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Guest chef series: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort's third "Guest Chef" dinner series event will be at 6:30 p.m. today and will feature a tribute to Holly Herrick's book, "The Charleston Chef's Table: Extraordinary Recipes From the Heart of the Old South." Herrick will join chefs Michelle Weaver of Charleston Grill, Charles Arena of the Boathouse at Breach Inlet, Craig Deihl of Cypress, Mary Rancourt of SeeWee and Nathan Thurston of Kiawah's Ocean Room to prepare a five-course meal. The cost is $69, excluding taxes and gratuity. To make a reservation, call 768-6253.

Maverick Tea Party: The Old Village Post House in Mount Pleasant and Firefly Distillery on Wadmalaw Island join together to host a special dinner today to celebrate the food and drink of the South. The four-course meal will be paired with signature Firefly cocktails created by Maverick wine and beverage director Patrick Emerson and Firefly founders Scott Newitt and Jim Irving. The three will answer cocktail-related questions throughout the evening. Hors d'oeuvres and cocktail reception begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. $48, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required; call 388-8935. The Old Village Post House is at 101 Pitt St.

Sustainable Seafood: The next Sustainable Seafood dinner in conjunction with the Sustainable Seafood Initiative at the S.C. Aquarium will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Saffire in the Marriott Hotel on Lockwood Drive. Five courses will be paired with wine. $50, plus tax and gratuity. Proceeds will be donated to the Audubon Nature Institute in Louisiana to help wildlife hurt by the oil spill. Reservations: 723-3000, ext. 1555.

Cocktail contest: Circa 1886 invites the public to enter its Charleston Christmas Cocktail Contest by asking residents to combine their favorite Charleston flavors into a holiday beverage. Submit suggested ingredients and a name for the cocktail at www.Circa1886.com through Saturday. Videos tagged CharlestonChristmasCocktail also may be submitted on YouTube. Entries will be narrowed to three finalists, and a panel of local judges will select the winner in early August. The winning beverage will be served at Circa 1886 in December, and the winner will receive a complimentary dinner for four at Circa 1886. For videos of past culinary contests and winners, visit www.YouTube.com/Circa1886.

Barolo dinner: Chef Ken Vedrinski of Trattoria Lucca will host a four-course dinner with wine pairing on Aug. 6 to honor Matthew Gavin Frank and the release of his memoir, "Barolo." The dinner will highlight the food and wine of the Piemontese and the city Barolo. Book signing and reception at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. $75, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations required; call 973-3323.

Friends of Bob: Circa 1886 is planning a five-course dinner with wine pairings to raise money for local nonproit Louie's Kids while giving diners a chance to be part of a local weekly cooking show. The Friends of Bob Waggoner dinner will be 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18. It will feature Circa chef Marc Collins; Waggoner, the former chef at Charleston Grill; and guest chefs Wally Joe of Acre Restaurant in Memphis and Mark Monette of the Flagstaff House Restaurant in Boulder, Colo., and Monettes on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii. $75. The first people who sign up for the event will receive seats at the Aug. 17 taping of Waggoner's weekly cooking show, "U Cook With Chef Bob." To purchase tickets for the event, call Circa 1886 at 853-7828.

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