TASTE FORT LAUDERDALE SERIES RETURNS FEBRUARY 22-26, 2017 PART OF THE FOOD NETWORK & COOKING CHANNEL SOUTH BEACH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®) returns for its 16^th year in 2017, along with the 2^ndAnnual Taste Fort Lauderdale event series, February 22-26.

The five-day Taste Fort Lauderdale Series, kicks off on Wednesday, February 22^nd at the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens with Seaside Eats hosted by Anne Burrell, author and star of Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition. New for 2017 is DRINK Fort Lauderdale, a cocktail-focused late night party on Friday, February 24^th in Fort Lauderdale’s creative arts district, F.A.T. Village. On Sunday, February 26^th, a Bloody Mary Brunch will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, with new hosts David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris.

In addition, intimate dinners and special culinary events with local and celebrity chefs will take place during the 2017 Taste Fort Lauderdale Series. Celebrities and chefs hosting the intimate dinners include:

February 23^rd: Amanda Freitag and Chef Angelo Elia at Casa D’Angelo Ristorante
February 23^rd: Marc Murphy and Chris Miracolo at S3 Restaurant
February 24^th: Point Royal Clambake hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian, Valerie Bertinelli, Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar at Diplomat Resort & Spa
February 25^th: A North Carolina Sisterhood hosted by Ashley Christensen, Vivian Howard, Andrea Reusing, and Burlock Coast’s Gavin Pera and Ryan Cross at Burlock Coast

“After a successful inaugural event last year, we are extremely proud to host the 2^nd Annual Taste Fort Lauderdale Series,” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Conventions & Visitors Bureau. “With a star-studded line-up, the return of event favorites and the addition of new programming, we can’t wait to share the diverse, creative and delectable culinary options in Greater Fort Lauderdale.”

For more details and ticket information, visit www.sobefest.com. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University. For information on Greater Fort Lauderdale’s restaurants, visit www.sunny.org/restaurants.