Ever had Charleston's most iconic dish? Hint: It's shrimp and grits, for those that haven't been lucky enough to try this Gullah-influenced classic yet.
To have tasted shrimp and grits is to love shrimp and grits – but have you tried every preparation in town?
Here's your chance! Grab a ticket to the 2015 Shrimp and Grits Charleston – a festival celebrating everyone's favorite local meal – and prepare your appetite in advance.
Food, friends and live music are included at Shrimp and Grits Charleston, with craft beer and wine for purchase. What more do you need? — Photo courtesy of Shrimp and Grits Charleston
This year's Shrimp and Grits Charleston will be a rain or shine event, held Saturday, Sept. 19. Join your Charleston friends and neighbors at Joseph P. Riley Stadium (known to natives as "The Joe"), home of the Charleston Riverdogs, the city's local minor league baseball team.
Admission to Shrimp and Grits 2015 includes all-you-can-eat samples of the good stuff, with unique preparations available from 20 participating chefs and restaurants in the Charleston area.
With so many options, guests will have even more varieties of the local classic to taste than they did at the competition's inaugural event.
Chefs from 20 local Charleston restaurants will dole out samples of shrimp and grits this year — Photo courtesy of Shrimp and Grits Charleston
The first year of Shrimp and Grits Charleston saw a fierce field of competition amongst local chefs. Michael's on The Alley took home first prize as winner of the event, with Hall's Chophouse finishing as the first runner-up. Poogan's Porch and Fleet Landing were last year's second and third runner-ups, respectively.
All of last year's Shrimp and Grits Charleston People's Choice winners will return again this year, too.
Come ready to eat! Expect to dine on samples from Mount Pleasant standouts like Graze, Red's Icehouse and Tavern and Table, alongside downtown favorites such as Bull Street Gourmet, Virginia's on King, Amen Street, Eli's Table, Star's and more.
Who will take home the title? You be the judge.
Expect to chow down at this all-ages, all-you-can-eat festival — Photo courtesy of Shrimp and Grits Charleston
Want even more motivation to get tickets to this year's Shrimp and Grits Charleston? This chef's competition benefits the Charleston Animal Society, a local animal shelter and advocate group that campaigns against animal cruelty in South Carolina.
Last year at the inaugural event, Shrimp and Grits Charleston raised $1,500 for Charleston Animal Society, with over 1,400 attendees. The festival aims to top last year's record with even more support raised for this deserving organization.
The 2015 Shrimp and Grits Charleston is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance.
Craft beer, wine and spirits will be on hand for purchase at the competition (but not included in regular ticket price), in addition to non-alcoholic choices.
VIP adult tickets are also available for purchase, including unlimited beverages, a cordoned-off area of standing eating tables, as well as the power to cut all shrimp and grits sampling lines.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Shrimp and Grits Charleston's website.
