Look What's Cooking at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival
One of South Florida's premier winter events, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival – Feb. 13-15 – is celebrating the culinary arts in a big way, and one that reflects the village's rapidly growing dining scene. "In our own neighborhood, you see new restaurants popping up what seems like every month," says Matt Fillioe, director of operations. Recent arrivals include Panther Coffee, Harry's Pizzeria, Ariete, Choices Cafe, Spasso, 33 Kitchen, Masa Taqueria and Glass & Vine, plus special treats, like the Hy-Vong pop-up at the Bookstore in the Grove, and makeovers, like the Grove Bay Grill, formerly Scotty's Landing. There's fine dining at hotel restaurants at the Sonesta and the Ritz-Carlton, plus stalwarts like Monty's Raw Bar, LoKal, Taurus, GreenStreet Cafe, Jaguar, The Last Carrot and Bombay Darbar, resulting in a remarkably robust food landscape compared to recent years.
The festival is tapping into some of that talent for the Culinary Pavilion, attracting top talent for the Pavilion demos. Here's the schedule:
Sat., Feb, 13
- Noon: Patty Ruiz, The Mad Table
- 1pm: Chef Christopher Cramer, executive chef, Panorama Restaurant & Sky Lounge, Sonesta Coconut Grove
- 2pm: Chef Virgile Bandel, executive chef, Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room, Conrad Miami
- 3pm: Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli, executive chef, Eating House and Glass & Vine
- 4pm: Chef Craig Macavoy, executive chef, The Ritz Carlton, Coconut Grove
Sun. Feb. 14
- Noon: Chef Terrance Williams, executive chef, ChefRLI
- 1pm: Chef Cindy Hutson, Ortanique on the Mile, Coral Gables
- 2pm: Chef Paulette Bilsky, corporate chef and culinary consultant, featuring ElectriChef Electric Grills & Milam’s Markets
- 3pm: Chef Richard Ingraham, chef and CEO, ChefRLI
- 4pm: Chef Irie (Hugh Sinclair), private chef
Mon., Feb. 15
- Noon: Chef Paul Galadza, director of culinary, Robert MorganEducational Center and his Culinary Team
- 1pm: Patricia Falcon, student, Miami Culinary Institute
- 2pm: Viecksa Sosa, student, Miami Culinary Institute
- 3pm: Joyce Sosa, student, Miami Culinary Institute
