MIAMI BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representing the first major gastronomic event to take place this year, the 20th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) drew more than 30,000 attendees to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. May 20-23, 2021. Widely known as one of America’s favorite gourmet gatherings on the beach, the Festival consisted of more than 70 events, spanning Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Since its inception, the Festival has raised more than $31.8 million to support the education of the future leaders of the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.
With the Festival’s COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols in place, SOBEWFF® delivered a memorable guest experience that featured a multitude of new safety measures and guidelines throughout the weekend. Guest health screening at event venues included temperature checks, attestation of either a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to the event or completed vaccination and presentation of a cleared SymCheck™ QR Code; and a contactless ticketing system. In addition, the Festival utilized the first team of certified COVID-19 detection dogs in the U.S. at select SOBEWFF® venues. All Festival events took place outdoors and followed strict capacity restrictions, cleaning and sanitization protocols and mask requirements.
“I consider the 20th annual Festival a success not only for my team but for our industry, especially with the challenging circumstances we faced in planning the return of the country’s first major gastronomic event,” said Lee Brian Schrager, Festival Founder & Director. “From day one we focused on developing a program that would highlight and benefit the hospitality industry while simultaneously putting a premium on the health and safety of everyone involved and we feel we achieved just that.”
The weekend extravaganza was full of special moments at every event, but a few highlights include:
- Miami-based restaurant Kush, owned by FIU Hospitality alumnus Matt Kuscher, took home the Heineken® People’s Choice Award on Friday, May 21 during session one of the Heineken Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons® hosted by Bobby Flay and local pop-up Ted’s Burgers took home the top honor during session two.
- Frosty's Lab Nitrogen Yogurt & Ice Cream was the winner of Yelp's Best Bite on the Beach Award at Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village featuring Grand Tasting Tents & Publix Culinary Demonstrations sponsored by Sub-Zero Group Southeast on Saturday, May 22.
- The FIU Bartenders Guild, a student organization, received the Art of Tiki People’s Choice Award for their original cocktail, "The Sunblazer", at Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown presented by BACARDI Rums and Patrón Tequila hosted by Enrique Santos on Saturday, May 22.
- Poblano South took home Yelp's Best Bite on the Beach Award at Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village featuring Grand Tasting Tents & Publix Culinary Demonstrations sponsored by Sub-Zero Group Southeast on Sunday, May 23.
- Chef Jorgie Ramos was named winner of the Goya Foods People’s Choice Award at Goya Foods’ Swine & Wine hosted by Robert Irvine & Fernando Desa on Sunday, May 23.
The 20th annual Festival brought a variety of musical entertainers to delight fans at several events. On Thursday, May 20 SOBEWFF® kicked-off with a poolside performance from GRAMMY® Award-winning electronic duo The Chainsmokers at the Festival’s 20th Anniversary Celebration hosted by Martha Stewart and David Grutman. During Sunset Happy Hour presented by Santo Tequila hosted by Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagar co-host and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Sammy Hagar took the stage to perform a surprise set. GRAMMY® Award-winner and 90s icon Rev Run took the turntables at BACARDI presents Best of the Fest hosted by Andrew Zimmern and closed out the Festival with an unforgettable deejay set.
The festival’s 20th annual Tribute Dinner honored the outstanding accomplishments of the culinary community’s beloved Italian icon and Chef, Giada De Laurentiis and former CEO of Bacardi USA Eduardo M. Sardiña. Miami royalty and Masters of Ceremonies Emilio & Emily Estefan hosted the al fresco affair which took place poolside at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. An unparalleled roster of highly decorated chefs came together to curate a menu designed to celebrate these two esteemed personalities, including: Alex Guarnaschelli, Fabio Trabocchi, Frederic Delaire, Giancarla Bodoni and Michael Pirolo.
Many additional events, seminars, virtual demos and more rounded out the Festival weekend. In total, the Festival served up more than 4,500 cases of wines and spirits from valued brands part of the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (SGWS) portfolio, and featured more than 300 chefs, winemakers, spirits producers and lifestyle personalities.
In addition to the weekend extravaganza, the Festival supports the local community all year long. In 2020 alone, SOBEWFF® hosted a series of bake sales, virtual cocktail classes and holiday offerings which raised more than $1.6 million to provide financial support to independently owned and operated restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund. The SOBEWFF® Artisan Food Market on Lincoln Road, a limited-series outdoor monthly market which launched January 2021, gave over 60 small local culinary businesses an opportunity to showcase and sell their artisanal creations to the public. In addition, Festival host Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits partnered with Wine Spectator for an auction which raised $1.7 million for restaurant workers affected by the pandemic.
Between SOBEWFF® and its sister NYCWFF, which takes place each October in New York City, more than $45 million has been raised to benefit the respective charities for each Festival. Beyond the funds raised, both Festivals draw attention to the vibrant dining culture in their respective cities, provide economic stimulus in their communities, and serve as an invaluable platform to drive awareness, engage and inspire people to get involved in philanthropic activities and support the local community.
SAVE THE DATE: SOBEWFF® will return for its 21st annual edition February 24-27, 2022. Stay up to date all year long by following along with the #SOBEWFF hashtag on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
About the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One
EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management who also assist Festival organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, and inventory as well as working alongside some of the world’s greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. To date, SOBEWFF® has raised more than $31.8 million for the School. In September 2019, BizBash named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in the United States for the seventh year in a row.
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival® is produced by Florida International University and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information about the Festival, visit sobewff.org or call 877-762-3933. For more information about Florida International University visit fiu.edu, for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management visit hospitality.fiu.edu and for more information about Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits visit southernglazers.com.
