Food, Glorious Food!

Whether you chalk it up to harvest season or just another example of our food-centric city, this week is teeming with culinary events. From dinners to cookbook signings to one heck of a bacon-themed anniversary party, here’s what you can’t miss this week:

Wednesday, October 10: Head over to Heirloom Book Co. from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and meet Kevin Gillespie, Atlanta’s Woodfire Grill chef, Top Chef: Las Vegas alum, and new author of Fire In My Belly (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $40). Enjoy cocktails and have your own copy of Fire signed by the 2010 James Beard Foundation’s “Rising Star Chef of the Year” semifinalist as he makes the first stop on his cross-country book tour. For more information, visit heirloombookcompany.com.

Friday, October 12: Matt and Ted Lee are back in town and they’re helping the Coastal Conservation League kickoff the Quality of Life (QOL) Fall Food Series with Lee Brothers Launch for Local. Head to food hub GrowFood Carolina for an informative and delicious dinner designed by the Lees, made from GrowFood’s all-local ingredients, and prepared by Duvall Events. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. $80; $60 QOL member. Call Amanda Cole at (843) 725-2062 for tickets.

Saturday, October 13: Heard the rumor that we’re on the brink of a bacon shortage? Not if Ted Dombrowski has anything to do with it. He’s celebrating seven years of business Saturday with his Bacon Extravaganza Anniversary Celebration. This bonanza promises porktastic pairings with craft beer on tap and live music from The Bushels. Plus, trivia and even a bacon piñata! It’s $12 to indulge in the porchetta, bacon collard greens, and warm bacon German potato salad menu and $3 per pint of Southern Tier Pumpkin or Westbrook Nelson Sauvin Rye Pale Ale from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit tedsbutcherblock.com. And to make one of Ted's favorite recipes, beef tri-tip, click here.

Sunday, October 14: Chef Amanda Cohen loves candy. Now we’re not talking Junior Mints or Gobstoppers. No, Cohen’s all about “Dirt Candy,” her New York City restaurant centered around veggies. Now the lauded chef has released Dirt Candy: A Cookbook (Cohen & Dunlavey, $19.99), and health nuts and bold flavor seekers everywhere should head over to I’On’s Square Onion from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to meet Cohen and her co-author/husband, Grady Hendrix, and pick up a copy of the graphic novel cookbook. Square Onion chef Cary Zapatka will be serving up dishes from the book, giving you a preview of the sweet stuff you’ll find inside. For more information, visit squareonion.com