It’s that time of year again, where renowned chefs, restaurants, and brands come to Miami Beach to host some incredible events in a single weekend. One of the staple events that occurs in the South Beach Wine and Food Festival is Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village. Why is it such a staple to this yearly festival? Well, not only do you get to walk around in the sand, stopping at stall after stall for either a quick bite or a cold cocktail, but there are also cooking demonstrations by well known chefs throughout the event hours.
This year, I attended the Grand Tasting Village to see what venues/brands really stood out, and if overall the event is worth it.
My Highlights:
Having been attending the events for a couple of years now, I can say that the beverage brands outdid themselves this year. I was very impressed with the majority of the beverage related activations. Unfortunately, the food portion of the event this year fell a little flat in comparison to the previous years. With this said, there is one activation that I think clearly shone on top, and one that clearly shone on top for quests:
Angel’s Envy Activation
The Angel’s Envy Activation was one to remember. The bottles were displayed throughout the tent, with a bar section on one side, and a photo op on the other. They offered three types of cocktails, one of them being a Bourbon Colada, which was my favourite beverage of the event. The fact that their cocktail offerings were great is what ultimately put them on top, as other brands also had some beautiful activations.
Patron Tequila Activation
This activation definitely would have won people’s choice if an award like that was being given. The line was packed the entire festival, and it’s no wonder why. On top of great tequila cocktails, they served them in mini acrylic Patron Bottles that were an absolute hit.
Some Notable Mentions:
Grey Goose Vodka
Stoli Vodka
Gerard Bertrand Wines
Stella Artois
Blue Moon
So the question is, is it worth it? I would say if you enjoy alcohol, then 100% this event is a must. Also, if you enjoy food demonstrations, they always host the best of the best, from Andrew Zimmern, Rachel Ray, to Guy Fieri and more. If you aren’t a heavy drinker however, I would recommend to look into the other events hosted at SOBEWFF that tailor a little more into the food side.
Beverage and Roam 