A star-studded weekend awaits as the 23rd annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) makes its return to Miami Beach to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. from February 22-25, 2024. The four-day Festival, which has become a haven for culinary enthusiasts and celebrity admirers alike, will be bigger than ever, featuring never before seen events, robust musical programming, and a lineup of A-list celebrity talent alongside returning signature events, intimate sit-down experiences, interactive master classes and more. 

“I like to think of the Festival as a perpetual journey of excitement and reinvention. We’re not just curating events; we’re crafting experiences based on what our audience craves,” states Lee Schrager, SOBEWFF® Founder and Director. “The key is being receptive to feedback, seeking out rising talent, and using current events as a compass to help navigate the Festival year after year. It’s a culinary dialogue, a continuous effort. It’s also imperative we never forget why we embarked on this flavorful adventure – to passionately support and give back to FIU, ensuring a legacy that goes beyond taste, leaving an indelible mark on education and culinary excellence.” 

The Festival festivities will kick off on Thursday, February 22 with the 17th annual Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons® hosted by Rachael Ray. More than 30 of the country’s most beloved restaurants and chefs will go head-to-head in creating the juiciest and most flavorful burgers the Festival’s ever seen. The fan-favorite event will host a celebrity panel of judges including American rapper, producer, DJ, and television personality Rev Run, American model and actress Kate Upton, three-time Emmy award-winning journalist and NBC 6 news anchor Trina Robinson, national radio host and President and Chief Creative Officer of iHeart Latino Enrique Santos, and Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton from the American sitcom television series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” who will crown one very talented chef with the coveted Schweid & Sons® The Very Best Burger Award. Guests will also have the chance to crown their favorite burger and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The highly anticipated Celebrity Chef Pickleball Tournament presented by Whispering Angel hosted by Tara Bernstein and Hunter Fieri will return to the Miami Beach Golf Club with Food Network star Jeff Mauro as emcee. This year, Festival attendees will have the chance to go against their favorite celebrities and chefs on the court as the Festival will be selling tickets allowing two teams of two to participate in the tournament. 

Throughout the weekend, attendees can spot their favorite stars and musicians at Festival events all around the city. On Saturday, February 24, Grammy-nominated performer and producer DJ CASSIDY will put on a special performance presented by Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey at the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village. On the same night, Les Greene & The Swayzees will be performing on the mainland at Smorgasburg After Dark hosted by Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Robert Irvine. The David Grutman Experience will return on Sunday, February 25, turning the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village courtyard into a mini music festival. While talent will be announced closer to the event, guests can expect unforgettable performances curated by the nightlife and hospitality empresario himself, which in the past have featured the likes of French Montana, DJ Khaled, Cedric Gervais, Alesso, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris and more. Rev Run will close out the Festival with a special performance at the official closing event – BACARDĺ presents The Block Party hosted by Melba Wilson and Andrew Zimmern – which takes on a new block party theme this year. New and exciting events include Jazz Brunch at Delilah Miami, Miami’s hottest new supper club, hosted by Daniel Roy and Pablo Zitzmann, and Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Michael Beltran and Jose Mendín at Regener8 Farm. 

For those who prefer smaller, more intimate experiences, the festival has curated a plethora of new dinners, brunches, and seated experiences including Brunch at Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro Coral Gables and Kosher Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Timon Balloo, Nando Chang, & Shimi Alon. The Festival’s most coveted star-studded sit down event, the Tribute Dinner honoring Massimo Bottura and Luca Garavoglia hosted by Master of Ceremonies “The Pasta Queen” Nadia Caterina Munno presented by HexClad, will take place on Saturday, February 24, and honor the outstanding accomplishments of the culinary community’s beloved and iconic Massimo Botturra, along with Luca Garavoglia of Campari Group. The sensational, Nadia Caterina Munno, widely known as “The Pasta Queen”, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and a stellar cast of chefs including Bernardo Paladini, Albert Adrià Acosta, Alain Ducasse and Alberto Marcolongo, Antonio Bachour, Mauro Colagreco, and Jordi Roca i Fontané will serve up dishes to pair perfectly with some of the finest wines from the Campari Group portfolio. An extravagant Live Auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime travel and dining experiences will also be available for bidding. 

The not-to-be-missed FIU Embrace Dinner hosted by David Myers, Pablo Zitzmann and Ralph Scamardella will be held at ADRIFT Mare at Hotel AKA Brickell on Thursday, February 22. In partnership with the FIU Embrace Center for Advancing Inclusive Communities, this dinner aims to empower differently-abled individuals, giving them real-world experience as volunteers in the event, while raising funds for a scholarship program designed to support these students in pursuing hospitality careers through the university’s program. With over $37 million raised in support of its educational mission, the Festival continues to shape the future leaders of the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). This dinner will be an unforgettable celebration of culinary talent, diversity, and the Festival’s continued mission – to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. – in new and necessary ways.

