1. South Beach Wine & Food Festival
The 19th edition of the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival brought some 65,000 attendees to venues stretching from South Beach to Fort Lauderdale for more than 100 events. The lineup included stalwarts Burger Bash and Oyster Bash to the new Gospel & Falafel, the festival's only kosher event. This year's Tribute Dinner honored chef Marcus Samuelsson and longtime Moët Hennessy executive Jim Clerkin. Next: February 24-28, 2021
Photo: World Red Eye
2. Naples Winter Wine Festival
Celebrating its 20th year, the Naples Winter Wine Festival raised more than $20 million—a record for the event—amid a long weekend of meals from celebrated chefs, world-class wines, and celebrity entertainers. Festival trustees hosted dinners that paired more than 20 celebrity chefs with vintners and master sommeliers. Other events included a Vintage Cellar Wine Tasting & Luncheon led by wine critic Antonio Galloni of Vinous that featured Domaines Barons de Rothschild. The culminating event, its powerhouse live wine auction, was held at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. The top lot, a one-week Mediterranean cruise for five couples aboard a 201-foot super yacht, went for $1,050,000. Proceeds support the Naples Children & Education Foundation. Next: January 2021
Photo: Cary + Grijalva/Lumiarie Photography
3. South Florida Garlic Fest
With more than 100 dishes featuring garlic, the South Florida Garlic Fest draws massive crowds—between 25,000 and 30,000 people—to John Prince Park in Lake Worth Beach. And in February, it was even the answer to a clue on the quiz show Jeopardy!, worth $600 in the “Food” category. This year, the headlining entertainers were G Love & Special Sauce, The Wailers, and The Expendables. Next: February 13-14, 2021
4. VeritageMiami
Now in its 24th year, VeritageMiami brought together more than 2,000 people for a series of food events that included craft beer tasting at Wynwood Walls and the Interactive Dinner led by chef Giorgio Rapicavoli. A farm-to-fork brunch from chef Michael Schwartz that was to take place March 15 has been postponed until the fall. The event benefits United Way of Miami-Dade, and the presenting sponsor was City National Bank. Next: Fall 2020
5. Taste of the Nation South Florida
South Florida's Taste of the Nation, which raises money for No Kid Hungry to end childhood hunger, brings together top culinary talent for a tasting event at Ice Palace Studios. participating restaurants include Lure Fishbar, Bourbon Steak, The Bazaar by Jose Andres, and Wynwood Brewing Company, and the national co-presenting sponsors are Citi and Sysco. Next: May 16, 2021
6. Seed Food and Wine Festival
The sixth annual Seed Food & Wine Festival—which celebrates plant-based foods and promotes conscious living—offered a four-day slate of programming that included cooking demonstrations, wine and spirits tastings, fitness workshops, and the Plant-Based Pitch Off for food, beverage, or agriculture startups. The signature event, the Plant-Based Burger Battle, counted 12 entries at the event, held at Jungle Plaza in the Miami Design District. Next: Fall 2021
7. Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival
Held at hotels and restaurants throughout Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival notched its 13th edition last year. Events included Indulge, a walk-around tasting event held at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach that was hosted by chef Jose Gamez and featured dishes from chefs such as Anita Lo, Tony Mantuano, Marc Murphy, Joe Flamm, Jose Garces, and Elizabeth Falkner. Next: December 10-13, 2020
8. Las Olas Wine and Food Festival
The Las Olas Wine & Food Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year, bringing together more than 2,000 people to sample dishes from more than 60 local restaurants and 45 wineries and breweries. This year’s event has been moved from April to June in hopes that the coronavirus will have been contained and revelers can join Fort Lauderdale’s largest wine and food festival. The gathering is the largest fundraising event for the American Lung Association of South Florida. Next: June 12, 2020
Photo: Courtesy of Las Olas Wine and Food Festival
9. Pompano Beach Seafood Festival
The Pompano Beach Seafood Festival typically draws about 20,000 people for seafood, live music and more. In 2019, the festival moved from the beach to the Pompano Community Park & Amphitheater, where more than 175 vendor booths offered seafood and other fare, crafts, and local goods. The 36th edition, set for late April, has been canceled because of the coronavirus but will return in 2021. Next: April 23-25, 2021
10. Grovetoberfest
More than 500 craft beers supply the samples at Grovetoberfest, a fall staple that draws crowds to Regatta Park in Coconut Grove. Produced by the event agency Swarm, the 2019 edition had a Star Wars theme along with food vendors, live entertainment, and a VIP area that promised air-conditioned bathrooms. Next: October 10, 2020
11. Deering Seafood Festival
More than 8,000 people come to the Deering Estate each spring for the sold-out Deering Seafood Festival. This year, however, it will move to the fall after being rescheduled because of the coronavirus. The ticketed event includes chef demonstrations, the Li’l Shrimp Kids Zone, and food for purchase at the “Seafood Alley.” This year, the festival had planned to introduce a kickoff event, Chef’s Table on the Bay, with cocktails, a multi-course meal with wine pairings, a course-by-course cooking demo, and more. Next: October 18, 2020
Photo: Courtesy of Deering Seafood Festival
12. New to the List: South Beach Seafood Festival
Some 16,000 people flock to the South Beach Seafood Festival, kicking off stone crab season with a five-day festival with more than 50 chefs from across South Florida. Highlights include ticketed events such as the 50-person An Evening at Joe’s at the iconic Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach. Now in its eighth year, the festival has accumulated accolades from the likes of USA Today, Forbes, and the Travel Channel. Next: October 21-24, 2020
Photo: Courtesy of South Beach Seafood Festival
