For three days every February, a stretch of Miami's South Beach turns into party central — even more than it already is throughout the other 362 days of the year. For food lovers, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF, if the full name is too much of a mouthful) is a can't-miss. The country's top chefs gather to host events for every type of eater: the boozers, the movers, and everyone in between. Here's what you need to know before you go.
It's the festival formerly known as the Florida Extravaganza.
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival launched in 1997 as the Florida Extravaganza. The one-day event showcased wines from all over the world paired with food from local restaurants and chefs.
The original festival was held on a college campus.
It wasn't such a see-and-be-seen spectacle. Florida International University, which remains one of SOBEWFF's hosts and benefactors, held the event at its Biscayne Bay campus.
Get to know Lee Brian Schrager: He's the brains behind the new operation.
In 2002, Schrager, then the director of special events at a wine and spirits distributor, gave the festival a heavy dose of Miami spirit. He moved it to South Beach (hence the name change), extended it for two more days, and added tons of glamorous events and features.
None of the Food Network stars showed up until 2007.
That's when the TV station signed a partnership deal with the festival, and its celebrity chefs began hosting special seminars and tastings.
SOBEWFF has a little sister in New York.
A year after Schrager brought Food Network to Florida, he launched a similar festival in New York, where many of the network's personalities are based. It takes place every October with more than 100 events — many identical to the ones thrown in South Beach.
Burger Bash is the most iconic event.
Rachael Ray held the first one in 2007, as part of the newly launched Food Network-hosted SOBEWFF. Big-name chefs devote three hours to all things burger, whipping up something they think will earn them an award — either People's Choice or the Very Best Burger, given out by a panel of judges.
BUY TICKETS NOW: Burger Bash, $250; sobewff.org
And it's got a brand-new host this year.
According to SOBEWFF's site, "Rachael Ray must miss this year after an impressive 11-year reign as hostess," so everyone's favorite frosted-tipped chef will be standing in. Along with Guy Fieri as host, Bravo's Andy Cohen, Kim Kardashian's BFF Jonathan Cheban, fashion designer Zac Posen, and Food Network chef Marc Murphy will hold seats on the judges panel.
If you want to pig out, head to the Grand Tasting Village.
For two days, chefs from more than 50 restaurants camp out under giant white tents on the beach. A one-day ticket will set you back more than $200, but you've got five hours to grab as many bites as you can.
BUY TICKETS NOW: Grand Tasting Village, $225; sobewff.org
It's also the best chance you have for celeb sightings.
Festival organizers set up stages in the Grand Tasting Village for Food Network chefs and other culinary personalities to lead demos. If you don't feel like shelling out the money to attend their private events, spend the day on the beach with your eyes wide open.
You might want to start pinching pennies.
Tickets to headliner events, like Burger Bash and dinners with top chefs (think: Tyler Florence and Michael Symon) can range from $200 to $350. It's already sold out, but 2018's most expensive ticket was a tribute dinner honoring Bobby Flay for $550.
That cash doesn't just fund the events though; a portion of the proceeds benefits FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Over the years, the festival's raised $26 million for the university.
BUY TICKETS NOW: Beachside BBQ, $200; sobewff.com
But not all of the events are that pricey.
On SOBEWFF's website, you can filter events by $100 and under — and they're still pretty legit: Kristin Cavallari is hosting a rosé happy hour, Katie Lee is putting on a snack event for festival-goers (human and canine), and Duff Goldman is throwing an ice cream social.
BUY TICKETS NOW: Family Ice Cream Social, from $25; sobewff.com
There are organized workouts so you can ditch your food baby.
Food Network's Robert Irvine isn't just a chef: He's an outspoken fitness fanatic. This year, he'll be leading a Barry's Bootcamp class, followed by bites from South Florida's healthiest restaurants. If you prefer something a little gentler than a man who can probably bench-press an oven yelling at you while you squat, try Buddhas and Bellinis, a yoga class with cocktails.
BUY TICKETS NOW: Buddhas and Bellinis, $35; sobewff.com
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