Despite the slowdown in the economy, the turn out of food and wine lovers was in full effect at this year's Sobe Wine and Food Festival presented by the Food Network. Every event attended was packed with revelers enjoying a variety of beverage and cuisine from many of the top names in the industry. Big name chefs in attendance included Pedro Subijana, Daniel Boulud, Michelle Bernstein, Jose Andres, Norman Van Aken, Charlie Trotter, Eric Ripert, Gordon Maybury, Alfred Portale, Rick Moonen, Neal Fraser, Paul Bartolotta, Floyd Cardoz, David Walzog, Roy Yamaguchi and Francisco Torreblanca amongst many others. What makes the Sobe Wine and Food Festival so unique, is that it is a 4 day event spread throughout locations in the Miami area that offers a taste of something for everyone and anyone.
Mika w/ master mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim
For serious wine lovers and a $1,000 per head, there was the Screaming Eagle event held at the Miami Convention center. For those who follow this Oakville vintner, they will say the price was a mere bargain. For those who had mixology on the brain rather than vino, there was the Latin Libations seminar hosted by master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim (above) and Roberto Santibanez.
chef Emeril Lagasse book signing
For foodies who preferred a more playful hands on approach, the days were filled with cooking demonstrations and luncheons including a Barilla pasta interactive lunch hosted by Food Network dude, Guy Fieri and former Top Chef winner's Ilan Hall and Hung Huynh. The Whole Foods Grand Tasting Village held over the weekend is always a festival favorite and this year was no exception with jam packed crowds enjoying unlimited food, wine samplings and demonstrations from Food Network's celeb chefs.
Stanton Social's offerings at Patron party
The evenings were filled with popular events including Rachael Ray's Burger Bash, Perrier-Jouet's BubbleQ hosted by Tom Colicchio, and Wine Spectator's Best of the Best event held at the gorgeous and newly renovated Fountainbleau hotel. If a sit down dinner and no sand in the shoes is more your kind of thing, the Tribute Dinner honoring Emeril Lagasse or the Viva Espana event featuring the wines and foods of Spain would have definitely called your name. The late night party crowd enjoyed shindigs such as the Modern Luxury event hosted by Tyler Florence, Paula Deen's Harrah's Casino Night and the Patron South Beach Soiree.
Kimber and Mika w/ chef Todd English
In addition the the official festival events, there were the many industry fetes including the Mario Batali Ernst Benz watch soiree at the Tides Hotel, the Seven Daughter's Winemaker's Blend event
hosted by Rachael Ray with a performance by the Cringe, and the new Laurent Tourondel BLT Steak preview. For those lucky few in the know, there were also super private VIP after hour parties held for the who's who of the culinary world.
Here are some other highlights/details of this past week's events:
Cruzan Rum After-Party hosted by Tyler Florence and Modern Luxury
Day 1 of 2009's South Beach Wine and Food Festival ended with a Cruzan Rum after- party hosted by Food Network star Tyler Florence and presented by Modern Luxury Media. Food Fashionista was in the house enjoying delicacies including a refreshing Tuna, Salmon, Ponzu and Jalapeno "Crudo de Vito" prepared by Danny DeVito's, DeVito's South Beach and Oysters on the rocks by the Raleigh Hotel Restaurant and Bar on South Beach where the party was held. Uber chef Todd English and his new Ft. Laurderdale restaurant, da Campo Osteria at IL Lugano Hotel and were also on hand delighting guest's palates. We also loved the Truffle Orecchiette, Skake Salad, with Gorgonzola and Carmelized White Chocolate Marble from Chef Kurtiz Jantz of Trump International Resorts.
