Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival Fan-Favorite Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village Featuring Mastercard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations Returns February 25 & 26, 2017

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Jan. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Widely recognized as one of America's favorite epicurean celebrations, the 16^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF^®) returns to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. February 22 – 26, 2017.  Its signature event that started it all in 2002, the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village featuring Mastercard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations, is back with all of the fan-favorite, gourmet flair that it is known for on Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26.  Benefiting the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University, the Festival has raised more than $24 million to date to support the future leaders of the food, beverage and hospitality industry.

Once again, the Festival is making it easier than ever to enjoy its signature Miami Beach event with a free park-n-ride option.  Exclusive for Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village ticketholders, the Festival is providing FREE shuttle transportation to the event from dedicated Festival parking lots located at N.E. 8^th Street between N.E. 1^st Avenue and N.E. 2^nd Avenue in Downtown Miami.  Shuttles, which are ADA compliant, will run continuously from 11 AM to 7 PM (EST) on Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26.  Shuttles will drop-off and pick-up on the beachside at 13^th Street & Collins Avenue. For guests using Metromover, the closest station is Freedom Tower Station.

In addition to the Festival's featured line-up of Culinary Captains, who together have rounded up more than 55 restaurants each day to satiate attendees' taste buds as they sip on samplings from 100 wine and spirits suppliers from the Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits portfolio, an array of new and returning favorite Food Network and Cooking Channel talent and more culinary personalities will take to the KitchenAid Culinary Demonstration stages each day, including:

The just announced KitchenAid Culinary Demonstration with Tanqueray brand ambassador Snoop Dogg and Guy Fieri on Saturday, February 25 is just the beginning, as Snoop Dogg will also take to the tables immediately following the demonstration for a short spin on the ones and twos as guests sip on fresh pressed Gin & Juice cocktails from the custom Tanqueray Gin & Juice Bar.  You won't want to miss this one-of-a-kind jam session to close-out your day at our signature event!   

New this year, SOBEWFF^® is also pleased to partner with hospitality and nightlife visionary David Grutman to present a one-of-a-kind experience at the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village on Sunday, February 26.  Grutman will transform the courtyard into a custom experience ideated by the energetic impresario himself, featuring live beats by the dynamic, internationally-renowned DJ INGROSSO. 

The Festival's special reduced price ticket – 3-5 on Ocean Drive – is on sale now, providing access to the Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village, including the David Grutman Experience, on Sunday, February 26 from 3 – 5 PM (EST) for $100 per person.  Tickets for all events at the 2017 Festival are available online at sobewff.org or by calling 877.762.3933 (Phone sales are open Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST). 

Between SOBEWFF^® and its sister NYCWFF, which takes place each October in New York City, more than $33 million has been raised to benefit the respective charities for each Festival.  Beyond the funds raised, both Festivals draw attention to the vibrant dining culture in their respective cities, provide economic stimulus in their communities, and serve as an invaluable platform to drive awareness, engaging and inspiring people to get involved in philanthropic activities.

About the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival
All proceeds from the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management who also assist Festival organizers with sponsorship fulfillment, restaurant and exhibitor recruitment, logistics, and inventory as well as working alongside some of the world's greatest celebrity chefs and winemakers. To date, the Festival has raised more than $24 million for the School. In September 2016, BizBash named the Festival the #1 Food & Restaurant Industry event in the United States for the fourth year in a row.    

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival is produced by Florida International University and Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitors & Convention Authority and the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. For more information about the Festival, visit sobefest.com or call 877-762-3933. For more information about Florida International University visit fiu.edu, for the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management visit hospitality.fiu.edu and for more information about Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits visit southernglazers.com.

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SOURCE Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival