My Trip to South Beach Wine & Food Festival 2020
There’s always so much to do at SOBEWFF.
If you follow my Instagram page @MarthaStewart48, you know I recently flew to Florida to attend the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One - now in its 19th year. It is a wonderful multiple day affair that benefits The Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management - one of the top hospitality management schools in the United States. While there, I always try to participate in as many events as possible. I co-hosted a dinner at Palm Beach’s much-loved restaurant, Buccan; I conducted a book signing at the Soho Beach House for "Martha Stewart's Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routines," and I hosted a dinner and reception at The Wolfsonian–Florida International University, where I curated a collection of personal items for the “Then + Now” exhibit. I also found time to eat at the famous Joe’s Stone Crab Restaurant, shop in some of the area’s fine antique stores and outdoor markets, and of course, enjoy some of the glorious Florida beach views.
Enjoy these photos.
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- This is a beautiful photo looking out from my room’s terrace at the Soho Beach House in Miami Beach. The days were beautiful with temperatures in the 80s.
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- The first event I co-hosted was a dinner at Buccan. Here I am with Chef Clay Conley, who owns the Buccan, as well as the Imoto and Grato restaurants all located in Palm Beach County. To my left is Chef Katie Button, owner of two unique restaurant concepts in Asheville, North Carolina – Cúrate Tapas Bar and Button and Co. Bagels. Chef Katie, a James Beard Award finalist is well known for her eclectic down-home take on Spanish cuisine. (Photo by Alissa Dragun @southmoonphoto)
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- This photo was taken just before dinner. Here I am with my longtime publicist, Susan Magrino, my friend, Lisbeth Barron and my makeup artist, Daisy Schwartzberg Toye. (Photo by Alissa Dragun @southmoonphoto)
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- Buccan is a restaurant, bar, and lounge in the heart of Palm Beach. Here is a view of the main dining room all set for our 120-guests. (Photo by Alissa Dragun @southmoonphoto)
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- Here is Chef Clay in the kitchen with members of his team. Chef Clay is a James Beard Award semi-finalist. He is best known for his small plates and big flavors. (Photo by Alissa Dragun @southmoonphoto)
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- Do you know what buccan means? Buccan or Boucan is the native South American and Caribbean name for a wooden framework or hurdle on which meat was slow-roasted or smoked over a fire. Spaniards called the same process “barbacoa”, later “barbecue”. The term “buccaneer” for pirates or privateers, is said to be derived from buccan.
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- Shortly before dinner, I took a quick photo of Chef Clay and his team.
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- The menu included a variety of delicious bites served during the reception and the sit-down dinner. (Photo by Alissa Dragun @southmoonphoto)
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- These are hearth roasted local baby radishes with Vermont cultured butter and sea salt.
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- These are house-made sobrasada with sunny-side-up quail eggs.
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- And this is Japanese hamachi tartare with Florida citrus and coconut. (Photo by Alissa Dragun @southmoonphoto)
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- Everyone loved the event and all the food. For dessert, we enjoyed gin-soaked berries with yogurt ice-cream torched meringue and sweet yogurt mousse. (Photo by Alissa Dragun @southmoonphoto)
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- The next morning, I conducted a book signing in the Club Bar of the Soho Beach House. I do a book event here every year – this time for “Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routines” – my 96th book.
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- 80-guests attended the book signing – it was a full house. A light breakfast was also served.
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- My publicist, Allyn Magrino, and Daisy were also there.
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- After I welcomed the audience, spoke about the book and answered questions, I personally signed everyone’s books. I am so proud of “Organizing.” It is divided into three sections – Organize Your Year, Organize Your Home, and Organize Your Routine. Topics include room-by-room strategies, seasonal advice, and day-to-day, week-by-week organizing plans. It is a great book for anyone who wants to get their life in order. I hope you have your copy!
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- It was great to see so many people attend to hear me speak about the book. I love meeting guests and learning how I’ve inspired them over the years.
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- For lunch, a group of us headed to the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach.
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- We ordered lots of stone crab claws – they are always so, so delicious.
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- For dessert, we had the very fine key lime pie.
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- Here I am with the mastermind of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Lee Schrager. Lee has done so much for the festival over the years. To date, the Festival has raised more than 30-million dollars for Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University. I am so happy to be a participant and a supporter of SOBEWFF.
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- And, when you go to Joe’s during the South Beach Food & Wine Festival, you always meet up with other culinary celebrities. Here I am with Giada De Laurentiis.
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- And here I am with Chef Marcus Samuelsson, who was honored at this year’s SOBEWFF annual tribute dinner for his outstanding culinary accomplishments, along with the beverage industry’s revered leader, Jim Clerkin.
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- Before leaving, Susan and I stopped for a photo with Jo-Ann Bass, the owner of Joe’s whose grandparents Joe and Jennie Weiss first opened its doors in 1913. If you’re ever in the area, stop in – you’ll love it. In my next blog, more photos from SOBEWFF and my event at the Wolfsonian-FIU.
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