By Anna Marie Imbordino / Images by Anna Marie Imbordino
The event celebrated regional culinary artists and venues, but it would be impossible not to appreciate the collaborative approach to regional tourism efforts.
Savor Charlotte is a two-week celebration taking place March 12-25, 2025, featuring the award-winning and innovative culinary community of Charlotte, North Carolina. But before the Queen City hosts this epicurean adventure,The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authorityand its partners behind it invited 10 of their most influential chefs and mixologists on a Holy City road trip for a one-night-only culinary crawl through Charleston's downtown district.
The cross-town collaborative event, hosted on Thursday, Nov. 14, began with an exclusive media reception and cinematography feature at theAmerican Theateron King Street, Wednesday, Nov. 13, attended by Charleston Grit writers.
The mashup of Savor Charlotte chefs and mixologists and the Charleston restaurants that welcomed them included:
First stop for Charleston Grit was the farm-to-table inspired restaurant, The Grocery. Opened in 2011 byJames Beard Awardnominee Chef Kevin Johnson and his wife, this well-known gathering spot has stayed committed to regional and seasonal ingredients with a high respect for ingredient origins. This collaboration is of no surprise as Chef Johnson and Chef Laird curated a well harmonized experience, with both menus blending effortlessly.
The second stop included an accidental, but well-appreciated personalized tasting and chat with visiting Chef Fargian at Charleston's most sought-after new spot, Southbound. An eclectic, elevated live-fire restaurant housed in a historic single-family home in the Elliotborough/Cannonborough neighborhood, Southbound offers indoor and outdoor dining locations that each provide their own flavor and charm.
Seated just across from the oak-fired hearth and grill in the first-floor dining room, Charleston Grit marveled at the show. This venue, this partnership, exemplified the innovative and evolutionary capabilities of different culinary artists coming together.
“This was the first collaboration dinner we hosted at Southbound, and it went extremely well! Chef Shai’s Mediterranean and Latin-inspired cuisine paired beautifully with our live-fire concept, while Mixologist Nadia crafted the perfect cocktail pairings to complement each dish. A big thank you to everyone who joined us—we can’t wait to host another one soon.” shares owner Chef Ryan Jones of Southbound.
An absolute monster of a promotional campaign with many chefs in the kitchen—pun intended.
The event celebrated regional culinary artists and venues, but it would be impossible not to appreciate the collaborative approach to regional tourism efforts. Charleston local businesses had the unique advantage of hosting the Savor Charlotte “tour” as well as benefiting from robust co-branding efforts. An absolute monster of a promotional campaign with many chefs in the kitchen—pun intended. A beautiful example of community and Southern hospitality as venues, visiting culinary artists and advertising teams worked together to showcase the extraordinary efforts of local businesses in both Charlotte and Charleston.
For more information onSavor Charlotteor participating chefs, mixologists, restaurateurs, bakers and influencers, visitcharlottesgotalot.com/savor.
Anna Marie Imbordinois an award-winning communication artist based in Charleston, SC. Connect on social media by following @teawiththebee.
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