Fifteen elite downtown chefs will cook-off to create the BEST shrimp and grits in the Lowcountry on August 30 from 7-10 pm at the downtown Visitor’s Center Bus Terminal.  Participating restaurants include Poogan’s Porch, Stars Restaurant, Vincent Chicco’s,  Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar,  Muse Restaurant, Hall’s Chophouse, Prohibition, Eli’s Table, Leaf, Fleet Landing, Lowcountry Bistro, Henry’s Bar and Restaurant, Sermet’s Downtown, Bull Street Gourmet, and Just Eat This! Catering.

Shrimp and Grits Charleston is a non-profit organization—a portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Charleston Animal Society. The event celebrates all things local in Charleston. The South Carolina Seafood Association will be providing local S.C. shrimp for the event. Firefly Distillery, Striped Pig Distillery, Charleston Distilling Co., Tradesman Brewing Co., Frothy Beard, and Goose Island, will provide local craft beer and spirits. Local celebrity cookbook authors Nathalie Dupree, Marion Sullivan, and Brys Stephens will be at the event signing cookbooks.

Advance discounted tickets will be available for $30 until August 18, then the price increases to $35.

There will be a “People’s Choice Award,” so be sure to cast your vote alongside celebrity judges Tom Crawford of ABC News 4, Chef Laurie Erickson (Wellness Chef extraordinaire), and a DJ from Kickin’ 92.5 FM.

Though there will be plenty of food and drink to go around, make sure you don’t fill up so much that you can’t take the dance floor and show off your shagging with the Shem Creek Boogie Band. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.shrimpandgritscharleston.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for updates.