team with guest chefs from around the country at each place to prepare a five-course tasting dinner with wine for $150.

"For the most part they are all new chefs," McMillan says of the incoming group. "It's a whole new selection of talent." Notables include Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun's in Atlanta, Alexandra Guarnaschelli of Butter in New York, and Lucy Buffett, sister of "Parrothead" idol Jimmy Buffett, of Lulu's in Gulf Shores, Ala.

"We're not sure he's coming," McMillan quipped.

A few other events are being tweaked. BBQ & Blues is adding a seafood component and increasing the ticket price to $75. The Lowcountry Gospel Brunch will cost $55 instead of $50, but people will be able to pick from 11 local participating restaurants.

The most exclusive event of the festival, a dinner at a private penthouse, will cost $100 more, up to $750. But price apparently is no object — the event is one of the first to sell out, McMillan says. This year's theme is all-female chefs, with two out of four already confirmed.

Also, the champagne-and-desserts Bubbles & Sweets party will spotlight one national pastry chef instead of three, in addition to local pastry chefs. The music will start later, at 10:30 p.m., to keep it from turning so quickly into a "dance party," says McMillan.

"We really want to focus on the artistry of the pastry chefs," she says. Ticket prices are rising from $65 to $75.

Meanwhile, few changes are in store for the Grand Tasting Tents within the Culinary Village at Marion Square. A new layout and set visiting times (morning or afternoon) significantly improved traffic flow in the tents at this year's festival. However, Sunday hours for the village and tent pass will switch to 1-5 p.m. only.

The 2008 festival ended about $30,000 in the black, organizers say, with a final audit to be completed in November. Ticket sales hit $567,000 from 13,000 attendees, and sponsorship revenue grew to $328,000. The total operating budget was $1.1 million.

The 2009 operating budget is estimated at $1.25 million.

To be in the black by the third year "is almost unheard of with festivals," says festival Director Angel Postell. "I think that shows we're a very healthy organization."

Still, the festival has lost about $80,000 in previous sponsorships to date due to the economy. A $17,500 chunk of marketing money from the state Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department also won't be available next year.

"The good thing about us is we've positioned ourselves in Forbes' top five food and wine festivals" in the country, in the company of Aspen, Colo., South Beach, Fla., and New York, Postell says. "They have every Food Network star."

Teresa Taylor is the food editor. Reach her at food@postandcourier.com or 937-4886.

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