Behind the page

James Beard award winning cookbook authors Matt and Ted Lee return to Charleston for a sneak peek (and taste) of recipes from their newest cookbook and work-in-progress "The Lee Bros. Simple, Fresh, Southern," which will be published in fall of 2009. Charleston Cooks!, 194 East Bay St., will host the celebrated brothers who made boiled peanuts Manhattan celebrities at 6:30 tonight. The cost is $60 per person. For more information, call 722-1212.

Eat local

Lowndes Grove Plantation is the location for the Buy Local, Be Local Bash. Show your localism and join the fun 6-10 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $30. For more information, visit www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org.

Arrr you hungry?

The Buccaneer Restaurant opened Dec. 1 at 5 Faber St. It combines a restaurant, bar and pirates museum. Jeffrey Palsa is the general manager and Charleston native Chef Zack Willard captains the kitchen. Visit www.buccaneerrestaurant.com or call 805-5065 for more information.

The Buccaneer serves lunch 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and dinner until 10 p.m. Dinner is served until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. And on Saturday and Sunday brunch is on the table 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It also offers a later night bar service.

Coming soon

--Mellow Mushroom, 3110 U.S. Highway 17, Mount Pleasant.

--Farringdon Bistropub, 214 North Cedar St., Summerville. (419-6381 or www.farringdonbistropub.com.)

Happy 15th

Tuesday is Slightly North of Broad's 15th anniversary. Join in the celebration with complimentary house wine with dinner reservations, birthday cake at lunch, $5 espresso martinis, half-price sparkling wines and Champagne all day and much more. Put on your party hat and make your reservation by calling 723-3424. The restaurant is at 192 East Bay St. For more info, click www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com.

Tiny bubbles

-- The Dining Room at the Woodlands Inn and Resort will host two Champagne and sparkling wine galas in December: One on Tuesday and another on Dec. 16. The events, part of the Inn's monthly "Wines of the World" series, begin at 6:30 p.m. with a 12-selection Champagne and wine tasting, followed by a 7:30 p.m. seating and a four-course dinner. The cost to attend is $108 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 308-2115. Visit www.woodlandsinn.com for more information and details.

-- The Old Village Post House, 101 Pitt St., in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant, celebrates the season with a sparkling wine dinner on Dec. 11. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $55 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made at 388-8935 or at www.oldvillageposthouse.com.

Fat sushi

New at the Fat Hen, 3140 Maybank Highway, is "Sushi Mondays" along with half-priced wine. The bar opens at 4 p.m. with dinner service at 5:30 p.m.

For reservations or more information call 559-9090 or visit www.thefathen.com.

Mix it up

The Food + Wine Festival is holding its signature cocktail competition now through Dec. 19.

Bartenders can submit a recipe featuring one of the following Brown Forman brands: Chambord, Tuaca, Southern Comfort or Woodford Reserve.

Once the recipes are received, tasters will visit area restaurants and try the various recipes. Five finalists will be selected from the submissions to prepare and serve their drink in January for a panel of judges at the Culinary Institute of Charleston's Palmer Campus inside its new Mixology Lab. Entrants must be 21 years or older to participate. Recipes can be sent to info@charlestonfoodandwine.com. For more information about the competition and the festival, visit www.charlestonfoodandwine.com.