As October kicks off, the much-anticipated South Beach Seafood Festival is poised to take Miami Beach by storm for its 12th annual event, reeling in seafood aficionados from near and far, hook, line and sinker. This four-day culinary extravaganza, running from Oct. 23-26, 2024, promises to be an unforgettable celebration of food, drink and entertainment, all infused with the vibrant Miami culture.
This year’s fest is set to be bigger and better than ever with throngs of participating restaurants, celebrity chefs, unforgettably delectable dishes and an atmosphere buzzing with excitement. This is a must-attend annual event for anyone who loves a gastronomic experience executed with South Beach Miami’s signature flair.
“Save the date for the 2024 South Beach Seafood Festival, an iconic event that has become a cornerstone of Miami’s cultural scene. Each year, thousands of locals and visitors from across the country come together to celebrate Miami and the beach’s exceptional culinary landscape and vibrant beachside atmosphere,” said Valerie Roy, co-founder of the festival and CMO at CI Management, the team behind the South Beach Seafood Festival. “Whether you’re a seafood aficionado, an entertainment enthusiast, or simply in search of an unforgettable week of flavor set against the stunning backdrop of South Beach, this festival promises an experience that will captivate your senses and leave you with lasting memories.”
Here’s why the 2024 South Beach Seafood Festival is a must-attend culinary celebration for seafood lovers and fun-seekers, alike.
1. Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine Hosting
Food Network star Robert Irvine, best known for “Restaurant: Impossible,” is bringing his culinary expertise and larger-than-life personality to the festival. Irvine will host and serve as the official “Chef Ref” at the “VIP Chef Showdown.” There, he’ll be in charge of highlighting local chefs, overseeing the culinary face-offs and participating in special events throughout the weekend, including culinary demos in the Milam’s Market’s Culinary Showcase Kitchen on Saturday with a special bottle signing to introduce his latest venture, Irvine Vodka.
2. Supporting Local Talent
The festival shines a spotlight on South Florida’s culinary stars, with chefs from some of the region’s most beloved restaurants taking center stage during different events across the multi-day soiree. For example, guests can expect to sample dishes from top spots like RED South Beach, ZUMA, Pubbelly Sushi and Meat Market during the five-course experience at Thursday’s “Crabs, Slabs, and Cabs.” Each participating chef will serve their own delectable course, or in collaboration with other chefs confirmed for the event, meaning patrons are sure to experience sensational cuisine from some of the area’s best.
3. Epic Live Entertainment
The South Beach Seafood Festival is more than just great food—it’s also about enjoying the experience. Live entertainment will keep the energy high throughout the event, with the Jack Daniel’s Live Stage being the main site for chef battles, such as the “VIP Chef Showdown” hosted by “Chef Ref” Irvine. In addition to the mouthwatering food, guests will enjoy live DJs to dance the day away at the Jack Daniel’s Live Stage when competitions aren’t ongoing, as well as plenty of action at the Pacifico Beach Club and High Noon’s Lifeguard Dance Party throughout the event.
4. Elevated VIP Options
The festival begins Wednesday with an exclusive five-course dinner at the renowned Joe’s Stone Crab. Hosted by Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, this will offer guests a menu of exceptional cuisine, kicking off the week with freshly cracked stone crabs. Set in the historic ‘Jesse’s Room,’ diners will enjoy an exclusive meal steeped in the rich history and charm of this iconic venue. For those looking for an even more elevated experience, premium upgrades will be available, including access to exclusive lounges like the Stone Crab Lounge, where guests can indulge in a more intimate setting while taking in the festivities.
5. The VIP Chef Showdown
The ultimate culinary competition takes center stage on Friday of the festival. Twenty-two of Miami’s top chefs will go head-to-head in 11 thrilling battles, each showcasing their skills and seafood mastery, with Chef Ref Irvine serving as host. Festival-goers will sip on their favorite cocktails, sample dishes at the battle tents and vote on their favorites in each battle to help each restaurant win the people’s vote, before turning their attention to the Jack Daniels’ Live Stage to watch the 22 executive chefs battle it out live. Each chef will have 15 minutes to curate the perfect dish against their competitor for a panel of main stage judges who will weigh and determine the champions. The event will also feature the Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown, where four bars will go head-to-head in competition.
