The most decadent time of the year is here, with the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) set to take over South Florida on Feb. 19-23, 2020.
Over recent years, the popular festival has expanded north to Greater Fort Lauderdale with CRAVE GFL, a series of foodie-driven events that take place around Broward County. This year, expect everything from elaborate sit-down dinners with celebrity chefs to movies with well-loved food trucks to a rowdy drag brunch and fun-filled family events. Those new to the wine and food extravaganza should bring their comfy shoes and stretchy pants—this is not the time to count calories!
Epic Dinners
One of the most coveted parts of the festival is the intimate dinners where culinary greats go all out for guests. It’s a great time to mix and mingle, get autographs, and snap photos with your fave chefs.
Wednesday, February 19, 7:00 p.m.
Kick off the tasty week on Wednesday, Feb. 19 with a sit-down dinner at the lauded steakhouse, Steak 954 at the W Hotel, where powerhouse duo NYC restaurateur Michael Lomonaco and Steak 954 Executive Chef Johan Svensson will create an elevated meal while diners soak up sweeping views of Fort Lauderdale Beach.
SOBE Crave GFLDinner hosted by Michael Lomonaco and Johan Svenssonpart. $225. View View Details
Thursday, February 20, 7:00 p.m.
The following night, Thursday, Feb. 20, move down the beach to beachy-chic S3 Restaurant. “Iron Chef” Marc Forgione, chef/owner of Michelin-starred Restaurant Marc Forgione in New York, will show off his innovative New American cuisine alongside Chef Tiffani Faison, a James Beard Award-nominee and frequent judge on Food Network’s “Chopped,” and S3 Executive Chef Jorlian Rivera. The delectable dining all takes place while you sip wines from the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits portfolio. $225. View Details
Saturday, February 22, 7:00 p.m.
At oceanfront restaurant Burlock Coast at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, on Saturday, Feb. 22, let one of Fort Lauderdale’s best chefs Paula Da Silva and TV personality, Cat Cora—who made TV history as the first-ever female “Iron Chef”—wow you with an imaginative menu of farm-to-table dishes with ingredients sourced from South Florida. $175 – SOLD OUT
Brunch Bunch
Sunday, February 23, 11:00 a.m.
Another good-time Sunday brunch is the Drag Brunch hosted by Carson Kressley, judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and the team that brings you PRIDE Fort Lauderdale each year. Taking place at the W Fort Lauderdale on Fort Lauderdale Beach, expect a rowdy time with free-flowing wine and cocktails, dishes prepared by some of the most creative chefs in Fort Lauderdale, and shows by charismatic drag performers. $125. View Details
Something New
Saturday, February 22, 11:00 a.m.
New to the festival is the popular Sandwich Showdown from the sister festival in New York City, which will take over the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort on Saturday, Feb. 22. Jeff Mauro, host of the hit Food Network shows “The Kitchen” and “Sandwich King,” will be at the helm of this midday lunch, so you know the sandwiches will be legit. From the gooey to the crispy, see how all the sandwiches stack up while sipping beer, wine, and cocktails. $125. View Details
Many of these events will sell out quickly, especially the private dinners, so get your tickets early. It promises to be another delicious festival that will leave you craving more. For a full lineup of all the events, visit sobewff.org/crave-ftl/
