Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray and Debi Mazar at South Beach Wine & Food Festival 2015

Martha Stewart and Lee Brian Schrager
Martha Stewart and Lee Brian Schrager

 Martha Stewart mingled with the well-heeled denizens at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s “Best of the Best” this weekend. One of her favorites at the gourmet gathering? The grilled jumbo octopus with potatoes, olives and salsa verde by Chef Jonathan Lane from nearby The Treymore Restaurant at The Metropolitan by COMO. She went on to host the famous Dolce Brunch on Saturday at Juvia.

Rachael Ray and Lee Brian Schrager on stage at the Burger Bash
Rachael Ray and Lee Brian Schrager on stage at the Burger Bash

Other fun news from the festival included the winner of Amstel Light’s Burger Bash—The Pincho Factory.  They won for “The Croquesta”, a brisket, short rib and chuck croquette-topped sandwich with a brioche bun. At the end of the event, the Coral Gables-based restaurant walked home with a $5,000 check presented by event host Rachael Ray.

Al Roker at Burger Bash
Al Roker at Burger Bash

Debi Mazar and her husband/chef Gabriele Corcos hosted Ronzoni’s 100th Anniversary Al Fresco Feast on the Beach on night that was a little more “fresco” than everyone bargained for, with a low mercury and big winds. But fortunately everyone stayed warm with the help of the tent and heaters and had bellies full of pasta. One of the favorite stations of the night was by Touché chef Carla Pelligrino. It wasn’t their only SOBEWFF appearance though, the pair went on to host the Tuscan Trio Dinner on Friday, along with Fabio Vivani.

Gabriele and Debi at Ronzoni's 100th Anniversary
Gabriele and Debi at Ronzoni’s 100th Anniversary

Saturday night’s “Meatopia” had a 1960’s vibe with Blues Traveller playing live on the sands behind the Delano. The event was presented by the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, but thankfully, was not all the way out west. The evening brought out the city’s best grillers and meat aficionados including The Forge’s Christopher Lee with big boss Shareef Malnik nearby. The longest line was for Hawksmoor of London what was serving up tomahawk steaks everyone was turning positively Fred Flintstone for the oversize bones.

Before all those events, it was the Food & Wine Chef Kickoff presented by MasterCard Priceless Miami that got everything started on Thursday night at the Thompson. Party guests included Ted Allen, Michelle Bernstein, Geoffrey Zakarian, Guy Fieri, Robert Irvine and more. 

Guy Fieri & Robert Irvine
Guy Fieri & Robert Irvine

 

 

Amanda Freitag, Ted Allen, & Todd Erickson
Amanda Freitag, Ted Allen, & Todd Erickson

 

David Martinez & Michelle Bernstein
David Martinez & Michelle Bernstein

Photos by World Red Eye and Getty Images