February is here! But rather than shoveling snow, South Florida is gearing up for beachside bites at one of America’s most prestigious gourmet gatherings on the beach! For the 18th year in a row, SOBEWFF® is assembling an epicurean utopia complete with five-days of foodie fun and over 100 tasty events in our community. With so much food (and wine) and so little time, it’s impossible to experience it all. We’ve taken a look at the full lineup and slimmed down the list to our 20 favorite events! From intimate dinners to massive tastings – cocktail parties to wine celebrations, there’s something delicious for everyone.
Check out Yelp’s Guide To SOBEWFF® 2019:
Coca-Cola Beachside BBQ presented by The National Pork Board hosted by Guy Fieri
Saturday, February 23 | 7:00 PM
Fan-favorite rockstar chef, restaurateur, Emmy Award-winning television personality and New York Times’ bestselling author Guy Fieri is no stranger to hosting the Festival’s most iconic barbecue celebrations, previously serving as host in 2012 and 2015. With all that experience under his belt, plus curating a featured barbecue area at Stagecoach this past year, he’s back on the beach with his signature high-energy style alongside captivating, live country-rock performances by GRAMMY® award-nominated artist Cassadee Pope and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real.
Fieri will help us round up more than 30 of the nation’s top grill maestros to churn out mouth-watering creations of beef, pork, poultry, and more cooked low and slow to serve up both classic and non-traditional barbecue flavors. These savory samplings will be accompanied by wines and spirits as Pope and Nelson & Promise of the Real rock on stage to cap off this carnivorous celebration! Pope, the first female winner of NBC’s The Voice, will croon the night away with her melodious hits like “Take You Home” and “One More Red Light,” as Nelson, co-producer of the music for the 2018 film A Star is Born and son of the legendary Willie Nelson, and POTR will light up the beach with their soulful hits like “Set Me Down on a Cloud” and “If I Started Over!”
Thursday, February 21 | 7:00 PM
America’s beloved queen of Italian cuisine is headed back to the sands of South Beach to kick-off the Festival weekend once again! Giada De Laurentiis is an Emmy Award-winning television personality best known for her hit shows on Food Network, a New York Times’ bestselling author and flourishing restaurateur who is joining us at the Festival once again to share a dose of la bella vita on the beach alongside more than 30 of the nation’s greatest chefs serving up dishes originating from various regions of Italy. Guests can peruse Piedmont, trot through Tuscany, savor Sardinia, canvas Campania, saunter through Sicily, and more – while sinking their toes into the sparkling white sands of South Beach. Grab your friends and gather ‘round under our signature white tents in the sand for a grand Italian feast, all paired perfectly with wines and refreshing libations from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio.
Friday, February 22 | 8:00 PM
Join Alex Guarnaschelli, beloved Iron Chef on Food Network, recurring judge on their hit primetime series Chopped, cookbook author and acclaimed chef at the helm of popular spot Butter in New York City, on the Ocean Front Terrace nestled on the tailored luxury rooftop deck of Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach! After its popular debut last year as a featured part of the CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series, the ultimate clambake is back. Guarnaschelli will serve as the host of this poolside soirée – inclusive of seemingly endless sips of wines and spirits accompanied by seaside-inspired dishes from more than a dozen of South Florida’s most popular spots, including fare from the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach’s own Chef Jorge Ramos. And the party doesn’t end there – continue the moonlight experience overlooking the pristine beaches of Fort Lauderdale with desserts and libations amidst nautically-inspired elegance.
Friday, February 22 | 8:00 PM
The Festival – in association with the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaican Gastronomy Network – has tapped South Florida’s pioneers of Caribbean cuisine Cindy Hutson and her partner Delius Shirley to round up some of the best chefs to dish up a ‘Taste of Jamaica’ at The National Hotel, the oceanfront historical destination nestled in the heart of South Beach. This dynamic duo is known for bringing the bold flavors of the Caribbean to their popular spots Ortanique on the Mile and Zest in Miami. The Jamaican gastronomy scene has been elevated and top chefs from Jamaica will be on hand to introduce the world to all that Jamaica has to offer. Together, they’ll make sure everything is going to be more than alright at this evening soirée paying homage to the classic flavors of the island and introduce new Jamaican cuisine and flavor profiles – ‘beyond jerk!’ This amped up affair is sure to make all worries fade away as you sway to the sounds of DJ Irie with plenty of libations to whisk attendees away to a truly marvelous Jamaican-inspired experience.
Sunday, February 24 | 5:30 PM
Spend the night dancing, sipping and sampling as we celebrate the bright and vivacious Latin culture that runs deep throughout South Florida at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. South Florida darling Eileen Andrade, the talented chef behind West Kendall’s popular Finka Table + Tap restaurant, has rounded up some of her closest friends from around town and will lead the way as your host of this hyper-local affair, alongside Goya Executive Chef Fernando Desa – a man dedicated to preserving the flavors of Latin cuisine. Attendees will sip on carefully selected libations from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio, while noshing on samplings of crispy and succulent swine-centric preparations.
