with the Best Miami-Dade Restaurant Award. Harry’s Pizzeria also won the overall Flavor of South Florida Award.
Harry’s Pizzeria, run by executive chef Michael Schwartz, picked up two awards, while M.E.A.T Eatery and Taproom, The Salty Donut and CHOCOLATE FASHION took home one each at the Orange Bowl Impact and Excellence (OBIEs) Awards: A Taste of South Florida presented by Florida Blue on Friday, May 20, at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Harry’s Pizzeria won Best Miami-Dade Restaurant and the overall Flavor of South Florida Award with its dish of Harry’s meatballs in sauce, while M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom won Best Broward Restaurant, The Salty Donut won the People’s Choice Award and CHOCOLATE FASHION won Best Dessert.
More than 800 patrons came out to support The OBIEs: A Taste of South Florida presented by Florida Blue. It was a night of extraordinary food, entertainment and giving as the Orange Bowl Committee celebrated those who share in the organization’s values in giving back to the South Florida community.
Penny Shaffer was recognized for the significant impact she has made in the community with the Orange Bowl Keith Tribble Community Service Excellence Award. As Market President for Florida Blue, where she is responsible for business operations in the South Florida area, Shaffer has always been passionate about her community and making a difference. She is a widely respected civic leader active in a variety of non-profit and civic organizations, including the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, where she currently serves as chair, and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, where she’s a former chair. Shaffer is also a board member of United Way and a longtime volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Take Stock in Children. She’s never one to shy away from a challenge and that includes her battle over the last 18 months with breast cancer. Shaffer has handled her diagnosis and treatment with the strength, courage and leadership that has always defined her.
Six high school senior student-athletes from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties also received scholarships toward their college education, honoring their performance on the field as well as in the classroom and community.
- Royer Baez – Homestead Sr. High School (cross country, track & field, basketball)
- Amber Kelly – Coconut Creek High School (softball, cross country)
- Anthony Kaminsky – Alonzo and Tracy Morning High School (swimming, water polo)
- Gerard Laurent – Coral Springs High School (track & field, cross country)
- Desiree Maxwell – Hollywood Hills High School (soccer, cross country)
- Deborah Vainstein – Dr. Michael M. Krop Sr. High School (swimming, water polo, softball)
The Orange Bowl Committee and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida surprised 12-year-old “Wish Kid” Brooke by bringing her on stage to cook her favorite dish – Chicken Alfredo – with chef Rocco DiSpirito. She was then told that her wish to go on a Disney Cruise with her family has been granted.
Over the years, the Orange Bowl has been able to invest millions of dollars toward South Florida youth and sports through support of intercollegiate athletics, education, events, organizations and causes, in addition to the tremendous economic impact it provides. At this year’s event, more than $100,000 was given back to the South Florida community with the event proceeds going toward Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, Special Olympics Florida and the Orange Bowl Leadership Academy.
James Beard Award-winning chef/restaurateur, Michael Schwartz, was this year’s headlining Celebrity Chef. The evening was hosted by Lisa Petrillo, the award-winning Entertainment and Lifestyle Reporter for WFOR, CBS4 in Miami. Healthy lifestyle crusader, author and James Beard Award-winning chef, Rocco DiSpirito, also made a celebrity chef guest appearance.
More than 30 restaurants and vendors participated in this year’s OBIEs. In addition to the winners, those that participated were 3030 Ocean, S3, YOLO, Anheuser-Busch Craft Corner, Around the Globe Baking Co., Casa D’Angelo Ristorante, CHOCOLATE FASHION, Coca-Cola, Coffee Hub, Don Paella ft. Chef Youry Tundidor, Exquisite Bites Catering ft. Chef Anthony Ramirez, I Heart Mac & Cheese, Lulu’s Nitrogen Ice Cream, Martini Bar at Gulfstream Park, Mercer Wine Estates, MIAMI BEAH EDITION HOTEL Matador Room by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Morton’s Steakhouse, Ms. Cheezious, Pinch Kitchen, Proof Pizza & Pasta, Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar Fort Lauderdale, Rusty Pelican, SAVOR, SOBE Promos, South Beach Raw Bar, Stella Artois, SUVICHE, Texas de Brazil and The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
Winners:
Overall “Flavor of South Florida” – Harry’s Pizzeria
Harry’s meatballs in sauce
Best Broward Restaurant – M.E.A.T. Eatery And Taproom
Housemade chorizo sausage patties topped with American cheese and chimichurri aioli
Best Miami-Dade Restaurant – Harry’s Pizzeria
Harry’s meatballs in sauce
People’s Choice – The Salty Donut
Maple bacon, brown butter + salt, traditional buttermilk glazed, GF chocolate cake donuts
Best Dessert – CHOCOLATE FASHION
Petit fours, macaroon and pâte de fruit
Much of the success and longevity of The OBIEs can be attributed to Florida Blue, the presenting sponsor, which is joined by associate sponsors Capital One, Coca-Cola, Dave & Buster’s, Deloitte, Florida Prepaid College Board, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mercer Estates, NCCI, Stella Artois, Sun Life Stadium, Toyota, Wizard Creations and our media sponsors CBS South Florida Television Stations, WFOR-TV & WBFS-TV.
Photo Credit – Orange Bowl Committee