SOBEWFF 2018: Plant-based Meals! Clambake! Family Fun at the Frost!
Veg Out
Eating your vegetables takes a stylish turn at this year’s South Beach Food and Wine Festival, where a variety of events showcase plant-based cuisine and vegetable love.
“It’s certainly something that people are responding to – here in Miami, the popularity of spots like Plant Miami at The Sacred Space and newer spots like Soul Tavern and Planta really cater to those looking for an innovative, conscious dining experience,” says Lee Brian Schrager, Festival founder and director.
Chef David Lee and vegan chef and author Chloe Coscarelli host a collaboration at Planta in SoFi, the first U.S. location for the plant-based restaurant. “Think cauliflower tots, brussels sprouts tacos and more – David and Chloe are really working to showcase some really fun interpretations for diners at this event,” says Schrager.
Vegetable Brunch
Acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten returns to host a vegetable-centric Saturday brunch at the Matador Room, working with light broths, fruit essences, vegetable juices and herbal vinaigrettes. “Jean-Georges’ Brunch during the Festival weekend has been a popular event for several years now, and we’re excited to bring it back with this new twist in 2018,” Schrager says. “I think chefs have been showcasing the versatility of vegetables in dishes for some time now, and it’s something diners are really enjoying.”
Anita Lo of Annisa in New York City’s West Village and Dirt Candy chef/owner Amanda Cohen are hosting a vegetable dinner at Soul Tavern during the Festival. Other health-conscious events include the return of Lifeway Kefir presents Buddhas and Bellinis, a yoga and relaxation session, and a brand new Barry’s Bootcamp & Bites hosted by Robert Irvine.
Hands-On Classes
This year, SOBEWFF promises to educate, offering master classes for participants. “This is a great way to get a hands-on culinary experience during the Festival weekend, and let an expert – in this case, Plant Miami’s executive chef Horacio Rivadero – guide you through how to execute their craft at home,” says Schrager. Local produce from Paradise Farms and biodynamic wines are on the menu. There are also hands-on learning experiences with The Salty Donut and Sullivan Street Bakery, new to Miami.
Plant-Based Stars
The 17th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival takes place Feb. 21–25. For tickets to these and all SOBEWFF events, visit sobewff.org.
Vegetable Dinner hosted by Anita Lo, Amanda Cohen and Kinsler Josaime
Thu., Feb. 22 • Soul Tavern, Miami Beach
Dinner hosted by Chloe Coscarelli and David Lee
Thu., Feb. 22 • Planta, Miami Beach
Vegetable Brunch hosted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Sat., Feb. 24 • Matador Room, The Miami Beach EDITION
Master Class at Plant Miami
Sun., Feb. 25 • Sacred Space Miami
Great Deal: Family Fun at the Frost Museum
Badia Spices’ Fun and Fit as a Family – where you can join your favorite chefs and culinary personalities for food, fitness and learning – features an added bonus: it all takes place at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. Experience interactive demos in the Goya Foods Kidz Kitchen, healthy food sampling, fitness activities and hands-on learning opportunities for the same price of a ticket to the museum (and even less if you’re a museum member). Buy online.
CRAVE Fort Lauderdale?
This year’s SOBEWFF kicks off in Fort Lauderdale Feb. 21 with a family-style BBQ dinner under the stars hosted by world barbecue champ Chris Lilly and chef Jorge Ramos at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach.
On Feb. 22, Emeril Lagasse – chef, restaurateur and television star – hosts a poolside clambake at the Conrad. Special treat: dessert from Duff Goldman, founder of Charm City Cakes.
Women of Syria Dinner
Renowned chefs Alon Shaya of New Orleans and Ingrid Hoffmann, popular Colombian-American television personality and cookbook author, join forces to bring you a heritage food experience at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. This family-style dinner will be prepared by women representing two organizations dedicated to supporting Syrian refugees – Miami-based Zaytouna and Syrian Supper Club and the Denver-based Comal Heritage Food Incubator.
