Hosting at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival
If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that I was in Miami last weekend at the 10th anniversary celebration of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. This is always such a fun event, star-studded with world-renowned chefs and foodies galore. This year, festival founder, Lee Schrager, asked me if I would host a party called Let Them Eat Cake, with Emeril Lagasse, honoring this milestone year. Lee is a hard man to say no to, since he has done so much for food and wine. At this party, ten pastry chefs, cake artists, and confectioners, presented delicacies to complement the cocktails and Moët & Chandon Champagne that flowed all night. Prior to Let Them Eat Cake, we stopped off at the beautiful tent erected on the sandy beach behind the famous Delano Hotel where Bobby Flay was hosting a mouth-watering event called BubbleQ. Enjoy!
1 The venue for BubbleQ - a beautiful tent on a moonlit patch of white sand beach behind the elegant Delano hotel
2 This sold-out event featured barbecue in every possible incarnation, along with a favorite beverage - Perrier-Jouët champagne!
3 For the third time, Bobby Flay was the host of BubbleQ.
4 It was good to catch up with Bobby. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
5 Here I am taking a photo of Guy Fieri. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
6 And here's the photo!
7 Al Roker caught me enjoying some of his great-tasting chicken. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
8 Desserts under the tent were provided by Sweet Street Desserts.
9 Our next event was Sobe's 10th Year Anniversary Party 'Let Them Eat Cake.' Emeril and I hosted this party and there we are as a cake topper!
10 This cake was the creation of Edda Martinez of Edda’s Cake Designs, Miami, FL. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
11 Edda Martinez also offered Petit Fours: Vanilla Rum, Guava, and Chocolate. Also Cake Balls: Red Velvet and Chocolate
12 Here I am with Lee Schrager - founder of the festival - and Emeril
13 Here I am with Rachael Ray and Emeril. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
14 Jacques Torres and Emeril Lagasse Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
15 Basketball star - Chris Bosh, Adrienne Williams, and Me Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
16 I was very impressed with this chocolate tower. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
17 It was an amazing creation of David Funaro of Godiva Chocolatier.
18 Duff Goldman's 'Divine' cake admired by Emeril Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
19 The scene at 'Let Them Eat Cake' Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
20 A really interesting creation Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
21 This glowing cake was made by Patti Schmidt of The Dessert Lady, Orlando, FL.
22 Emeril is always fun to be around. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
23 What is Emeril so agog about? Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
24 Men and women were suspended from the ceiling performing an aerial act.
25 My friends, Alain Ducasse and Emeril Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
26 Foodie Gabriele Corcos and wife - Debi Mazar - actress, me, & Emeril Lagasse Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
27 The iceman cometh!
28 Extreme Ice Sculptors put on an amazing display.
29 It's a cake with an American Express card on top - a sponsor of the event. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
30 Giada De Laurentiis and Debi Mazar Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
31 Here I am with Jill Martin - TV personality and fashion expert. Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
32 Defeating all odds
33 Another tower of chocolate by Jacques Torres of Jacques Torres Chocolate, New York
34 Epicure's entry - a replica of Miami Beach
35 Lori Karmel of We Take the Cake, Ft. Lauderdale, FL had assorted mini cupcakes
36 Fabulous!
37 This towering cake was from Florida cake shop A Piece of Cake, a third-generation pasty shop whose cake was inspired by local artist Romero Britto.
38 Ben-Israel’s amazing homage to the city, an elaborate sugar ensemble based on artist Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture, with SOBE in an art deco typeface
39 Susan Magrino, Alain Ducasse, and me
40 Taking a break in the AMEX branded lounge.
41 So did Daisy - my makeup artist and Kevin
42 Sweet Street Desserts of Reading, PA offered a large assortment, including these yummy cream puffs.
43 Carnival dancers and musicians provided entertainment.
44 There was even a surprise tribute video for Lee Schrager.
Love your coral necklace.....
