Without many logistical changes from last year, the 2009 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival relied on its celebrity chefs and food personalities to keep the eighth annual event a must-see for patrons.
Nearly 450 attendees headed to the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables on Thursday night to pay tribute to the wines and food of Spain. The dinner, hosted by Florida International University and Southern Wine and Spirits, and produced by the hotel's event design team, honored special guests King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain. Additional vendors included Jason Frix, Gables Linen, Panache: A Classic Party Rental Company, and Event Furnishings & Decor.
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Nearly 450 attendees headed to the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables on Thursday night to pay tribute to the wines and food of Spain. The dinner, hosted by Florida International University and Southern Wine and Spirits, and produced by the hotel's event design team, honored special guests King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain. Additional vendors included Jason Frix, Gables Linen, Panache: A Classic Party Rental Company, and Event Furnishings & Decor.
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Wine Spectator's Best of the Best tasting event returned to the newly renovated Fontainebleau on Friday night after a two-year break. Produced by the hotel and ME Productions, nearly 1,800 guests attended the event held in the Sparkle Ballroom, which featured more than 44 chefs and 76 wineries from across the country. A runway erected amid the food stations featured fashions from the hotel's on-site boutiques.
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On Thursday, Modern Luxury's Miami magazine teamed up with Food Network personality Tyler Florence to host an haute after-party following the Amstel Light Burger Bash. Held at the Raleigh Hotel's iconic pool and adjacent beach, the event attracted luxe sponsors like Porsche and Montecristo cigars, as well as restaurants like DeVito South Beach, Joe's Stone Crab, and da Campo Osteria. Florence prepared a giant paella.
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FIU students assisted the chefs at BubbleQ, including local chef Jonathan Eissman of Pacific Time and Today Show weatherman Al Roker.
Courtesy of the FIU School of Hospitality by Mitchell Zachs
Nearly 2,000 people headed to the sands behind the Delano hotel for one the festival's most anticipated events, BubbleQ-this year sponsored by Perrier-Jou?t. Room Service Furniture and Event Rentals provided custom bars and furniture throughout, while Bubble Miami set up an intimate lounge on the south side of the tent with jewel-incrusted furniture.
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Honoring Emeril Lagasse, this year's annual tribute dinner was held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, also home to Lagasse's namesake restaurant. Featuring Martha Stewart as M.C. and presented by Bank of America, the dinner saluted the chef with a six-course meal prepared by fellow chefs and a tribute video. Pete Diaz Productions, Panache: A Classic Party Rental Company, and Always Flowers aided in production.
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The tribute dinner also featured a surprise performance by the 80- person Miami Central High School marching band, who performed "When the Saints Go Marching In," a nod to Lagasse's first restaurant in New Orleans.
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On Saturday, Katie Lee Joel and Tiffany & Co. paired up for the Dolce Brunch. Held at the Delano hotel, the tres chic brunch, prepared by the Food Network's Anne Burrell, was a nod to Breakfast in Tiffany's-South Beach style.
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Clay Conley, resident chef at the Mandarin Oriental's Azul restaurant, hosted the intimate Surf and Turks event on Saturday. Despite last-minute sponsorship pullouts, the outdoor bayfront event featured variety of fresh seafood, a DIY mojito bar manned by mixologist Tony Abou-Ganmin, reggae-style entertainment from Zanadu Group, and wines from Kim Crawford.
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