Charleston for grills night out... ICW Mile 469 Move over Big Easy. Some folks claim that Charleston has supplanted New Orleans as the food capital of the South. Witness the international notoriety of the Hominy Grill, a converted barbershop where chef Robert Stehling offers straight-ahead southern dishes such as his signature shrimp and grits. Stehling stands on tradition, while Charleston's other grills and fine dining venues (Grill 125, Peninsula Grill, Coast Bar and Grill, Magnolias, and 50 others) serve more adaptive cuisine alongside the local favorites. Every March, the city hosts the Charleston Food and Wine Festival, which draws chefs, authors, and wine experts from throughout the United States. It has its own "Culinary Village" with two huge tasting tents at Marion Square, a downtown park. As an example, Anson's restaurant succeeds in amusing with its Ode to the Pig, a presentation of every part porcine in edible form, including "hush piggies" with sausage and a mini-cone filled with roulade of pig's head. Mmmm. www.charlestonfoodandwine.com Tip: Because marinas on the Charleston peninsula are distant from the restaurant/entertainment district, consider a berth across the Cooper River at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, then use the water taxi to get back and forth to downtown. The marina accommodates vessels up to 200 feet.