South Beach Wine and Food Festival, 2009

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 19th with !Viva Espana!, The Wine and Foods of Spain at the Biltmore in Coral Gables and the Amstel Light Burger Bash with Rachael Ray at the Ritz-Carleton South Beach.

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

• Paula Deen's Harrah's Casino Night at the Paris Theatre on Washington Avenue Friday evening
• 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
• Tom Colicchio and Friends Perrier-Jouet BubbleQ at the Delano on Friday
• Kidz Kitchen at Jungle Island on Saturday morning
• The Grand Tasting Village from 11-6 on Saturday and Sunday
• Tribute Dinner at the Loews on Saturday night
• Oscar Night America, Sobe Style hosted by Bobby Flay and Stephanie March at the Paris Theatre 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, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, Tyler Florence, Guy Fieri and Martha Stewarts 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!