HHI Hospitality Group plans to open The Whiskey Room on Hilton Head Island in December. The Whiskey Room will be connected to Charbar Co., a restaurant in Park Plaza also owned by the group. The new whiskey spot will feature a retro-vibe and vintage feel and customers can lounge after dinner and listen to live entertainment.

Savory Cafe & Provisions celebrated its grand opening in October. The new restaurant on Fording Island Road in Bluffton features Old World French cuisine combined with the soul of the Lowcountry. Savory Cafe's menu includes classic dishes like Croque Monsieur, Shrimp Toast Cesar, Seafood Crepes and French Pommes Frites. For more information, go to www.savorycafesc.com.

Bluffton will host its first-ever Coffee and Chocolate Fest on Dec. 8 in Old Town. The outdoor event will bring together many of the region’s leading coffee roasters, specialty dessert-makers and chocolatiers. Eight local vendors will showcase their product lines and give out free samples and gift packages. Leslie Rohland, owner of The Cottage Cafe Bakery & Tea Room, The Juice Hive and May River Coffee Roasters, is coordinating the festival. Other vendors include Savannah Square Pops, Palmetto Sweets and The Corner Perk.

Thai Smile Cuisine has opened in the Bridge Center in Bluffton. The restaurant features authentic Thai cuisine including curries. While most dishes are spicy, the menu also includes a variety of mild items. Thai Smile Cuisine is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Nunzio Patruno, a popular New Jersey chef, is opening a new Italian restaurant on Hilton Head Island in the site of the former Reebok CrossFit Gym on New Orleans Road. The building currently is being renovated and the restaurant expects to open in March. Patruno has owned Nunzio Ristorante Rustico in New Jersey since 2003. His new restaurant will feature lighter fare like homemade pastas and seafood. The space will include a 1,300-square-foot kitchen, a large bar area, two outdoor areas and seating for up to 175 people.

WINES TO GIVE AS HOLIDAY GIFTS OR TAKE TO GATHERINGS

The holiday season is upon us, and whether you are gifting to your friends, family or office colleagues or enjoying other traditions that remind you it’s “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” I want to share some tips that may come in handy as you select the perfect bottle of bubbly or other beverage to toast the holiday.

Hosting the holidays can be stressful, but with a beautiful table setting, good cheer and a few life hacks, you’ve got this!

Professional party planners live by a list, and using one will make your holiday celebration go more smoothly. Plan ahead, and don't be afraid to delegate.

LOOKING TO DEVELOP A TASTE FOR HIGH-END HOOCH? ENJOY THIS GUIDE TO THE GOOD LIFE.

There comes a point in life when it’s time to put behind childish things. In college, you may have pounded keg beer; in your 20s. you may have tried to get classy with exotic cocktails — usually house liquor mixed with cola. But eventually, you — and your palate — have to grow up.

TWO LOCAL CHEFS WILL COOK AT MUSIC TO YOUR MOUTH

Top chefs from all over the country will show off their talent at Palmetto Bluff’s Music to Your Mouth culinary festival this month. Two of them will be local — star chefs of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton.