By Mary Damiano

	Lee Schrager, Emeril Lagasse, Charlie Hines and Marc Erhler at the 2006 South Beach Wine & Food Festival

If there’s one thing that everyone has in common, it’s food.  We might need to eat to survive, but more often than not we eat for pleasure.  Who doesn’t love biting into the perfect burger or the most devastatingly delicious vegetarian pasta?  Food is often the cornerstone of the evening’s entertainment: dinner and a movie, an after theatre supper, a late night snack at an all-night diner after an evening that probably started out with dinner.

The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which takes place February 23-25, celebrates America’s love of wine and food.  It’s also one of the hottest tickets in town, with its many events selling out early.

Some of the most well-known food and wine personalities in the world will attend and participate in festival events, which include tastings, demonstrations, seminars, parties, and book signings.

The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival is the brainchild of Lee Schrager, the Director of Media And Events at Southern Wine & Spirits. Several years ago,  Schrager was charged with creating awareness of the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center at Florida International University.  Using his background in event planning, Schrager came up with the idea of festival celebrating wine and food, using the natural beauty of South Beach as the setting.

The festival was a hit, attracting foodies, chefs, wine lovers and wine makers. Now in its sixth year, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, presented by Food & Wine Magazine, has grown into the largest festival of its kind in the world.

	Lee Schrager, founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Schrager says there are several factors in the festival’s quick growth and success.

“I think it’s a combination of doing a festival in the most beautiful beach in the world, it’s the time of year—it’s dead of winter everywhere else—and I believe it’s the combination of bringing the best chefs, food personalities and wine makers in the world coming.”

Last year, Food Network came on as title sponsor.  The partnership seems a no-brainer—the largest food and wine festival teaming with the cable phenomenon perhaps most responsible for the evolution of the culture of food in America.

“I think Food Network has done more for the food industry than Betty Crocker,” Schrager says.  “When I was growing up we had the Galloping Gourmet on TV.  Introducing a young audience to cooking has been so beneficial. When we do these kid’s kitchens and they sell out of tickets in a few days because the kids want to see Bobby Flay or Emeril Lagasse or Giada, that to me is amazing.”

A new event at the festival will be Food Network’s first-ever awards show.  The Food Network Awards, held at the Jackie Gleason Theater Saturday, February 24 from 8-10 p.m., will include categories such as The One Food You Must Eat Before You Die, Best New Food Technology or Gadget, Top Food Lovers Destination, and Food Network Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement Award.  Food Network stars will present the awards with special live presentations and performances.  Following the presentation, the network will host attendees at an after party.  The network also plans to shoot an All Star BBQ Party show early on the week of the festival.

Confirmed Food Network chefs and culinary personalities participating in various events include Michael Chiarello (“Easy Entertaining”), Giada De Laurentiis (“Everyday Italian”), George Duran (“Ham on the Street”), Bobby Flay (“Iron Chef America”), Emeril Lagasse (“Emeril Live”), Tyler Florence (“Tyler’s Ultimate”), Dave Lieberman (“Good Deal”), Rachael Ray (“30 Minute Meals”), Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh (“Party Line with the Hearty Boys”).

One event that Schrager is looking forward to is the first-ever Burger Bash, which takes place Sunday, February 25 at the Ritz-Carlton in South Beach. Guests will sample an assortment of the best burgers from around the country, including some of the winning burgers from NBC The Today Show’s “Best Burger Contest.”  Rachael Ray will host the festivities and will personally select a winner from a burger contest in her magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, to participate in the event.

	Food Network favorites Bobby Flay and Paula Deen at the 2006 festival

In addition to the food events, the festival will also offer a diverse selection of wine seminars for both aficionados and novices alike. The Wine Spectator Wine Seminars will feature three comprehensive packages of wine seminars each led by experts and winemakers from notable properties, including Caymus Vineyards, Far Niente Winery, Perrier-Jouët Champagne, Louis Roederer Champagne, Château Haut-Brion, Château Margaux, Château d’Yquem, Château Cheval Blanc and Maison Louis Latour.  Other free-standing wine seminars will be headed by Master Sommelier Alpana Singh and wine authority Anthony Giglio as well as an interactive blind tasting led by a panel of Master Sommeliers.

All events of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival are supported by the students of FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Each year, more than 500 students volunteer to assist organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, inventory as well as working alongside some of the world’s best-known celebrity chefs and winemakers.  He festival allows these students to work hands-on with some of the industry’s greatest leaders.

“I’m proud of the awareness that the festival raises for the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, and I’m proud that the students at the university play such an important part in it,” says Schrager.

In addition to giving South Floridians the chance to see their favorite food and wine personalities up close and personal, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival also allows local chefs to shine. 

“We have a plethora of talent here, so I think it’s really highlighted them and the cuisines of South Florida,” says Schrager.

Showcasing the epicurean arts is only one way Schrager and Southern Wine & Spirits have supported the arts and charitable organizations in South Florida.  Schrager founded the Make a Wish gala 12 years ago, and has also supported the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Care Resource, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami City Ballet and the Dade Human Rights Foundation.

“Supporting the arts is important,” Schrager says.  “I believe if you live in the community and you’re in a position to support the arts, whether it’s the opera or ballet or symphony, a high school or a college, I think that being involved in the community and giving back is important.”

More Highlights of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival

	Local chef Michael Schwartz, who will participate in the South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Friday, February 23
Food Network’s Al Roker (“Roker on the Road”) will host one of two opening night events of the festival, the Moët & Chandon BubbleQ, held beachside at the Delano. That same night, Fontainebleau Resort will present Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best, bringing together some of the best wines from around the world accompanied by some of the best cuisine from around the country. 

Saturday, February 24
The festival’s signature event, the Grand Tasting Village will treat guests to a myriad of activities, including wine, spirits and gourmet tastings, cooking demonstrations and book signings by some of the biggest industry names and a Cocktail Clinic where some of the industry’s greatest authorities will lead interactive demonstrations to other industry experts seeking to hone their skills.  Kids will also have the opportunity to share in the fun with the Kidz Kitchen culinary seminars, geared towards young aspiring chefs on Saturday and Sunday and led by Food Network’s Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, and Rachael Ray.

On Saturday night, the festival will pay tribute to Michelin three-star chef Eric Ripert and partner Maguy Le Coze of Le Bernardin at a Tribute Dinner prepared by Daniel Boulud (Daniel, New York), Laurent Gras (formerly of Fifth Floor, San Francisco), Elena Arzak (Restaurante Arzak), Marc Ehrler (Loews Miami Beach), Tony Esnault (Alain Ducasse at the Essex House), and Le Bernardin’s own pastry chef Michael Laiskonis.

Sunday, February 25
On Sunday at the Tribute Brunch, the festival will recognize three more industry luminaries for their outstanding contributions and achievements. Domestic doyenne Martha Stewart will be presented with the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Voss Artesian Water; Peter and Robert Mondavi will receive the Southern Wine & Spirits of America Lifetime Achievement Award, and Florida International University will again honor another industry leader with the Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Award.