2008 South Beach Wine and Food Festival

The South Beach Wine and Food Festival is an epicurean delight that visits our fair city annually in February. This year's festival has a number of events planned that are guaranteed to satisfy any appetite.

The festival opens this year on Thursday February 21st with Paula Deen's Poker Party & Casino Night located at the Paris Theatre on Washington Avenue and Rachel Ray's Burger Bash at the Ritz-Carleton South Beach.

The festival continues through the weekend and is packed with some great events. Highlights include:

• The Food Network Golf Invitational at the Biltmore in Coral Gables on Friday
• Taste Wine Like a Master Sommelier at the Miami Beach Covention Center on Friday
• Wine Spectator's Best of the Best at the American Airlines Arena on Friday
• Giada de Laurentiis and Friends Moët & Chandon BubbleQ at the Delano on Friday
• Kidz Kitchen at Lummus Park on Saturday morning
• The Grand Tasting Village from 11-6 on Saturday and Sunday
• Tribute Dinner at the Loews on Saturday night
• Tribute Brunch at the Loewss on Sunday

That’s only a sampling of the many events running throughout the weekend. The Festival is world-renowned for its ability to attract culinary celebrity. Some of this year’s expected guests include Mario Batali, Al Roker, Emeril Lagasse, Michelle Bernstein, Guy Fieri, and Bobby Flay among many others.

If you’re planning to attend this year’s festival, make your plans soon. Tickets for the more popular events traditionally sell out weeks in advance. You can purchase tickets online at the official festival website. Events range in price from $35 for Kidz Kitchen to $2,000 for a foursome at the celebrity golf tournament.

Get out to South Beach and prepare to enjoy a great culinary weekend. Just be sure to bring those pants that have a little extra room in them!