This year the Music to Your Mouth culinary festival at Palmetto Bluff took place on my birthday. Will joined his childhood friend, Kurt Weinberger, in the vendor tent to showcase Kurt's Kingbean Coffee. Kurt has become a "coffee mogul" in Charleston with his custom-roasted beans. His coffee is sold at such places as Whole Foods and is served in many well-known cafes and restaurants.
I am a fan of John Edge, who, besides being a fabulous writer, is director of the Southern Foodways Alliance at the University of Mississippi. Tat and I are members of the alliance because we love food and love to read about it. Edge was the master of ceremonies in the food tent. As a surprise for my birthday Will took a copy of one of Edge's books so he could autograph it for me. Kate Hughes took a photo of him signing my book, which is about the history of apple pie. How apropos since Will and Kurt are two of the "apples of my eye."
I am thrilled with my present, which came with several pounds of delicious Kingbean Coffee. What a treat.
* We are thankful that John Kinzer is back in Bluffton with his family and friends. John and his wonderful wife were in Scotland when he became ill. Bill and Mary Herbkersman, along with Mary's mother and sister, were greeted at a small gathering at Stripes Restaurant the other evening by lots of friends, happy that John is back and recuperating. Everyone who knows the Kinzers knows how wonderful they are. John is one of the nicest people I know, and I trust he will be back in top form soon.
* The Hampton Hall Book Club and the Bluffton library are collecting new books for children through Dec. 8 as part of their third annual Angel Tree Project.
They collected 300 books last year and hope to surpass 400 this year. The books will be given to The Boys and Girls Club of the Lowcountry and Child Abuse Prevention Association.
The tree is decorated with angels and is located inside the library. Each angel has a requested book written on it. So visit the library, select an angel from the tree and give it to one of the staff so they can register the choice. How nice this is and what a simple way to make a child happy. Booksalicious and The Storybook Shoppe are offering a 10 percent discount on books purchased for the angel tree.
Babbie Guscio is the social columnist for The Bluffton Packet. She can be reached at The Store on Calhoun Street.
