Wine on the Water at S.C. Aquarium

The semi-annual Wine on the Water event at the Aquarium offers seafood samplings and corresponding wine selections, to tempt those who would support the conservation and education programs. The media sponsor for the evening was the Charleston Mercury and a light breeze along the Cooper River made the outdoor porches of the Aquarium the place to be. Indoors, the guests were greeted with a commemorative wine glass at the first food table prepared by the Rice Market, new to Charleston in 2011. Their sake and soy braised salmon with rice noodles, bok choy, clams and truffles was a savory and salty dish that was paired with a red wine selected by Ben Arnold beverage company. Each offering was a Sustainable Seafood and High Cotton restaurant prepared Seared Pacific halibut with avocado puree that was paired with a delightful Canyon Road Chardonnay. Other local restaurants present were Pearlz and Anson, and the Aquarium welcomed Fishmonger to town from Surfside Beach. Chef Louis Gelormini prepared an ahi poke tuna tucked inside a squid ink coronet that was paired with an Argentinian sparkling wine, Taso Blanc de Blanc. Proceeds from Wine on the Water go to the conservation programs at the Aquarium.

For past blog entries concerning SSI click here. To view past events at the Aquarium click here.

PhotosByJeffDennis: Mercury readers Jay Millen and Ginger Mintz enjoyed viewing the sealife that makes affairs at the Aquarium so unique; Aquarium educators Shelley Dearhart, Beth Demas, Megan Saylor and Kate Hinman raise a glass of wine in celebration of the Mercury gift bags that were handed out; Chef Charles Arena of Rice Market and Aquarium p.r. manager Kate Dittloff served the salmon over rice noodles; Jonathan Shew and Audrey Wolfing enjoyed the touch tank and are standing in front of a driftwood sculpture