2 TASTE 2014 miaminewtimes.com miaminewtimes.com TASTE 2014 3 TASTE ON THE LIST SOBEWFF founder and organizer Lee Schrager describes the fest’s must-see events. Lee fan. Friday, February 21, from South Beach, 1 Lincoln Rd., Mi- Schrager 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Wynwood ami Beach. Tickets cost $85. Walls, 2520 NW Second Ave., “The Best of the Munchies is a Miami. Tickets cost $95. very special event. Andrew Zim- “Automatically, what comes to mern is the lead panel expert for the mind is Medianoches & Mixol- Munchie Awards, which allow peo- ogy. It’s a walk-around event held ple to vote for their favorite foods at Wynwood Walls, which is a and restaurants, and he’s very pas- gorgeous setting off the beach in sionate about this project. This event midtown Miami. The night will allows you to try out past award feature takes on Mi- winners from every cat- ami’s classic Cuban egory, like best pizza and sandwich, featuring “THIS EVENT best Cuban sandwich. So some of our best local ALLOWS YOU you’re literally eating the chefs. And, of course, TO TRY OUT finest food in America.” nothing goes better Moët Hennessy’s The with a Cuban sandwich PAST AWARD Q presented by Creek- than rum. Botran’s WINNERS stone Farms sponsored three different rums FROM EVERY by MIAMI magazine will be featured in a CATEGORY, hosted by Michael Sy- number of specialty LIKE BEST mon featuring the 2014 cocktails. Anne Burrell CUBAN Sports Illustrated Swim- and Emilio Estefan, suit Models. Thursday, who is Miami royalty, SANDWICH.” February 20, from 7 to will host the event 10 p.m. beachside at and announce the chef who made the Delano, 1685 Collins Ave., the best sandwich, while a live Miami Beach. Tickets cost $300. Afro-beat band sets the mood. “This is the event that put us It’s going to be a lot of fun.” on the map. This year, it’s being Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum and hosted by Michael Symon and Cabo Wabo Tequila present Emeril the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Lagasse and Sammy Hagar’s models. It’s going to be really excit- Rockin’ Beach Party sponsored ing, because even we won’t know by Del Monte Fresh Produce. which models will be appearing Saturday, February 22, from until the week of the festival. But 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. beachside at it’s also the celebration of the 50th the Delano, 1685 Collins Ave., anniversary of the SI Swimsuit Miami Beach. Tickets cost $95. Edition, so we also know heritage “Sammy Hagar is the classic models from past years will be rocker, and we’re really excited making a surprise appearance.” Melanie Dunea he’ll be performing at this late- Bank of America Lifestyle BY LAINE DOSS night party. Emeril Lagasse will be Seminar: Fried & True: A Fried there to get the crowd going, and Chicken Seminar hosted by he South Beach Wine & up each new dinner and seminar. if he needs help, Sammy’s great Lee Brian Schrager, Adeena Food Festival will enter This year’s fest, which runs rum and tequila will be flowing Sussman, and Mark Oldman. its 13th year when it kicks through Sunday, February 23, boasts freely. Versailles, which is one of Sunday, February 23, from 11 off this Thursday, Febru- more than 70 seminars, parties, Miami’s most iconic restaurants, is a.m. to noon at the Ritz-Carlton, ary 20. Termed “spring and dinners — up from about 50 celebrating 50 years in business and South Beach, 1 Lincoln Rd., Mi- Tbreak for chefs” by celebrity chef events last year. Considering the the release of a new cookbook by ami Beach. Tickets cost $85. Emeril Lagasse, the event attracts fact that many events overlap, it Ana Quincoces, so they’ll be serv- “This is the first seminar I’m culinary A-listers and some 60,000 would take someone with a Star ing some of their best bites. Again, actually participating in. It’s a cel- fans to Miami Beach for a weekend Trek-style teleportation device it’s an event that really shows off ebration of my book Fried and True, of parties, dinners, and drinking in to attend all of them. So which to Miami’s cultural and party sides.” which comes out in the spring. I’ll the sun. But all of this play requires choose? Here, Schrager describes Best of The Munchies: be making five of my favorite fried a year of planning and attention to the not-to-be missed events: People’s Choice Food Awards chicken recipes alongside Adeena detail. It takes a team of experts and Botran’s Medianoches & Mix- presented by PepsiCo hosted Sussman and Mark Oldman. I’m scores of workers, all led by festival ology presented by Smithfield by Andrew Zimmern. Sunday, really excited about this one. Fried founder and organizer Lee Brian at Wynwood Walls hosted by February 23, from 6 to 9 p.m. chicken for breakfast on a Sunday Schrager. It is Schrager who dreams Anne Burrell and Emilio Este- beachside at the Ritz-Carlton, morning. What could be better?” 