Vegan Food & Wine Fest Hits Miami

Alison Burgos never imagined she’d be leading a plant-based life, let alone producing the first large-scale plant-based food festival in South Florida. But a health diagnosis and a reinvention changed everything. Now, she's celebrating life in every way with Seed Food and Wine, happening in October in Miami.

A Puerto Rican native and life-long foodie, Burgos was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis seven years ago. “I’ve always been a foodie and eaten poorly,” said Burgos. “I hadn’t taken good care of my body or my health and was overly stressed and got very, very sick.”

Not quite sure what she was suffering from, Burgos saw several doctors before she was finally diagnosed. One of the most disabling types of arthritis, RA isn’t hereditary. Researchers believe that it's a mix of genetics and environmental triggers. And what environmental trigger has more impact on your body than the food you put into it?

After three years battling the disease, countless visits to doctors, and multiple drug injections, Burgos became paralyzed from the waist down. Her life partner Michelle Gaber decided to look into a more holistic approach to managing Burgos' health. “She was so amazing," Burgos said. "For someone to love you that much and stand by you when you get sick like that is not easy.” Gaber bought every book, watched every movie, and convinced Burgos to go on her first ever vegan cleanse. It lasted 90 days.

“From one blood test to another I went from a very inflamed rate where my body was in complete chaos to remission,” Burgos said. It was the first time Burgos had been in remission in four years, a real eye opener for someone who had been a skeptic and carnivore her entire life. “That was the day I decided that my life would have to change forever, and I adapted to my new plant-based lifestyle.”

Burgos’ cleanse didn’t have perfect timing. It fell in line with South Beach Wine and Food Festival and her favorite event, Burger Bash. “I couldn’t eat anything and I was in a wheelchair, but I had a great time,” she said. It was a day Burgos would never forget, as the seed for Seed was planted. “Somewhere between all the laughing and eating, Michelle looked at me and said 'Why isn’t there something hip and cool like this for vegans? You have to do that.'" And so she did.

Next, Burgos plants the seed... [pagebreak]

After toying with the idea for about a year and continuing therapy, which led her to walk again, Burgos took action. “Saving my life became my passion, and sharing my story with other people through my event experience seemed like it was meant to be, and so I told Michelle 'alright, let’s do it!'” 

Fast-forward to today, the life partners and business partners have created a five-day festival whose agenda is focused on elevating South Florida’s consciousness of healthy living and wellness. Other cities, especially those on the West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland) have strong plant-based communities and stand behind sustainable agriculture. “In Miami, we’re a bit more superficial," Burgos said. "Our standards of wellness are tied to Botox, cosmetic surgery, tanning, and pumping iron. There’s so much more to it than that, and we want to start those conversations in a non-threatening way and educate people.”

One of the biggest misconceptions people have (Burgos included) regarding plant-based diets is that their options are limited. “I used to think nothing was ever going to taste good again or that I’d never be able to enjoy a meal by Eric Ripert or Thomas Keller,” said Burgos. “But then I learned that you can have an amazing, delicious, healthy food experience and celebrate food just the way they do but in a way that’s sustainable and organic.”

Her biggest challenge in her battle with food was giving up cheese, which she still indulges in but not without consequences. “Whenever I put something into my body I shouldn’t, like milk, it reacts automatically," Burgos said. "We’re not built to process those things.”

Burgos believes it’s all about the journey and that’s what Seed is all about. The festival caters to everyone, from those that currently lead plant-based lives to those who don’t but want to expand their knowledge. With five days worth of events, Burgos’ philosophy is go big or go home. She and Gaber are going big.

They’ve managed to line up some of the world’s leading authorities on plant-based eating, including two-time James Beard nominee Matthew Kenney, who will be opening White Lotus in Miami come winter. He, along with fellow James Beard nominees Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, will be hosting dinners during the festival. In addition, Seed will feature a farmer’s market, beer garden, yoga and meditation lounge, and several interactive events that highlight living a sustainable and balanced life.

“This is more than just a festival," Burgos said. "To me, it’s about having a relationship with your food and knowing where it comes from.”

Tickets and passes to the five days of festivities range from $10 to $125 per event or an all-inclusive VIP experience for $375. Click here for more info.