The main event.
Let the endurance eating begin! South Beach Wine & Food Festival kicked off last night and goes all weekend long. Al Roker is in town, Martha’s here, Giada’s here, all those judges from Chopped are everywhere.
It’s a fun time of year in South Beach because you get to stuff your face at party after party where the main point of being there is EATING! Like, you never have to apologize for going back for seconds or grazing by the buffet, you’re supposed to be power eating. I discovered last year that food comas are real. All that food and  booze over the course of a few short days can really incapacitate you. It’s the only time of year when I’m actually not hungry for a couple days afterwards.
Chopped selfies at Tacos After Dark Thursday night. Marc Murphy, Ted Allen & Aarón Sánchez.
I’m trying to pace myself this year. Last night, I attended Tacos After Dark (click the link for my recap) hosted by Aarón Sánchez and Casamigos tequila. Tonight, I’m off to Burger Bash (where I hope to be confused for Rachael Ray and win a burger eating contest) and finally Saturday, I’ll attend a dignified League of Their Own lady chef brunch at the Thompson Hotel.
And that’s it. I think. I mean, I might swing by a few other parties.
Rachael! Let’s be best friends. I’ll split that shack burger with you. Oh, you want your own? Me too!
It’s funny, it only took me three years covering this event to realize that all these famous faces are household names because of Food Network shows. I mean, I’ve always known and loved Rachael Ray (Yum-o!) because the promise of 30-minute meals is the only way to get me in the kitchen, and I know Bobby Flay because his name is kind of funny and he likes to run my route along the beach walk when he’s in town (high five!), and I know Guy Fieri because he has crazy hair and Bobby Moynihan impersonates him on SNL, but I never actually started watching the Food Network until last year. Now, whenever I see that there’s going to be 100 episodes of Chopped in a row, I fall into a serene, peaceful trance in front of the TV. So I’m excited to hit the town this weekend for some celebrity chef spotting now that I feel as intimately acquainted with them as the rest of America.
Anyway, the Miami Herald is your source for great up to the minute coverage, so be sure to check out the Uncorked blog throughout the weekend. Happy #SOBEWFF!
