At this year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival, the culinary offerings came paired with social media. At the Q, a sign at each chef’s station listed event sponsors and Twitter handles, encouraging guests to tweet favorite dishes and images throughout the weekend. The #SoBeWFF official hashtag was projected at the tent’s central bar, while at the Grand Tasting Village, activations with social media components were a popular draw for attendees.
Here’s a look inside the festival’s iconic white tents and other South Beach venues that hosted the biggest parties and events.
The Q After Dark
The topiary "Q" from an earlier event's step-and-repeat became a platform for Cirque du Mansion aerialists and entertainers during the Q After Dark.
Photo: Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com
The Q
Inside the EventStar tents, gigantic white LED fixtures projected multicolored spirals onto the walls in a treatment from Designs by Sean. The festival's kickoff event, a barbecue-focused affair hosted by Paula Deen and her sons Jamie and Bobby, saw a strong focus on sponsored lounges. Godiva’s dessert lounge provided truffles and cobbler, along with seating at low tables with white couches.
Photo: Madison McGaw/BFAnyc.com
Godiva Indulge
For Godiva's Friday-night dessert party, host Duff Goldman from the Food Network's Ace of Cakes created a multilayer, Art Deco cake in pink, teal, and brown shades. Goldman served up three varieties of cake for guests to nosh on, along with three truffles he created from Godiva chocolate.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Godiva Indulge
Chai s’mores from Janna Wardle of BLT Steak were an innovative and eye-catching creation.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Godiva Indulge
As a clean way to add branding to the event, Godiva projected its logo onto the Highbar pool at Dream Hotel.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Guy Fieri's Reggae Jam With Ziggy Marley Live
Reggae scion Ziggy Marley performed for the official closing party at the Ritz Carlton South Beach. The musician also used the opportunity to introduce his Ziggy Marley Organics line of the flavored coconut oils and roasted flavored hempseeds. Panache provided rentals.
Photo: Carly Otness/BFAnyc.com
South Beach After Dark
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas hotel headed east to host the South Beach After Dark after-party Saturday at Estiatorio Milos. The hotel's mixologists created cocktails for the event including First Crush, which mixed Grey Goose la Poire, St. Germain, Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, rosemary-infused honey syrup, and lemon juice.
Photo: Alex Markow
Amstel Light Burger Bash
Amstel Light again sponsored the Burger Bash, which saw Bobby Flay win the People’s Choice award—which Michael Symon had won the previous three years. Flay served a green chile cheeseburger topped with potato chips.
Photo: Carly Otness/BFAnyc.com
Grand Tasting Village
Evian's #EvianEats photo activation—which invited guests to "live young"—was a popular first stop in the center of the first tent for the festival's Grand Tasting.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Grand Tasting Village
Celebrity Cruises partnered with Badia to create a make-your-own-rub station.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Grand Tasting Village
Transitions Optical built its own tent, which featured a rooftop with viewfinders for guests to enjoy ocean views and a photo shoot inside with Robert Irvine. The company also offered gelato samples and an area to try on lenses and frames.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Grand Tasting Village
Goya chefs cooked meatballs inside an open Airstream trailer kitchen.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Grand Tasting Village
Jelly Belly offered cocktail-inspired flavors in sample cups.
Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash
Sears Outdoor Living Lounge
Guests could relax at the Sears Outdoor Living lounge, which was open for several events during the festival. The company's Lighted Patio collection served as decor inside the lounge, along with the Kenmore Elite grill line. Sears produced the event in house.
Photo: Aaron Bristol for Sears
Thrillist’s BBQ & The Blues
Hosted by chef Geoffrey Zakarian at Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, Thrillist's event once again brought chefs and foodies together for meat and music. The Eden Roc's in-house restaurant, 1500 Degrees, created barbecue beef brisket tamales with pickled Swank Farms pepper salsa.
Photo: Kat Goduco
Thrillist’s BBQ & The Blues
Jeremiah Bullfrog of Freehand offered short rib hot dogs.
Photo: Kat Goduco
