On Friday night Wine Spectator hosted its annual Best of the Best showcase at the Fontainebleau during the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. The magazine had its Award of Excellence winery and vineyard recipients—all 72 of them—on hand to pour samples, while 41 restaurants, randomly chosen from a list of 300 of festival founder Lee Brian Schrager's favorites, provided nourishment. "Each year I keep a running list of all the great restaurants I've heard about, read about, and dined at over the past year and then toss all the names into a bowl," Schrager said.
Despite the restaurants’ varying geographical origins, the chefs shared a common choice of ingredients and style of preparation. Several dishes featured lobster, Southern flavors, and pickled elements. Here’s a look at 10 of the offerings.
