Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Taste of St Augustine 2010

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Savor the unique tastes of St. Augustine during this flavorful event that showcases more than 30 area restaurant’s signature dishes. All the fun takes place at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, which will be transformed into a culinary marketplace offering the participating restaurants “signature tastes” as well as cookbooks, cooking equipment and other specialty food items.

Throughout the afternoon and evening restaurants are judged for the “best of” ‘upscale dining’, ‘ethnic tastes’, ‘family dining’, ‘desserts’, and ‘The People’s Choice Award’.

New this year is the “Race to the Taste” – A 5K run starting at Anastasia State Park and ending at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre (with an off-road course set on the park’s trails). The only 5K in St. Augustine tied to an extraordinary culinary event. Registration is $20 in advance, $25 day of.

Admission is $5 and taste tickets are $1 each with restaurants charging between 1 and 5 tickets per taste.

Saturday, Apr. 24, 2010 Noon to 8 p.m.
St Augustine Amphitheater, 350 A1A Beach Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL
904.829.3295

Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival 2010 – Fernandina, Fl

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Fernandina has one of the best and biggest shrimp festivals on the coast. This year it’s the 47th Anniversary for the popular Isle of Eight Shrimp Festival. This year the festival is scheduled for April 30 – May 2, 2010.  Fernandina Shrimp Festival is traditionally held the first weekend in May in the Historic downtown Centre Street business district in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida.

Pirate Parade and Invasion
The party kicks off already on Thursday with an exciting Pirate Parade at 6 p.m. You’ll get to see all kinds of creations in this unique parade – from pirate ships to gigantic shrimp. The theme for this year’s parade is “Name that tune”, and I can’t wait to see what’s going to be performed. Coastal Companion is planning to film the parade this year, so if you happen to see me, make sure to say hello.

Then on Friday it’s time for the opening of the festival and the actual invasion of the pirates Friday night.

Amelia Island River Cruises Ferry Boat

There’s also a bunch of contests;  Best Decorated Boat, Best Decorated Pirate, Miss Shrimp Festival pageant, and my personal favorite, the only one I could possibly participate in and win  – the ice cream eating contest.

Plan for lots of people, lots of fun and plan for walking a lot. The Amelia Island River Cruises will run a special ferry boat from St Marys, Georgia over to the festival, so check with them for the schedule. If the weather is nice, it’s a beautiful trip past Cumberland Island and Fort Clinch – and you won’t have to fight traffic that way. (www.ameliaislandrivercruises.com)

For the complete program, visit the website at www.shrimpfestival.com

Isle of Eight Shrimp Festival, Fernandina, Amelia Island, Florida

Tybee Wine Festival 2010 – Tybee Island, Georgia

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Now you can support Tybee Post Theater by coming to the 2010 Tybee Wine Festival. The 2009 Wine Festival was very successful and earned over $10,000 for the restoration.The event is scheduled for April 17, 2010, from 3 pm – 7 pm on the grounds of the Tybee Lighthouse and it’s a great opportunity to do good and have fun at the same time.

The wine festival will feature over 100 international wines plus delicious  tapas from some of Tybee Islands best restaurants.  But for those of who don’t appreciate good wine, the organizers have arranged something special for this year. This year the festival will also  offer a selection of craft beers, so you have no excuse for staying home. There will even be  a raffle, silent auction and live music by some of the island’s finest musicians.

Attendees receive a free gift package which includes a souvenir wine glass and wine tote. Participating restaurants are Hunter House, Papa’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood, The Breakfast Club, Fannies on the Beach, Marline Monroe’s, Doc’s Bar, Huca Poos, Sundae Cafe and Sting Rays.

All festival net proceeds go to the restoration of the Tybee Post Theater.

Tickets are  available online at  tybeewinefestival.com.

