The 25th Anniversary of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival wasn’t just a milestone — it was a full-bodied, bass-thumping, truffle-scented reminder that nobody throws a food festival like Miami. And in case anyone forgot, February 22 was officially declared Lee Schrager Day, honoring the festival’s fearless founder Lee Schrager — the man who turned South Beach into the culinary capital of February.
Let’s get into the bites, the beats, and the beautiful madness.
Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash Presented by Schweid & Sons
If you didn’t leave Burger Bash with the meat sweats and a only a couple of Tums left in your pocket, did you even go?
Under the night sky, smoke rising and grills blazing, the festival’s most carnivorous crowd gathered for the main event — and once again, Burger Bash proved why it’s the crown jewel of the week. The vibe was fun, energetic and loud and the burgers were delicious- down to the last bite.
Hosted by the always adorable Rachael Ray alongside Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, the stage had serious star power. And the judges’ table wasn’t playing around either: Gayle King, Ashley Graham, Bert Kreischer (yes, shirt on… we checked), and Miami’s own Matt Kuscher came ready to crown greatness.
Judges’ Choice: Classic Done Right
NFA Burger — tucked inside a humble Chevron station in Dunwoody, Georgia — walked away with the big win thanks to their no-frills showstopper, the Billy Burger, named after owner Billy Kramer.
Beef patty. Mustard. Pickles. “Sassy sauce.” Martin’s Potato Roll. That’s it.
And somehow? Absolute perfection. The NFA philosophy is simple: do one thing and do it right. The judges clearly agreed.
People’s Choice: Miami Loves a Little Drama
Miami favorite La Birra Bar snagged the People’s Choice Award with their unapologetically extra Crispy Dubai.
We’re talking wagyu beef patties, white American cheese, crispy onions, Argentinian chimichurri mayo, and shaved black truffle. It was rich. It was indulgent. It was the kind of burger you think about the next day… while recovering.
Honorable Mentions (Because Choosing Is Hard)
With so many heavy hitters, we forced ourselves to narrow it down to two that had us contemplating elastic waistbands.
Skinny Louie’s x Samantha Schnur (@naughtyfork) – The Naughty Burger
Double wagyu smash patty. American cheese. Maple bacon onion “damn jam.” Garlic dijonnaise. Pickled jalapeños. Buttered brioche. Oh — and truffle mayo tater tots on the side. It wasn’t just a burger. It was a full-on flavor explosion. Zero regrets.
Cowy Burger – The Cabrito
Spanish chorizo, fried sweet potato straws, honey, goat cheese, and Cowy’s signature green sauce. Sweet, savory, crispy, creamy — basically everything you want in one glorious bite. Add waffle fries and call it a win.
Honorable Dessert Mention: Nightowl Cookies OG Sticky Rolls with Butterscotch dipping sauce.
By the end of the night, belts were loosened, selfies were taken, and the meat sweats were very, very real.
And honestly? We’d do it all again.
Photo Credit: World Red Eye
Coca-Cola Presents Tournament of Champions Hosted by Guy Fieri with a Special Performance by Rev Run
Only at SOBEWFF do Michelin-level bites segue straight into hip-hop anthems.
Coca-Cola’s Tournament of Champions wasn’t just a culinary showdown — it was a full-blown spectacle. And when Guy Fieri takes the stage, you already know it’s going to be loud.
Fieri rocked the house alongside the wonder women of the culinary world and their powerhouse teams. The captains were Food Network legends: Antonia Lofaso, Tiffani Faison, Maneet Chauhan, Brooke Williamson, and Mei Lin.
The Most “Bert” National Anthem Ever
The night blasted off when Fieri brought out Bert Kreischer to kick things into high gear. The duo belted out the Star-Spangled Banner — and in peak Bert fashion, yes… the shirt came off. Culinary competition met comedy tour energy and the crowd ate it all up!
Top Chefs Going Head-to-Head
These were our favorite bites that had us lining up over and over again and shamelessly taking two plates at a time:
• Casey Thompson served up a Southern fish fry that had us circling back for seconds (and thirds): petrale sole with jalapeño and yuzu kosho tartar sauce. Crispy, zesty perfection.
• Stephanie Izard stunned with her tuna and hamachi handroll dip, layered with ginger chili yum and sesame tapioca chips. Think sushi night — but make it genius.
• Eleazar Fuerte impressed with a pan-seared grouper paired with sweet plantain cake, piquillo gastrique, and lemon thyme aioli. A little sweet, a little acid, a lot of wow.
• Shota Nakajima delivered a melt-in-your-mouth Salmon Nanban — the classic Japanese fried salmon dish bathed in savory soy vinegar sauce. Balanced. Bold. Beautiful.
