16th Annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival Raises $2 Million For Chaplin School Of Hospitality & Tourism Management At Florida International University

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., April 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 65,000 passionate fans and hospitality industry leaders descended upon South Florida in February for the 16^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF^®), raising more than $2 million for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU).  Attendees enjoyed more than 90 events taking place throughout two counties with the continued growth of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series, featuring more than 400 chefs, winemakers, spirits producers, and culinary personalities who joined them to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. during the five-day Festival. To date, the Festival has raised more than $26 million for the School.

"We are appreciative to all of the passionate fans, partners and talent who joined us to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. for our Sweet 16 this year," noted Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager, who serves as senior vice president, communications & corporate social responsibility for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits. "It was an exciting year for the Festival, and the addition of more collaborations between food and culture really took center stage."   

This year's Festival featured an array of musical performances at its signature Miami Beach events to keep fans sipping, savoring and swaying in the sand all weekend.  One of Australia's most popular rock bands, who has 10 top 20 songs on U.S. Billboard charts, Little River Band presented by Magic City Casino kicked off the festivities on Thursday, February 23 at Barilla's Italian Bites on the Beach sponsored by HCP Media and the Miami Herald Media Company hosted by Valerie Bertinelli & Alex Guarnaschelli.  The beats continued in the Festival's signature white tent in the sand beachside at Delano during BACARDÍ On The Beach on Saturday, February 25.  Rev Run and DJ Ruckus kept attendees dancing late into the evening while they sipped on signature libations and late-night bites from 20 of South Florida's favorite spots. 

Also on Saturday, February 25, Tanqueray brand ambassador Snoop Dogg took to the DJ stage immediately following his KitchenAid Culinary Demonstration with Guy Fieri – where fans were treated to an impromptu live rendition of his iconic song "Gin and Juice" – for a short spin on the ones and twos to close-out the day at the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village featuring Mastercard Grand Tasting Tents.  The party continued at the event on Sunday, February 26 with the inaugural David Grutman Experience, transforming the courtyard into a custom-curated, all-day experience ideated by the hospitality visionary himself.  After taking a spin through the event to taste dishes from some of South Florida's best chefs, internationally-renowned DJ INGROSSO delighted guests with his signature sounds as the highlight of the David Grutman Experience.  Closing out the beats and eats of every gourmand's favorite weekend in the sand, the Festival collaborated with Menin Hospitality to bring guests live entertainment and interactives games by Ricky's at Lucky Chopsticks: An Asian Night Market hosted by Andrew Zimmern on Sunday, February 26.

The Festival was full of its carefully selected highlights for everyone's taste buds, and several South Florida spots came out of the weekend as winners.  On Friday, February 24, Jr's Gourmet Burgers in Miami Springs took home the ultimate crown as winner of the Heineken Light People's Choice Award at the Heineken Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons hosted by Rachael Ray.  Tucker Duke's Lunchbox in Deerfield Beach won the judges over as winner of Red Robin's Best of the Bash Contest, and David Bromstad, Ayesha Curry, Emilio Estefan, Jill Martin, Rev Run and Adam Richman chose Little Jack's Tavern from Charleston, S.C. as winner of the Schweid & Sons Very Best Burger Award.  That same night, Miami hotspot Beaker & Gray took People's Choice top honors at The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown hosted by Robert Irvine – and then also nabbed the National Pork Board's Critic's Choice Award at Goya Foods' Swine & Wine presented by The National Pork Board hosted by Cindy Hutson on Sunday, February 26.  

Seemingly endless events designed to satiate a plethora of appetites remained a featured part of the Festival weekend.  This included Wine Spectator Wine Seminars presented by Bank of America, Nutrish^®'s Yappie Hour hosted by Rachael Ray, Badia Spices' Fun and Fit as a Family featuring Goya Foods Kidz Kitchen, Lifeway Kefir presents Buddhas and Bellinis, and much more.  Internationally-acclaimed chef, restaurateur and recognized humanitarian José Andrés and Louis Roederer group owners Jean-Claude Rouzaud and Frédéric Rouzaud were honored at the Festival's annual Tribute Dinner presented by Bank of America part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series on Saturday, February 25 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel.  

EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE.  Save the date for the 17^th annual Festival, which will take place February 21 – 25, 2018.  The Festival is pleased to announce next year's Tribute Dinner honorees, chef, restaurateur, author and Food Network personality Bobby Flay and Treasury Wine Estates Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Michael Clarke. 

Between SOBEWFF^® and its sister NYCWFF, which takes place each October in New York City, more than $35 million has been raised to benefit the respective charities for each Festival.  Beyond the funds raised, both Festivals draw attention to the vibrant dining culture in their respective cities, provide economic stimulus in their communities, and serve as an invaluable platform to drive awareness, engaging and inspiring people to get involved in philanthropic activities.

About the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival
All proceeds from the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management who also assist Festival organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, and inventory as well as working alongside some of the world's greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. To date, the Festival has raised more than $26 million for the School. In September 2016, BizBash named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in the United States for the fourth year in a row.    

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival is produced by Florida International University and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information about the Festival, visit sobefest.com or call 877-762-3933. For more information about Florida International University visit fiu.edu, for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management visit hospitality.fiu.edu and for more information about Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits visit southernglazers.com.

SOURCE Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival