It’s every Miami foodie’s favorite time of the year: On Wednesday, February 21, the South Beach Wine and Food Festival kicks off its 17th year with over 85 events throughout the week. If you’ve waited this long to buy tickets, we have good news and bad news.
The bad news is that a lot of events are sold out. The good news is that there are still plenty that aren’t. If you’re trying to figure out which tickets to buy, we suggest these five events for the best bang for your buck.
Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach
Hands down our favorite event last year, this ode to Italian cuisine is not to be missed. This Thursday, more than 30 chefs will converge on the beach next to Delano and serve up food from different regions of the country. Expect to see (and taste) Dolce Italian, Prime One Twelve, Cecconi’s, La Moderna, Jack’s and other local favorites here.
Hosting the event is Giada De Laurentis, and there will be a musical performance by the rock band Smash Mouth. Aside from food, ticketholders can also enjoy classic Italian cocktails like negronis and Aperol spritzes all night long. If there’s only one event you attend, make it this one.
Click here to purchase your tickets.
Heineken Light Burger Bash
Even if you’re not familiar with SOBEWFF, you’ve most likely heard of the Heineken Light Burger Bash. It’s a celebrity-filled affair dedicated to one of the most beloved items in American cuisine. This year’s Burger Bash is hosted by Guy Fieri, and he’ll be helping the judges — and the audience — crown Friday night’s winners. Proof Miami, Pincho Factory, Quality Meats, Twisted Fork Kitchen, Upland, Airport Cafe and Liquors, and other local and out-of-state joints will have to win over attendees as well as the celebrity judges, who include Andy Cohen and Miami’s own David Grutman (Komodo, OTL). Word of advice: Come hungry.
Visit the official event page for more information.
Yappy Hour
There’s one reason you need to go to this Saturday afternoon event, and it’s a big one: puppies. Katie Lee and her chihuahua, Gus, will be hosting the event at Loews Miami Beach this year. Ticketholders will be treated to an assortment of drinks plus snacks for themselves and their pets. But honestly, just being able to hang out with dogs is worth the price alone. Check out the event page for more information.
Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village
Bring sunblock and enjoy a day on the beach during this SOBEWFF signature event, which features 50 food vendors and an array of adult beverages. While that number may seem overwhelming, the event has you covered by dividing the food into districts/neighborhoods; you’ll figure out the layout pretty fast. Make sure to take a break from stuffing your face by checking out the KitchenAid culinary demos. It’s likely that one of your favorite Food Network or Cooking Channel stars will be on stage at some point during the weekend. Last year, we got to see Marcus Samuelsson, Anne Burrell and Alex Guarnaschelli up there.
The event is all weekend long. For more information, click here.
Goya Foods’ Swine, Wine and Spirits
South Beach isn’t the only neighborhood hosting events. On Sunday evening, Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables will host a Latin-inspired pork party with chefs from Eating House, La Mar, Ariete, Bird & Bone, Taquiza, Stanzione 87 and other Miami institutions. The same team behind the successful DRINK MIAMI annual party at Freehand Miami is behind this event, so you know you’re going to have a good time closing out SOBEWFF. Get your tickets here.