2016-17 Food & Fashion Edition

Photo by Paul Cheney/Bravo Media. U nless you’ve been staying inside your house, cooking your own meals and avoiding all forms of media, you probably know that Charleston is on the international food map. Scores of people from a variety of locations – from tourists to chefs – come to the Lowcountry to sample our cuisine, open new restaurants and enjoy rubbing elbows with the industry’s finest. As of this winter, we’ve taken yet another step to being the location for amazing food; we’ve hosted the television show Top Chef. A sensation of the Bravo Network and a favorite amongst foodies and chefs alike, Top Chef has filmed in many choice locations for the culinary arts. They can now add Charleston to the list, because, as Matt Reichman, vice president of current production at Bravo mentioned, “they know what’s hot on the food scene.” We caught up with Reichman for a few questions pertaining to the show. The season debuts Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. on Bravo. Mount Pleasant Magazine: How, specifically, did the Lowcountry end up on the Top Chef radar? Reichman: One of the great things about Top Chef is that the producers of the show are a tight group. Doneen Arquines, for example, executive producer on Top Chef for the production company Magical Elves, started as a production assistant during the first season. Other producers are veterans of the show as well. They all love food and food culture and know what is hot on the food scene. We’ve wanted to do the show in Charleston for a few years. Sean Brock has been on our show before, and the city was definitely on our radar. The city itself plays a character in the show, not only the food culture but the history. We needed a place with an identity. Mount Pleasant Magazine: Describe how a restaurant is selected to be IGT 6 www.GoldenSpoonAwards.Restaurant | www.MountPleasant.Restaurant Top Chef Judges Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi at a challenge that took place at The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene in Mount Pleasant. 1440 BEN SAWYER BLVD. SUITE 1404 (BESIDE TRIANGLE) MT. PLEASANT 843-936-6940 OPEN AT 4PM DAILY NOW OPEN LIVE MUSIC ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS MEDITERRANEAN INSPIRED CUISINE Appetizers, Salads, Paninis & Charcuterie CRAFT BEERS | WINE SPECIALTY COCKTAILS