SOBEWFF Sweet 15 Review
By Samantha Dockser
Sweet 15 closed out Saturday night at the 2016 South Beach Wine & Food Festival (#SobeWff) on a sweet note. To celebrate SOBEWFF’s 15th anniversary, foodies partied the night away inside Miami Beach’s iconic The Villa, Casa Casuarina! Hosted by none other than the Ace of Cakes himself, Duff Goldman, this event left me in a dessert coma.
The beautiful Villa, formerly owned by Versace, set a perfect tone for the decadent treats I found inside. Whether you wanted to drink, lick, or chew your dessert, there was something for everyone.
The highlight of the night for me was, of course, meeting Duff Goldman. My family and I have been big fans of his since Ace of Cakes premiered on the Food Network. We even drove to Baltimore in the middle of a horrible snow storm in 2009 to buy a cake from him for my brother’s Bar Mitzvah. But last night, there was no snow. There was just good weather, great food, and big smiles all around. Duff was kind enough to take a picture with me, as well as many others. And his Charm City Cakes’ Grapefruit Meringue Crumble Push Pops served over a bed of candy left me a very happy girl.
The Villa’s front entrance was lined with tables of drinks. I particularly liked the “The champagne of dairy,” Kefir by Lifeway. What is Kefir? Well, it is a live and active cultured dairy beverage with a tart, tangy flavor. Associated with good health, this treat made me feel a little better about all the calories I was about to consume.
And then the drink that I loved—certainly a less healthy one—was the ILY Espresso Martini. A shot of espresso topped with a shot of vodka gave me the kick I needed to start eating.
The balcony overlooking the Villa’s patio housed two of my favorite treats of Sweet 15 prepared by Chef Luis Vasquez. The first dish was a fan favorite, Birthday Cake and Ice Cream. It is impossible to go wrong with such a classic.
The second dish was a Florida Citrus Bowl with crème and fruit. It was light, sweet, and refreshing.
Now down the steps to the patio, was dessert heaven—wall to wall chocolate, ice cream, cake, and cookies. I loved Jaques Torres’ Chocolate Extravaganza. It was whimsical, with something for everyone. The chocolate chunk cookies were my personal favorite treat on this incredible spread.
Another dessert that really excited me was Strawberry Lemon Cake created by Christina Tosi of Milk Bar. Milk Bar has been on my list of places to try for a long time, so I felt very fortunate to indulge in it last night. The cake was another light and refreshing dessert that left me feeling less guilty for all the eating at Sweet 15.
Another favorite Sweet 15 dessert drink of mine was the “Make Your Own White Russian Bar” sponsored by Kahlua. It was a hedonist’s dream.
Everything I tasted at Sweet 15 was incredible and I only wish I would have had more room in my belly to eat even more.
