#1 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
More than 60,000 people turned out for the Food Network & Cooking Channel’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which took place from February 21 to 25. Now in its 17th year, attendees took in flagship beach events like the Grand Tasting Village while also delving deeper into happenings in Fort Lauderdale. Highlights included the Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown with Anne Burrell, Walshy Fire’s Rum & Bass Beach Party, and Harlem to Overtown Jazz Brunch with chef Marcus Samuelsson. The festival raises money for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University. Next: February 20-24, 2019
#2 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Few events have the fund-raising power that the multilayered Naples Winter Wine & Food Festival puts forth every year, self-proclaimed as the most successful international charity wine auction in the world. The 2018 edition—the event’s 18th incarnation—raised nearly $15.3 million to aid children's programs and initiatives throughout southwest Florida. The event featured 18 all-star chefs from across the globe, more than 30 vintners, and 17 of only 236 Master Sommeliers in the world. The auction featured more than 60 items and experiences. Next: January 25-27, 2019
#3 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Formerly the Delray Beach Garlic Festival, the food festival has embraced its new home at John Prince Park in Lake Worth. With its 19th year behind them, the three-day South Florida Garlic Festival has become so popular, the Cooking Channel’s “Carnival Eats” plans to feature it on its sixth season this spring. Hoobastank and Stephen Marley headlined the music acts while more than 30,000 people sampled uniquely stinky eats. Next: February 8-10, 2019
#4 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #7)
Top Chef alums Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth of Stiltsville Fish Bar and Root & Bone sold out the signature Interactive Dinner for VeritageMiami 2018 inside downtown’s Intercontinental Hotel. In its 22nd year, the multi-day event welcomed back marquee sponsor City National Bank as well as American Airlines and Celebrity Cruises at the Vintner sponsor level. The Bubbly Brunch & Auction and Craft Beer Tasting also sold out. New to this year: Gold Medal-winning wines from the Best In Glass Wine Challenge were featured at the Associate Legal Mingle along with bites from local restaurants. The event benefits United Way of Miami-Dade. Next: February 2019
#5 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Now entering its 30th edition, Taste of Nation brings together some 35 of South Florida’s top restaurants, as well as standout chefs and mixologists. In 2017, the event raised enough to connect hungry kids in need with approximately 680,000 healthy meals. Local beneficiaries include Florida Impact, Feeding South Florida, and the after-school meal program Flipany. This year’s event takes place at Ice Palace Films Studios. Next: April 27, 2018
#6 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #8)
The Las Olas Wine & Food Festival shuts down Fort Lauderdale’s Las Olas Boulevard to gather 2,000 devoted foodies to its Tasting Pavillion in support of the American Lung Association. Its 23rd year promises “more than 50 of South Florida’s finest restaurants and more than 40 wineries, spirits brands, and breweries.” The festival is presented by Breakthru Beverage, William Hill Winery, New Amsterdam, and Woodford Reserve. Next: April 20, 2018
#7 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The Pompano Beach Seafood Festival features a trio of stages for live music and entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and of course food vendors offering fresh crawfish, mussels, shrimp, lobster rolls, and more. The Pompano Fishing Pier is currently being reconstructed, so the festival has changed its layout to minimize disruption. Proceeds from the event, now in its 34th year, benefit local charities. Next: April 27-29, 2018
#8 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #10)
Held at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, the Breakers Palm Beach, and a number of other venues, the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival celebrated its 11th anniversary in 2017. Some 5,000 attendees come for the intimate atmosphere and chance to meet chefs such as Daniel Boulud, Anita Lo, Tony Mantuano, and other notables. Sponsors for the festival include Whole Foods, JetBlue, and Sysco. Next: December 16-18, 2018
#9 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The Deering Seafood Festival hosts its 14th edition this year, maintaining its reputation as a family-friendly, tasty, hyperlocal, and homestyle affair. In addition to layers of seafood presented by local top chefs and eateries, a craft beer station, vendors, live music, and kids’ areas, the festival proudly incorporates the neighborhood’s Bahamian influences into its programming. The Virgin Islands Stilt Walkers and free-spirited Bahamian Junkanoo entertain throughout the day and night. Next: March 25, 2018
#10 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #11)
As the popularity of craft beer surges nationwide, the industry’s go-to South Florida event continues to be Grovetoberfest. As the largest craft beer event in Florida by both vendor participation and attendance (more than 5,000 annually), Grovetoberfest 2017 took over Coconut Grove’s Regatta Park despite operational concerns due to Hurricane Irma. The Back to the Future theme edition embraced social media to build word of mouth under the #BackToTheGrove hashtag. The outing featured more than 500 beers and several beer-infused cooking demos. Next: October 2018
#11 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (new to the list)
Celebrating plant-based foods, Seed Food & Wine has carved its own space within South Florida’s food festival space. Alongside signature events such as the Plant Based Burger Battle and Tasting Village, the festival presents wellness events, a cruelty-free fashion show, and summit for bloggers and influencers who focus on conscious, sustainable, and vegan living. After four successful years in Miami, organizers are expanding this May to Los Angeles. Next: November 7-11, 2018
#12 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
The main fund-raiser for Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Discovery and Science held its 23rd edition of the event on March 16, with Bank of America serving as title sponsor. The event typically draws some 1,000 guests who sample bites from more than 40 South Florida chefs. This year A Joy Wallace won the People’s Choice Award. Next: Spring 2019