Posted by: Susan | March 1st, 2011 at 10:44 am
Hi Martha,
I'm glad to hear you had a good time at SOBE. A lot of tweets I read were about BubbleQ and Let Them Eat Cake - people seemed to be enjoying those events the best. I keep talking about getting tickets for the festival but to tell you the truth, just looking at picture #2 makes me claustrophobic. Wow, the cake artists made some really beautiful cakes - almost too nice to cut into but I hope everyone got a taste! Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 1st, 2011 at 11:15 am
These are some of the most beautiful pictures of you, friends, and food that have been on this blog. Wish I was enjoying Florida weather but it is OK just sitting here watching sweet basil plants come up. Great chance to show us what is going on in the world and did have some Grand Marnier in tropical drinks while Steph shares stories of her time living in Florida..
Posted by: ann | March 1st, 2011 at 11:58 am
.
Too bad this morning if you missed the show.
Two heavenly bodies, one high the other low,
The moon's cusp and Venus bright and high;
Blew us a kiss as they said goodbye,
Then the splendid sun warmed our cheek,
Promising the spring for which we seek.
.
aaks
Posted by: celia stock | March 1st, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Hi Martha, These photos of that terrific South Beach Wine & Food Festival are fantastic! I love all of them, especially those of you with many others at that great festival! You and all the others look like a blast was had by all! You and Emeril certainly do a lot of great events and I love seeing them here on your blog and on twitter! I'll bet the weather was wonderful down there in Florida. Loved seeing your Hallmark Home TV Shows starting at 6PM last night. Will that continue to every night or just Mondays? Your Martha Bakes Show was so delicious that I must start making some of those puff pastry items very soon! On to The Daily Wag- sure hope Francesca is doing better and the vets cure her of the lyme disease affects real soon. I miss her like crazy! Have a great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 1st, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Hi Martha
Love the Martha Bakes show. Reminds me of your previous show. All Martha, good cooking, and no nonsense guests!
Miss seeing Franny in your pictures. Give her an extra hug from all of us and hope she can come home soon
Joan
Hilton New York
Posted by: joan vogt | March 1st, 2011 at 2:40 pm
Every time I clicked the "Next" button, I found myself going, "Oh, wow" all over again.
Posted by: Judy Ware | March 1st, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Gorgeous photos of you Martha and wonderful event! love your coral necklace.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | March 1st, 2011 at 4:11 pm
I love your necklace! Is it an original creation?
Posted by: Stephanie Evans | March 1st, 2011 at 4:58 pm
We love Sweet Street Desserts. Such a good thing.
Martha you looked beautiful that night. We also loved your necklace.
Posted by: Nick | March 1st, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Martha, checked in this morning and there was no new blog post. Just checking-in again to find this new post. The cakes were spectacular WOW!!!!!!!! You looked beautiful as always! Thanks for sharing this blog post.
Posted by: KLBrown | March 1st, 2011 at 7:35 pm
BAM!!
Never say no to eating cake. EVER!
Great photos..you look like you had a good time.
Ciao Bella!
Creative Carmelina
Posted by: Creative Carmelina | March 1st, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Martha, every picture of you is so beautiful. You look so happy and healthy.
But, all those sweet things are going to do me in. I've been craving sweets all day, and didn't break over and give in. My reward?...my vehicle tore up on my way home.
So now...I won't have any way to go buy a banana split, which was what I craved all day. I guess that is the good part.
But, it all looks so delicious.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | March 1st, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Gorgeous photo of you in the coral necklace!
Posted by: KnitPastis | March 1st, 2011 at 11:12 pm
The cakes look amazing , especially the replica of Miami Beach!!! Truly captures the spirit of Miami!!
Posted by: Jackie | March 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 am
I love these pictures! Why does Rachael Ray look uncomfortable?
Posted by: David | March 3rd, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Dear Martha - I was one of the fortunate people to get tickets to the "let them eat cake" 10th anniversary of the South Beach Wine and food Festival!
What a great event! The event was exciting, that desserts were scrumptious,the livations were thirst quenching and the atmosphere was perfect for such a celebration!
Most of all I loved meeting you and as beautiful as you look in the pictures, you are more beautiful in person.
I am glad you are a yes Lee Schrager. See you there next year!
Posted by: Bianca the Foodie | March 3rd, 2011 at 2:35 pm