Chew on This

Guest chef

Local chef Sean Brock of McCrady's Restaurant commands the top toque along with The Ocean Room chef Nathan Thurston to present a four-course, prix-fixe spring harvest dinner tonight (May 21) at The Ocean Room at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Call for more information and reservations. The reception is at 6:30 p.m. with dinner to follow. Wine pairings are included. The dining event costs $125. Call 800-654-2924.

Tickling ivory

Pianist Aven Stephenson appears at the Old Post Office Restaurant to celebrate Memorial Day weekend 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reservations are suggested. Call 869-2339. The restaurant is at 1442 S.C. Highway 174 on Edisto Island.

Spoleto extras

--Circa 1886, located on the grounds of the Wentworth Mansion, will open Sunday and extend its hours to accommodate attendees to this year's Spoleto Festival. Throughout the festival (excluding May 31, when the restaurant is closed), the restaurant will open a half-hour earlier (at 5 p.m.) and close a half-hour later. The last seating will be at 10 p.m. For reservations, visit circa1886.com or call 853-7828.

--Charleston Grill offers a late-night menu crafted by chef Michelle Weaver and complemented by the smooth sounds of the Quentin Baxter Trio. The $39 three-course menu begins at 9 p.m. throughout the Spoleto Festival. Call 577-4522. Charleston Grill is at the Charleston Place hotel, 224 King St.

--Peninsula Grill is extending its hours and serving a prix-fixe menu to accommodate the pre-theater crowd. Locals and guests who book the Spoleto package at the Planters Inn can enjoy an extra half-hour of seating at Peninsula Grill beginning at 5 p.m. during the festival. Also, the restaurant will offer a customized Spoleto pre-theater tasting menu by chef Robert Carter 5-6 p.m. every day. Guests may choose any three courses from an option of menu selections. The cost is $45 per person for nonpackage guests. To book the Spoleto package at the Planters Inn, call 722-2345 or visit plantersinn.com. Call 723-0700 for Peninsula Grill.

--Muse Restaurant and Bar will offer a three-course dinner served with a glass of wine for $29 and $5 Spoleto cocktail special called "The Spritz." The $29 prix-fixe menu will be served 5-6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 5-6 p.m. Friday- Sunday. Muse also will offer extended dining hours: The full menu will be served 5 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and the late-night menu will be offered 10 p.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday. Call 577-1102. Muse is at 82 Society St.

--Fish will extend its happy hour (5:30-8 p.m.) specials to Monday-Saturday starting this weekend and running through June 6. Guests can enjoy special pricing on drinks, bar menu, beer and wine. Fish is at 442 King St. Call 722-3474.

--The Library restaurant at The Vendue Inn is offering a prix-fixe pre-show menu. Guests who arrive by 6 p.m. are guaranteed to depart the restaurant with ample time to get to their Spoleto venues. At $39.99 per person, this three-course dinner has a guaranteed one-hour "in and out" for Spoleto attendees. Later arrivals may select from four featured appetizers on the $29.99 appetizer and wine menu, which includes two appetizers and two glasses of wine.

--Pane e Vino, 17 Warren St., will open for lunch during Spoleto, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Raising the bar

Cypress Lowcountry Grille executive chef Craig Deihl has launched a new bar menu that will be available seven nights a week starting at 5:30 p.m. and showcases distinctive preparations of locally raised pork and beef along with other innovative items. The new menu has 20 items priced $4-$14 can be enjoyed 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 727-0111.

'Feed the Need'

--The month of May has seen the generosity of the Charleston chefs and the restaurant community as everyone continues the "Feed The Need" program. This month, the following restaurants provided meal services: Atlanticville and Seel's Fish Camp for East Cooper Meals on Wheels, Sermet's for Crisis Ministries, Duvall Catering for Tricounty Family Ministries and The Art Institute of Charleston for Neighborhood House.

Half off

Voodoo launches its new menu June 1. All menu items will be 50 percent off June 1 at Voodoo, 15 Magnolia Road in West Ashley. Call 769-0228.