South Florida’s South Beach Seafood Festival is gearing up for its 10th anniversary. Sponsored by Tequila Herradura, with a four-day event kicks off Miami’s famed stone crab Running Oct. 19-22 on South Beach, this year’s festival will feature a lineup of participating restaurants and chefs showcasing South Florida’s top culinary talent.
The festival also will include live musical performances by country music singer-songwriter, CMT Award winner, Granger Smith featuring Earl Dibbles Jr., with special guests, CMT nominated country music group, Runaway June, presented by Demesmin & Dover.
The South Beach Seafood Festival consists of four separate ticketed events, each taking place throughout the week. The event begins with “An Evening at Joe’s Stone Crab” on Oct. 19. The already sold-out event consists of a five-course meal showcasing Executive Chef Andre Bienvenu’s cuisine. On the following night, “Crabs, Slabs & Cabs” features a formal sit-down, five-course dinner highlighting ‘Surf n’ Turf’ reimagined by some of Miami’s leading chefs.
Hosted by GOYA Foods’ Executive Chef Fernando Desa, the event includes participation from celebrated restaurateur and Pubbelly Sushi partner José Mendín; Fiola Miami’s Executive Chef Danny Ganem; Meat Market Executive Chef and Owner Sean Brasel; Luca Osteria Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli; and host venue chef, The Social Club’s Executive Chef Javier Carballo. Thursday’s event will be hosted at High Tide at the newly revamped Kimpton Surfcomber. Limited seats for Thursday’s dinner are available through sobeseafoodfest.com.
The festivities continue with the annually sold out “Chef Showdown” on Oct. 21, whereby . 20 of Miami’s top chefs will go head-to-head in 10 competitive seafood showdowns. Presented by Tequila Herradura and taking place in the GOYA Culinary Pavilion in the Baptist Health Hospitality Village, “Chef Showdown” features various seafood ‘battles’, where guests sample and vote for their favorite dishes as they make their way around the village battle pavilions. This year’s participating restaurants and competitions will include:
- Battle Ceviche: Aida Mexican SeaFood’s Mauricio Hernandez vs La Cervecería de Barrio’s Alex Medina
- Battle Crab: 2-Time Champion, Beaker & Gray’s Brian Nasajon* vs Papa’s Raw Bar’s Chad Wyrosdick
- Battle Fusion-Sushi: Tanuki’s Gustavo Montes vs Chef Luis Gonzalez
- Battle Salmon presented by Laguna Blanca Salmon: 2021 Champion Mercato della Pescheria’s Alex Martinez vs Ocean 234’s Nicole Fey
- Battle Lobster: 4-Time Champion, Café Bernie’s Chef Bernie Matz vs Chef Billy G’s Chef Andres Garcia
- Battle Oyster: 2021 Champion, UCHI Miami’s Cristian Canencio vs Seawell Fish N Oyster’s Raymond Fiorello
- Battle Shrimp: Latin House’s Sergio Mazuelos vs Cilantro 27’s Nilton Castillo
- Battle Surf n’ Turf presented by Halpern’s Steak and Seafood: 2-Time Champion Rusty Pelican’s Jim Pastor vs Social Club’s Javier Carballo
- Battle Sushi: Zuma’s Nono Shigetomi vs Paperfish Sushi’s Michael Asalie
- Battle Taco: Tacos & Tattoos’ Jay Cruz vs Bandidos Taqueria Juan Hernandez
Running alongside the “Chef Showdown,” on Friday night, Tequila Herradura will also host an “Extraordinary Bartender Showdown.” Four bartenders will participate in a head-to-head competition for who can make the best Tequila Herradura margarita recipe. Once again, the guests are the judges, and the winner will earn a $500 prize.
The main South Beach Seafood Festival event will take place on Oct. 22, spanning four blocks along Ocean Drive at Lummus Park. Sponsored by Tequila Herradura, presented by GOYA Foods and City National Bank, and hosted by the City of Miami Beach, the beachfront festival will feature a selection of curated pop-up cafés by some of Miami’s finest seafood restaurants.
Throughout the festival’s general admission area, guests can expect pop-up cafés by: Café Avanti, A Fish Called Avalon, Lobster Shack, CJ’s Crab Shack, Tanuki, Café Bernie, Cilantro 27, Ella’s Oyster Bar, Pubbelly Sushi, Latin House, The Social Club, and The Wagyu Bar by Meat N’ Bone. VIP Sampling pop-ups in the Baptist Health VIP Village will include Bodega Taqueria y Tequila, Paule’s Pop Up by Chef Billy G, GOYA Foods, The Social Club, Kuba Cabana, The Wagyu Bar by Meat N’ Bone, Doral International Foods, Mau Miami, Playa, Papas Raw Bar, Seafood World, and Pescanova USA,
General Admission will also see the Piper Heidsieck Champagne lounge, the El Dorado Ultimate Beach Club, the Milam’s Marketplace featuring the Culinary Showcase Kitchen, and more. The VIP area will include a two-block village with specialty activations from Celebrity Cruises, Tequila Herradura, City National Bank, Baptist Health, Oshen Salmon, and the list continues. Tickets for general admission start at $55 and include complimentary all day open bar (21+); and VIP Admission starts at $150. Sobeseafoodfest.com.