Circa 1886 Plays Lead Role in 2006 Distinctively Charleston Food + Wine Festival

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Circa 1886 and its Executive Chef Marc Collins will take to the stage during the inaugural Distinctively Charleston Food + Wine Festival, a four-day celebration of food, viticulture and all things Charleston. Collins, who heads the festival’s chef committee, will host celebrated chef Phillippe Chin of “cuiZine” restaurant in Aiken, S.C., at Circa 1886 during the festival’s “Restaurant Dine Around,” Friday, March 3 from 7-10 p.m.

Known for his East-West fusion cooking, Chin was born and raised in Paris and trained at the famed Ecole Hôtelière de Paris. His first restaurant, Chanterelles, was named “Best New Restaurant” by both the Zagat guide and Philadelphia Magazine. Chin is also the youngest chef to be inducted into the Maîtres Cuisiniers de France.

For the event, Chin has planned an enticing menu featuring champagne and oyster soup adorned with spinach, corn and pesto oil; smoked salmon topped with fennel and arugula with chipotle and citrus dressing and aged balsamic vinegar; tempura lobster tail accented by sweet and sour mango sauce and vegetable slaw; seared Maple Leaf Farm duck breast alongside truffle-mashed Yukon Gold potatoes and Morel-Cognac Sauce; and sautéed Kobe-Wagyu beef over basil-scented risotto with mushroom-Kabayaki cream. Tickets to the dinner are $150 and include a pass to the dessert event “Bubbles and Sweets” in Marion Square from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Circa 1886 is also participating in a black-tie gala to benefit the Culinary Institute of Charleston. The gala will take place at Patriot’s Point Saturday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $250. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the festival Web site, www.charlestonfoodandwine.com, or call (866) 369-FEST.

“We are honored to play an important role in the first-ever Distinctively Charleston Food + Wine Festival,” says Collins. “The chefs and cuisine of the Lowcountry are long overdue for a chance to shine in a world-class event. Circa 1886 is looking forward to greeting festival visitors and locals, as always, with a sumptuous culinary experience.”

Wentworth Mansion®, Charleston's only AAA Five Diamond hotel, will offer a discounted rate of $335 (from the regular $425 rate) for a single or double room during the festival weekend. A two-night minimum stay applies. For reservations for the Wentworth Mansion®, please call (843) 853-1886 or for more information visit www.wentworthmansion.com.

Circa 1886 is open for dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. For reservations please call (843) 853-7828 or for more information, visit www.circa1886.com.



Wentworth Mansion® and on-site restaurant Circa 1886 are part of the Charming Inns® family of six elegant and historical bed and breakfast inns, three of which are members of Historic Hotels of America. Five are located in the heart of downtown Charleston and one in Columbia, S.C. The properties have received numerous national accolades, including the selection of Wentworth Mansion® by Conde Nast as one of the top 31 new hotels in the world in 1999 and one of the top 100 best hotels in the world in 2002. Conde Nast also named Circa 1886 one of the Top 100 new restaurants worldwide. The restaurant also received a DiRoNA award for fine dining in North America, as well as the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. In addition, Wentworth Mansion® is a member of the elite group of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

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