Food and Fun Under the Sun
These Four Warm Weather Food & Drink Festivals Will Brighten Your Day
Welcome to Winter 2024: All across the United States, temperatures are plummeting and snow is falling in record amounts.
If you’re sitting with a bowl of soup and three layers of sweaters, dreaming of sipping a cocktail under a palm tree, we’ve got you covered.
While most of the country is in a deep freeze, it’s warm in Miami…and Fort Lauderdale….and the Bahamas….and Los Angeles. And all these cities are planning major food festivals. Peruse these festivals and make plans now to party in the sunshine.
The Seaglass Rosé Experience in Fort Lauderdale
If your idea of a good time is wearing pink and sipping rosé with your toes in the sand, then the Seaglass Rosé Experience is your jam. Now in its fourth year, this three-day homage to pink wines returns to Fort Lauderdale Beach Friday, January 26 through Sunday, January 28, offering more than 30 different rosé wines to experience. Choose from two different evening sessions (Friday and Saturday) and a daytime session (Sunday). The event is all-inclusive and includes unlimited pours, food, and entertainment. Just a note — wear pink! Seriously, the first time I attended, I wore a yellow jacket and stuck out like a jaundiced sore thumb. The following year I embraced the pink and had a jolly good time. The world, after all, is better with rose-colored glasses (and wine).
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival is dubbed “Spring Break for chefs” for good reason. Each year, hundreds of chefs gather for four days of demonstrations, dinners, brunches, lunches, classes, parties, and seminars all under the Miami (and Miami Beach) sun. Choose from more than 100 different events ranging from a Kosher Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Timon Balloo, Nando Chang, & Shimi Alon to a Fashion Show & Luncheon hosted by Geoffrey and Margaret Zakarian. In between, find cocktail parties (I personally love Art of Tiki), a Drag Brunch (hosted by R House’s Athena Dion), and so much more. So plan to revel with your toes in the sand and a drink in your hand from February 22 to 25, 2024.
The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival
Los Angeles is getting its own mega food and wine festival when the inaugural three-day Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival event takes over Santa Monica Pier March 1 through 3, in conjunction with Frieze Week Los Angeles (February 29th to March 3rd at Santa Monica airport). The festival features a blend of celebrity chefs such as Andrew Zimmern, Ben Ford, and Geoffrey Zakarian and local talent like Antonia Lofaso, Govind Armstrong, and Debbie Lee for three days of food, drink, and gorgeous Pacific views.
Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival
Guests who attend this festival will eat and drink in Paradise…Paradise Island, that is. From March 13 to 17, 2024 the second annual Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival will offer food and drink in one of the most beautiful settings for an event. Join José Andrés, Duff Goldman, Alex Guarnaschelli, Robert Irvine, JJ Johnson, Nobu Matsuhisa, Alon Shaya, Martha Stewart, Michael White, and Andrew Zimmern for beachside parties, exclusive lunches, and elegant dinners. This event has a host of bucket list events including a sundown soiree with Martha Stewart, a conversation with José Andrés, and a sushi-making class hosted by Nobu Matsuhisa.