44 TASTETASTE 2014 2014 miaminewtimes.commiaminewtimes.com miaminewtimes.com TASTE 2014 5 TASTE BIG TIME These high-profi le events shape everything that goes on at the fest. as they chow down on burgers or gnaw on bones, sauce dripping down well-toned arms. Which models will appear at the event? Even the festival promoters aren’t privy to that highly confidential information, because the names of the women who make the cut for SI’s 50th-anniversary Swim- suit Edition won’t be announced until right before the festival. For now, we’ll just look forward to an evening with The Chew’s most affable cohost, honest food, and the prom- ise of a few pictures with a model. Moët Hennessy’s The Q pre- sented by Creekstone Farms spon- sored by MIAMI magazine hosted by Michael Symon featuring the 2014 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Models: Thursday, February 20, from 7 to 10 p.m. beachside at the Delano, 1685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Tickets cost $300. Burger Bash For the eighth time, Food Network spitfire Rachael Ray takes on duties as the meatiest hostess in America. Burger Bash is not just about stuffing your face with patties made by the hands of celebrities. It’s a fierce com- petition among chefs, with many of them politicking the crowd for a much- coveted token that will determine the people’s choice award for best burger. In the past, we’ve seen Sp ike Pat LaFrieda Mendelsohn disguise himself as the Hamburglar to “steal” a few votes Evan Sung and witnessed Michael Symon resort BY LAINE DOSS to exchanging (chaste) kisses for wooden coins. The work has paid n its 13th year, the South Beach as Paula Deen, Martha Stewart, and The Q off, because Symon won the popular Wine & Food Festival is big- Emeril Lagasse conduct cooking The annual event that features vote three times in a row, only to be ger than ever. Even the most demos (which usually have nothing bubbles and barbecue takes on an knocked off his perch by Bobby Flay fit fan will likely get exhausted to do with cooking and more to do entirely new dimension this year last year. But the real stars of the eve- just reading the roster of 70 with a rollicking good time). You can when celebrity chef Michael Symon ning are the burgers, grilled to per- Iseminars, parties, and dinners — up even take in a morning yoga class pairs up with the 2014 Sports Illus- fection and topped with everything from last year’s 50 or so offerings. (complete with après-workout belli- trated swimsuit models. Some people from eggs to donkey sauce. After all How does one choose from the nis) at the Raleigh Hotel (1775 Collins will flock to the event to sample ribs, is said and done, people still crave a extended list of parties hosted by Ave., Miami Beach). It will be held pulled-pork sammies, and other good burger, with or without foie gras luminaries such as Anthony Bour- at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, grilled delights served by 40 top chefs and oyster foam. As Michael Symon dain, Rachael Ray, José Andrés, February 23 and 24 ($30 each class). including Myron Mixon, Marc Mur- says: “The hamburger is an American and Eric Ripert? The same way one But the events that showcase the phy, and Geoffrey Zakarian. Others classic, and you can eat it on the go.” creates a beautiful dish — by mix- festival best are held in the evening. will go for the champagne and cock- Amstel Light Burger Bash ing several key elements together That’s when the stars shine bright- tails provided by Moët Hennessy. presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats to make one harmonious creation. est, serving up a mix of music, food, But let’s face it: The main attraction hosted by Rachael Ray: Friday, Of course you’ll want to go to the and drink for your enjoyment. From is the chance to meet some of the February 21, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Grand Tasting Village to swirl hun- burgers on the beach to a black-tie most stunning models in the world. beachside at the Ritz-Carlton South dreds of fine wines, sample fine food, dinner on a virtual ocean liner, here You can bet cameras will be Beach, 1 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. and watch Food Network celebs such are the premier events at the fest.