Title sponsors Food Network and Cooking Channel had an oceanfront pavilion next to the Grand Tasting. Chad Hudson Events designed and produced the activation, with scenic build, signage, and audiovisual from 15/40 Productions.
Inside, the space had a beachy vibe with honeycomb-print wall coverings and framed photos of personalities from the two television networks. Designer8 and Panache provided furniture rentals, and Kitanim did the floral designs.
An edible garden by Sweet Guilt allowed attendees to pick floral treats at Sweet-Moves: Late-Night Desserts & Dancing hosted by chef Bobby Flay and his daughter, Sophie. The event took place at Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
Hawaiian vocalist Anuhea performed at the late-night event from title sponsor King’s Hawaiian. The event took place at Surfcomber, A Kimpton Hotel. The menu included Kiawe-smoked ahi dip made with King’s Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Bread Flats and oyster sauce from Ahi Assassins, Huli Huli-glazed chicken sausage with poi-oli, pickled dragon fruit, scallions and crispy chicken skin on the brand’s sweet rolls from Dog Haus, and Ahualoa sheep with King’s Hawaiian Sweet Island Ginger BBQ sauce prepared as Dukabokki from Pili Group.
“As the leader of Hawaiian foods, we were happy to showcase tremendous talent from highly regarded Hawaiian restaurants [from] across the country,” said Courtney Taira, brand spokesperson and granddaughter of the company’s founder.
Different types of rum cocktails sponsored by Bacardi and shaken by local mixologists flowed at the event, which was hosted by chef Anne Burrell.
Operation BBQ Relief served cherrywood-smoked pork belly burnt end sliders with artisan red slaw on Martin’s Potato Rolls at the Beachside BBQ.
Smoked ribeye from 4 Rivers Smokehouse was served at the Beachside BBQ closing party.
A savory twist on the familiar chocolate fountain, the barbecue sauce fountain was a main attraction from Operation BBQ Relief at the Beachside BBQ closing party.
Walshy Fire provided reggaeton and island-themed tunes from behind a Bacardi DJ booth as the host of the Rum & Bass Beach Party.
Frozen daiquiris were the popular featured cocktail from presenting sponsor Bacardi at Walshy Fire’s Rum & Bass Beach Party. One outdoor bar was surrounded by island-inspired greenery and featured oversize signage that listed cocktail ingredients.
A photo op invited guests to pose in front of Bacardi bat wings. Cocktails at the event featured fresh coconuts and rum shots.
Best of the Best host venue Fontainebleau presented a dessert buffet with an array of single-serving mousses topped with chocolates, coffee beans, and French macarons.
A 400-plus-pound bluefin tuna was broken down into sashimi, and then doubled as a serving vessel. The display came from Blade, a restaurant at Fontainebleau.
A new event from Salty Donut, the master class took guests to the back of house to see how the craft doughnuts are made, followed by a tasting. There were two separate seatings for the afternoon event.
Bocas House presented a loaded milkshake at the first-ever Family Ice Cream Social, hosted by chef Duff Goldman at Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
Part of an expansion of the Crave Fort Lauderdale series, the Grand Bloody Mary Brunch came to Point Royal at Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood. Point Royal's Geoffrey Zakarian hosted the event with chef Aaron Sanchez.
Along with bubbly, wine, and rose, guests of the Grand Bloody Mary Brunch at Point Royal enjoyed passed and D.I.Y. Bloody Marys and Marias, courtesy of Hornitos Tequila and Effen Vodka. Signage helped guests find their way to their preferred beverage.
Guests could top their drinks with a number of garnishes, from crawfish to shrimp to raw vegetable bundles.
La Croix’s branded backdrop of packaged beverages made for a prime photo stop, complete with oversize fruit props, inside of the Grand Tasting tents.
KitchenAid’s vintage postcard-style painted fence backdrop was a top photo spot for guests at the Grand Tasting.
Absolut's Absolut Limeup activation inside of the Grand Tasting tents featured gloved hands poking through a foliage wall to serve cocktails to guests.
Dewar’s Whisky Emporium incorporated games like chicken bingo to engage guests at the Grand Tasting.
Scottish eggs with salmon caviar served as bites from the Dewar’s Whisky Emporium activation at the Grand Tasting.
Impossible Burger served plant-based burgers at the Grand Tasting, and provided a “Bite Me” backdrop on the sand to encourage photos and social media posts.
Nightlife impresario David Grutman brought back his David Grutman Experience for a second year to the Grand Tasting. DJ Alesso performed for guests.
Live brass music was played by the Melton Mustafa Orchestra at the Harlem to Overtown Jazz Brunch, where chef Marcus Samuelsson gave Miamians a first taste of his still-unnamed upcoming restaurant. The event took place at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater.
Taking over Española Way, the late-night Midnight Eats from Thrillist featured dishes and cocktails from local restaurants. DJ Action Bronson and chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten teamed up to host the new event.
Duffy’s served a mini Nicoise salad presented in tuna cans at Midnight Eats.
At Oyster Bash, chef Michael Cerny from Truluck’s showcased Kusshi oysters from Vancouver. Set on a custom ice bar and served on the half-shell, the oysters were topped with quick-pickled vegetables and cucumber caviar. The event took place at Lure Fishbar.
Chef Robert Irvine helmed Barry’s Bootcamp and Bites, a new event held at 1 Hotel South Beach. The morning workout was followed by healthy brunch food and drinks.
A neon-lit Manhattan skyline that nodded to the host city served as the stage backdrop.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the Toronto Public Library Foundation debuted a new fund-raising gala to support the library. At the inaugural Biblio Bash, which took over the Toronto Reference Library in April, guests participated in giant word searches using glow-in-the-dark markers.
The buzzy band Fun is set to perform in MoMA's sculpture garden for this year's benefit, honoring Mayor Bloomberg and artists Ellsworth Kelly and Cindy Sherman. Next: May 21, 2013
Children’s boutique Maisonette celebrated its first birthday and the launch of its new editorial platform Le Scoop on June 20 with a public mural unveiling at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The mural, which is on display through July 2, was created by artist and children’s book author Oliver Jeffers and is inspired by his book Here We Are. Sponsored by Baby Bjorn and Mustela, the mural features bold arrow that points to an open space for people to pose on one side. The other side of the mural features a blue, jewel-toned sky with constellations as an old-fashioned guide map.
