Chef Edward Lee's Take on Lowcountry Dining

[Photo: Whitney Harrod Morris]

Chef Edward Lee of acclaimed Louisville restaurant 610 Magnolia and recently opened MilkWood is coming to Charleston. Why should you care? Because if you're not already familiar with his cuisine, then you should know he's the badass chef melding Southern cooking favorites with Asian ingredients. And he loves the Holy City.

Lee will be in Charleston on August 29 for L'Atelier de Le Creuset's Guest Chef Series to demonstrate recipes from his new book, Smoke & Pickles. He will also collaborate with chef Ken Vedrinski at the Italian hideaway Trattoria Lucca on August 30 for a luncheon. Read on to discover his picks for dining in the Lowcountry and how to get tickets.

When asked about the Holy City, Lee told Eater, "Charleston is undeniably one of the best food cities in America, and I am always happy to eat my way through." As far as restaurants go, Lee runs the gamut of the peninsula starting with, "I'm a big fan of Husk and also Mike Lata's new restaurant The Ordinary." For pasta, he visits chef Ken Vendrinski's Trattoria Lucca.

He can't stay away from small plate sanctuary Two Boroughs Larder, it's "always so good" and "love[s]" Asian food favorite Xiao Bao Biscuit — "so inventive." The rest of his vacation agenda includes "drinks at The Peninsula [Grill], and after all is said and done, no matter how full I am, I'll somehow wind up at Jim 'N Nick's and get into some ribs." Lee certainly knows how to take advantage of all the culinary opportunities Charleston has to offer.

If you're intrigued or smitten, tickets for the L'Atelier de Le Creuset's Guest Chef Series are $60 and included a signed copy of Smoke & Pickles and food. Tickets are available online. To reserve a spot at the $75 three-course Lucca lunch, call 843.973.3323 or email lucca@luccacharleston.com.

· 610 Magnolia [Eater Louisville]
· MilkWood [Eater Louisville]
· Guest Chef Series [Eventbrite]
· Trattoria Lucca [Official]