• Tobias Dorzon went big with a golden hushpuppy topped with jumbo lump crab, collard greens, yuzu aioli, and shaved black truffle. Southern comfort with a luxury upgrade.
When the Arena Turned Into a Nightclub
As if the culinary fireworks weren’t enough, DJ Ruckus and Rev Run transformed the arena into a full-on Miami dance floor. Chefs ditched the competition edge and joined the party, turning the stage into what felt like a VIP section at LIV.
Photo Credit: World Red Eye
By the end of the night, Guy Fieri presented Team Antonia with the ultimate win — a $5,000 check awarded to their charity of choice, Beit T’Shuvah.
Big flavors. Big personalities. Big beats.
Tournament of Champions proved once again that at SOBEWFF, culinary excellence and rockstar energy go hand in hand.
Saturday Grand Tasting: Star Power & Sweet Moments
One of our favorite events was the Grand Tasting Village during the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, held that Saturday and Sunday. We attended both days — and had two completely different experiences.
Saturday was pure hustle.
We arrived as soon as the tents opened, like kids racing into Disney World. Armed with head-to-toe sunscreen, oversized sun hats, sensible shoes, and the lightest attire we could justify, we trekked across the sand like stylish nomads on a dessert-bound mission (pun intended).
Thankfully, volunteers from the Florida International University School of Hospitality & Tourism Management welcomed us with the coldest cans of Icelandic Glacial water — so refreshing we briefly considered pouring them over our heads.
Our first stop was the Coca-Cola photo booth, where we scored adorable sun hats and ice-cold Coke Zero. As we made our way through the sand, beautifully designed sponsor activations lined the path while chef-lebrities captivated crowds at the Publix Culinary Demonstration Stage, offering a welcome escape from the heat.
Inside the Grand Tasting Village, we indulged without hesitation.
Neo Ai Tallarin served savory chicken and corn dumplings that disappeared in seconds. Local favorite Vicky Bakery delivered a pan con lechón that practically melted in our mouths. Tony’s Chocolonely was another standout, drawing crowds eager to fill their bags with its colorful, flavor-packed chocolate bars.
The Demos That Winked at the Industry
Over at the culinary demonstration stage, things got cheekier.
Geoffrey Zakarian and Jeff Mauro took the sacred McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish and gave it a glow-up it didn’t know it needed.
It wasn’t about reinvention. It was about showing they could — and having a little fun with the idea that fine dining still secretly loves drive-thru nostalgia.
Then came dessert, and subtlety officially left the beach.
Duff Goldman, joined by Jet Tila and Antonia Lofaso, created his version of a Butterfinger that was crunchier, deeper, and far more addictive than it had any right to be.
This year’s host was the uber-talented, multi-Emmy-nominated actress Sofía Vergara, joined by her son Manolo Vergara, the visionary behind TOMA, the buzzed-about empanada brand elevating a beloved comfort classic.
In addition to hosting, Sofía spotlighted another passion project close to her Colombian roots: ¡Dios Mío! Coffee, her line of 100% Colombian coffee created in partnership with women coffee growers across Colombia.
Photo Credit: World Red Eye
Adding to the excitement, global hip-hop icon Ja Rule took the stage with a live performance that electrified the crowd.
The festival also partnered with Only in Dade to present Miami Mixtape: Made in Miami, a vibrant cultural activation celebrating the people, sounds, and stories that helped make the Magic City iconic.
Hangar Series Highlight: Sunset Feast Sponsored by Grove Bay Hospitality Group & Friends, Hosted by Jeremy Ford and Gio Gutierrez
By Saturday evening, the festival energy shifted indoors — and the Hangar Series delivered one of the most elevated experiences of the entire weekend.
If you weren’t at Sunset Feast sponsored by Grove Bay Hospitality Group & Friends, hosted by Jeremy Ford and Gio Gutierrez, then you missed what might have been the most unforgettable event of the series. From the moment guests arrived, the vibe was unmistakable. The lighting hit just right. The breeze cooperated. The crowd understood the assignment. And when the salsa music kicked in — not a playlist, but a full live band — the entire space shifted. Add Michelin-level chefs actually letting loose instead of plating with tweezers in hand, and suddenly you’re not just at a food event. You’re at a cultural moment.
The MVP Bites (Because Yes, We Were Taking Notes)
Some dishes deserve applause. These earned obsession.
Jeff McGinnis (Tackle Box)
Crunchy Calamari Caesar
Perfectly crisp, tender inside, and seasoned with intention — the kind of calamari that makes you side-eye every other version you’ve ever had.