Tickets for the Festival are On Sale NOW, with events that suit all different tastes and budgets at sobewff.org. To stay up to date on Festival happenings all year long, guests are encouraged to follow along with the #SOBEWFF hashtag on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

February 18^th is National Drink Wine Day and Graziano’s is the place to be on this extremely important holiday. With wines spanning from several different countries coming from Italy to Spain to France to Argentina, Graziano’s vast wine selection has something that will be to accommodate to everyone’s liking. At Graziano’s good wine is always accompanied by extraordinary food: authentic Argentinian dishes expertly crafted and served with care.

Graziano’s extends its presence with 11 locations across Miami, inviting customers to explore both restaurants and markets situated in Bird Road, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Aventura, Doral, and Weston. Visit: https://www.grazianosgroup.com/

By: Maryanne Salvat

Last night we had the pleasure of dining at the beloved Peruvian gastrobar, Pisco y Nazca, Centurion Restaurant Group’s (CRG) newest addition on Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile.    The authentic dining experience brings locals and visitors a taste of Peru. From the creators and owners of Bulla Gastrobar, Beehive Kitchen, and Havana Harry’s, Centurion Restaurant Group opened the company’s first Pisco y Nazca in 2015 in Kendall, Florida. Since then, Pisco y Nazca has expanded, with locations in Florida (Doral and Coral Gables) Virginia (Reston), and Washington DC. The restaurant’s name stems from the Peruvian saying, “Entre Pisco y Nazca,” meaning having fun and enjoying the company of loved ones – which is the atmosphere they aim to provide all the communities they serve.

The menu boasts a selection of Peruvian classic dishes with a twist, prepared with the finest ingredients. From traditional ceviches (we enjoyed the Cremoso) bursting with fresh flavors to mouthwatering sushi rolls, yes I said sushi, the Lomo Saltado Roll to be precise; probably one of the most original rolls we have experienced. The main dish of Lomo Saltado was exceptional, served with a plentiful side of white rice and fries large enough to share. Every dish tells a story of Peru’s rich culinary heritage.

For those seeking a true taste of Peru’s national spirit, the bar offers an extensive list of Pisco-based cocktails, expertly crafted by mixologists, as well as a daily Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m. appropriately named Hora Loca.

Located at 101 Miracle Mile, Pisco y Nazca Coral Gables is open Sunday (11am – 10pm), Monday – Tuesday (11:30am – 10pm), Wednesday – Thursday (11:30am – 11pm), Friday (11:30am – 12am) and Saturday (11am – 12am). To view the restaurant’s menus and make a reservation, guests can visit www. piscoynazca.com/coral-gables/. For updates on the restaurant and its sister locations, follow them on Instagram at @piscoynazca.

Former NYC corporate lawyer turned artistic visionary, Nathan Sawaya, is not just an artist – he’s a trailblazer, and he has made his mark on the contemporary art world with Lego bricks. Join in for a groundbreaking art exhibition making waves in Miami at the historic Olympia Theater. Nathan Sawaya’s ‘The Art of the Brick’ has arrived, transforming LEGO bricks into playful, profound, and thought-provoking displays of contemporary artistry in an unparalleled and completely approachable tour-de-force.

Exhibition: Nathan Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick Miami
Dates: open daily except Tuesdays, starting January 27
Hours: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Duration: the visit will last approx. 60 minutes
Location: Olympia Theater (174 E Flagler St., Miami, FL 33131)
Age requirement: all ages are welcome! (free admission for children under 4)
Accessibility: the venue is ADA compliant
Tickets: starting at $11.90 for children and $19.90 for adults (https://feverup.com/m/147745)

Key Highlights of Nathan Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick Miami exhibition:

    • Experience awe-inspiring reinterpretations of globally celebrated masterpieces by Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, and Leonardo da Vinci.
    • Open your heart and mind in the presence of Sawaya’s iconic “Yellow” sculpture, a life-size representation of a man pulling his chest apart with 11,014 yellow LEGO bricks flowing from the cavity; A reminder that each of us may have an artist within.
    • Experience the impressive range of Sawaya’s mastery with LEGO bricks, and the beauty of human nature in the “Human Expressions” gallery.
    • Marvel at the massive, 30-foot-tall installation “Division,” which itself is composed of more than 100 individual sculptures.
    • Get your “roar” on and bring the family! Discover prehistoric wonders, including a 20-foot-long “Tyrannosaurus Rex” skeleton made with 80,020 LEGO bricks.
    • Take a detour from the South Beach and plunge into the deep end with an ocean-centric “Swimmer” made of 10,980 LEGO bricks.
    • Channel your inner Barbie aspirations with an interactive selfie-stop in the plastic “Pink Dream” room made of 102,938 LEGO bricks.
    • Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of LEGO brick-infused photography in a captivating multimedia collection, expertly crafted in collaboration with the Miami Beach-famed photographer, Dean West.
    • Take count of more than one million LEGO bricks that collectively form The Art of the Brick’s 150+ sculptures.
    • Create your own brick art in the hands-on LEGO build area.

