A great weekend in food and drink should offer a chance to go from high- (wine dinners with renowned chefs) to low-brow (food truck rallies and eating competitions) without breaking a sweat. After the jump, find a list of five genre-spanning dining events going down this weekend in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
1. Festival Flea Market Food Truck Rally
The food truck season slowed a bit once the summer heat settled in with vigor, but there are signs that it's once again stirring. On Saturday, Festival Flea Market in Pompano Beach will roll out the red carpet for 20 trucks that will swarm to feed the masses at a free rally from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find more details about the twice-monthly gathering here.
2. Chef series at Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy
Noted master sommelier Virginia Philip has kicked off a chef series at her West Palm Beach Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy. The series begins with James Beard Award-nominee chef Clay Conley (Buccan, Imoto) who will present four small plates that will be paired with four wines. The cost is $50 and the tasting is 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
3. "Hot and Sweaty" meatball eating contest
Saturday's culinary showdown at Wicked Awesome Snackbar in Boca Raton gives new meaning to the term "great balls of fire." The independent restaurant will host a meatball-eating contest with one catch; the chicken 'balls are spicy and some of them will be laced with ghost peppers. Those with the intestinal fortitude to handle such a challenge have a shot at the grand prize; one of every type of craft beer on Wicked's beer list. The action goes down at 7 p.m.
b>4. Bon Festival
Tickets are sold out for Saturday's Bon Festival at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, and in an effort to keep numbers in check for the popular event, no tickets will be sold at the door. That being said, if you're a Morikami member, you can still get in without a reservation or any additional charge. Just be certain to bring your membership card and an ID to the gate. The festival is 4 to 9 p.m. Find more details here.
5. Gourmet wine dinner at the Backyard Bar
The Backyard Bar in West Palm Beach will host its monthly wine dinner on Saturday night offering three courses, hors d'oeuvres, and Chilian wines by Morande. The dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. and the cost is $45 per seat, plus tax and tip. Reserve a seat by calling 561-339-2444.
Down the Line
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