Eat, drink and be in Miami

By Laura Reiley, Times Food Critic
Published January 27, 2008

The country's most frenzied foodies and cork dorks will convene Feb. 21 to 24 for the annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Now in its seventh year, the festival is an opportunity for gourmands to eat, drink, learn and mingle with top culinary personalities.

What began as a one-day festival known as the Florida Extravaganza held at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay Campus has turned into a star-studded, four-day destination event showcasing the talents of the world's most renowned chefs and winemakers.

Many of this year's choicest events are already sold out (Paula's Poker Party & Casino Night hosted by Paula Deen, Moet & Chandon BubbleQ hosted by Giada de Laurentiis, Emeril's Sugar Shack and the Amstel Light Burger Bash with Rachael Ray, among others), but as of now a number of parties, lectures and tastings still have tickets. For a complete schedule and ticket information, visit www.sobewineandfoodfest.com. Here is a partial list of events for which tickets were still available at press time:

Parties, lunches and dinners

- D'Vine Divas: a wine dinner with some of the country's most acclaimed female chefs and winemakers

- Fontainebleau Miami Beach Presents Wine Spectator's "Best of the Bay"

- Barilla Interactive Cooking Lunch hosted by Ming Tsai

Lectures and tastings

- A Fresh Start for Our Children with Rachael Ray, Jamie Oliver and Alice Waters

- Taste Wine Like a Master Sommelier

- Wine Spectator Trade Tasting

- Bourbon Mixology on the Beach

- Wine Spectator Wine Seminar Series

- Stocking & Tending Your Home Bar, hosted by Tony Abou-Ganim

- Patron: The History of an Ultra-Premium Tequila

- Forgotten Greats from the Golden Age of the Cocktail

And more

- Golf Invitational presented by Cigar Aficionado and hosted by Gordon Mott and Ming Tsai

- Kids' cooking classes and events

[Last modified January 24, 2008, 15:24:17]