Sushi, hip-hop and little chefs

Caviar & Bananas is stepping up their culinary presence in Charleston. The gourmet market and cafe is not only a fantastic place for a bite, but a resource for education as well.

Last Thursday, I found myself at Sushi 101, a delightful class where attendees learned the history of sushi and the mechanics of making a good roll.

The gathering was kept intentionally small so guests would feel comfortable participating. Tables were set up with fried dumplings and seaweed salad to snack on.

The crowd was diverse. A sprightly English woman and her daughter dined with me while a family with children sat next to us.

Chef Karen Stabler was a fantastic host. She patiently taught us how to prepare the rice, season ingredients and wear oil covered gloves to prevent a sticky mess. We learned that nori used to be gathered from sea rocks and that salt-packed fish is the ancestor of modern day sushi.

I loved gathering insider secrets on Asian markets and the best knife-cutting techniques.

At the end, kids and adults all took turns making spicy tuna, shrimp tempura and crab-filled rolls while sharing with newly made friends.

Hip-hop images

When I heard that Florida-based photographer Bob Croslin was showing at the Charleston Center for Photography, I jumped at the chance to experience some fresh, new energy.

Although Charleston is filled with creative talent, our size sometimes lends itself to repetition.

Croslin is a nationally known commercial and editorial photographer specializing in produced, lit portraiture. Last Friday's show focused on his work with hip-hop personalities.

DJ Natty Heavy wooed the crowd with old and new hip-hop while a slide show of Croslin's work splashed across a large projection screen. Home Team set up shop outside cooking fresh barbecue for attendees.

Guests were invited to have portraits taken to be shown on the center's Web page.

The KunFewZion Crew, a hip-hop dance group, dominated the floor, wowing the crowd with insanely choreographed moves. While the work was fantastic, most of the crowd had dispersed by 8 p.m.

Unfortunately, some didn't stay as long because alcohol wasn't served. Regardless, it was a treat to see new, very different work from a talented artist.

Big chef, little chef

Last Thursday, Louie's Kids hosted "Big Chef, Little Chef," a benefit for Fit Club at The Civic Design Center. Five Fit Club kids were paired with local chefs from restaurants such as Cypress, Oak Steakhouse and The Charleston Grill.

"Little chefs" learned healthy recipes from their "big chefs" that were cooked together on the day of the fundraiser.

All food used to create the customized dishes was donated by participating restaurants.

Guests got the chance to meet the "big" and "little" chefs, taste the dishes and vote on their favorite creation. Louie's Kids founder Louis Yuhasz was in attendance, lending support and inspiration to the event.

At the end of the evening, 125 votes were garnered electing Chef Craig Deihl of Cypress and 13-year-old Tre Vaughn Davis as the winners. Their award-winning dish was a squash soup with roasted figs and crispy ham. Both Tre Vaughn and Deihl took home customized aprons and some serious bragging rights.

Almost $6,000 was raised for the foundation.