Friday, February 22 | 10:00 PM
It’s a little rock, a little roll, and a whole lot of fun as you join culinary explorer Adam Richman, host of Man Finds Food on Travel Channel, for an epic late-night party unlike any other as part of our CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series presented by Capital One! Put your chopsticks to work as you indulge in some of the best sushi, dumplings, dim sum and more that the greater Fort Lauderdale area has to offer. Wash down these flavorful bites while sipping on specially-paired libations as you prepare to put your karaoke skills to the test – and drop the mic!
Nulo Pet Food’s Yappie Hour hosted by Katie Lee
Saturday, February 23 | 4:00 PM
Join Katie Lee for this returning fan-favorite event, turned family-friendly for the first time this year, designed especially for your four-legged best friend at Loews Miami Beach. Festival canine kings The Browns – founder and director Lee Brian Schrager’s beloved Charlie and Stanley – will also be on hand to join Lee’s Little Buddy Gus for this Saturday afternoon Yappie Hour affair. Lee is a celebrated cookbook author, co-host of the hit Food Network show The Kitchen and known for her easy-going approach to entertaining with fresh and delicious fare. Her casual sophistication, paired with the puppy energy of Gus, will lead you through an afternoon of Tito’s Handmade Vodka cocktails and snacks for the two-legged guests, and plenty of tasty treats from Nulo Pet Food for the four-legged friends!
Note: Dogs must be socialized with other dogs, remain on a leash at all times and have their tags/vaccinations up to date. Owners are responsible for picking up after their pooches.
Thursday, February 21 | 7:00 PM
2018 James Beard Award-winner (Best Chef: Northwest) Edouardo Jordan, chef/owner of Salare and JuneBaby in Seattle, WA (Best New Restaurant) will be joining the Festival as Yardbird Southern Table & Bar owner John Kunkel opens his kitchen to an all-star cast of decorated chefs. Jordan will be joined by fellow 2018 James Beard Award-winners, Nina Compton (Best Chef: South), chef/owner of Compère Lapin in New Orleans, who has manned the stoves of some of the finest restaurants in the country, and Chef Dolester Miles (Outstanding Pastry Chef) of Highlands Bar & Grill in Birmingham, AL. Jordan combines the French, Italian and soul food flavors behind his two acclaimed restaurant concepts with Compton’s Caribbean- and European-accented take on classic New Orleans’ flavors. Miles tops off the night with the masterful pastries and indulgent homespun desserts that brought her critical acclaim, during this dinner – which will be paired with wines from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio – crafted to perfection to display just why these chefs are the year’s best in the United States!
Goldbelly presents Sweets & Beats hosted by Cake Boss Buddy Valastro and Joe Ariel
Saturday, February 23 | 11:00 PM
It’s a late-night extravaganza at the reimagined National Hotel on South Beach as fan-favorite Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro, and Founder & Chief Eating Officer of Goldbelly, Joe Ariel, host a dessert party for the ages! Savor seemingly endless late-night indulgences from decadent cakes and gooey cookies to confectionery creations and luscious ice cream, and leave the guilt at home! Sample sweets from more than a dozen South Florida dessert destinations and sip on palate-cleansing wines, beers and spirits from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio as the high-octane beats of DJ Irie keep your moves smooth long into the night.
Plus, Instagram star influencer Nico Norena (popularly known as @SucculentBite) will be joining the event to select the most mouthwatering and decadent dessert creation! Who will receive the recognition? Join Succulent Bite in the journey, taste them all!
Thursday, February 21 | 7:00 PM
Prepare yourself for a sensational dinner prepared at the hands of 2004 James Beard Award-winner (Best Chef: California) Chef Charles Phan, at one of the hottest new eateries in town, Novikov Restaurant & Bar Miami. One of buzzing downtown’s most highly anticipated openings of the year, the Miami outpost of this London-based celebrity favorite has quickly risen to much acclaim for its Asian-focused fare. Vietnam-native Phan, the mastermind behind the award-winning Slanted Door in San Francisco, CA, and a bevy of other popular eateries, combines authentic home-style Vietnamese dishes with fresh, seasonal ingredients from small local farms. He’ll bring his home-grown mastery to meld with the fresh seafood offerings Novikov is known for procuring, all complemented by wines from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio, for this special dining experience.
