South Beach Wine & Food Fest Kicks Off

Gusts of tropical wind didn’t stop a crowd from champagne clinking at a cocktail party on the rooftop of Red the Steakhouse to kick-off the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival last night. Afterward, two-stepping ranchers in ten-gallon hats were painting the town red at a Prelude Dinner downstairs with five-courses of Angus beef and plenty of toasts. Iron Chef Michael Symon hosted the beefy blowout with another Cleveland chef, Red's Peter Vauthy. Just blocks away, top toques Daniel Boulud, Masaharu Morimoto, Jose Garces and local Kris Wessel (Red Light) stoked the fires to benefit Haiti’s earthquake victims at South Beach’s landmark Tap Tap Haitian. Stay tuned to the Buzz for more updates from the festival!

– Victoria Pesce Elliott