THE ARTS CENTER OF COASTAL CAROLINA BRINGS TOP CHEFS TO TOWN FOR CELEBRITY CHEF AND VINTNER DINNERS

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.-You don't have to travel to Cincinnati to enjoy the award-winning cuisine of Jean Robert de Cavel , executive chef and proprietor of the much-celebrated Pigall's restaurant. The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is bringing the renowned French gourmet to town as part of its Wine Auction & Celebration.

De Cavel, who earned Mobil's impressive Five-Star rating seven years in a row as chef of the former Maisonette, will be joined by five other award-winners for the deliciously decadent Celebrity Chef and Vintner Dinners to be held March 29, 30 and 31 in some of the Lowcountry's most spectacular homes. Joining the chefs are 10 premier vintners who will select the wine for the multi-course meals.

"How fabulous is that?" said Wine Celebration & Auction Co-Chairman Irene Miller. "It's like having your own personal sommelier accompany you to dinner at one of the best restaurants in the country."

Proceeds from the popular fundraiser benefit the Arts Center's education and outreach activities, which include student field trips, community festivals and an artist-in-residency program offered at no cost to area schools.

"It's an opportunity to indulge without guilt," said F. James McCarl, who is co-chairing the Wine Celebration with Miller. "You're contributing to an organization that adds enormously to the quality of life of this community."

The all-star culinary lineup will begin March 29 with Mark Monette of the Mobil Four-Star and AAA Four-Diamond Flagstaff House in Boulder, the first restaurant in Colorado to receive a Grand Award from Wine Spectator magazine. Siduri Wines and Loring Wine Company will accompany Monette's dinner to be hosted by Miller and husband Gary Donner in their home at Berkeley Hall.

Also working his magic that evening is Rene Bajeux, one of only 50 Master Chefs living in America. His New Orleans restaurant Rene Bistrot received the 2002 Restaurant Wine Award from Wine Spectator and was ranked among the "Best New Restaurants" in 2002 by Esquire magazine. Bajeux will prepare his dinner, served with New Zealand wines from Providence and Man O' War wineries, at the Sea Pines home of Leslie and J.R. Richardson.

The following evening, it's de Cavel, accompanied by a vintner from B.R. Cohn Winery at the Spanish Pointe home of Christine and Ernst Bruderer, and Kathy Cary of Lilly's in Louisville, paired up with Joseph Phelp Vineyards at the home of Ann and Kurt Grindstaff in Palmetto Dunes.

The Kentucky chef was recently nominated for the fifth time as the Best Chef of the Southeast by the James Beard Foundation, the nation's top honors for culinary professionals. Lilly's also was recommended in the new book, "Apple's America: The Discriminating Traveler's Guide to 40 Great Cities in the United States and Canada," by R. W. Apple, Jr., associate editor of The New York Times.

The Celebrity Chef and Vintner Dinners wrap up March 31 with the critically acclaimed cuisine of Wally Joe of Brushmark Restaurant in Memphis' Brooks Museum of Art, and Bob Waggoner of the Charleston Grill.

Like Monette and Bajeux, both Wally and Waggoner have participated in previous years in the popular Wine Celebration event. Waggoner, who trained in Trumps in Los Angeles, was designated one of the "Rising Stars of the 21st Century" by the James Beard Foundation and was honored with Food & Wine's "Readers Favorite Chef in America" award. His epicurean feast, to be served at the Stella Del Mare home of Gail and David McRorie, will be accompanied by Grgich Hills Cellar and Moon Mountain Vineyard.

Wally was the first chef from the state of Mississippi to be invited to cook at the prestigious James Beard House. A pioneer of the Southern culinary revolution, he is one of 20 chefs featured in the Discovery Channel series, "Great Chefs of the South" and has been a regular on Turner South's original series, "Off the Menu". He will be preparing dinner at the Spring Island home of Karen and Bill Allin with wine from Silver Oak Cellars and Jade Mountain Vineyard.

Make your reservations early as seating is limited to these one-of-a-kind dinners. Cost is $275 per person.

The 10-day Wine Celebration & Auction, running March 23 through April 1, also will include a Champagne and Caviar Reception, a Cooking Demonstration and Wine Tasting, two Wine Education Seminars and the black tie Wine Auction & Gala.

For more information or to purchase tickets to any of the events, call the Arts Center at (843) 686-3945 or visit the Wine Celebration web site.