South Florida’s Fabulous Foodie Event is Back with Bells On For its 20th Edition
Clear your schedule, loosen your belt, and leave your Louboutins at home (at least for beach gatherings) – Every foodie’s favorite culinary party is back for its annual return. With an action-packed line-up of incredible dinners, tastings, and live entertainment that sells out faster than hand sanitizer, we’ve found 15 not-to-be-missed events that you can still get tickets to. Dilly-dalliers, you’re in luck, but act quick!
Here’s your inside guide on where to eat, drink and be merry:
1) Thursday, May 20th — Carbone Fine Food presents Italian Bites on the Beach
Sponsored by Havas House and hosted by Emmy award-winning TV personality and chef Giada De Laurentiis, Carbone is officially kicking off SOBEWFF with a hefty dose of La Bella Vita. Founded by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick, Carbone is an acclaimed Italian restaurant whose newly opened Miami outpost has become the hardest reservation to secure. Guests can join 24 of South Florida’s greatest chefs, indulging in dishes originating from various regions of Italy including Piedmont, Tuscany, Sardinia, Campania, and more, perfectly paired with wines and libations from the Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits portfolio.
Cost: Early Access $250/General Admission $175; https://sobewff.org/italian/
2) Thursday, May 20th — BBQ Dinner Hosted by Chris Lilly
Bib at the ready, Miami. Get ready to experience a seriously famous barbecue.
Master and champion of the grill, Chef Chris Lilly has won five Memphis in May Grand Championships, eight barbecue grand championships, and six world championships, and was even recognized by The Wall Street Journal as having the best pork barbecue in the country. Guests will be able to enjoy their down home southern experience at Hometown Barbecue (from Brooklyn restaurateur Bill Durney) with craft cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Cost: General Admission $250; Sold Out; https://sobewff.org/hometown/
3) Thursday, May 20th — Explore Delray Beach Market
Hosted by up-and-coming television chef Nick Giovanni, this event officially brings SOBEWFF up to Palm Beach County for the first time ever! Delray Beach Market, South Florida’s coolest new model food hall and art experience located just 50 yards south of Atlantic Avenue in the heart of Downtown Delray Beach offers craveable bites, delicious cocktails, visionary art, and stylish pop-ups. During this late-night soirée, guests can enjoy their favorite culinary creations from around the globe, perfectly executed by chefs that span the globe from Italy to California to New York to right here in sunny South Florida.
Cost: General Admission $125; https://sobewff.org/delray/
4) Thursday, May 20th — A SOBEWFF® 20th Anniversary Celebration hosted by Martha Stewart and David Grutman featuring a Performance by The Chainsmokers and presented by JAJA Tequila
The Grand Tasting Village is back to refresh and tantalize taste buds with offerings from more than 30 restaurants and an array of wines and spirits from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. Take a refreshing stroll through an unending array of scents and tastes in the Grand Tasting Tents while celebrating all areas of South Florida as participating restaurants represent distinct districts across South Florida — from South Miami and Coral Gables to Brickell, Wynwood, South Beach and on into Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. Fans will continue to enjoy more places to relax and absorb this grand experience, whether it’s with a cocktail under the shade or your hips swaying to the rhythm of the palm trees on the beach.
Cost: General Admission Session 1 $200, Session 2 $200; https://sobewff.org/gtvsat/
10) Saturday & Sunday, May 22 & 23rd — Goya Foods’ Fun and Fit as a Family featuring Kidz Kitchen / part of the Hallandale Beach Event Series
Guests are invited to join their favorite chefs and culinary personalities for two fun-filled days of food, fitness, and learning at Goya Foods’ Fun and Fit as a Family featuring Kidz Kitchen at Peter Bluesten Park in Hallandale Beach. This family-friendly event at the Festival allows parents and kids to learn the basics of a healthy lifestyle directly from their favorite Food Network and Cooking Channel personalities and beloved South Florida chefs. Children of all ages will have the chance to explore and enjoy some fun under the sun and enjoy hands-on learning experiences and healthy bites.
