If you were to mark just one major event in South Florida annually, it should undoubtedly be the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival sponsored by Capital One (SOBEWFF). With ticket sales now in progress for its 22nd yearly edition happening from February 23-26, 2023, it is unquestionably the most sought-after and delectable event in town!
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Widely acknowledged as the favored culinary get-together on the beach in America, the four-day Festival returns to the shore with over 100 events spread across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. For the 22nd edition, Food Network personalities, Grammy-winning artists, and over 450+ chefs and wine and alcohol creators will unite for an unforgettable celebration filled with tastings, dinners, parties, brunches, lunches, classes, seminars, and much more!
The grand opening on Thursday, February 23 will have renowned chef, restaurant owner, TV personality, and cookbook writer Emeril Lagasse, hosting the 16th annual Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons, along with a special performance by Grammy-nominated country music band, Midland.
Occupying multiple blocks on the sandy beaches of South Beach, the Festival’s two popular outdoor tasting areas – North Venue and Grand Tasting Village – will be back to showcase the nation’s most skilled chefs and lifestyle figures supported by over 1,200 student volunteers from Florida International University.
This year introduces a variety of fresh events and activities, including the innovative FoodieCon event dedicated to the intersection of culinary art and social media. The occasion will include a collection of top food influencers such as Nick Di Giovanni, Everything Delish, Jeremy Scheck, Black Forager, Jessica Woo, Salt Hank, Owen Han, Wishbone Kitchen, Golden Balance, Robert Lucas, Succulent Bite, The Pasta Queen, Lynja, and more. The creators will concentrate on cooking demonstrations, interactive displays, and numerous content-worthy moments on-site.
This year’s festival will also unveil a new dinner series featuring Michelin-starred chefs, some of Miami’s finest eateries, and the inaugural Tea Dance and Drag Show hosted by Kalen Allen with a special performance by Drag Race Winner Symone.
Also fresh this year is the Overtown EatUp! event led by Marcus Samuelsson which aims to showcase Miami’s historical Overtown district. Two-time James Beard Award recipient Mashama Bailey will lead an event at the Festival’s main hotel, Loews Miami Beach, entitled Sunday Table: Brunch with The Grey and Friends.
In addition to all the new additions, those desiring more can take part in this additional lineup of tantalizing SOBEWFF 2023 events:
– The popular return of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives LIVE hosted by Guy Fieri featuring over 25 eateries from the hit show. (Friday, February 24)
– Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village featuring Publix Culinary Demonstrations sponsored by Sub-Zero Group Southeast will highlight beloved Food Network and Cooking Channel figures and the nation’s most acclaimed chefs. (Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26)
– Tacos & Tequila presented by Tequila Cazadores will be hosted by American actor and star of Machete Danny Trejo and showcase over 25 chefs presenting various versions of Mexico’s most iconic dish. (Saturday, February 25)
– BACARDl Carnival hosted by Andrew Zimmern will wrap up the 22nd annual Festival with the ultimate Sunday night beach bash! (Sunday, February 26)
From Overtown to Wynwood to Hallandale Beach and the Miami Design District in between, the Festival has arranged a set of events to exhibit the vibrant local dining styles and cultures of these regions and their significant role in shaping today’s South Florida. Event highlights:
– The Cookout hosted by JJ Johnson and Dwyane Wade (Saturday, February 25)
– Smorgasburg After Dark hosted by and special performance by Rev Run (Saturday, February 25)
– Chicken Coupe hosted by Michelle Bernstein at the Miami Design District Event Series (Saturday, February 25)
– Hallandale Beach Food & Groove: A Wine, Food and Art Experience at the Hallandale Beach Event Series (Saturday, February 25)
– Williams Family Kitchen Soul Food Brunch hosted by Pharaoh and Pharrell Williams (Saturday, February 25)
– Farmer’s Market Brunch hosted by Michael Schwartz at the Miami Design District Event Series (Sunday, February 26)
The Festival has put together a sensational lineup of brunches and lunches to spotlight the lively day scene of the Magic City with:
– Bal Harbour Shops ACCESS: Fashion Show & Luncheon hosted by Geoffrey and Margaret Zakarian, featuring a fashion demonstration by Balmain, the prestigious French Fashion House.
– Two-time James Beard Award winner Mashama Bailey will take over the Festival’s main hotel, Loews Miami Beach, to lead Our Sunday Table: Brunch with The Grey and Friends part of The NYT Cooking Series presenting an eclectic lineup of local and national chefs.
– A taste of Nashville’s renowned “hot chicken” scene will arrive in Miami with a Lunch hosted by Hattie B’s at SGWS Wynwood.
– Lunch hosted by Cédric Vongerichten and Tyson Cole at Wynwood hotspot, Uchi, will exhibit both chefs’ diverse approach to multi-cultural cuisine with a menu brimming with fresh, exotic flavors of the East.
– Pablo Zitzmann and Wilson Tang will collaborate to organize a Dim Sum Brunch at Coral Gables’ Zitz Sum, recently honored with a Bib Gourmand by The Michelin Guide.
– Conclude the weekend at the North Beach Bandshell with an extravagant Drag Brunch hosted by David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris featuring Miami’s Athena Dion and the queens from R House Wynwood’s acclaimed weekend drag brunches. Following the brunch, the earlier-mentioned inaugural Tea Dance and Drag Show will take place.
Guests seeking to enhance their cooking abilities alongside the experts should secure seats for one of the Festival’s Master Classes! Select from various classes like a Pierogi-Making Master Class led by Martha Stewart, Sushi-Making Master Class & Lunch at Gekko Miami, Croqueta-Making Master Class with Eileen and Jonathan Andrade, BBQ-Making Master Class and Lunch hosted by Smoke & Dough, Dumpling-Making Master Class led by Temple Street Eatery, a Master Class and Happy Hour hosted by Flour & Weirdoughs and more! Wine connoisseurs aiming to refine their inner sommelier can partake in one of the Wine Spectator Wine Seminars happening throughout the weekend at the Eden Roc Miami Beach.
The Festival’s highlight, Tribute Dinner sponsored by Capital One and a part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series, will occur on Saturday, February 25 and recognize the remarkable achievements of the beloved and iconic figures in the culinary world, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Alexandre Ricard of Pernod Ricard. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be the 2018 Tribute Dinner honoree, Bobby Flay, and a team of chefs including Eric Adjepong, Antonia Lofaso, Scott Conant, Ayesha Nurdjaja, Duff Goldman, and Geoffrey Zakarian will serve up exquisite dishes to pair flawlessly with some of the finest wines from the Pernod Ricard collection.
An array of unique one-night collaborations hosted by some of the nation’s most acclaimed chefs paired with a range of premium wines and spirits from the Festival’s exclusive provider, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, will elevate this year’s Intimate Dinner Series. Engaging chefs and personalities include Giada De Laurentiis, Tommaso De Simone, Juan-Manuel Barrientos, Maneet Chauhan, Michael Symon, Andrew Zimmern, Katie Button, Zak Stern, Gabriel Kreuther, Esther Choi, Timon Balloo, Jet Tila, Antonio Bachour, Brooke Williamson, Jonathan Waxman, Lindsay Autry, and Marc Vetri.
Up to now, the Festival has raised over $34 million to support its educational mission in developing future leaders in the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). Together, SOBEWFF® and its NYCWFF sibling have accumulated over $48 million to aid the charities of each Festival. Beyond the financial contributions, both Festivals highlight the lively dining scenes of their respective locales, provide economic stimulus in their regions, and serve as a platform to raise awareness and encourage involvement in a broad range of philanthropic initiatives.
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