Check out all the photos from Tyler Florence Modern Luxury event:
Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village
It's no wonder why this is a Sobe Wine and Food Festival crowd favorite. Held during both weekend days right on the beach off of Ocean drive, this event features food, wine and liquor from hundreds of wine and spirit purveyors, restaurants and caterers, and confectioners. The majority of the event is held under huge white tents while the rest has you strolling along the white sand beach in the South Beach sunshine. All throughout the day were demos hosted by Celebrity chefs and food personalities such as "Wagyu Truth" by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, "Modern Africa" by Marcus Samuelsson, "Fun in the Sun" by Iron Chef Cat Cora, "Crab Love" by Bobby Flay, " Chicalicious" with Ingrid Hoffmann, "West Coast Seafood Feast" by Tyler Florence, and "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" by Martha herself. There was also a book signing tent which had crowds waiting for autographs and photo opps with their favorite Food Network stars such as Rocco DiSpirito and Emeril Lagasse. As for cuisine, the Barilla tent was continuously packed with hungry crowds lining up for executive chef Lorenzo Boni and team's Cellentani with artichokes and Parmigiano with peppers pasta. The Barilla booth served over 12,000 pasta samples during the Grand Tasting which included 720 lbs of pasta, 550 lbs of artichokes, 60 lbs of onions, 160 lbs of Pecorino cheese from Tuscany, 80 lbs of smoked pancetta, and 15 lbs of pinenuts. The Puerto Rico booth was also rockin' with the country's top chefs including Robert Trevino of Budatai, Augusto Schreiner, and Mario Pagan. Michelle Bernstein's sweet corn and cheese empanadas from the Sargento booth were also popular with the hungry festival attendees.
Check out all the fabulous photos from the Grand Tasting:
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Harrah's Casino Night hosted by Paula Deen
The queen of comfort food Paula Deen hosted a Vegas style late night party equipped with Sin City style gambling, Ketel One Vodka cocktails and all the Southern Cuisine your heart and stomach desired. This was definitely a party you wouldn't be leaving hungry. There were corn bread muffins, creamed spinach, po boy sandwiches, crab cake sliders, funnel cakes, mac and cheese, and deep fried chocolate dipped donuts with all the fixings. The crowd was devouring, dancing, and playing the night away. Paula looked stunning in a royal blue and white flowy blouse with chic white pants while she mingled with the crowd and danced with hubby Michael Groover on stage alongside Food Network star's Sunny Anderson, Pat and Gina Neely, and Guy Fieri. Katie Lee Joel was also spotted at this festive event.
Check out all the photos from Harrah's Casino Night by Paula Deen:
Patron South Beach Soiree
This spicy hot after-hours party featured passed hors d'hoeuvres by chef Chris Santos of NYC's Stanton Social including an Avocado and Shrimp Shooter, and a delicious Kobe Beef Tartare on Crispy Rice. Patron hosted the open bar which included creative cocktails such as the Patron Margarita Sno-Cone and a Ice-Cold Hot Chocolate with Patron Silver and Spicy Dulce de leche.
Check out all the photos from the Patron party:
Cocktail Time with Sandra Lee
A gorgeous sunset setting, with metallic human model sculptures was the backdrop for Sandra Lee's cocktail soiree at the Standard Hotel. Food Network star Sandra was looking svelte and stylish in her vintage 70's black strapless jumper while posing for pics and signing autographs with the Cuervo margarita drinking crowd. Along with the throng of Sandra Lee followers was James Beard award winning chef Art Smith of Table Fifty-Two and Art and Soul who was in attendance at this poolside affair.
Check out all the photos from Cocktail Time w/Sandra Lee:
Mario Batali Ernst Benz Event at Tides South Beach
Mario was sporting his signature orange Crocs while he mingled with friends and guests who were celebrating his collaboration with luxury watch maker Ernst Benz. There were passed hors d'oeuvres, cocktails by Hendricks, and a music set list hand selected by chef Batali himself. Spotted in the intimate, hand picked crowd were Guy Fieri, Tony Abou-Ganim, Jose Andres, and Emeril Lagasse. Also in the crowd were Jim and Pam Webster whoe had previously won a contest called "Marios Ultimate Grilling Challenge" in which Jim prepared the award winning dish Pig-wrapped, Pig-stuffed Pig - an orange-fennel sausage, stuffed in a butterflied pork tenderloin, wrapped in pancetta, then grilled with an orange marmalade glaze. Sounds Delicious! For winning the challenge, Jim and Pam went to a Nascar race in Texas where Mario Batali and Rachael Ray threw a tailgating party for them.
The Ernst Benz limited edition Mario Batali watches come in both black and you guessed it....Orange! Although the night was chilly, the crowd stayed toasty with the heat lamps, vino, and special Hendrick's drinks including the Batali Rocks with Hendrick's Gin, muddled tangerine, pineapple, fresh lime and a splash of aperol.
Check out all the fab photos from Mario Batali Ernst Benz event:
