Get a taste of the Caribbean without leaving South Florida at the annual (and all-inclusive!) Food, Wine & Fête festival, which returns to Miami's Historic Virginia Key Beach Park this Saturday, May 17. The culinary and cultural extravaganza will celebrate the feel and flavors of the islands, with signature dishes and cooking demonstrations from renowned Caribbean chefs and culinary creatives, as well as Soca music, rum-splashed cocktails and good vibes aplenty.
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Among this year's featured tastemakers are Emmy Award-winning chef Simeon Hall, Jr., Troy Tingling, Kimesha Chong, Myriam Charles, Paul Griffith and Christian Barruos-Brens.
From 5pm to 11pm on Saturday, attendees can feast their way down "Foodie Avenue", lined with local vendors offering authentic Caribbean specialties; sip and savor handcrafted cocktails and fine Caribbean spirits from the fest's spirits partners and signature bars; and potentially take home exclusive getaways to your favorite Caribbean islands from the event's partnering tourism boards. The festivities will cap off with a one-of-a-kind drone show, powered by LunaLite Drone Show Technologies, for an epic and illuminating finale.
General admission tickets will get you all of the above but if you really want to splash out, you can opt for a VIP experience which will include a live chef sampling and tasting from South Florida restaurateurs, a private bar, a Prosecco pop-up with free-flowing bubbly, a grazing table of tasty Caribbean bites, premium cigars and swag like flip-flops, fedoras and a signature branded Food, Wine & Fete goblet.
"Vanessa James and Marcos Rodriguez envisioned their beloved Food, Wine, and Fete experience in 2018 with a heartfelt mission to honor their Caribbean roots and showcase the immense talent of the vibrant diaspora," reads the event's website. "Infused with a deep love for carnival, Soca music, the rich tapestry of the islands and its flavorful cuisine, Food, Wine, and Fete was born—a celebration of all things uniquely Caribbean."