6. All-Inclusive Saturday Seafood Slam
This year’s main event is the “Seafood Slam” on Saturday, debuting a new all-inclusive format. With one ticket, festival-goers can enjoy unlimited tastings of the leading samples and beverages from over 40 of South Florida’s finest restaurants on the seafood scene. The event features a stellar lineup of restaurants from across the area’s favorite neighborhoods, including: Area 31, Barton G, Billy G Catering, Café Bernie, CalaMillor Gourmet Experience, Casa Matilda Steakhouse and many more.
7. Interactive Culinary Demos
Throughout the weekend, festival-goers will have the chance to watch and learn from the best. Culinary demonstrations by top chefs will be featured in Milam’s Market Culinary Showcase Kitchen, offering sessions that are sure to inspire home cooks. It’s more than just a cooking demo—it’s an interactive opportunity to learn from top chefs. You can pick up new culinary techniques and even taste what the chefs prepare right in front of you. Chef Irvine will be performing his own demonstration on Saturday in Milam’s Market Culinary Showcase Kitchen with a special bottle signing to introduce his latest venture, Irvine Vodka.
8. Exclusive Wine Pairings and Local Mixology
Beyond the seafood, the festival’s wine pairings elevate the dining experience to new heights. Expertly curated by title sponsor Breakthru Beverage Florida, expect to savor fine wines from Umani Ronchi, Gundlach Bundschu Winery and more, enhancing every bite. Beverage options will be available during each and every session of the festival. Friday’s Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown is the perfect opportunity to see some of Miami’s top mixologists in action. Four bartenders will compete live, crafting innovative cocktails that showcase the best of local spirits and flavors before the final round heads to the main Jack Daniel’s Live Stage for a winner to be determined with the help of the people’s vote. This lively cocktail competition caps off an ultimate beach bash night at the South Beach Seafood Festival.
9. Cultural Diversity in Cuisine
Recognized by USA Today, Forbes and the Travel Channel as one of the top seafood festivals in the U.S., the South Beach Seafood Festival has become a cornerstone of Miami’s cultural scene. It’s not just about the food—it’s about celebrating the vibrant, diverse and lively spirit of the city. Beyond traditional seafood dishes, the festival features a blend of international flavors from various cultures that resonates with Miami’s melting pot of culinary sensibilities. For example, the Saturday “Seafood Slam” will feature a stellar lineup of multi-cultural restaurants from across South Florida’s favorite neighborhoods, including Hoy Como Ayer, Jarana, La Pata Gorda, Lona Cocina, MAYU by Aromas Del Peru, Playa Bowls North Miami Beach, Southern Kulture Grill, SuViche, Tacos and Tattoos, Tartufo Prestige, Tasty T’s Catering, Te Tequenitos LLC, Viva La Pasta and more.
10. A Cause That Matters
In addition to showcasing the region’s top culinary talent, the festival supports the CI Foundation’s EAT SMART program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing healthy meals and nutritional education to the local community and Florida’s youth through Miami-Dade public schools. The mission of the program is to focus on the fight against childhood hunger and childhood obesity by finding a better balance through health, wellness, nutrition and exercise throughout Miami-Dade County. Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the South Beach Seafood Festival benefits the nonprofit.
These reasons, singularly and certainly in combination, make the 12th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival an unmissable event this fall. Recognized by USA TODAY as one of the “Top 5 Specialty Festivals in The Country,” by Forbes as one of the “Top 5 Things to Do This Fall,” and by the Travel Channel as the “Best Seafood Festival in the US,” the South Beach Seafood Festival is a must-attend event for seafood lovers near and far. In addition to showcasing the region’s top culinary talent, the festival supports the CI Foundation’s EAT SMART program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing healthy meals and nutritional education to the local community and Florida’s youth through Miami-Dade public schools.
