Carver Culinary Arts

08/27/2026

We love this event! Great setting, great food, and all for a great cause! What more could you want?!?

Capitol Market's annual fundraiser, Market Mixer, will be held on Oct. 7 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Capitol Market in downtown Charleston! ✨

It is an amazing evening that showcases why Capitol Market is a true gem in our capital city. Proceeds benefit Capitol Market and help us sustain our historic property and continue our mission of supporting small businesses, lifting up local farmers, and creating a community space for all. There will be drinks flowing from The Wine Shop at Capitol Market, hors d'oeuvres from the culinary students from Carver Culinary Arts, live music, Market vendors giving away samples and doing demonstrations, and most importantly - a chance for you to give back to a non-profit that is deeply invested in our city and state.

Tickets are $100 ($70 is tax-deductible) per person until Oct. 1. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $150 per person.

Interested in sponsoring Capitol Market's Market Mixer? Email [email protected] for details!

Learn more here: https://hi.switchy.io/MMIXER26

08/13/2026

Another cool opportunity!

Lost Creek Farm is growing, and so is our team! We're currently considering resumes from enthusiastic and experienced candidates for a part-time kitchen position––two to three mid-week daytime shifts, up to 24 hours per week, with the opportunity to expand in both hours and scope of work. $20/hr. Stellar references, consistent and respectful communication, attention to detail, and a positive attitude are essential. Click the link for more details and instructions on how to apply: http://www.lostcreekfarmwv.com/join-our-team

08/09/2026

Three weeks ago, these students walked into school for the first time. Last Wednesday, they were welcoming guests, serving courses, answering questions, and representing the Carver Culinary Arts program at our Alumni Dinner.

If I’m being honest, front-of-house isn’t what most of them pictured when they enrolled. They’re here because they want to become chefs. But every great chef benefits from understanding the guest experience, and they embraced that challenge with professionalism and confidence.

They were incredibly fortunate to have one of our alumni, Carley Weber, leading them throughout the evening. Carley did a wonderful job helping them find their footing, and it was special to watch a former student mentoring our newest class.

I’m proud of how quickly this group adapted, but even more than that, I hope they left inspired.

My hope is that one day, they’ll return to this same dinner… not serving the meal, but standing in the kitchen as one of the featured alumni chefs, inspiring the next group of students.

That’s what this dinner is really about.

08/08/2026

One moment from the evening has stayed with me.

Before service, KD naturally stepped into a leadership role. He organized the outdoor kitchen, helped establish the flow of plating, and made sure everyone knew where they needed to be.

No one asked him to.

He simply saw what needed to happen and got to work.

That’s one of the things I enjoy watching most in our alumni. Technical skills matter, but leadership is often shown in the quiet moments when someone simply steps up to help the team succeed.

Moments like that don’t always make it onto the plate, but they make all the difference behind the scenes.

08/08/2026

Before everyone arrived… before the first plate left the pass… before the tables filled with conversation… there was this group.

Chefs from different graduating classes. Different restaurants. Different paths.

For one evening, none of that mattered.

They came together with one goal: to create something meaningful.

This year’s dinner was called Every Seat at the Table, and I can’t think of a better way to describe what happened that night.

Every chef brought something different to the kitchen. Every student played a role in the experience. Every guest became part of the story. Every seat mattered.

That’s what I hope people remember long after the last course was served.

To our alumni…thank you for coming home, for sharing your talents, and for reminding our current students what is possible.

Until next year. 💙

📸 Rafael Barker Photography

08/07/2026

08/07/2026

One of the best compliments I heard all evening had nothing to do with the food itself.

I had several guests tell me,

“I’ve never been to Shuckers.”

“Where is Dancing Dog Café?”

Conversations like that made me smile.

Charleston’s culinary community is filled with incredibly talented chefs doing amazing work. Some are well known. Others are hidden gems that deserve to be discovered.

I hope our guests left with full stomachs, but I also hope they left with a few new restaurants to visit and a greater appreciation for the talent we have right here in our own community.

📸 Rafael Barker Photography

08/07/2026

I’ve been thinking about last night all day.

Going into the evening, I’ll admit I was a little nervous. Last year’s group had worked together before. They knew each other, they had history, and it felt like family. This year’s chefs came from different kitchens, different graduating classes, and for many of them, it was the first time they’d ever worked together.

None of that mattered!

By the end of the night, everyone had a hand in every course. It didn’t matter whose dish was on the pass or whose name was on the menu. They stepped in, helped each other, solved problems together, and celebrated each other’s successes.

Watching that happen reminded me what this dinner has always been about. It’s bigger than one meal. It’s about building a culinary community where people genuinely want to see each other succeed.

I’m incredibly proud of every chef, every student, and everyone who helped make the evening possible.

Photos: Rafael Barker Photography