Connect/Socials:

The Art of the Brick
IG: @artofthebrickexpo
https://www.instagram.com/artofthebrickexpo/
@nathansawaya
https://www.instagram.com/nathansawaya/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/artofthebrickexpo/

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@nathansawaya

Website:
https://theartofthebrickexpo.com/miami
Tickets: https://feverup.com/m/147745
#ArtoftheBrick
#ArtoftheBrickExhibition
#ArtoftheBrickMiami

To celebrate the upcoming Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®), the national event taking place February 22-25 which showcases the talents of the world’s most renowned chefs and culinary personalities, Salt & Straw ice cream is collaborating with some of the top chefs, restaurants, and personalities to create special limited-edition flavors.  Available exclusively at Bal Harbour Shops [9700 Collins Ave, Bal Harbour, FL 33154] complimentary to Bal Harbour Shop Access Members and for purchase for non-members for the three weekends leading up to the Festival.

Salt & Straw worked closely with Festival participants like actor and culinary enthusiast Neil Patrick Harris, famed Miami chef Bradley Kilgore, award-winning chef and cookbook author JJ Johnson and Michelin-starred Boia De restaurant team to bring their ice cream visions to life.  The schedule for these limited edition collaboration flavors is:

February 2nd – 4th (1pm – 6pm)

• Boia De’s Fabbri Amarena Cherry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, an Amarena cherry ice cream with chunks of cherries, flecks of chocolate, and swirls of chocolate fudge 

February 9th – 11th (1pm – 6pm)

• Bradley Kilgore’s Pistachio Thai Coconut Green Curry Ice Cream, a green curry ice cream made with serrano peppers, lime, galangal, ginger and combined with a pistachio butter, folded with Florentine cookies made with deep fried basil and roasted pistachios

February 16th – 18th (1pm – 6pm)  

• Neil Patrick Harris’s Boozy Espresso Martini Ice Cream, inspired by his Thomas Ashbourne After Hours Espresso Martini, a vodka and coffee liqueur spiked coffee ice cream made with single-origin coffee, swirled with housemade marshmallow and Salt & Straw’s signature double-fold vanilla ice cream
• JJ Johnson’s Rice Cream, inspired by a recipe in his new book The Simple Art of Rice, a jasmine rice and palm sugar flavored ice cream, filled with chunks of spiced rice cookies made with puffed brown-rice cereal, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla

Alongside these special collaboration flavors, Salt & Straw is scooping some of their signature flavors as well, like their beloved Salted, Malted Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough; Chocolate Gooey Brownie; and Strawberry Coconut Water Sherbet (v).

Head to Sexy Fish on Thursday, October 26, for “Scary Fish” a glamorously spooky affair, featuring a haunting theme, beats from guest DJ Natasha Diggs, ocean-inspired cocktails, and more. The best part: this fabulous costume party will benefit the The Little Lighthouse Foundation (LLF)  South Florida’s beloved, non-profit organization.

Well-known for its “Nightmare on the Beach” Halloween parties, LLF promises that Scary Fish will be equally luxurious and fun!

Guests can expect a variety of handcrafted cocktails and passed canapés, while enjoying the immersive decor, complete with a cast of scary sea creatures, while taking in the mesmerizing tunes spun by international sensation DJ Natasha Diggs. The party goes from 9PM to 1AM.

The enchanting night will include complimentary cocktails sponsored by 512 Tequila, Tito’s Vodka, and other liquor sponsors, alongside mouth-watering bites, and a “hypnotizing atmosphere that will transport guests to the deep, dark depths of the seas.” Don’t forget to dress to impress, as glamorous Halloween costumes are requested of all attendees. 

A $150 donation is required in advance for attendance; ($200 donation at the door). Visit  ScaryFish.eventbrite.com to make a donation/reservation. For VIP table reservations, email:

Jonathan@TheLittleLighthouse.org.

All proceeds from this event will go towards LLF’s Children’s Halloween Party on Saturday, October 28th. To learn more about LLF’s Do Good Feel Good Programming, please visit TheLittleLighthouse.org.

Location: 

Sexy Fish Miami

1001 South Miami Avenue

 Miami, FL 33130

Date: Thursday, October 26th, 2023

       9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.