Founder and organizer Lee Brian Schrager has a lot planned for the festival's 19th year. "Some people would think we would step back so we could make our 20th anniversary special, but we wanted to really go all out for out last teen year."
The SOBEWFF maven says the festival remains popular because it has evolved over the years to match the public's growing sophistication regarding food and drinks. "In the past 19 years, the audience for the festival has changed. Platforms like Yelp and YouTube allow everyone to have a voice and be a more educated consumer."
Schrager also cites the fact that the festival has benefited from Miami's ever-growing restaurant scene. "Twenty years ago, we really only had Joe's Stone Crab and the Forge. Now we have Thomas Keller and Fabio Trabocchi. I think our consumers have grown up."
To make this year's edition fresh, Schrager and his team are bringing back festival favorites such as Burger Bash and Best of the Best and introducing events that range from a celebration of the sandwich to an evening of food and music by Nu Deco Ensemble.
By the time the last drop of prosecco is gone Sunday evening, about 65,000 fans will have experienced the festival's food, drinks, and entertainment. If the mere thought of where to begin your culinary journey overwhelms you, take tips from the founder. "I would go to Best of the Best, a master class, some of the new events, and the Sunday Grand Tasting. That's enough where I've gotten a taste of the festival but I'm not overwhelmed," he says.
Here's a rundown of the newest SOBEWFF events on Schrager's radar: