Tickets for the 14th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE go on sale Monday, October 20. This year’s Festival consists of more than 75 events during the four-day, star-studded gourmet gathering. Taking place February 19 – 22, 2015, proceeds from the Festival benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory and Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center at Florida International University.
MasterCard® cardholders continue to enjoy exclusive presale access through October 19 at 11:59 PM (EDT) online at www.sobefest.com or by calling 877.762.3933 (phone sales open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT).
Fans will enjoy several new changes at the Festival’s signature Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village featuring MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations. The iconic white tents located beachside between 10th Street and 13th Street off of the historic Ocean Drive will feature more seating and shaded areas, live music and DJs, and free park-and-ride offerings from areas in downtown Miami. The Festival is also pleased to highlight a select group of South Florida’s top-tier culinary talent as the inaugural group of Culinary Captains, representing their respective neighborhoods inside the MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents. Chefs at the forefront of this event include:
- Downtown Miami/Brickell/Key Biscayne: Aaron Brooks (EDGE Steak & Bar)
- Ft. Lauderdale: Peter Boulukos, The Restaurant People
- Midtown/MiMo: Timon Balloo, SUGARCANE Raw Bar & Grill
- Miami Beach: Jamie DeRosa, Tongue & Cheek
- North Miami Beach/Aventura/Sunny Isles: Tim Andriola, TIMO & Basil Park
- South Miami Coral Gables/Doral: David Sears, SUSHISAMBA
- Palm Beach/Boca Raton/Delray: Larry LaValley, 3800 Ocean
- Wynwood/Design District: Michael Shikany, SHIKANY
The 2015 program also features more than 20 intimate dinner experiences throughout the weekend, highlighting revered culinary talent from around the world with exquisite wines, select spirits, and pairings from the Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida portfolio. The New York Times Dinner Seriesboasts an all-star line-up of chefs, including Amol Agarwal, Jimmy Bannos Jr., Aaron Brooks, Ashley Christensen, Ben Ford, Charles Gabriel, Linton Hopkins, JJ Johnson, Vikas Khanna, Jonathan Lane, Christopher Lee, and Marcus Samuelsson. Also part of this series is the Festival’s annual Tribute Dinner presented by Bank of America at Loews Miami Beach, the Festival’s host hotel. Hosted by Tribute Dinner Culinary Chairman José Andrés and Master of Ceremonies Harold McGee, the evening will honor the contributions of renowned Chef Juan Mari Arzak, the acclaimed pioneer of Basque cuisine and the president and CEO of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Ted Baseler, to the hospitality industry.
Those looking to deepen their knowledge of wines, spirits and beer will enjoy the vast array of offerings that are part of this year’s Wine Spectator Wine Seminars and Bank of America Lifestyle Seminars. The beverage prowess of Miami Herald and Miami.com Food Editor Evan Benn, mixologist Francesco Lafranconi, top editors from Wine Spectator, as well as authors and authorities Anthony Giglio and Joshua Wesson are sure to entertain and inspire the palates of attendees.
The Festival is also excited to showcase a variety of late-night soirées throughout the weekend, such as:
- Tacos After Dark hosted by Aaron Sanchez
- Mix It Up with Morimoto & Friends
- Frost: A Sprinkles Wonderland hosted by Candace Nelson
- The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown hosted by Emeril Lagasse
- Cigars & Spirits
- Medianoches & Mixology hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli
- Death by Chocolate: A Dessert Party hosted by Dominique Ansel
- Bobby Flay’s Caribbean Heat
More iconic tastings, afternoon parties, and even the Festival’s first event welcoming your four-legged friends at Yappie Hour presented by BarkBox hosted by Rachael Ray, round out the 2015 Festival program.
Ticket sales open to the general public online and by phone on Monday, October 20, 2014.