SOURCE: Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival

 

MIAMI BEACH, FL--(Marketwire - January 14, 2009) - The 2009 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival and Southern Wine & Spirits of America are pleased to announce an unprecedented tribute to the wines and foods of Spain. Taking place on Thursday, February 19, 2009, the distinguished gala will benefit the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University and Fundación España-Florida: celebrating 500 years of Spanish presence in Florida. Slated to attend the event are a number of distinguished guests and special information about the evening can be found at www.sobewineandfoodfest.com.

"We are honored to present this exclusive tribute to the wines and foods of Spain this year," notes Mel Dick, president, wine division and senior vice president of Southern Wine & Spirits of America. "We are privileged to have many of Spain's finest winemakers join us for the evening, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the best of Spain right here in South Florida."

The evening will be emceed by none other than Mario Batali, co-author of "Spain . . . A Culinary Road Trip" (Ecco 2008) and co-host of "Spain . . . on the road Again" with Gwyneth Paltrow, which airs through American Public Television on PBS stations nationwide. Batali has long been recognized for making a mark on the culinary scene and, among other honors, is winner of the James Beard Foundation's "Best Chef: New York City" award and "Outstanding Chef of the Year," in 2002 and 2005 respectively. A celebrated chef, Batali has 14 restaurants spanning New York City, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and is known for his former Food Network show "Molto Mario" and culinary battles on "Iron Chef America".

Taking place at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, a collection of Spain's greatest chefs will gather in an unparalleled show of Iberian haute cuisine paired with some of Spain's finest wines. The exclusive parade of talent includes Spanish TV cooking personality Jose Andres, one of America's most successful Spanish chefs with several restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area; Pedro Subijana, whose Akelare restaurant in the resort area of San Sebastian is Michelin 3-star rated; Daniel Garcia, the youngest of Spain's celebrated "10 Chefs de Vanguardia," a group of masters considered among the country's most ground-breaking; and Francisco (Paco) Torreblanca, considered the best master patissier in Spain and throughout Europe. Before the meal begins, several other noted Spanish chefs will entice the palate with a reception menu representing the Basque province of Bizkaia. Those include celebrity chef Aitor Elizegui of the popular Gaminiz restaurant and Aitor Basabe, who presides over Arbolagaña, the highly regarded restaurant at the Museo de Bellas Artes in Bilbao. The entire culinary team for the evening will be co-hosted by Phillipe Ruiz and Biltmore Hotel executive chef, Rolando Cruz-Taura. The tribute will culminate in an exquisite after-dinner lounge, to be held on the Biltmore's Country Club terrace and featuring Padron cigars and fine brandy and sherries.

On Friday, February 20, 2009, this special tribute continues throughout the entire Festival weekend with the official opening of the Wines from Spain pavilion at noon before Wine Spectator's Trade Tasting. The pavilion will remain open in the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village throughout the weekend, February 21-22. Guests can also experience many of Spain's finest wineries in the Southern Wine & Spirits of South Florida portfolio, pouring at Fontainebleau Miami Beach presents Wine Spectator's "Best of the Best" sponsored by Bank of America on Friday, February 20, 2009.

Throughout the weekend, the Festival is also privileged to present several wine seminars focusing on flavors exclusively found in Spanish wines including: Marques de Riscal: Secrets of Rioja Revealed, Spanish Superstars hosted by Steve Olson, "Grupo Barón de Ley: The many faces of Tempranillo" and "Torres -- Taste Spain: Selections from Spain's Top Wine Regions," "RIOJA ON THE CUTTING EDGE: Discover one of Spain's most spectacular and advanced wineries" and "Marques de Griñón -- French grape varieties in Spain," Vega Sicilia Wine Seminar, and the Marqués de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Vertical Tasting.

Tickets for all Festival events can be purchased online at www.sobewineandfoodfest.com or by calling 877.762.3933.

About the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival

All proceeds of the Festival benefit the students of the Florida International University School of Hospitality and 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. In addition to receiving a first-rate education in one of the country's most diversified hospitality and tourism markets, these students are provided the opportunity to work hands-on with some of the industry's most experienced leaders.

Special thanks to those who made possible the gala tribute to the wines and foods of Spain, including Southern Wine & Spirits of America, City of Coral Gables, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Biltmore, Cigar Aficionado, Delta, Riedel, Selecta magazine, Wine Spectator, and Wines from Spain.

The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Food &Wine is produced by Florida International University and Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida 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 www.sobewineandfoodfest.com or call 877-762-3933. For more information about Florida International University visit www.fiu.edu, for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management visit www.hospitality.fiu.edu and for more information about Southern Wine & Spirits visit www.southernwine.com.