Craft-y Happy Hour hosted by Robert Irvine
Thursday, February 21 | 5:30 PM
Happy hour gets kicked up a few notches with a crafty focus on cocktails! We’re bringing you some of the best craft, small batch and artisanal spirits around, accented by light bites, and creating a hip setting poolside at the beach chic Mondrian South Beach. Guests will have the chance to engage closely with top brands and get an intimate look at what makes them so unique. We’ve tapped the unwavering energy of chef, cookbook author and entrepreneur Robert Irvine – who can tell you a thing or two about enjoying a good libation – to serve as the host of this late afternoon soirée to help kick-off the Festival. Let us whisk you away from the work day to this interactive craft spirits party to chat one-on-one with the mixologists and brand representatives who know them the best, so that these carefully crafted spirits can be enjoyed to their fullest potential.
Dinner hosted by Karen Akunowicz, Abraham Conlon, Jeremiah Langhorne & Steve Rhee
Thursday, February 21 | 7:00 PM
Kiki – we love you . . . and the great James Beard Award-winning chefs that will be at your restaurant for the Festival! This year’s James Beard Foundation Awards were filled with an all-star lineup of extremely accomplished chefs, and we’ve tapped three of the 2018 winners to collaborate on a dinner especially for the the Festival! Chefs Karen Akunowicz (Best Chef: Northeast), Abraham Conlon (Best Chef: Great Lakes) and Jeremiah Langhorne (Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic) are at the helm of some of the hottest restaurants in America. Akunowicz is the executive chef of new restaurant Fox & the Knife in Boston, MA, Conlon is the chef/owner behind Fat Rice in Chicago, IL and Langhorne is executive chef and owner of The Dabney, his Michelin-starred spot in Washington, D.C. Joined by Kiki on the River Executive Chef Steve Rhee, this quartet of exceptional talent will bring guests a first-hand Miami riverfront taste of their award-winning cuisine. Accompanied by wines in the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio, enjoy a one-of-a-kind evening nestled in the Greek garden-like oasis of Kiki on the River.
Rosé Pool Party hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian
Saturday, February 23 | 3:00 PM
We’re paying homage to America’s trendiest beverage poolside amidst the casual elegance of the iconic Eden Roc Miami Beach. No matter what shade of pink is your preference, everyone’s palate will be pleased by an array of offerings from Chateau D’Esclans, accented by fresh bites from the resort’s rich culinary scene. Dapper chef/restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian, who serves as a co-host of The Kitchen and longtime judge on the hit primetime series Chopped on Food Network, will serve as the host of this afternoon soirée. Whether you choose to come in your bathing suit, or throw on your best South Beach chic attire, there’s no missing the signature beach-inspired backdrop for the ultimate #RoseAllDay experience.
Vegan Dinner hosted by Kate Jacoby, Rich Landau, Veronica Manolizi & Horacio Rivadero
Saturday, February 23 | 7:00 PM
Executive Chef Horacio Rivadero is the artist behind South Florida’s popular plant-based restaurant Plant Miami, thoughtfully situated within The Sacred Space Miami respite just West of the burgeoning Edgewater neighborhood. Rivadero is known for his vibrant dishes – which include vegan, kosher and fully organic offerings – that blend modern techniques with seasonal and local ingredients. He’s joined by husband and wife duo Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby from the celebrated vegetable restaurant Vedge out of Philadelphia, PA, which made GQ’s list of outstanding restaurants in 2013. These three talented chefs will carefully curate a harmonious menu for diners to enjoy a consciously-crafted experience, topped off by delightful desserts by Plant Miami’s own pastry chef Veronica Manolizi, during this unique Festival evening.
Saturday, February 23 | 11:30 AM
It’s a knock down, drag out brunch making its debut as a first-time event at SOBEWFF®! We’re collaborating with the team that brings you PRIDE Fort Lauderdale each year, taking place this same weekend, to join them in celebrating the LGBT community and its unique culture at The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale. Join New York Personalities Elvis Duran of Z100 Radio and his fiancé, Alex Carr, as they preside over this unique Festival brunch, and special guest, Tony and GRAMMY® Award-winning actor and singer, Billy Porter, as he treats guests to a one-of-a-kind performance.
Master of Ceremonies Kitty Meow has rounded up a dozen of the most creative chefs in town to prepare dishes inspired by the charismatic personalities of some of South Florida’s most popular drag performers, including:
- Power Infiniti
- Adora
- T.p Lords
- Daisy DeadPetals
- Erika Norel
- Tiffany Fantasia
- Noel Leon
- Electra
- Champagne Bordeaux
Guests will sip on free-flowing cocktails from ABSOLUT® while enjoying select performances from some of the talent influencing the event’s cuisine. Help kick-off Pride Fort Lauderdale weekend and join the Festival for the ultimate pairing of food, drink and PRIDE!
Sign up here for a chance to win tickets to this giveaway!
