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.
[smooth=id:650;] Photo Credit: World Red Eye
Coca-Cola Presents Tournament of Champions Hosted by Guy Fieri with a Special Performance by Rev Run
Read the rest of this entry »
