Always impressed when an event improves instead of sitting on their laurels and backsliding. Been a few years since I got to attend SOBE, so when they generously threw in an extra press pass, was excited to bring the web gal with me, as I often told her that SOBE is one of the best events on the circuit. When we bounced into the Miami airport, we were starving, what those awful airplane snacks weren’t good enuff? Once we checked into our hotel, it was time to call an Uber and go to my chef buddy Peter Vauthy’s Red South Beach.

David & Chef Vauthy

Ketel One Vodka

Next day when we went to pick up our media passes, got some appreciative laughs from the PR gals when I introduced the web gal to them. Told them a winery owner remarked when I said that I do the writing and he finished with, and she does all the work. True enough. So was really pleased to bring her to Lee Schrager’s opening kick off party at the Setai Hotel. What a fine shimmy of a party! Talk about raising the bar. Last time, it was an outdoor pool party, with non-stop cocktails and a few appys where attendees were socializing and having a good time. Love a cocktail party, for the booze and socializing, but usually the food is atrocious. Not this time! Everything was really tasty and fresh: prawns, filet mignon, lamb chops, scallops, pad thai noodles with chicken, Singaporean noodles,  desserts, etc. but my fav was definitely the grilled lamb chops. And for the web gal as usual, it was dessert, she loved the key lime pie I brought her. And knocking back a bunch of well-made mojitos left me feeling a nice glow for the opening night: Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash, hosted by Rachel Ray. Skinny Louie, Miami, Wagyu Louie Burger (double smashed wagyu beef patties, melted smoked gouda and truffle aioli, topped with pickled jalapeños on a brioche bun) wound up winning Schweid & Sons The Very Best burger  $2,500 award, but the web gal and I both loved Daniel’s A Florida Steakhouse, Miami, Daniel’s Burger (double cut peppered bacon, crispy tempura onions, Florida Tomme cheese and salsa verde mayo on a Martin’s potato roll). People’s Choice Award of $5,000 was won by La Birra Bar.  There was over 30 delicious burger booths to enjoy with various drinks to quench your thirst in a fun environment with attendees from all over the world.

La Birra Bar

Friday afternoon was trade tasting day at the main beach tents and booths. Web gal was amazed at how many and diverse the food and drink booths were. Left a little early to attend Courtney Foley’s chardonnay tasting event at the Eden Roc Hotel. Nice to sip and compare different chards. Courtney was delighted to see us, thanked us for the previous post on her and said she passed it on to her team at the Chalk Hill Winery. That night it was Guy Fieri’s Tournament of Champions Event, an epic culinary competition where four teams—each led by a past winner from his hit Food Network series—battled it out on the sands of Miami Beach. Guy echoed my feelings exactly when he said from the main stage, does this just keep getting better or what?

Chef Sanchez