Tickets for the 2024 South Beach Seafood Festival are now on sale at sobeseafoodfest.com, and social media mavens can follow the epicurean adventures on Instagram at @sobeseafoodfest and Facebook @SOBESeafoodFest.
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OFFICIAL EVENT SCHEDULE
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23: AN EVENING AT JOE’S
The festival opens with an exclusive five-course dinner at the renowned Joe’s Stone Crab. Hosted by Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, this extraordinary evening will offer guests a menu of exceptional cuisine, kicking off the week with the freshest of cracked stone crabs, perfectly paired with fine wines curated by Breakthru Beverage Florida’s top experts. Set in the historic ‘Jesse’s Room,’ diners will enjoy a meal steeped in the rich history and charm of this iconic venue. Tickets are limited for this one-of-a-kind experience.
Tickets: SOLD OUT
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DAY 2: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24: CRABS, SLABS, AND CABS
One of the signature events of the festival is the GOYA FOODS’ “Crabs, Slabs, and Cabs” dinner, hosted at the luxurious Loews Miami Beach Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 24, and presented by Umani Ronchi, Gundlach Bundschu, and Irvine’s Vodka. This year, TV host and journalist Johanna Gomez will serve as the event’s host, guiding attendees through a culinary journey of international surf and turf dishes featuring the best of Halperns’ Steak and Seafood. The event will feature some of the culinary world’s brightest stars, hosted by GOYA Food’s executive chef, Chef Fernando Desa alongside celebrity chef, Chef Robert Irvine, and featuring Chef Sean Brasel, Meat Market; Chef Jose Mendin, Casa Isola & Pubbelly Sushi; Chef Marco Cannata, ZUMA; Chef Peter Vauthy, RED South Beach; Chef Juan Alfonso Urrutia, Osaka Nikkei; as well as venue host, Chef Christopher Aguirre, Loews Miami Beach.
These acclaimed chefs will craft a six-course sit down formal dinner with each course prepared by a different chef or collaboration of chefs featuring their take on the surf n turf pairing, with each course showcased with exceptional wines, offering guests an unforgettable dining experience under the stars. Limited seating is available for this highly anticipated event.
Tickets: $250* per person; $475* VIP Three Day Pass
Time: 7:00PM | Location: Loews Miami Beach Hotel, 1601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL
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DAY 3: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25: TEQUILA HERRADURA VIP CHEF SHOWDOWN
The excitement ramps up on Friday, Oct. 25, with the Tequila Herradura “VIP Chef Showdown,” a thrilling culinary night of competition battle, hosted this year by celebrity chef, Chef Robert Irvine, who will serve as the event’s official Chef Ref. Attendees will enter on 13th & Ocean on the sand in Lummus Park and walk thru the official beer partner experience, featuring Cerveza Pacifico Clara, as they head past the official auto partner, Cadillac, and into the GOYA Culinary Village. They will sip on their favorite cocktails, sample dishes at the battle tents, and vote on their favorites in each battle to help each restaurant win the people’s vote, before they turn their attention to the Jack Daniels’ LIVE STAGE, presented by GOYA Foods, where they will witness these 22 executive chefs battle it out on stage. Each battle will head to the stage during their designated time started at 7:30PM, celebrate their restaurant with high energy entertainment, and have 15 minutes to curate their perfect dish against their competitor for a panel of main stage judges who will weigh and find our champions in 11 unique seafood showdowns as 22 of South Florida’s top chefs compete for the ultimate bragging rights with chefs coming from Miami & Broward to compete, with 11 hoping to defend their titles. The battle presentations are annually presented by Demesmin & Dover, a leading personal injury firm in South Florida. The evening is topped off with the annual Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown to highlight South Florida’s favorite mixologists where four bars will go head-to-head in competition. Competing bars will be announced in October.
