Perfect Holiday Gifts for Foodies & Wine Lovers: South Beach Wine & Food Festival 2012

Here’s a Press Release from the 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Don’t miss this one-order your tickets today.

“PERFECT STOCKING STUFFERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Tickets to the 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

Posted December 15, 2011

PERFECT STOCKING STUFFERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON –

Tickets to the 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

Miami Beach, Florida (December 2011) – Shopping for your favorite foodie or aficionado is easy this holiday season with tickets to the 2012 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. Known for bringing everyone’s favorite celebrity chefs, culinary personalities, winemakers, and spirit producers together for the ultimate gourmet beach bash, the Festival still has tickets available to marquee events to please every palate this season!

For the whole family: Florida Blue presents Fun and Fit as a Family sponsored by Carnival featuring Kellogg’s Kidz Kitchen (February 25 & 26). The Festival family-oriented program at Jungle Island is the perfect blend of education and fun for parents and their children during the Festival weekend. It features star-studded healthy culinary demonstrations in the Kellogg’s Kidz Kitchen and interactive Whole Foods Market Food Labs from chefs and culinary personalities like Melissa d’Arabian, Rocco DiSpirito, Rachael Ray, and Nickelodeon’s Reed Alexander; as well as physical fitness activities, healthy food samplings, a sustainable food garden, and much more! All information and tickets can be found at www.funandfitasafamily.com.

For the fierce competitor: Epicure Gourmet Market presents Party Impossible hosted by Robert Irvine (February 24). We challenge you . . . to party the night away in the 1111 Lincoln Road parking garage! Join first-time Festival event host and Food Network show host of Worst Cooks in America and Restaurant: Impossible Robert Irvine for a late-night affair celebrating the gourmet offerings from Epicure Gourmet Market, signature cocktails and music from DJ Irie. Go on, we dare you to join us.

For the conscientious eater: Farm to Table Brunch sponsored by Whole Foods Market hosted by Michael Schwartz (February 25). South Florida’s trendsetter Michael Schwartz has wrangled some of the top chefs in the country known for their commitment to sustainable dining – Tim Cushman (o ya restaurant, Boston, MA), Tony Maws (Craigie on Main, Cambridge, MA) and Andrea Reusing (Lantern, Chapel Hill, NC) – for an inspiring brunch at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden.

For the refined palate: Tribute Dinner honoring Charlie Trotter & Piero Antinori presented by Bank of America; Part of The New York Times Dinner Series (February 25). The Festival’s annual Tribute Dinner at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel honors esteemed chef Charlie Trotter and renowned winemaker Piero Antinori in high style. With Anthony Bourdain, author and host of the popular Travel Channel series No Reservations, serving as the master of ceremonies and a “who’s who” of chefs preparing the dinner, including the Loews Miami Beach’s own Frederic Delaire, Wylie Dufresne, Michelle Gayer, Emeril Lagasse, Nathan Myhrvold, Patrick O’Connell, and Norman Van Aken, the evening is sure to be nothing short of unforgettable.

For that person who wants it all: Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village (February 26). Our signature white tents at 13^th & Ocean Drive house an array of cuisine from the finest chefs and a variety of wines and spirits under the American Express Grand Tasting Tents – more than enough to keep you entertained and inspired for the whole day! If that isn’t enough, Food Network personalities Anne Burrell, Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, Robert Irvine, Masaharu Morimoto, and more will be appearing on the KitchenAid Culinary Demonstration Stages throughout the day!

For the seafaring: Salsa at Sea hosted by Douglas Rodriguez & Aarón Sanchez (February 26). The Festival takes to the high seas for the second year aboard The Biscayne Lady. With Aarón Sanchez and Douglas Rodriguez at the helm, this Latin-themed dance party is sure to keep everyone’s taste buds energized for the perfect afternoon brunch cruise. Chefs Pichet Ong and Timon Balloo will also be on deck to provide delightful bites!

For the pork obsessed: Swine & Wine presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos (February 26). More than a dozen chefs and South Florida dignitaries (like Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Isiah Thomas) will put their best pork forward for a roast of unparalleled proportions at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Live music, exquisite sides and desserts will accent this “swiney” soirée.

For the food truck tracker: Trucks on the Beach presented by Cultivate Wines: The Official Festival Closing Party hosted by Andrew Zimmern (February 26). The Festival and Travel Channel’s Andrew Zimmern have gathered South Florida’s hottest food trucks and is parking them in the sand behind the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach for the ultimate street food celebration. We can’t think of a better way to close-out the Festival than with some of Miami’s trendiest bites and overflowing wines.

The 11^th annual edition of America’s favorite wine and culinary extravaganza will take place February 23 – 26, and benefits the Florida International University (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center.

Tickets for these events and more are available at www.sobefest.com and via phone at 877.762.3933. Fans can follow Festival founder and director Lee Brian Schrager on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager or at the Festival’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SOBEWFF. ”

Dr. EveAnn Lovedro writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com