American Favorite, South Beach Wine and Food Festival Returns to Miami
Fiona Chandra
span style=”font-weight: 400;”>One of the country’s biggest epicurean festivals, South Beach Wine and Food Festival, returns for its 16th year on Feb. 22-26 with five days of culinary and wine events. There are a number of coveted dinners on Thursday evening, featuring chefs David Kinch, Marc Vetri, Jonathan Waxman, Andy Ricker and others.
The indulgence continues with an Oyster Bash, presented by Island Creek Oysters on Friday, and Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. An intimate dinner featuring Massimo Bottura, whose restaurant Osteria Fancescana in Modena, Italy was named the No. 1 restaurant in the world, will be held at the Faena Hotel Miami Beach.
On Saturday there is a tribute dinner honoring Chef José Andrés alongside Maisons Marques & Domaines (MMD) owners Jean-Claude Rouzaud and Frédéric Rouzaud, during an evening guided by master of ceremonies Anthony Bourdain. The evening will have culinary offerings from chefs Emeril Lagasse, Michael Voltaggio and others.
The Grand Tastings will take place on Saturday and Sunday at noon, featuring more than 50 restaurants along with wines and spirits. There will be culinary demonstrations from celebrity chefs including Bobby Flay, Giada de Laurentiis, Emeril Lagasse and Masaharu Morimoto. Each night will also have late night parties, from tacos and tequila on Thursday, a tiki showdown on Friday and a beach party sponsored by Bacardi on Saturday.
On Sunday, choose among a number of brunches. Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka will be hosting a Bloody Mary Brunch while Trisha Yearwood hosts a Southern brunch. A poolside brunch at the SLS Brickell will be hosted by chefs José Andrés and Michael Schwartz.
The festival features more than 90 events during five days. Learn about almost any type of wine and even glassware with wine seminars ranging from sherry to champagnes. There are even morning yoga sessions followed by bellinis and kefir.
Proceeds from the festival benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.
South Beach Wine and Food Festival is Feb. 22-26. Purchase tickets here.