Jose Mendin (The Piefather)
Meatball dumplings with basil oil dressing
Savory, rich, and comforting without being heavy — exactly the kind of bite you want in hand when the music gets louder.
Jacopo Rosito (Septimo at Four Seasons Hotel)
Tomato & Vine Cocktail
Tomato water, basil syrup, vodka, and a milk-washed olive oil garnish somehow managed to feel both fresh and indulgent at the same time.
Logan McNeil (Tambourine Room by Tristan Brandt)
Coal-kissed hamachi
Quiet confidence on a plate. Subtle smoke, flawless technique, and a dish that commanded attention without trying.
Ana De Sa Martins & Juan Vieira (Ophelia)
Decadent mamey sticky cake
Subtle sweetness, perfect texture, and just enough nostalgia to make you pause mid-bite. It wasn’t just dessert. It was a statement.
There’s something refreshing about watching chefs who carry Michelin stars and serious culinary credentials step out from behind the pass and enjoy themselves. Aprons off. Jackets unbuttoned. Salsa rhythms building. Guests dancing with the very people who had just fed them. A full live band took the energy even higher — horns, percussion, and a dance floor that quickly became inevitable.
It was simply a great time. The food was exceptional, yes — but the vibe was the headline.
Sunday Grand Tasting: The Grutman Takeover
If you think the Grand Tasting Village at the 2026 South Beach Wine & Food Festival on Sunday, February 22 was about polite tasting portions and orderly lines, you clearly weren’t there.
This was controlled chaos with a VIP wristband.
The Grutman Effect
When David Grutman brands something as an “experience,” it’s code for: buckle up. Add DJ Khaled on the mic and suddenly you’re not at a food festival, you’re in a hype reel.
Then came the moment that perfectly captured Miami’s culinary-culture collision. Guy Fieri and Hunter Fieri shared a steak on stage that they grilled alongside Papi himself from Papi Steak.Yes.A steak summit.
It could have been ridiculous.
It was — slightly.
But it was also exactly the kind of over-the-top indulgence this festival thrives on.
Cameras up. Smoke in the air. Perfect crust. Zero apologies. And let’s be clear: Papi Steak’s skewers weren’t just good. They were the bite people circled back for. Aggressively charred, unapologetically rich, and absolutely unforgettable.
Sand, Bass & Bad Bunny
At some point, the tasting blurred into a beach party — the kind only South Beach can execute without blinking.
When Bad Bunny started blasting through the speakers, heels came off, jackets were abandoned, and the sand became a dance floor.
Attendees didn’t want to leave.
Security eventually started gently — then less gently — ushering guests toward the exits, but the dancing never really stopped.
Photo Credit: World Red Eye
There’s something about dancing on actual sand — slightly sunburned, well-fed, and very well-poured — that makes us long for SOBEWFF return- immediately after it’s over.
BACARDÍ Bites & Beats: The Closing Party of All Closing Parties
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival closed its milestone 25th anniversary with the ultimate finale: BACARDÍ presents 25 Years of Legendary Bites & Iconic Sips hosted by Andrew Zimmern with a special performance by DJ Cassidy.
The beachfront celebration brought together legendary chefs, iconic flavors, and memories from across the festival’s remarkable 25-year history.
Guests sipped top-shelf cocktails, enjoyed unlimited bites, and celebrated the chefs and friends who helped shape SOBEWFF into the nation’s premier food and drink festival.
The energy reached its peak when DJ Cassidy took over the beach.
Spinning an electrifying mix across genres, he kept the crowd dancing, jumping, singing, and sweating on the sand for more than two nonstop hours.
One of the night’s most memorable moments came when he played “Sweet Caroline.”
The Miami Socialholics rallied the crowd, getting everyone arm in arm across the sand, singing at the top of their lungs.
The moment delighted DJ Cassidy, who appeared visibly emotional as he looked out at the sea of festivalgoers and shouted that this was “the best crowd at the best event in the world.”
The beach instantly felt like one giant celebration.
Adding to the significance of the evening, February 22 was officially proclaimed Lee Schrager Day, honoring Lee Schrager for his vision and leadership in building SOBEWFF into the world-class culinary event it is today.
As the final moments of BACARDÍ presents 25 Years of Legendary Bites & Iconic Sips came to a close, the night served as the ultimate toast to 25 extraordinary years of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival — and an exhilarating launch into the next chapter. was a joy to see the organizers, volunteers, Brustman Carino staff, Lee Schrager, and the chefs all dancing and celebrating together, wrapping up the festival with pure Miami energy and camaraderie.
Photo Credit: World Red Eye
