The most delicious time of year arrives when the 23rd annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) comes to town, February 22-25, 2024. The four-day festival takes place throughout Greater Miami & Miami Beach.

This famous foodie festival offers the opportunity to mix and mingle with more than 500 chefs, culinary experts and famous personalities from around the world while indulging in creative dishes and premium wines and spirits. Events run the gamut from beloved culinary happenings that are longstanding fan favorites to new events, including walk-around tastings, brunches, cozy dinners, master classes and wine seminars.

With a special focus on diverse programming, this year’s festival pays particular attention to Miami’s multicultural chefs and restaurants. And while this gourmet gathering is centered around tasty fun, it also does a world of good, with net proceeds benefiting the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.

Signature Events

These tried-and-true favorites are returning events that regulars look forward to every year. If you’re new to the festival, you’ll find that they’re a great introduction to the festival and everything it has to offer.

SOBEWFF® kicks off in fine fashion on Thursday, Feb. 22, with the long-running Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons®, where attendees can devour delicious burgers – and vote for their favorites. Held on the sands of South Beach, this event is hosted by chef and TV personality Rachael Ray in conjunction with a panel of celebrity judges.

On Friday, Feb. 23, festival favorite Guy Fieri hosts Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives LIVE in South Beach, offering the opportunity to be part of his popular show and dig into classic dishes and comfort food created by chefs from 24 restaurants, all of whom have been featured on his show.

On Saturday afternoon, James Beard award-winning chef JJ Johnson will once again amplify Black culture and history through a diverse range of global cuisines during The Cookout presented by Stella Artois at the Eden Roc Miami Beach.

The festival’s crown jewel is the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village, which takes place Saturday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb 25. Roam the tents on the beach to savor all the delicious goodness of the festival in one place and watch culinary demonstrations by well-known chefs.

Tacos & Tequila presented by Tequila Cazadores, hosted by Aarón Sánchez, is another fan favorite. Tasty tacos and tequila-starring cocktails take center stage at this event, which takes place on the beach on Saturday evening, Feb. 24.

New Events

Think you’ve been there, done that? You may have been to past festivals, but even regular festivalgoers will find new events to explore as organizers dream up fresh event concepts that will tempt your taste buds and crank up the fun factor with new takes on culinary entertainment.

A highly anticipated newcomer that’s sure to be a hit is Noche Cubana, hosted by Michelle Bernstein, David Martinez and Gio Gutierrez on Friday, Feb. 23 at the National Hotel Miami Beach. At this late-night party, expect salsa dancing, cigar rolling and delicious bites from Miami’s best Cuban chefs and restaurants.

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has devised a new event, Bobby’s Triple Threat, that he’s hosting with fellow judges Tiffany Derry, Brooke Williamson and Michael Voltaggio at the Kimpton Surfcomber Miami, South Beach on Saturday, Feb 24. A slate of hand-selected chefs will craft three dishes, competing against one another to create the best bite of the night.

Champagne and prosecco will flow freely at the new Bubbles Brunch on Sunday, Feb. 25 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, where the cast of Food Network’s “The Kitchen” – Katie Lee, Jeff Mauro and Geoffrey Zakarian – will treat guests to a walk-around brunch extravaganza.

Things will heat up on Sunday at Goya Foods’ Heritage Fire: Grand Finale at The Hangar in Coconut Grove, where winners from the 2023 national tour will cook over live fire, utilizing heritage-bred meats and heirloom vegetables. Attendees will vote for the best bite of the day, and one talented chef will be crowned the "Grand Finale Heritage Hero Champion" at the end of the event.

Once the sun goes down on Sunday, BACARDĺ presents The Block Party, hosted by Andrew Zimmern, will take over the sand. Imagine a house party with a special performance by Rev Run and graffiti artists creating on-the-fly art.

Intimate Dinners

Attending an intimate dinner is a great way to get up close to famous chefs and interact with them while indulging in their amazing culinary creations.

On Friday, Feb. 23, head to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) in Downtown Miami for an al fresco dinner at its waterfront restaurant, Verde, overlooking Biscayne Bay, with chef hosts Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio, Brooke Williamson and Zac Young. An extra perk: PAMM’s Director of Art will lead guests on a private tour of the contemporary art museum.

Another standout Friday dinner features culinary trailblazers Mashama Bailey, Tiffany Derry, Vallery Lomas and Tristen Epps, who will create a one-of-a-kind dinner with a global twist at Ocean Social at the Eden Roc Miami Beach.

One of the biggest affairs of the festival, the annual Tribute Dinner, takes place Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Expect an opulent Italian celebration honoring Chef Massimo Bottura and Campari Group chairman Luca Garavoglia and featuring an over-the-top meal created by a stellar lineup of Michelin-starred chefs.

Lunches and Brunches

Daytime events, with lively entertainment, flowing libations and delicious food crafted by lauded chefs, deserve just as much attention as the nighttime festivities.

Pasta lovers won’t want to miss the carb-inspired Pasta Omakase Lunch, hosted by Fabio Trabocchi, Thomas McNaughton, Ryan Pollnow and Danny Ganem, at Fiola Miami restaurant in Coral Gables on Saturday, Feb. 24. That same afternoon, also in Coral Gables, head to locally beloved Eating House for a brunch hosted by Giorgio Rapicavoli, Pablo Zitzmann and Eileen Andrade.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, expect a fun-filled, boisterous afternoon as the popular Drag Brunch, hosted by David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris, fills the open-air Miami Beach Bandshell with a fabulous show and craveable brunch dishes from acclaimed local chefs. New to the festival, the Champagne Dim Sum Brunch, hosted by Food Network host Molly Yeh, takes place Sunday at Hutong restaurant in Brickell. Prepare your taste buds for scrumptious dim sum dishes paired with sparkling wine and champagne.

Later on Sunday afternoon, check out the return of the highly anticipated Overtown EatUp!, curated by James Beard Award-winning chef and TV personality Marcus Samuelsson. Taking place at the Overtown Ninth Street Pedestrian Mall, this walk-around event will spotlight Historic Overtown and its chefs, culinary traditions, vibrant culture and rich history.

Tickets & Tips

Tickets, which range from $40 to $600, can be purchased at www.sobewff.org. The Capital One Cardholder Exclusive Presale begins at 9 a.m. EDT Monday, Oct. 30, and the public sale begins at 9 a.m. EST Monday, Nov. 6.

With many of the events taking place outdoors, it’s wise to wear sunscreen and dress in cool and comfortable clothing, with good walking shoes and a sunhat. The festival is a well-attended event, so it’s best to buy your tickets and book your hotel stay early. And while there is parking near the events, the use of rideshares is recommended.

By: Angela Caraway-Carlton

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