Cost: Saturday Admission $15, Sunday Admission $15; https://sobewff.org/fff/
11) Saturday, May 22nd — Moët & Chandon BubbleQ hosted by Guy Fieri
The rumors are true! Crisp champagne and mouth-watering BBQ, anyone? The event that kicked off the Festival two decades ago, and put SOBEWFF on the culinary map, is back! The fan-favorite champagne BubbleQ® is back for one night only. This signature event seamlessly blends the down-home, mouthwatering world of barbecue with free-flowing Moët & Chandon – an original sponsor of the Festival – to create a satiating and sizzling combination guaranteed to thrill the palate! They’ve tapped Emmy Award-winning rockstar Chef Guy Fieri to host this party alongside some of America’s most fearless pitmasters and grill maestros with 20+ chefs roasting their most mouth-watering creations low and slow on the beach. A variety of beef, pork, poultry, seafood, and more will get both classic and modern treatments from these talented chefs, who come from all around Florida to captivate taste buds.
Cost: Early Access $350, General Admission Session 1 $250, General Admission Session 2 $250; https://sobewff.org/bubbleq/
12) Saturday, May 22nd — Fontainebleau Miami Beach presents Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best sponsored by Capital One®
Ready for 30 of the nation’s top chefs to showcase their most gourmet samplings to pair with over 60 wines rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s scale? We thought as much. The poolside lawns of the Fontainebleau Miami Beach set the perfect al fresco stage for the finest night under the stars, featuring a cohort of critically-acclaimed chefs, James Beard Award nominees and finalists, Food & Wine Best New Chefs, and more decorated talent. Only proprietors and winemakers from each winery are invited to pour their top varietals so guests can hear about how some of the world’s greatest vino makes it from their vineyards to their glasses.
Cost: Early Access $400, General Admission $350; https://sobewff.org/bob2/
13) Saturday, May 22nd — Rockin’ Sushi hosted by The Succulent Bite®
It’s a little rock, a little roll, and a whole lot of fun as guests join culinary explorer Nico Norena, founder and creator of The Succulent Bite, for an epic late-night party unlike any other, poolside at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. A longtime Festival friend, Norena is one of Miami’s favorite foodie Instagram influencers and content creators, and he’s bringing his passion for sushi and rock ’n roll tunes to South Beach this year. Guests can put their chopsticks to work as they indulge in some of the best sushi, sashimi, hand rolls, and more that the Magic City has to offer – all curated by Norena himself. Wash down these flavorful bites while sipping on specially-prepared libations and jamming out to a high-octane rock ‘n roll playlist during this super-charged soirée under the stars.
Cost: General Admission $150; https://sobewff.org/sushi/
14) Saturday, May 21st — Celebration Dessert Party! 20 Years of Miami Spice and SOBEWFF® hosted by Scott Conant
When two South Florida hospitality industry game-changers both turn 20, there’s only one way to celebrate the good time: a late-night party overflowing with incredible desserts and free-flowing libations at The National Hotel. Join Scott Conant, the fan-favorite mastermind behind Scarpetta by Scott Conant and host of Food Network’s Chopped Sweets, for a soiree of sweet decadence and celebration. Savor seemingly endless late-night indulgences from the most delectable cakes and gooiest cookies to confectionery creations and luscious ice cream. Sample sweets from more than a dozen South Florida dessert destinations and sip on palate-cleansing wines, beers, and spirits from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio.
Cost: General Admission $95; https://sobewff.org/dessert/
15) Saturday, May 22nd — BACARDI presents Best of the Fest hosted by Andrew Zimmern
With 15+ fan-favorites from throughout the years and a special guest performance by 90’s icon, Grammy Award-winner and frontman of legendary group RUN DMC Rev Run, Bacardi is ready to close out the epic 20th anniversary of the Festival with a celebration of joie de vivre hosted by good friend and James Beard Award-winning TV personality Andrew Zimmern, who also moonlights as a chef, food writer, and teacher. Zimmern is widely regarded as one of the most versatile, knowledgeable and “bizarre” personalities in the food world, and he’s ready to bring his vivacity and passion to this stroll down memory lane on the sand. Missed some signature SOBEWFF Events? This event’s recreating some fan-favorite bites from past Festivals. Think Lucky Chopsticks, Southern Kitchen Brunch, Paella & Tapas by the Pool, Emeril’s Sugar Shack.
Cost: General Admission $125; https://sobewff.org/bacardi/