The South Beach Wine & Food Festival has announced its 2013 event schedule.
The multiday festival that brings a host of celebrity chefs, events, parties, and dinners to Miami Beach, will run from February 21 to 24. Although that may seem far away, we suggest you start making plans and circling the events you want to go to, since tickets for the most popular parties, like the annual Burger Bash with Rachael Ray ($225) and the Q, hosted by Paula Deen and sons ($300), sell out quickly.
Ticket
sales open to Mastercard cardholders on Monday, October 8 at 9 a.m. The
presale runs through Sunday, October 21. Tickets open up to the general
public on Monday, October 22. Purchase tickets online at sobefest.com, or call 877-762-3933. (Phone sales open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
To
make choosing your events easier, Clean Plate Charlie is highlighting
some events that are "must-dos." For a complete listing, check out the
South Beach Wine and Food Festival website.
The Q ($300) Thursday, February 21, 7 p.m.
This official kickoff to the festival features 40 of the country's best pitmasters vying for your love by grilling mass quantities of brisket, ribs, chicken, and pork. Reigning queen of southern cooking, Paula Deen hosts this year, along with her sons, Jamie and Bobby. You're going to need something to wash down all this meat, and The Q comes through with plenty of Belevedere vodka, 10 Cane rum, and lots of bubbly from Moet.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi Screening, Hosted by Anthony Bourdain ($125) Friday, February 22, 5:30 p.m.
Anthony Bourdain is making a dinner and a movie date with you -- and you best answer the call! First, comes a screening of the story of Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world's greatest sushi chef. Then Tony will answer your questions in a Q&A session, followed by sushi and sake, hosted by renowned restaurateur Katsuya Uechi. The event takes place at the Wolfsonian Museum.
Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village ($225) Saturday & Sunday, February 23-24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Just like Mardi Gras or Time Square, you need to experience the Grand Tasting Village in all its crazy, wonderful glory at least once. Inside those giant white tents on the beach, you'll experience a theme-park of wine, food, and spirits -- literally. Everywhere you look, someone wants to put a generous pour of another gorgeous wine in your take-home complimentary glass or feed you another bite from Miami's best restaurants. Be sure to bring a camera because you never know who's standing next to you. Is that Bobby Flay? Paula Deen? Fabio Viviani? Could be, since the chefs not only go to conduct cooking demonstrations and sign cookbooks -- they're also here for a good time!
Guy Fieri's Roadshow & Reggae featuring Ziggy Marley, the Official Festival Closing Party ($95) Sunday, February 24, 6:30 p.m.
This new event sees Guy Fieri hosting the closing party/concert. This island-themed evening features cuisine from Cindy Hutson's Ortanique on the Mile. Be the first to try Ziggy Marley's new hemp-based (natch!) products, Ziggy Marley Organics, and groove to the soulful tunes of Ziggy Marley, who promises to play both his chart-topping music (remember Conscious Party?) and some of his dad's hits as well.
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