A star-studded weekend awaits as the 23rd annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF), returns to Miami Beach from Feb. 22 to Feb. 25. 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,” says 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.”
Throughout the weekend, attendees can spot their favorite stars and musicians at Festival events around the city. On Saturday, Feb. 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 perform on the mainland at Smorgasburg After Dark hosted by Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Robert Irvine. The David Grutman Experience will return on Sunday, Feb. 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 – BACARD? 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, Feb. 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. 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.
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, guests are encouraged to follow along with the #SOBEWFF hashtag on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
