Inaugural Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival will debut Friday, March 22 – Sunday, March 24, 2019 in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, featuring culinary creations and libations from more than 100 local restaurants, leading spirit brands, wineries and breweries. The Festival, which will benefit Feeding South Florida, will showcase Broward County’s renowned and emerging chefs and restaurateurs and highlight the culinary renaissance that is currently sweeping through Broward County.

 

The inaugural Festival will include a full-day Grand Tasting Event on Saturday, March 23 featuring beverage tastings, cooking demos, live music and art installations from local talent; and a FREE Family Day & Food Drive benefitting Feeding South Florida on Sunday, March 24.  Both events will take place at ArtsPark Hollywood.  There will also be a Kick-off event on Friday, March 22 in Fort Lauderdale with details to be released soon.

 

Chef Angelo Elia, owner of the Angelo Elia Restaurant Group which includes Casa D’Angelo, Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar & Tapas and The Bakery Bar, and Broward County’s premiere chef, has been named as the Host Chef of the inaugural Festival.  During the Grand Tasting event, Chef Angelo will “wow” the attendees with a unique cooking demonstration. Every year since September 2000, Chef Elia has been honored with the “Best of Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator. He has also received the “Golden Spoon Award” from Florida Trend Magazine for the past 18 years. He also received four stars by former food critic M.L. Warren of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.  “I am extremely excited and honored to be the Host Chef of the Inaugural Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival,” said Chef Angelo Elia. “Broward County includes many of the country’s top chefs and now we get to show off our culinary chops!”

 

The epicurean weekend will benefit Feeding South Florida with a portion of all proceeds from the Grand Tasting on Saturday being donated to the charity.  While Sunday’s Family Day is FREE to attend, the suggested donation for admission is four canned goods per person that will go directly to Feeding South Florida.

 

“We’re excited to launch the Inaugural Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival to introduce all the wonderful culinary delights and spirits that the Greater Fort Lauderdale area has to offer our local residents and out-of-town visitors,” said Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival Founder Kate Reed, a veteran of producing major South Florida events and building philanthropy efforts.  “We look forward to providing a fabulous event experience to bring our community together while benefitting local charities.”

 

 

The Festival is outlined as follows. Mini-event updates can also be found on the GFLFoodWine.com website 30-days prior to the main stage events:

 

Friday, March 22: Details about the Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival Kick-off event to be released soon.

 

Saturday, March 23: Grand Tasting at ArtsPark Hollywood (1-5 p.m.)

Features tastings, chef demonstrations, cooking demos, live music and more; a portion of all proceeds from the Grand Tasting on Saturday will be donated to Feeding South Florida.

Early bird special rates for General Admission tickets range from $60 – $75 *

Early bird special rates for VIP tickets range from $95 – $125*

(*Early bird ticket prices go up in price on January 3, February 20 and March 23)

 

Sunday, March 24:  Family Day & Food Drive at ArtsPark Hollywood (12-5 p.m.)

This FREE event promises to be fun-filled with local food trucks, live music and children’s activities including cooking demonstrations.  All ages welcomed. Food and beverage are a la carte.

Free admission with a suggested four (4) canned good donation for the non-profit – Feeding South Florida

 

Local Strategic Partners include:

  • Wandering Wines (Wandering Wines, Keen, Lost Find, Peaks and Valleys)
  • Onze (Maison Belle Claire Rosé)
  • One with Life Tequila
  • Florida Kush (Agave Spirit)

 

For more information and announcements about additional partners and participants, please visit www.GFLFoodWine.com.

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