Mark your calendars
The Southern Living Taste of Charleston, set for Sept. 28-30, will mark the 32nd annual Taste of Charleston event.

The three-day culinary celebration of Lowcountry cuisine is being hosted once again by the Charleston Restaurant Association partnered with Southern Living Magazine.

For more than 20 years, this fundraising event has been named one of the “Top 20 events in the Southeast” by the Southeastern Tourism Society. More than 10,000 guests are expected and there will be something for all ages to enjoy.

The weekend events include:
Taste: Iron Chef Competition: Presented by US Foods, the event will be Sept. 28 at the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Palmer Campus in downtown Charleston and will showcase some of the best local chefs in a heated head-to-head battle in the Institute’s state-of-the-art amphitheater kitchen.

The main event: Set for Sept. 30 at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, the event will showcase a sampling of local cuisine from more than 50 of Charleston’s finest restaurants as well as live music, waiter’s wine race, children’s area and Southern Living exhibition area.

New events include:
Sweet and Southern on Shem Creek: Presented by Restaurant Solutions, this singer/songwriter showcase will feature Nashville, Tenn., artists, Southern food and boat cruises on Sept. 29 at the Lighthouse on Shem Creek.

Taste: Dine Arounds: Presented by SYSCO, these events will be in the evening that Friday and Saturday at a variety of participating restaurants and will include a prix fixe menu and special beer-pairing menu.

For more information, contact Kathy Britzius, executive director of the Charleston Restaurant Association, at kathy@charlestonrestaurant association.com or Monique Semper Flynn, special events manager of the Charleston Restaurant Association, at moniquesemperflynn.gcra@gmail.com.

Honors for Romo
Culinary executive director at Fish restaurant, Nico Romo, received the prestigious honor of joining the American and Canadian delegations of L’Academie Culinaire de France on June 17 in Chicago.

As the youngest French master chef, Romo will now join the renowned Academicien Culinaire de France as the youngest member in U.S. history.

The Academie Culinaire de France is committed to advancing culinary artistry and was founded in 1879.

Edible heroes
Local artisan bakery Rising High Cafe has debuted a new Hoagies and Heroes campaign benefiting local nonprofit organizations.

Each month, a local charity will select a spokesperson to build a sandwich on their behalf with a portion of the proceeds from the sandwich sales going back to the organization.

This month, diners can enjoy “The Hero Sandwich,” created by The Bridge at 105.5’s Mike “Rockdoc” Allen, with 10 percent of the proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross.

The sandwich is $8 and includes a side item and fountain drink.

Future sandwiches for the Hoagies and Heroes campaign will be created on behalf of the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center, A Dog for Kate, the Center for Women, Lowcountry Local First and more.

Learn more at RisingHighCafe.com.

Taste of Sardinia
Osteria la Bottiglia chef and owner Massimiliano Sarrocchi will host a series of wine dinners from diverse regions in Italy.

On Tuesday, the restaurant will turn its attention to the foods of Sardinia in a four-course menu that includes dessert.

The regional wines are perfect for summer drinking: Vermentino, Can- nonau and Carignano del Sulcis.

The cost is $62, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 727-4158. The restaurant is at 420 King St.

No. 3 for Liberty
Liberty Tap Room & Grill celebrates its third anniversary 2-6 p.m. Sunday.

Live music will be provided by Fowler’s Mustache, and games, raffles and prizes (including a $300 gift card) will be part of the festivities.

There will be special prices on food and beverages. Liberty Tap Room is at 1028 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant.

Call 971-7777 or go to www.libertytaproom.com for more info.

Keeping you healthy
Maudell Grayson of Dell’z Deli, 1-A Cannon St., plans to diversify.

Grayson will open a juice and smoothie bar at 569 King St. A soft opening is planned for this weekend.

Daniel Island
Et Cetera Gourmet Food Shoppe and Tapas at 245 Seven Farms Drive has closed.

TJ’s Beef and Brew has opened in the former Dublin Down pub spot. This is the second location for owners Tim (the “T”) Breckenridge and James (the “J”) Nease. TJ’s is located at 245 Seven Farms Drive. Call 216-3903 for info.

West Ashley
Alchemy Coffee has closed.

A late breakfast
Three Little Birds Cafe & Catering is now serving breakfast until 3 p.m. They are at 65 Windermere Blvd. Call 225-3065 for info.

Name change
The King Street Grille on James Island is now The Castaways Grille.

They are at 1291 Folly Road. Call 795-4544 for info.

New ’que for u
Pop’s Smokin’ Barbeque opened last week at 310 N. Live Oak Drive in Moncks Corner. Call 761-0801 for info.

Meyer at Muse
Today, Muse restaurant will host Robbie Meyer and wines from the Peirson Meyer portfolio at a wine dinner.

The cost is $95. Call 577-1102 to reserve a spot.

Dinner is served at 7 p.m. Muse is located at 82 Society St.

‘Crazy chef’ changes
Cuoco Pazzo (the crazy chef) has closed in the Fairmont Plaza strip mall in Mount Pleasant and has reopened as La Fontana, a sister property that also operates under the La Fontana name in West Ashley.

Look for a similar menu at this new and larger location at 1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Call 971-9034 for info.