Charleston's Food & Wine Classic returns Nov. 13-15 for its third year, with more than 40 engagements planned across three days. The schedule brings national culinary figures including Andrew Zimmern, Carla Hall, Nancy Silverton and Tyler Florence together with Charleston food and beverage professionals for demonstrations, tastings and other events.
The festival debuted in 2024 and features nationally recognized and local culinary talent. This year's edition will welcome Carla Hall, Eric Ripert, Katie Button and Tyler Florence as headline draws, while local names including Mike Lata, James London, Bethany Heinze, Shuai Wang, Jason Stanhope, Tia Clark and John Lewis represent the Charleston food scene. A separate accounting from People lists Mike Lata, James London, Miles White and Femi Oyediran among the Charleston talents making their mark at the event, with more than 50 chefs and beverage experts total offering bites, demonstrations and seminars, per a report from Travel + Leisure.
What's Included, and What It Costs
The $1,950 Classic Pass includes entry to all four Grand Tastings, where guests can sample wine, spirits and cuisine, and a choice of five live sessions, which may include demonstrations, tastings or hands-on workshops, the Post and Courier reports. The festival's ticketing page advertises more than 100 wines and spirits from the Lowcountry and beyond. Four additional events are sold separately, the paper notes.
One separately ticketed option is Night Out With Food & Wine, a four-day run from Nov. 12 through Nov. 15 with single-night dining experiences at restaurants including Sorelle, The Restaurant at Zero George and Merci. Festival ticket purchases are final and nonrefundable, and the event is restricted to guests 21 and older, according to the festival's passes page.
Anthony Ramos Hosts His First Southern Oyster Roast
One of the standalone events is Pearls of the Coast: A Lowcountry Oyster Roast, hosted by Travel + Leisure and Hamilton original cast member Anthony Ramos. It is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at American Gardens on King Street. The evening will feature live-roasted oysters, a raw bar and live music, according to Travel + Leisure. Ramos will co-host with the magazine's editor-in-chief, Jacqui Gifford, and is scheduled to perform. Individual tickets are listed at $295 per person.
Notably, Ramos has never visited Charleston and has never attended a Southern oyster roast, according to The Post and Courier. In comments emailed to the paper, Ramos said he's excited to meet local chefs and learn about oyster roast traditions — though he admitted he's a little nervous about one specific task. “My only concern is the oyster shucking part,” the Post and Courier reports, relaying Ramos's own emailed remarks about the hands-on part of the evening.
Oyster Roast Tradition and Harvest Context
For readers interested in the local oyster tradition behind the roast, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources says the 2026-2027 recreational and commercial wild-harvest season for molluscan shellfish runs from Oct. 1, 2026, until May 2027, according to its shellfish information. The agency also says collected oyster shells are reused to manage oyster grounds and create new oyster reef habitat, as described in its shellfish regulations and information.
Barbecue Panels, a Lobster Newburg Throwback and a Lowcountry Tailgate
Food Network star Maneet Chauhan, a participant in the Charleston classic for the past two years, will lead a panel titled American Smoke: Pitmasters on the Future of Barbecue. The panel also includes Shuai Wang, Hector Garate, Clay Williams and Adrian Miller, according to The Post and Courier.
Andrew Zimmern, a four-time James Beard Award winner and an Emmy winner, is scheduled to lead two sessions, the Post and Courier reports. He will join chef James London for The New Surf and Turf: Fresh Takes on the Ultimate Pairing and host The Secrets Behind the World's Most Iconic Restaurant Dishes. Nancy Silverton, a five-time James Beard Award winner, is also confirmed for the 2026 event, according to Food & Wine Classic in Charleston.
The Lowcountry Tailgate, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, in the College of Charleston's Cistern Yard under the oak trees, is hosted by Southern Living editor-in-chief Sid Evans, according to People. Last year's festival featured Phil Rosenthal, Trisha Yearwood, Gail Simmons and Ciara; the Post and Courier reported that Ciara sampled crab cooked by Kwame Onwuachi during a seminar on Nov. 15, 2025. For comparison, Travel + Leisure reported that the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen held its 43rd edition June 19-21, 2026, with chefs including Bobby Flay, Maneet Chauhan and Andrew Zimmern.
