South Beach Wine and Food Festival honors Jamie Oliver at this years Tribute Brunch

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Sunday brunch never tasted so good as in the hands of renowned chefs doing their best in the name of three deserving individuals. This elegant mid-day feast celebrated the success and accomplishments of Jamie Oliver (South Beach Wine & Food Festival Global Citizen Award), Mr. and Mrs. Jose Ferrer Sala (Southern Wine & Spirits Lifetime Achievement Award) and Richard E. Rivera (FIU Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Leaders Award). In the setting of the Festival headquarter hotel, the breathtaking Loews Hotel, the three will be feted with the creations of Miami’s own Michelle Bernstein, assisted by the talented trio of Hedy Goldsmith, Michael Schwartz and Edgar Leal. The buffet will be complemented by Freixenet wines, produced by Mr. Ferrer Sala’s company.

Voted the sexist chef on TV, Oliver’s cooking shows are broadcast in more than 50 countries, and his cookbooks are worldwide bestsellers. He is the self-proclaimed ambassador for British cooking who in recent years has worked to improve the quality of meals offered in the UK school system. Septuagenarian Ferrer Sala , today the honorary chairman of Spain’s Freixenet Group, the world’s leading exporter of sparkling wines, for more than four decades served as the family-owned company’s chief executive and guided its tremendous global expansion. Rivera has 30 years of industry experience to his credit. A principal of the restaurant management and development firm of Rubicon Enterprises, he has served in several leadership positions, including seats on a U.S. government commission and a presidential committee, and today is chair of the National Restaurant Association.

This year some of Miami's biggest VIP's including, FIU president Modesto Madique, SBFW founder Lee Brian Schrager, pop artist Romero Britto, Alice Waters, developer Jorge Perez with his wife Darlene, Ocean Drive Editor-in-Chief Glenn Albin, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Harvey Chaplin, Wayne Chaplin, and Mel Dick, with Southern Wine and Spirits.

AMEX After event at Casa Casuarina, one of the most anticipated events at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival

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Every year at the South Beach Food and Wine festival one of the most anticipated events is the AMEX After event, which this year took place at the former Versace mansion, Casa Casuarina. Among the guest that enjoyed the catering of Barton G and drinks from Absolut Spirits/Plymouth Gin included a who's who of celebrity chef: Rachael Ray and husband John Cusimano, Johnny Vinczencz, Michelle Bernstein, Govin Armstrong, Tyler Florence, Katie Lee Joel, Giada De Laurentiis and husband Todd Thompson, and Lee Brian Schrager, founder and director of the SBFW.

Celebrity chef Rachael Ray hosts Burger Bash on South Beach

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Burgermania has taken a rightful place at the South Beach Food and Wine Festival. Following its wildly successful introduction in 2007, the Amstel Light Burger Bash was hosted by Rachael Ray with a whole new cast of cooks. Among those that competed for bragging rights were chefs like Oprah’s personal chef and the winner of last year’s “Burger Bash People’s Choice Award”, SHAKE SHACK, among others.
Local VIP's that attended included Jason and Michelle Rubell, Katie Lee Joel, Christina Getty, Stephanie Sayfie, Adrian Gonzalez, Lesley Abravanel, Chef Govin Armstrong, Josh Woodward, Willam Talbert III, Lee Brian Schrager along with Food Network personalities Rachael Ray, Guy Fieri, Masaharu Morimoto, and Ming Tsai.
This year's Burger Bash winner is Michael Schlow. Congratulations!!!!