Welcome to the South Beach Wine and Food Festival

The sunny shores of Miami’s South Beach are getting a lighter, brighter look today as the city kicks off the first day of the Food Network’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Celebs, chefs, foodies, gourmands – and a few beach bums – are descending on those signature white tents on Ocean Drive to mingle with, cook with, learn from, and chow down with some of the best and most sought after chefs, sommeliers, and culinary personalities.

We’ll be covering as much ground as possible (and sampling every dish) during the day in the Grand Tasting Tent, a showcase of 40 different restaurants and more than 80 wine, spirits, and beverage suppliers. And at night, we’ll be checking out events sponsored by our favorite chefs. Though the schedule is packed and our plates are full (yes, already), here’s a roundup of events we’ve got on our radar. (And keep an eye out on our Out in the World blog and Facebook and Twitter pages for the most up-to-the second delicious coverage.)

Buen provecho and happy festivaling.                                  

Thursday

Moët Hennessy The Q After Dark, February 21, 10 pm

After the party, it’s the after party. Join chef Curtis Stone at Mansion Nightclub for a Cirque du Mansion performance, complete with Moët & Chandon Champagne and cocktails from Belvedere Vodka, Hennessy Cognac, Grand Marnier, and 10 Cane rum.

Friday

From Big Apple to Big Easy, February 22, 7 pm

Join Aarón Sánchez, John Besh, Marcus Samuelsson, and Jonathan Waxman for a beachside walk-around tasting. Each of the four chefs will present an entrée and a side dish, as they mingle, talk, and cook with guests. Save room for dessert, prepared by Mandarin Oriental Pastry Chef Frederic Monnet. 

Amstel Light Burger Bash, February 22, 7:30 pm

Rachel Ray is back to host her wildly popular signature burger party, presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats. This is a walk-around sampling of the most delectable and creative burgers in the country. Try as many as you can while leaving room for crazy good side dishes and beer and wine, and then vote for your favorite (assuming you can pick just one). Though chef Michael Symon from B Spot Burgers has claimed the oh-so-coveted People’s Choice Award the last three years, we’ve got our eye on Carlos Barillas from Burger and Beer Joint and Christie Galnares from STK Miami.

Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best, February 22, 7:30 pm

Join Wine Spectator as they invite the best new chefs in the country and some of their favorite chefs from past years, and ask them to make their best dishes. Pair them with the best wines rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s scale, and you've got yourself a headline event. Mingle as chefs prepare your plates and winemakers pour you a glass, all while you take in the gorgeous surroundings of the classic Fountainbleau Hotel.

Godiva Indulge, February 22, 10 pm

Duff Goldman is partnering up with Godiva and taking over the Dream Hotel rooftop for a sweet treat that lasts all night. Enjoy the stars, sip on Le Grand Saint Sparkling Vodka, sample Godiva chocolates, load up on chef creations, including a Duff Goldman signature cake, and work on a sugar high that lasts all weekend.

Saturday

Celebrity Chef Golf Tournament Hosted by José Andrés, February 23, 7:30 am

For you golfers and early birds, join chef José Andrés for an 18-hole culinary tour at the Champion Raymond Floyd designed golf course at Turnberry Isle Resort. Each foursome will be paired with a chef, winemaker, or spirit producer to guide them through the food and drinks that will appear through the course. Though this event is a little too rich for our blood (single tickets are $650), we’re excited to see José Andrés around the tents on Ocean Drive.

Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village, February 23, 11 am

It’s time to eat! Stroll through the Grand Tasting Tent to get a bite and a snack from all your well-trusted brands and retailers. Then get your learn on at the KitchenAid Culinary Demonstration stages for 45 minute demos from your favorite chefs. We’re most excited to watch: Martha Stewart, Aarón Sánchez, Curtis Stone, and Anne Burrell. And we’re excited to try: Flor de Cana, Numanthia Wines, Kappa Pisco, Partida Tequila, Terrazas de los Andes, Mercadito Midtown, Taverna Opa, and Texas de Brazil.

Brunch with Bobby Flay, February 23, Noon

Wake up with Bobby Flay as he shares some of his most delicious brunch recipes. Grab a glass of Château D'Esclans rosé and a whisk, as Flay and chefs from his restaurants whip up some of their most inspired breakfast dishes.

Pescado and Pisco: A Taste of Peru, February 23, 5 pm

Join Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio and chef Laurent Tourondel for the best of Peru. Acurio, best known for his original Peruvian restaurant Astrid y Gastón (rated one of the The World’s 50 Best Restaurants) joins Tourondel in his kitchen to discuss and taste the beauties of a balanced ceviche dish, paired with the country's national drink: the pisco sour.

A Red Hot Night: Presented by Target, February 23, 10 pm

South Beach taps into its Cuban roots for a 1950s Havana-inspired theme party with chef Ingrid Hoffmann. Get a few salsa tips from the Univision Mira Quién Baila dancers, then dance the night away to the sounds of Celia Cruz All Stars and the Soulfrito DJ Collective as you snack on bites created by Hoffman herself.

Sunday

Fun and Fit as a Family, February 24, 10 am

This family friendly event pairs up food and fitness to encourage parents and kids to learn the basics of healthy eating, together. Kids can run free and explore in the food garden, play sports on the Jungle Island beach, and get dirty in the interactive kitchen. Parents can enjoy a stunning setting and delicious foods, prepared and hosted by chefs Lorena Garcia and Aarón Sánchez.

Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village, February 24, 11 am

Day two of eating and learning in the white tents! Today we cannot wait to see José Andrés!! Your favorite chefs, restaurants, and purveyors are setting up again, so if you missed one yesterday, today is the day.

Wine Spectator Wine Seminar, February 24, 1 pm

Join Wine Spectator for a serious education in wine. Learn about the qualities of specific wines, as well as about the grapes and techniques that go into creating your favorite libations. Mingle with vintners and principals from estates as you learn the basics and how to identify and articulate the flavors that appeal to you most. Seminars go throughout the weekend but we’re most excited for todays, which features Bodega Numanthia from Northwest Spain. We can’t wait to try the Tinta de Toro, a particularly intense and fruity variety.

Trucks on Midtown’s Tracks, February 24, 3 pm

Join Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern to celebrate Miami’s ever-growing truck scene. Head on over to the Wynwood neighborhood and sample from some of your favorites, with wine and cocktails in hand, of course. Don’t miss: CubanCube, El Rey de las Fritas, and Pescados Unidos.

Goya Foods Swine and Wine, February 24, 5:30 pm

Join host chef Michelle Bernstein for the festivals southernmost event (at the Biltmore Hotel), presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats. More than a dozen chefs (including Bernstein, Ingrid Hoffmann, and Douglas Rodriguez) and local Miami friends have been invited to share their version of a roasted pig and showcase their secret blends of ribs and spices. Pit masters will then bring out perfectly cooked whole roasted pigs from caja chinas and serve them alongside delicious sides. Save room for dessert.