Attendees will get to enjoy national brand experiences from GOYA Foods, Irvine Vodka, Halperns’ Steak & Seafood, the all new Walmart Luxury Experience, Barilla Pasta Pesto experience, Hendricks Gin, Ron del Barrilito Rum, High Noon, Tartufo Prestige, Vineyard Brands featuring Umani Ronchi wines, Gundlach Bundschu Winery, Castaway Coffee featuring Irvine Vodka Espresso Martinis, and First Horizon among others. They will have the chance to sample and vote on their favorite dishes, engage in these interactive brand experiences, and dance the night away while watching their favorite chefs head on stage while a panel of esteemed judges lend their palette to weigh in and determine the victors. Additionally, guests can end their night on a sweetnote with desserts by Crepemaker and Mouthgasm Sweet Shop; and stay hydrated throughout the event with Smartwater, an official hydration partner, as well as Topo Chico. This year’s Main Stage judges include GOYA’s Chef Fernando Desa; chef, restaurateur, and four-time Battle Crab Champ, Brian Nasajon; journalist and author, Sara Liss; founder of the upcoming restaurant, CATCH & CUT on Las Olas, and former Exec Chef of Joe’s Stone Crab, Chef Andre Bienvenu; producer and podcast host, Kiko Suarez; and BizBash journalist, Tracy Block.
Tickets: $175*; All Inclusive Experience. $275 Weekend Passes.
Time: 7PM | Location: GOYA Culinary Village, Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
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DAY 4: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26: SEAFOOD SLAM
The festival reaches its grand finale with the “Seafood Slam,” a Best of the Best Festival day, will feature a brand new take on the beachfront festival day taking place on Saturday, Oct. 26. With one all-inclusive ticket for 2024, guests will indulge to help find which restaurant serves it best with over 40 pop-up restaurants showcasing their leading samples to celebrate the best of South Florida’s seafood scene with unlimited tastings. The Saturday Seafood Slam will feature a stellar lineup of restaurants from across South Florida’s favorite neighborhoods, including: Area 31, Barton G, Billy G Catering, Café Bernie, CalaMillor Gourmet Experience, Casa Matilda Steakhouse, Chef Anthony’s Smoked Fish Dip, CJ’s Crab Shack, Cilantro 27, Even Keel Fish Shack, Fresh Co Fish Market & Grill, Garlick, GOYA Foods, Hoy Como Ayer, Jarana, La Pata Gorda, Lobster Shack, Lona Cocina, MAYU by Aromas Del Peru, Mouthgasm Sweet Shop, Old Lisbon, Olive & Sea, Playa, Playa Bowls North Miami Beach, Pubbelly Sushi, RED South Beach, Sala O’ Cuban, Social Club at Kimpton Surfcomber, Southern Kulture Grill, SuViche, Tacos and Tattoos, Tartufo Prestige, Tasty T’s Catering, Te Tequenitos LLC, TKL, Treats n Eatz, Viva La Pasta, Wynwood Parlor, Zeru and Zigsters Fish Fry. This diverse selection ensures an unforgettable culinary experience for all attendees. Guests will enjoy an all-inclusive ticket experience, allowing them to indulge in unlimited food and beverages throughout the day. The festival grounds will be buzzing with DJs, dance parties, national brand experiences, culinary demonstrations in the always popular Milam’s Market’s Culinary Showcase Kitchen from national and local chefs, beach games, and more.
General Admission: $160* All-Inclusive Experience
Time: 1PM | Location: Lummus Park, 1400 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL
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Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. As a prolific lifestyle, travel, dining and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, Merilee keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. Connect with her at www.TheLuxeList.com and www.SavvyLiving.tv / Instagram www.Instagram.com/MerileeKern / Twitter www.Twitter.com/MerileeKern / Facebook www.Facebook.com/MerileeKernOfficial / LinkedIN www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.
***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or arranged at no cost to accommodate if this is review editorial, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***
Images and video courtesy of Rockawaymore.com
