17th Annual SOBEWFF Returns to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. February 21 – 25, 2018.

One of America’s most prestigious gourmet gatherings, the Food Network and Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival has returned to South Beach for the new year! SOBEWFF has raised more than $26 million to date for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). This year’s edition will feature more than 90 events, including signature fan-favorite soirées, an array of new parties and intimate dining experiences, expanded CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series, and much more.

Check out how much we love SOBEWFF every year!

“We are truly looking forward to an exciting 17th edition,” noted Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager, who serves as senior vice president, communications & corporate social responsibility for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “With a variety of new experiences and refreshed fan-favorites, the 2018 SOBEWFF offers up a plethora of culinary, beverage and lifestyle events for passionate fans and hospitality industry professionals to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE.” The 17th annual Tribute Dinner presented by Bank of America as part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series gets a fresh new format this year, with a star-studded line-up of more than a dozen chefs cooking at this walk-around affair in honor of restaurateur, author, and beloved Food Network personality Bobby Flay and Treasury Wine Estates managing director and chief executive officer Michael Clarke. Top-rated radio host Elvis Duran will serve as the emcee during this not-to-be-missed evening taking place at Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Saturday, February 24, 2018. Also new this year, the celebration will continue at Sweet Moves: Late-Night Desserts & Dancing hosted by Bobby & Sophie Flay with beats by lifestyle guru and popular DJ Hannah Bronfman.

Iconic Miami Beach events continue to evolve and tantalize the taste buds of passionate fans from around the world, kicking off with Italian Bites on the Beach sponsored by HCP Media and the Miami Herald Media Company hosted by Giada De Laurentiis. The beloved Heineken Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons gets a new twist this year, with resident Food Network Rockstar Guy Fieri serving as its host. Additionally, the music revolution that began last year at the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village featuring Mastercard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations expands with the David Grutman Experience spanning both Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25. The BACARDÍ Beach Party also returns with late-night beats and eats under the Festival’s sparkling white tents on the sand, and the new Beachside BBQ hosted by Michael Symon closes out the weekend on Miami Beach. The third annual CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series returns with an all-star schedule of events in Broward County, including:

• Signature Wine Seminars presented by Bank of America, a BBQ Dinner hosted by Chris Lilly and Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach Chef Jorge Ramos and Clambake hosted by Emeril Lagasse and Jorge Ramos; all taking place at the brand-new Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach.
• The introduction of the Festival’s fan-favorite Lucky Chopsticks hosted by Andrew Zimmern and a Rooftop Rosé Happy Hour hosted by television star, jewelry and shoe designer, True Roots cookbook author and all-around lifestyle guru Kristin Cavallari – who is also a new parttime fixture on the South Florida scene thanks to the addition of husband Jay Cutler to the city’s beloved Miami Dolphins – at the W Fort Lauderdale.
• Plus, a selection of intimate dinner experiences with renowned chefs and a Grand Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian to top-off the series.

A variety of late-night parties accent the line-up, including returning fan-favorites like Tacos After Dark hosted by Rick Bayless and King’s Hawaiian presents the Taste of Aloha and Art of Tiki Cocktail Showdown hosted by Anne Burrell, and new experiences like Midnight Munchies hosted by JeanGeorges Vongerichten on the Art Deco oasis Española Way featuring special guest DJ Action Bronson round out the midnight owl offerings.

We’ve broken it down for the best events for any type of person!

For the human rights activist: Women of Syria Dinner hosted by Alon Shaya and Ingrid Hoffmann part of the CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series (Friday, February 23). Renowned chefs Along Shaya and Ingrid Hoffmann are coming together to bring the Festival a one-of-a-kind heritage food experience at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. A carefully curated family-style dinner will be prepared by women representing two organizations dedicated to supporting Syrian refugees that Shaya and Hoffmann work with – the Denver-based Comal Heritage Food Incubator and Miami-based Zaytouna and Syrian Supper Club. Together, these women will collaborate on a menu rich with their cultural influences to satiate taste buds and stories about their journey to America to satisfy the soul.

