PhillyStreetStyle Goes South
PhillyStreetStyle Hits The Tents At The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Every February, both the culinary elite and foodie aficionados head to the warm sands of South Beach for the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival, a jam packed 4 day event thrown by one of the consummate event planners – Lee Schrager and his team and all for a good cause – to benefit Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Due to travel glitches, my events started a day later than most and first up for this gal was the “BubbleQ” hosted by Bobby Flay. BubbleQ is a highly coveted ticket every year and spotlights two specific tastes – champagne and BBQ – a perfect combination. Foodies wandered from station to station with glasses of bubbly in hand. One of the most memorable dishes was from Philly’s own Marc Vetri – his mortadella slider. Sadly, by the time we made it to the other end of the tent, in between chatting with various foodies and personalities, I was only able to briefly taste the pork that Jose Garces had showcased and it was so succulent and flavorful.
Saturday and Sunday played host to the “Grand Tasting Tents” and culinary demos. When Bobby Flay remarked that yes it was Saturday afternoon and he was already somewhat tipsy, I knew I was in the right place. These chefs are here to have a great time as well as the attendees. Sunny Anderson’s demo was fun and light hearted with a surprise appearance by both Emeril and Guy Fieri. Later on, Sunny, along with Robert Irvine and Emeril, paid a visit to Guy’s demo and they were “bad to the bone” messing up his mise en place. I am sure many of you already saw the infamous picture of Ms. Paula Deen, Robert Irvine and some “butter” shenanigans that are circulating in the papers. Another great demo was Hollywood’s own Debi Mazar who, along with her husband, Gabriele Corcos, whipped up some delish Tuscan dishes, all while talking about their new Cooking Channel show, Extra Virgin. She did joke that there was no way she was slicing garlic like “Goodfellas” and gave some quips about life in Hollywood. Some other notable attendees – the Travel Channel’s “bad boy”, Anthony Bourdain, Bizarre Food’s Andrew Zimmerman, Top Chef Masters’ winner, Rick Bayless, the Today Show’s Al Roker and Real Housewives’ alum Bethenney Frankel.
Tthe Grand Tasting is a remarkable sight. Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani was there with Bertolli. Emeril, Ming Tsai and Ingrid Hoffmann were with T-Fal. Book signings boasted long lines, especially for such talent as Giada de Laurentiis, Rachel Ray and Paula Deen. There were more varieties of wine, beer and spirits that would make a Philly Liquor Board rep’s head spin like the exorcist. Many people were trying everything under the sun and there were more people tipsy than in you would see in Olde City on a Saturday night. Key thing to remember: Less is more.
One of Las Vegas’ newest luxury hotels & resorts – The Cosmopolitan – had a “booth” in the Grand Tasting Village. In, all reality, this booth was more like a swanky “hotel suite” complete with a rooftop deck. The Cosmopolitan has some restaurants that have not had a foothold in Vegas by such chefs as Scott Conant, David Meyers and Jose Andres and caters to the discriminating foodie. Their chefs were not only serving up some scrumptious sliders and desserts including a raspberry coulis and lemon curd push up pop garnished with Pop Rocks, but also two of the best cocktails that I have had in a long time. I’m already on the hunt for those recipes for y’all, but I have to dish – the one I went gaga for has hints of gunpowder – yes, you read that right – gunpowder – that had us going back for seconds. Perhaps that was the “Best Thing I Ever Drank.”
That evening played host to “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” which, if you have watched the show, you know that Food Network people KNOW the best spots to eat. This theme was “on the beach” and they had a varied selection – from stone crab dishes from both Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos and Marcela Valladolid to Nathan’s Hot Dogs courtesy of Sunny Anderson and, for the sweet tooth, Chocolate & Peanut Butter S’Mores from Prime 112 and Claire Robinson. The tent was packed to the brim with foodies, Food Network personalities, Miami socialites and more Louboutins than in the Saks shoe department. Joining in on the fun was the musical stylings of the legendary KC & The Sunshine Band. Closing out Sunday evening was Guy Fieri’s closing party and some of Food Network’s newest talent mixed and mingled with those attendees who were not ready to say goodbye.
Monday morning found us having mimosas with some fabulous people overlooking the picturesque ocean while recounting the events of the festival. It left this gal with anticipation for next year’s festivities – and this time, I won’t pack the stilettos.
-Aly M. Cleary, CookingInStilettos.org
