Grand Strand Chef’s Table Showcases the Region’s Culinary Talent

By Ashley Daniels

This annual event is the chef’s kiss of culinary events here at the beach, and this year didn’t disappoint.

Grand Strand Chef’s Table 2026 celebrated the depth and range of the Myrtle Beach area’s culinary scene, bringing together standout chefs and hospitality talent from across South Carolina.

The foodie crowds turned out in full force on the evening of October 16.

Chef’s Table took place at The Ellie Beach Resort in southern Myrtle Beach, oceanfront near Springmaid Pier.

What could be grander than sampling food, wine and curated cocktails under the stars beneath a massive white tent on the resort’s beach lawn, with the sound of waves crashing in the background? That’s a tough one. Live music was also set up on the lawn outside the tent.

Food and drink stations under the tent were manned by an all-star roster of local chefs, James Beard-recognized pros and hospitality experts from local breweries, wineries and craft distillers, including Grand Strand Brewing Company.

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The showcased lineup featured:

• BJ Dennis, Gullah chef and culinary historian from Okatie, South Carolina

• Joseph Bonaparte, Wilson Lui, Catherine Medrano, Erik Schuster and Cody Middleton of HGTC’s International Culinary Institute in Myrtle Beach

• Jess Sagun of Winna’s Kitchen, Myrtle Beach

• Megan Fenwick of Croissants Bistro and Bakery, Myrtle Beach

• Jason Trinh of JEM Social, Myrtle Beach

• Jerrett King of O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and Bar, Myrtle Beach

• Jordan Heyd of Lekker Eats, Myrtle Beach

• Kamal Fraser of Caribbean Jerk Cuisine, Conway and Myrtle Beach

• Elliott Moss of Elliott’s BBQ Lounge, Florence

• Lisa Lee and Steve-O of Tasting Room on 9th, Myrtle Beach

• Keith Hardee of Boardwalk Billy’s, North Myrtle Beach

• Michael DeCicco of Linnette’s and The Dunlin, Auberge Collection, Kiawah River

• Taylor Piedfort of The Archer, Charleston

• Marcus Shell of Berkeley’s, Charleston

• Steve O’Neill of Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton

These chefs absolutely brought their A game, serving delicious, creative bites in the coastal-casual surroundings. Standout samples for me included the taco bar with carnitas and smoked brisket, melt-in-your-mouth braised short rib, cozy chicken pot pie, rice noodle-wrapped shrimp, jerk chicken, an amazing eggplant bite with Parmesan foam, a pulled pork slider and shrimp ceviche.

This event is not only a celebration of culinary talent, but also an opportunity to give back to the community.

A portion of the proceeds from Grand Strand Chef’s Table is donated to the James Beard Foundation’s Good Food for Good mission and programs. The culinary nonprofit supports chefs and the independent restaurant industry as they work to set a new standard of excellence and build a better food system throughout the United States. The event also supports HGTC’s International Culinary Institute and its study abroad program.

For more information and updates on next year’s Grand Strand Chef’s Table, visit follow The Local Palate and Visit Myrtle Beach.

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Visit Myrtle Beach Launches “Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach”

New podcast and video series celebrates more than 30 local attractions

Every favorite vacation spot has a story. Visit Myrtle Beach’s new original podcast and video series, “Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach,” invites audiences to discover ours.

Featuring more than 30 local businesses and organizations, Season 1 introduces viewers and listeners to the people behind the experiences that define a Grand Strand getaway. It’s an opportunity to get to know a favorite place a little better, discover something unexpected and meet the people who help turn a trip to The Beach into a lasting memory.

All episodes are now available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the Visit Myrtle Beach website. VMB will continue spotlighting the series and its featured partners throughout the fall and through the end of 2026, sharing episode features, video vignettes and social highlights.

Local Faces. Favorite Places.
New Discoveries.

From the fun of Family Kingdom Amusement Park to the flavors of Big Mike’s, the hospitality of Avista Resort, the natural beauty of Myrtle Beach State Park and the character of Downtown Conway, the series explores the many experiences that make The Beach its own kind of destination.

At the heart of those experiences are local people with stories to tell. Their personalities, pride and connection to the community give audiences a more personal introduction to the Grand Strand.

For first-time visitors, the show offers inspiration for where to go and what to experience. For returning guests, it’s a chance to discover a new favorite or learn something surprising about a familiar stop. For our partners, it’s another way to connect with travelers and share what makes their businesses special.