For the fitness fiend: Barry’s Bootcamp and Bites hosted by Robert Irvine (Saturday, February 24). In addition to being a chef and popular television personality, Robert Irvine is the author of the healthy living cookbook Fit Fuel: A Chef’s Guide to Eating Well and Living Your Best Life (Irvine Products, LLC; August 2015) and founder of Robert Irvine Foods – and he’s bringing his expertise straight to the sands of South Beach for this first-time Festival event. Irvine will be joined by co-instructor Derek DeGrazio, partner and head trainer for Barry’s Bootcamp Miami, to lead guests through the ultimate morning workout followed by healthy bites and refreshing libations.

For the pet-obsessed: Yappie Hour presented by Fetch My Vet hosted by Katie Lee (Saturday, February 24). It’s no secret that Katie Lee, celebrated cookbook author and co-host of the hit Food Network show The Kitchen, is head-over-heels for her new chihuahua rescue, Gus. She’s bringing him to experience the Festival for the first time, as they host this pooch-friendly afternoon happy hour at Loews Miami Beach Hotel featuring libations for the two-legged species and plenty of snacks for canines and humans alike.

For the daytime imbiber: Rooftop Rosé Happy Hour hosted by Kristin Cavallari part of the CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series (Saturday, February 24). Television star, jewelry and shoe designer, True Roots (Rodale Books, April 2018) cookbook author and all-around lifestyle guru Kristin Cavallari joins us at the Festival for the first time to host this early evening affair. Transport yourself to the lifestyle of St. Tropez without needing your passport, while sipping on Whispering Angel by Ch?teau D’Esclans, savoring specially prepared bites and enjoying sprawling views of the teal blue waters of Fort Lauderdale beach.

For the night owl: Midnight Munchies presented by Thrillist hosted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Action Bronson (Saturday, February 24). Late-night beats and midnight treats are the name of the game at this all-new Festival party. World-renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten serves as the evening’s host while recognized DJ and cookbook author Action Bronson dishes up his signature beats on the two-block oasis known as Española Way in South Beach’s Art Deco district. More than a dozen homegrown joints will satisfy all your sweet and salty late-night cravings while you sip on specially crafted libations and dance the night away at the ultimate Miami Beach block party.

For the those seeking the Caribbean heat: BACARDÍ presents Walshy Fire’s Rum & Bass Beach Party (Saturday, February 24). A taste of the Caribbean comes to the beach with Jamaican-American DJ Walshy Fire & Friends at this rum-centric soirée in the sand. Sip on refreshing libations while swaying to reggae-inspired beats and enjoying bites from 20 South Florida chefs at this second annual Festival event.

For the carnivorous grill master: Beachside BBQ hosted by Michael Symon (Sunday, February 25). Chef, restaurateur and popular Food Network personality Michael Symon will help close out the Festival weekend with the ultimate barbecue on the beach to celebrate the launch of his latest cookbook, Playing with Fire (Clarkson Potter, April 2018). He will host more than 30 barbecue maestros from joints across America to serve up their most decadent carnivorous creations cooked low and slow in the sparkling white sands beachside at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.

For the whole family: Family Ice Cream Social hosted by Duff Goldman (Sunday, February 25). A brand-new addition to this year’s Festival line-up, fans of all ages are welcome to join all-around dessert authority Duff Goldman for this afternoon soirée at Loews Miami Beach Hotel. More than a dozen creameries and parlors from throughout South Florida will be serving up their most decadent treats for the whole family to enjoy, with specially-crafted libations available for the adults.

EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. All proceeds from the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management who also assist Festival organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, and inventory as well as working alongside some of the world’s greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. To date, the Festival has raised more than $26 million for the School. In September 2017, BizBash named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in the United States for the fifth year in a row. The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival is produced by Florida International University and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs.

For more information about the Festival, visit sobefest.com or call 877-762-3933.

For more information about Florida International University visit fiu.edu, for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management visit hospitality.fiu.edu.

For more information about Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits visit southernglazers.com.