Saturday, February 23 | 11:59 PM
We’ve rounded up some of South Florida’s best spots to hit before the sun comes up, and are bringing them to Española Way to quell your late-night munchies! Join our hosts, best-selling cookbook authors and stars of the popular Cooking Channel series, Extra Virgin and Extra Virgin Americana, actress Debi Mazar and husband Chef Gabriele Corcos on Española Way, a two-block oasis tucked away in South Beach’s Art Deco district. 90’s icon, Grammy Award-winner and frontman of legendary group RUN DMC Rev Run will bring the beats to this purely pedestrian-friendly respite, lined by Palm Trees and twinkling lights, the historic charm of this coveted corridor resembles the romantic Mediterranean villages of Spain and France. So join us under the stars to indulge in all of your sweet, salty, ooey-gooey midnight cravings while sipping on simply perfected cocktails crafted by Bar Lab – the cocktail masterminds behind the Broken Shaker and The Anderson – and leave the guilt-trip at home!
Mixing It Up on the Miami River: Best Bars, Bites & Beats hosted by Adam Richman
Thursday, February 21 | 10:00 PM
It’s no secret that The Wharf is one of the hottest places nestled on the burgeoning Miami River, and we’re taking it over for the Festival to provide a truly signature SOBEWFF-style experience. Culinary explorer Adam Richman, host of Man Finds Food on Travel Channel, will serve as the evening’s guide as the Festival teams up once again with the same team that brings you DRINK Miami for a uniquely crafted cocktail experience. The Wharf will be transformed into a cocktail haven of award-winning bars as we team up with Miami’s best to showcase what makes them world-class, internationally-acclaimed bars. DRINK Miami will take attendees on a mixology journey unlike any other, complemented by by rosé from The Palm by Whispering Angel and bites from the lip-smackin’ food truck line-up of Mojo Donuts & Fried Chicken, La Santa Taqueria, Spris Artisan Pizza, and more. Explore perfectly prepared classics and signature cocktails by some of South Florida’s top mixologists as they takeover this downtown Miami hotspot for a special experience with late-night libations while enjoying some live music on the Miami River.
Saturday, February 23 | 7:00 PM
The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale invites diners to be their guests and experience an unparalleled culinary adventure at the hands of an all-female cast of talent. The South Florida celebrity chef Paula DaSilva stands at the helm of the property’s Burlock Coast restaurant, and will prepare an imaginative menu replete with farm fresh dishes sourced from South Florida’s fresh and abundant flora and fauna. DaSilva has gathered up some of her most talented female friends for a siren’s soirée, including Adrienne Grenier (3030 Ocean), Ilkay Suuctugu (EDITION Miami), Thais Rodriguez (Pure Grey), Kathleen Blake (Rusty Spoon) and Doreen Colondres (The Kitchen Doesn’t Bite). Perfectly complemented by wines from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio, DaSilva, alongside her talented friends, expertly craft a rich and flavorful dinner experience to delight and inspire.
Sunday, February 24 | 12:30 PM
Join author, restaurateur and wildly popular Food Network Chef Geoffrey Zakarian at his own South Florida spot, Point Royal inside the newly reimagined Diplomat Beach Resort. He’ll offer a Bloody Mary brunch spread as fun and dapper as himself, with jazzy tunes serving as the backdrop for this walk-around soirée. Joining Zakarian will be Jeff Mauro, his fellow co-host of the hit Food Network show The Kitchen. Enjoy roasted suckling pig, an extensive raw bar, and one of the best selections of Bloody Marys that South Florida has ever seen, as Zakarian guides you through a Sunday Funday unlike any other in Fort Lauderdale, complete with a dessert room to kick you right in to next week.
Dinner hosted by Matthew Accarrino, Evan Funke and Ryan Hardy
Saturday, February 23 | 7:00 PM
Chef Matthew Accarrino is the Food & Wine Best New Chef (2014) at the helm of the Italian-inspired Michelin-starred restaurant SPQR in San Francisco, CA. Accarrino is known for blending deeply personal touches with expertly honed technique to create dishes that are both refined and full of heart. He is joined by Chef Ryan Hardy, the face behind New York City media darling hotspots Charlie Bird and Pasquale Jones, and Chef Evan Funke, a James Beard Award-nominee and the mind behind the James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant of the Year, Felix Trattoria. Also known for his soulful yet innovative Italian fare, Hardy returns to the Festival to collaborate with Accarrino and Funke to bring their signature style of Italian-centric comfort cuisine in the elegant coastal sanctuary of The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour.
For the full lineup of events head to SOBEWFF’s website.
For even more ticket giveaways check out Yelp Talk.
Follow Yelp Miami and Yelp Fort Lauderdale on Instagram for more updates, happenings and giveaways!
*All photos courtesy of SOBEWFF®.
