MIAMI, FL – South Florida's South Beach Seafood Festival is gearing up for its 10th anniversary, brought to you by Tequila Herradura, with a four-day culinary celebration which promises to be the biggest yet to kickoff Miami's globally-recognized stone crab season. Beginning Wednesday, October 19th and culminating on Saturday, October 22nd on the sands of South Beach, this year's festival will feature an extraordinary lineup of participating restaurants and chefs showcasing South Florida's top culinary talent. Enhanced programming will include live musical performances by famed country music singer-songwriter, CMT Award winner, Granger Smith featuring Earl Dibbles Jr., with special guests, CMT nominated country music group, Runaway June, presented by Demesmin & Dover.
The South Beach Seafood Festival consists of four separate ticketed events taking place throughout the week and kicks off with "An Evening at Joe's Stone Crab" on Wednesday, October 19th. The already sold-out event consists of a five-course meal showcasing Executive Chef Andre Bienvenu's cuisine. On the following night, "Crabs, Slabs & Cabs" features a formal sit-down, five-course dinner highlighting 'Surf n' Turf' reimagined by some of Miami's leading chefs. Hosted by GOYA Foods' Executive Chef Fernando Desa, the event includes participation from celebrated restaurateur and Pubbelly Sushi partner José Mendín; Fiola Miami's Executive Chef Danny Ganem; Meat Market Executive Chef and Owner Sean Brasel; Luca Osteria Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli; and host venue chef, The Social Club's Executive Chef Javier Carballo. Thursday's event will be hosted at High Tide at the newly revamped Kimpton Surfcomber. Limited seats for Thursday's dinner are available through sobeseafoodfest.com.
The festivities continue with the annually sold out "Chef Showdown" on Friday, October 21st. Coined the ultimate beach bash on South Beach, 20 of Miami's top chefs will go head-to-head in ten competitive seafood showdowns. Presented by Tequila Herradura and taking place in the GOYA Culinary Pavilion in the Baptist Health Hospitality Village, "Chef Showdown" features various seafood 'battles', where guests sample and vote for their favorite dishes as they make their way around the village battle pavilions. This year's participating restaurants and competitions will include (*denotes reigning champion):
Throughout the night, each chef will take the main stage to put on a show with their high energy, entertainment-filled live demos as representatives from the culinary industry will serve as the final judges to award the best in each showdown. The event will be hosted by NBC 6's Kelly Blanco and this year's judges will include GOYA Foods' Executive Chef Fernando Desa; Joe's Stone Crab's Executive Chef Andre Bienvenu; RED Steakhouses' Executive Chef Peter Vauthy; Chef Adrianne Calvo; food writer Sara Liss; and Managing SVP Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at City National Bank of Florida, Eddie Dominguez. Each battle will have one lucky champ and this year, one MVP will be selected as the overall winner to take home a grand prize of $10,000.
Running alongside the "Chef Showdown," on Friday night, Tequila Herradura will also host an "Extraordinary Bartender Showdown." Four bartenders will participate in a head-to-head competition for who can make the best Tequila Herradura margarita recipe. Once again, the guests are the judges, and the winner will earn a $500 prize.
The main South Beach Seafood Festival event will take place on Saturday, October 22nd, spanning four blocks along Ocean Drive at Lummus Park. Brought to you by Tequila Herradura, presented by GOYA Foods and City National Bank, and hosted by the City of Miami Beach, the beachfront festival will feature an impressive selection of curated pop-up cafés by some of Miami's finest seafood restaurants. This year's hottest ticket will also feature all day music with DJs at the Pacifico Beach Club, Sun Sips by High Noon, and VIP at the Goya Culinary Pavilion. In general admission at the Demesmin & Dover live music stage, presented by Jack Daniels, guests will enjoy live performances headlined by CMT award-winning country artist Granger Smith featuring Earl Dibbles Jr. with special guest, Runaway June, as well as local Latin band, Mama Fuma, and classic rock band, The Regs, to start the day.
"I'm looking forward to making my way down to Miami Beach to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the South Beach Seafood Festival and headline the festival on Saturday, October 22nd," says Granger Smith. "See you in South Beach! Yee Yee!"
Throughout the festival's general admission area, guests can expect pop-up cafés by: Café Avanti, A Fish Called Avalon, Lobster Shack, CJ's Crab Shack, Tanuki, Café Bernie, Cilantro 27, Ella's Oyster Bar, Pubbelly Sushi, Latin House, The Social Club, and The Wagyu Bar by Meat N' Bone. VIP Sampling pop-ups in the Baptist Health VIP Village will include Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, Paule's Pop Up by Chef Billy G, GOYA Foods, The Social Club, Kuba Cabana, The Wagyu Bar by Meat N' Bone, Doral International Foods, Mau Miami, Playa, Papas Raw Bar, Seafood World, Pescanova USA, and more. On the sweet side, dessert pop-ups throughout the festival will include Wynwood Parlor , Cielito Artisan Pops , and Crepemaker, among others.
General Admission will also see the Piper Heidsieck Champagne lounge, the El Dorado Ultimate Beach Club, the Milam's Marketplace featuring the Culinary Showcase Kitchen, and more. The VIP area will include a two-block village with specialty activations from Celebrity Cruises, Tequila Herradura, City National Bank, Baptist Health, Oshen Salmon, and the list continues. Tickets for general admission start at $55 and include complimentary all day open bar (21+); and VIP Admission starts at $150.
The iconic South Beach Seafood Festival is brought to you annually by Tequila Herradura and Jack Daniel's, and is presented by GOYA Foods, City National Bank, Baptist Health, and Breakthru Beverage Florida, along with its partners Piper Heidsieck, Rabble Wines, Phantom and Juggernaut, Castello del Poggio and hosted by City of Miami Beach, Celebrity Cruises, Pacifico Beer, Milam's Markets, Cadillac, Bottle Rover, and High Noon Sun Sips, among others. Demesmin & Dover Law Firm, your accident attorneys, is the newest presenting sponsor of the festival bringing a new element for this anniversary year as the official entertainment partner, and El Dorado Furniture is the newest hosting sponsor as the official outdoor furniture provider. For 2022, Ride Alto is the official transportation partner of the festival and promo codes are available to ensure guests arrive safe and sound.
"We love attending and supporting local businesses within the community and are very excited to be part of the 10-year celebration of South Florida's incredible culinary scene. We look forward to hosting Granger Smith and our national artists in Miami Beach on the Demesmin & Dover stage to close out a great day for South Florida", says Victor Demesmin and Jeremy Dover, partners of Demesmin and Dover.
In addition to celebrating regional culinary talent, the festival annually supports CI Foundation's EAT SMART program, a 501 ©(3) nonprofit program that provides healthy meals and nutritional guidance to the local community and Florida's youth through programs in Miami-Dade County public schools.
South Beach Seafood Festival's host hotel for 2022 is the newly revamped Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel, located at 1717 Collins Avenue. Limited Weekend passes are available for $250 per person. Hotel Packages for two with weekend tickets and a festival room are available for $1,100.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the 10th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival, please visit sobeseafoodfest.com.
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