Get your Early Bird fix seven days a week

This popular diner is now serving seven days. You can get your chocolate chip pancakes and all you care to eat pancakes on a daily basis. They are also serving Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. They are at 1644 Savannah Highway

Call 277-2353 or visit www.earlybirddiner.com.

Culinary treasures

The Charleston chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an international philanthropic society of women in food, beverage and hospitality, will host the annual culinary tag sale and raffle Saturday to benefit a scholarship fund for women.

Just imagine the culinary cast aways from Nathalie Dupree, chef Celia Cerasoli (formerly of Celia's Restaurant), and the queens of biscuits, Callie and Carrie of Callie's Biscuits.

The sale, which runs 9 a.m.-noon at The Real Estate Gallery at 214 King St. will feature culinary finds, vintage cookbooks, linens and raffle tickets ($5) for local items and gift certificates.

Highlights include a vintage fondue set, a green enamel escargot set and a global library of cookbooks. Sweet treats and beverages are available for purchase. This event is free and open to the public. No tickets required. Cash only.

Step by step

Want to see a chef in action? Catch Laurie Erickson at 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday at the Childrens Museum, 25 Ann St., for a cooking demonstration.

Erickson's "Fast easy fresh for kids cooking class" will be followed by a book signing for her "Chef by Step" publication. E-mail laurie@cheflaurie.com, visit www.cheflaurie.com or call 853-8962.

Catch of the day

Hammett's Landing opened June 7 on Daniel Island at 901 Island Park Dr., in the space once occupied by Sienna Restaurant.

On the menu: seafood and game. Look for mahi, ahi, and lobster ravioli; quail and venison. Kids menu $5.95, entrees $16.95-$19.95, sandwiches $7.95-$11.95. www.hammettslanding.com 471-2750. Hammett's Landing is family owned and operated and opens at 11 a.m. Closed on Sundays.

Guy Harvey's

Guy Harvey's Island Grill is quickly taking shape at Towne Center, Mount Pleasant in the former Earth Fare space. An opening date has not been set for this bar, restaurant, and retail shop.

Rolling in dough

Pop's N. Y. Pizza has recently opened at 363 King St. Joining Florida transplant Pizza Rustica that recently opened on George St., lower King is managing the mozzarella futures with equal parts pepperoni and provolone. They open at 11 a.m. daily. 577-1110.

Salad days

Just in time for this season that has "all too short a lease" Oil and Vinegar has opened at 1239 Theatre Dr., Mount Pleasant. With 40 varieties of oils and vinegars on tap, O & V can give the local brew pubs a run for refreshment. Call 881-2208 or visit www.oilandvinegarusa.com

Circa 1886 contest

After the popular "what kind of ice cream is Charleston" contest, followed by Christmas cookies contest, chef Marc Collins and his team at Circa 1886 have launched another challenge to the palates of the Holy City: cocktails.

Patrons can submit suggested ingredients and names for the cocktail online at www.circa1886.com July 6-31. You can also submit a video tagged CharlestonChristmasCocktail on YouTube.

Collins, along with restaurant manager Mark Severs and head bartender Brooks Alger will narrow the entries to three finalists. A panel of local judges will select the winner in early August at an event at Circa 1886.

The winning beverage will be served at Circa 1886 during the month of December. The winner will receive a complimentary dinner for four, excluding alcohol and gratuity, and the fame of creating Charleston's own Christmas cocktail.

To see videos of past contests and winners, visit www.youtube.com/Circa1886.

Circa 1886 is at 149 Wentworth St. Visit www.circa1886.com or call 553-7828

Your family, their table

The staff at the Old Village Post House restaurant at 101 Pitt St., Mount Pleasant just made getting family and friends together a whole lot easier. Can you say "reservation?"

Gather 5:30-10 p.m. at the Post House. For more information, call 388-8935 or visit www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com. Sunday brunch is also on the menu from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Packing picnics

Caviar & Bananas Gourmet Market and Cafe is once again offering their Spoleto classic

"Finale Picnic Bags" has all the necessities for a pitch-perfect sound-off to Spoleto's Finale at Middleton Place, which takes place June 13 at Middleton Plantation.

The picnics are designed for two and will include: three cheeses, salami, house-made hummus, baguette, bottled water and a choice of red, white or sparkling wine. Costs are $22 (no wine); $34 with wine. Order in advance at 577-7757 and pick up on Saturday or Sunday.

Custom picnics also can be packed.

Saluting summer

No ordinary solstice at Ted's. The $12 Friday Night Dinners and Wine Tastings, Foodie Trivia Night and a "Canned Craft Beer Dinner" all return to celebrate summer.

Click www.tedsbutcherblock.com to see the full menu. Ted's will be featuring the baking artistry of 3.14 PIES. These are no ordinary circles of sweet plenty. The pies are all homemade from the newest bakery in town.

The craft beer dinner will serve the beers in a commemorative koozie and pair a four-course menu featuring seasonal flavors of beer.

The dinner is at 7:30 p.m. June 17 and costs is $38. Reservations are required.

From 5 to 7 p.m. every Friday Ted's continues to host Friday Wine Tastings, where guests are invited to taste four featured wines and enjoy gourmet hors d'oeuvres for $5.

Proceeds benefit Ted's charity partner this quarter, Green Drinks Charleston. Ted's Butcherblock is at 334 East Bay St. 577-0094.