Bringing Our Partners’ Stories to Life

“Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach” gives local tourism businesses a spotlight across several platforms, making it easy for audiences to discover the show in whatever way they enjoy most.

Viewers can explore The Beach through full-length video episodes on YouTube. Podcast listeners can take the stories along on a commute, a walk or the drive to their next getaway. Shorter partner features and social highlights bring individual places and personalities to audiences throughout the season.

Each format opens another door to discovery. A short clip might introduce someone to a restaurant they’ve never tried. A partner’s story might inspire a family to add a stop to their itinerary. An episode might remind a longtime visitor why they’re ready to return.

For VMB, this is an opportunity to connect destination marketing directly to the local businesses and organizations that make a vacation memorable. By sharing their stories across video, audio, social media and the web, the series gives travelers more ways to get to know our partners before they arrive.

A New Way to Make a Myrtle Moment

The series is the latest extension of the Myrtle Moments campaign, which celebrates the experiences that make visitors feel connected to The Beach.

Throughout 2026, the campaign has come to life through a market-wide lodging deal and direct mailer, television spots and the ongoing “Make Your Myrtle Moment” contest reaching college sports audiences this fall and winter. New television spots will also debut soon for the 2027 season.

“Faces & Places of The Beach” brings another dimension to that storytelling by letting audiences hear directly from the people who help create those moments every day.

The series celebrates the connection between our tourism businesses and the experiences visitors take home: a warm welcome, a memorable meal, a day of family fun or an unexpected discovery. Together, those moments tell the story of The Beach—and give travelers new reasons to make it part of their own.

Watch, Listen and Discover Your Next Favorite

Season 1 of “Myrtle Moments: Faces & Places of The Beach” is available now:

• Watch on YouTube

• Listen on Spotify

• Listen on Apple Podcasts

• Explore the series on VisitMyrtleBeach.com

Follow the show and look for featured stories and partner highlights across Visit Myrtle Beach’s channels throughout the fall.

We invite our partners, residents and visitors to share their favorite episodes with guests, friends and fellow Beach lovers. You may help someone discover their next favorite place—and the people who make it special.

July 4th Holiday Weekend Recap: Independence Day Drives Tourism Performance

The Grand Strand's Independence Day holiday weekend reflected evolving summer travel patterns, with lodging demand peaking on Saturday, July 4, as visitors timed trips around the holiday itself. 

Sunny beach weather, community celebrations for America 250 and the Fourth of July falling on a Saturday for the first time since 2020 contributed to high occupancy on Independence Day. At the same time, the region continued moving toward the completion of its beach renourishment project, with only limited sections of shoreline still under construction during the holiday weekend. 

According to CoStar, hotel occupancy reached 93.2 percent on Saturday, July 4, a 13.2 percent increase over last year, while Friday occupancy remained consistent with 2025 at 92.3 percent. Vacation rentals also saw increased holiday demand, with Key Data reporting 87.5 percent occupancy on Saturday, a 5.1 percent year-over-year increase. 

The Myrtle Beach area maintained that momentum during the week ending July 11, with CoStar reporting weekly hotel occupancy increased 5.9 percent year over year. The largest gains came immediately after the holiday, with occupancy rising 12.4 percent on Sunday and 9.9 percent on Monday compared with the same days last year, showing many visitors extended their beach vacations beyond Independence Day.

Vacation rentals also saw post-holiday gains, with KeyData reporting adjusted paid occupancy increasing to 67.5 percent on Sunday, July 5, from 63.7 percent last year, and edging up to 63.4 percent on Monday, July 6, from 62.6 percent. 

Myrtle Beach also posted one of the strongest occupancy increases among its competitive destinations during the week of July 5-11, despite having significantly more hotel rooms than most other beach markets.

Myrtle Beach was recognized as Tripadvisor's No. 1 destination for Fourth of July travel and among KAYAK's best-value holiday destinations. Throughout the weekend, communities across the Grand Strand hosted fireworks, parades, flyovers and family-friendly events that generated activity for regional businesses. 

The holiday also highlighted the importance of collaboration across our tourism industry. From lodging partners and attractions to restaurants, retailers and local governments, our community worked together to deliver the experiences that continue to make the Grand Strand a destination visitors return to year after year.