Charleston Farmers Market Opens on April 3, 2010

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On April 3rd, 2010, Charleston Farmers Market will again open at Marion Square in the downtown area. The Farmers Market offers fresh locally grown produce as well as other foods, and arts and crafts. The market will continue during the season until December 19, 2010.

The 2010 Poster
The special 2010 poster, Peter Piper’s Peppers by Ginny Versteegen,  will be unveiled at 10:30 am by Charleston City Councilman Kathleen Wilson and Ellen Dressler Moryl, Director City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.  The South Carolina Broadcasters, a local bluegrass band, will perform until 1:30 p.m.

Green Market
This year, the Charleston Farmers Market will organize a planning process to transition into a “Green Market.” Only a few farmers markets in the U.S. are officially recognized as “Green Markets.” This transition includes recycling and/or re-using all of the materials that are produced by the market as well as educating vendors and the public on the value of being green, including using recycled products, re-using products and composting.

New Additions
New farmers and vendors in the 2010 market include:

• Messy Apron will offer fresh hot and cold soups made with local produce for eat-in or take-out.
• Meat House, owned and operated by Jason Houser, will offer charcuterie products, including sausage, bacon and pâté.
• BJ’s Brats is a local food vendor from Seabrook Island that will offer locally made bratwurst and Italian sausage.
• Family Trees owned and operated by Kara Viacrusis, will sale jade house plants which are offspring of her grandmother’s 30-year-old jade tree.

Popular Vendors
Among the vendors who are returning to the market for another season and offering additional products are: Captain Hatt’s, a full-service fish market will also offer pickled shrimp and crab and shrimp dips; Chucktown Chicken has lemon grass as well as farm-raised chickens, River Run Farms will offer its grass-fed beef as well as kiwi fruit and other kiwi products and luffa sponges and compost products. Nelly’s Farm is expanding their organic produce selection by offering mixed greens, cucumbers, basil as well as arugula and flowers. Burden Creek Dairy will also supply goat milk as well as plain and flavored chèvre.

“Not only is the weekly Charleston Farmers Market a testimony to the wonderful quality of life we enjoy in here in Charleston, but Charleston farmers are becoming an integral part of the community, offering produce to many of the local restaurants and as a result are significant contributors to a thriving, sustainable local economy. We are so thrilled to welcome the market back to our Saturday routine April 3rd,” says Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr.

About Charleston Farmers Market

Founded by Mayor Joe Riley in 1989, the Charleston Farmers Market is produced by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with the City of Charleston Parks Department. Over the years, the Charleston Farmers Market has received numerous awards: In 2005, the Charleston Farmers Market, newly revitalized and relocated back in the renovated Marion Square, received the Three Sisters Award from the Charleston Save the City Committee. In 2008, the Market was ranked by Travel and Leisure magazine as one of the top 10 best Farmers Markets in the nation. In the Charleston City Paper reader’s poll, “Best Of,” the Charleston Farmers Market was named 2009 Best Outdoor Event. Now permanently located in Marion Square, in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, S.C., the Farmers Market is open each Saturday, from April 3 to Dec., 19, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Farmers Market is dedicated to the support and advocacy of Lowcountry farmers and growers and offers a variety of local produce, plants, herbs and cut flowers as well as breakfast and lunch vendors, live entertainment and an assortment of juried arts and crafts from local artisans. The Charleston Farmers Market attracts citizens and visitors alike. It is the community connection every Saturday morning from April through December, bringing together people from all parts of the Lowcountry and beyond.

Spring Winefest at Middleton Place – Charleston, SC

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There is no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring but with a trip to the beautiful gardens of Middleton Place. There is a special Spring Wine Tasting at Middleton Place, where you get to sip wine while enjoying the beautiful view of thousand of azaleas, dogwood and wisteria. The colors of the blooming flowers are reflecting in the water of the Rice Mill Pond. The tasting takes place from 5:30 – 7:00 pm on Wednesday, March 31 and April 7. Reservations are required. Cost is $20 per person. For reservations, call 843-556-6020.