Congratulations, you made it through yet another working week. You might as well give yourself a pat on the back to celebrate — or better yet, a drink or three.
Whether you're looking to attend Delray Beach's inaugural Bacon & Bourbon Fest, want to check out the grand opening of Barrel of Monks Brewery in Boca Raton, or want to meet Kathie Lee Gifford at Whole Foods in Boca Raton, there's something for you to do in South Florida this weekend.
Friday
13th Annual Boca Bacchanal Wine & Food Festival
This year marks the 13th annual Boca Bacchanal, benefitting the Boca Raton Historical Society. The festival begins the evening of Friday, March 27, held for the first time at the Boca Raton Atlantic Airport Hangar. During this annual event, celebrate everything Boca Raton with cuisine prepared by five-star chefs from more than 30 local restaurants, and fine wine tastings from vintners across the world. This year will also host a craft beer garden, jet and car presentations, live entertainment, and more. The Boca Bacchanal Wine & Food Festival kicks off on Friday, March 27 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Entry is $35 per person. The vintner dinners will take place on Saturday, March 28, at various locations throughout Boca Raton. Both events start at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Bacchanalia event are $125 per person, and tickets for the vintner dinners are $325 per person. Visit bocabacchanal.com.
Tap Takeover at Tucker Duke's Lunchbox
Head to Tucker Duke's Lunchbox in Deerfield Beach for a Lost Coast Brewing tap takeover on Friday, March 27, starting at 6 p.m. The Lost Coast beer rep will be there with some beer swag for the brewery's biggest fans. For $6 a pint, you can choose from six Lost Coast brews, including the 8 Ball stout, Double Trouble IPA, Downtown Brown ale, Indica IPA, and Apricot or Tangerine wheat. Pair that beer with the restaurant's latest special dish, available for a limited time: seared salmon with a wilted citrus kale salad and roasted garlic pilaf.
Food Babe Coming to Fort Lauderdale
The food blogger known as the Food Babe (her real name is name Vani Hari) has hit the motherlode of internet fame by targeting industrialized food producers and calling them out on unrecognizable chemical additives. Hari was recently named one of “The 30 Most Influential People On The Internet” by Time Magazine, and now she's bringing her advocacy efforts to South Florida. Thanks to the ladies of SEED Food and Wine Festival, Hari will be giving a talk and doing a book signing at Green Bar & Kitchen this Friday, March 27, and everyone is invited. Green Bar & Kitchen will be hosting a "GBK Talk" and book signing with Hari — aka the Food Babe — author of The Food Babe Way. The event will kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. For details visit the Facebook event page.
Saturday
Barrel of Monks Grand Opening
Boca Raton, and South Florida at large, get prepared for a uniquely niche brewery to hold its grand opening this coming Saturday March 28: the Belgian-centric Barrel of Monks Brewery. Starting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the new brewery, which has been holding soft open days the past couple of weeks, will be tapping kegs to the public to celebrate their opening. Expect a diverse showing of Belgian beers produced in house, right here in southern Palm Beach County. The event will feature a plethora of food trucks (Palate Party, BC Tacos, Sweet Daddy BBQ and Wholesome Rollers so far) including live music, a silent disco, guest taps from local Florida breweries including Saltwater Brewery, Funky Buddha Brewery, Due South Brewing, Copperpoint Brewing Company, Twisted Trunk Brewing, and Tequesta Brewing Company. Beers will be $5 a pour, or for those looking to sample all day, a limited number of unlimited drink tickets available for $40 per person.
Bacon & Bourbon Fest Delray Beach
Love bacon? Drink bourbon? Lovers of both can pig out while sampling each of America's favorite food and drink in Delray Beach this weekend. The inaugural Bacon & Bourbon Fest is going down all weekend, starting Saturday, March 28 from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, at Old School Square Park in the city's downtown area. Both days, festival-goers can taste-test all types of bacon-based dishes, and wash down all that porky goodness with a full liquor bar, more than 20 bourbon selections available for tastings, and a number of specialty cocktails made just for the event. The most impressive festival feature will be the 80-feet worth of food vendors offering everything from Dr. Pepper and bourbon glazed pork belly and pork parfait, to bacon cheddar bratwurst and deep-fried bacon ice cream. Participating vendors include Boston's on the Beach, 50 Ocean, South Beach Grill, Florida Pizza Company, and Carefree Catering. Tickets to the main event cost $25 per person, which includes $10 of coupons toward food and drink, as well as access to the live music performances featuring several blues bands. If you'd prefer a more private dining experience, tickets are still available for several exclusive specialty seminars and tastings, which feature local chefs. Visit delraybaconandbourbonfest.com.
Mess O’ Blues, Beer & BBQ Fest
If you like blues and barbecue, you're in for a treat this weekend with the annual Mess O' Blues, Beer, & BBQ Fest in Pompano Beach. During the event, experience an array of blues with a star-studded lineup including Louisiana Blues, Kansas City Swing Blues, Chicago Blues and Memphis acts. The festival features more than 10 local and national artists on two stages. You’ll also experience a ton of savory barbecue and beer tastings. The festival beer garden and lounge will have more than 30 national and local micro-breweries on tap. The festival will take place at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater on Saturday, March 28 from noon to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are general admission festival seating, and cost $25 per person. Children under 12 are free. To purchase tickets online visit the Pompano Beach Arts website.
West Palm Beach World of Beer Wonderland
The West Palm Beach World of Beer will be celebrating its four-year anniversary this weekend with a beer wonderland. On Saturday, March 28, the draught lineup will feature more than two dozen Cigar City Brewing specialty releases with rolling release times from 2 to 8 p.m. All day you'll be sure to find standard offerings, like the Hotter Than Helles lager and Maduro brown ale, to the Invasion American pale ale and Session berliner. At noon, the good stuff starts tapping, including Andre's Belgian brown, vanilla Maduro on nitro, and Patio Tools on nitro. At 4 p.m., the Cubano-style espresso porter, White Oaked Peach IPA, and Strawberry Shortcake go live. Loyalty customers get access to limited and exclusive tappings all day long. For more information visit the World of Beer Facebook event page.
Kathie Lee Gifford Wine Event at Whole Foods Boca Raton
There are certain undisputed truths that everyone can agree on: the earth revolves around the sun; no one likes paying taxes; and Kathie Lee Gifford loves her wine. A lot. The Today Show host has partnered with California’s Scheid Family Wines to craft a 2011 Red Blend and a 2012 Chardonnay. On Saturday, March 28, from noon to 2:30 p.m., you can meet Gifford and get a bottle of her vino signed at Whole Foods in Boca Raton.
Yappy Hour at Funky Buddha Brewery
Saturday, March 28, Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park is teaming up with another great Dog Rescue 100+ Abandoned Dogs of the Everglades this weekend for a good cause. In the past few years more than 2,000 dogs (and 40 cats) have been rescued from the Everglades, and it's all thanks to the 100+ Abandoned Dogs, a local nonprofit dedicated to rescuing abounded pets. If you'd like to support their cause, stop by Funky Buddha Brewery this Saturday to enjoy a happy hour drink. A $5 donation will get you a wristband that is good for an extended "Yappy Hour" that allows you $1 off all Funky Buddha drafts inside from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.
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