Editor's Note: Managing Editor Angel Holmes co-founded Charleston Wine + Food Festival in 2004 and served as its executive director for eight years. When executive chef and co-owner of Circa 1886 Marc Collins and then-public relations manager for the South Carolina Aquarium Angel Passailaigue Postell (now Holmes) met in the early 2000s, they found themselves wondering why Charleston, with its rich culinary history, didn't have a wine and food festival to call its own. As Collins continued to ponder the idea of organizing a local event, he began meeting with chefs around town to brainstorm collaborative ways to catapult Charleston's evolving dining scene to the forefront of a bigger audience. Around the same time, Hank Holliday, owner of Hank's Seafood and Peninsula Grill, was also thinking about starting a culinary event in town. So was Dick Elliott, who owned the former Maverick Southern Kitchens. Chef Lewis Osteen had already started a "Salute to Southern Chefs" from 13 states at Charleston Place Hotel. With such talented minds attuned to the same idea, it was only a matter of time before the seed took root. In the meantime, Holmes left the aquarium and started her own firm, Home Team Communications, representing celebrity chef Ken Vedrinski, who wasthen at Woodlands Resort & Inn. Within this How Charleston Wine + Food Put the Lowcountry on the Map BY SARAH ROSE FOOD + BEVERAGE OF CULINARY EXCELLENCE Twenty Years 29 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN Former Board Chair Nathalie Dupree watches former Mayor Riley give a speech during the Opening Ceremonies. Caroline Smile, Mayor Riley, Angel Holmes, and Chef Marc Collins smile outside the first Opening Party.
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