Latest news with #BurgerBash
Miami Herald
21-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Argentine chefs dominated this year's Burger Bash on Miami Beach. Here's who won
One of the most popular events of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival kicked off with cool breezes and hot burgers, with two burger joints from Argentine owners earning prizes for their perfect patties. At the popular Burger Bash, meat lovers gathered under a tent on the sands of South Beach to sample the offerings and vote for their favorites, while a panel of celebrity judges chose their own winner. The night was loud and crowded in the best possible way. Host Rachael Ray, who hosted the first Burger Bash in 2007, told the audience: 'It's just so much fun always to be in this tent with this energy.' The People's Choice Award went to La Birra Bar from Argentina, which took home a $5,000 check for its smash golden chimichurri burger, a twist on the brand's burger that won in 2022. This new version was two smashed patties, American cheese and red onions dripping with a special Argentinian chimichurri mayo. Renzo Cocchia, who lives in Argentina and owns La Birra Bar with his father, celebrated happily with his team, reiterating on stage with Ray and festival founder Lee Schrager that La Birra Bar is a family business. 'We have no words,' said Cocchia when he came off the stage for photos and overwhelming congratulations. 'It's very emotional. We thank the people who came and voted for us and the amazing team we have behind us. And we want to thank the organizers of the event, it was huge. Year to year, they are doing the best job.' La Birra Bar has four locations in South Florida — North Miami Beach, Wynwood, Fort Lauderdale and Weston — and 14 in Argentina, plus restaurants in Spain and Chile. Cocchia said he started making specialty burgers for the first time in 2014. 'The first time we tried to make them, we loved them. We try to do the best burger we can, and I think we did a really good job.' It's easy, in a way, he says, because 'everybody loves burgers.' La Birra Bar, which is also planning to open a restaurant in Doral, also won the Idaho Potato Side Dish award, earning a $2,500 check for its 'smashbrowns,' loaded hash browns with lime pepper seasoning. The competition included a variety of fries, truffled and untruffled, as well as cacio e pepe tater tots from Daniel's, A Steakhouse in Fort Lauderdale. Meanwhile, the judges had another favorite burger. Skinny Louie earned the Very Best Burger Award and $2,500 for the Wagyu Louie, with double smashed wagyu beef patties, melted smoked gouda and truffle aioli, topped with pickled jalapeños on a brioche bun. This was the first Burger Bash win for owner Gonzalo Rubino and his team, all of whom were screaming, smiling and hugging. Rubino, who was born in Buenos Aires, and is co-founder of MPGR Hospitality, said it was the quality of the ingredients that made the Wagyu Louie stand out. 'The quality of the meat, the high-quality cheese — they're really good,' he said. 'I'm super happy and so proud of my team.' Skinny Louie has locations in Wynwood, Little Havana and the Kaseya Center, and plans to open restaurants in Aventura, Coral Gables, South Miami, West Palm Beach and New York. This year's judges were Rita Tennyson of Burger Bob's; the TikTok king of sandwiches Owen Han; Tyler Cameron of 'The Bachelorette' and 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test'; Manolo Vergara of the culinary brand Toma and Meg Radice and Audrey Jongens of The VIP List, famous for comedic food reviews on social media. The South Beach Wine & Food Festival continues through Sunday with events across the beach and other parts of Miami-Dade. All net proceeds benefit the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University.
Axios
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Events, things to know about the 24th SOBEWFF
The South Beach Wine and Food Festival is back for its 24th year with more than 100 flavor-packed events to choose from. Why it matters: SOBEWFF, billed as the nation's most acclaimed wine and food festival, is a party with a purpose. All proceeds from the festival go to Florida International University's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism, which has received more than $40 million during the life of the partnership. The festival starts Thursday, so tickets are limited. But here's a rundown of what to watch for — even if that means avoiding the traffic in and around Miami Beach. The four-day festival runs through Sunday, with events planned across South Florida and the main headquarters on the sands of South Beach. Check out the full list of events and see bundle offers. Food and drinks included unless otherwise noted Grand Tasting Village: The festival's marquee event, which takes up three city blocks on the sands of South Beach, invites attendees to sample bites from 30 South Florida restaurants, sip on refreshing libations and enjoy musical performances from Flo Rida and DJ Irie. $279. Sunday, 12pm-5pm. Burger Bash: TV chef Rachael Ray hosts one of the festival's premier events, with attendees judging over 30 burgers and potato-based side dishes. $325 each. Thursday, 7:30pm-10:30pm. At the North Venue on South Beach. Alex vs. Miami: Food Network chefs Alex Guarnaschelli and Eric Adjepong host this walk-around tasting where chefs compete to make the best dish. $155 each. Thursday 10pm-1am. Loews Miami Beach Hotel. Tournament of Champions: The Mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri, hosts this culinary competition featuring four teams of six chefs battling for the People's Choice Award. $215 each. Friday, 7:30pm-10:30pm. North Venue. Empanada-Making Master Class: Writer and entrepreneur Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, son of "Griselda" actor Sofía Vergara, will teach you how to make the South American staple. $135 each. Saturday, 10am-12pm. SGWS Wynwood. Drag Brunch: "The View" co-host Ana Navarro and "Queer Eye" star Antoni Porowski celebrate good food and the LGBTQ community at the Miami Beach Bandshell. $95 for drinks and a show, $185 with food included. Event runs Saturday from 12pm-3pm, beginning with brunch. (Show begins at 1pm.) Athena Dion, host and producer of the drag brunch at R House Wynwood, is joined by Meatball and Alexis Michelle from "RuPaul's Drag Race." The Cookout: James Beard Award-winning chef, author, and TV personality JJ Johnson celebrates African American cuisine at Eden Roc Miami Beach. $175 each. Saturday, 4pm-7pm. FoodieCon: James Beard Award-winning TV chef Andrew Zimmern and celebrity food reviewer Keith Lee headline this year's FoodieCon, a celebration of culinary content creators featuring cooking demonstrations, complimentary bites and more. $100. Saturday, 12pm-6pm. Mondrian South Beach. Noche Cubana: Miami chef and restaurateur Michelle Berstein and partner David Martinez — who own and run local gems like Cafe la Trova and Sweet Liberty — are throwing a Cuban party with a local crew of food giants. They include Martha Cardenas from El Mago de las Fritas, Suzanne Batlle from Azucar Ice Cream and Daniel and Rosa Figueredo from Sanguich, among many others. $155 each. Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel. Saturday, 10pm-1am. Sweet & Savory Brunch: Enjoy freshly baked breakfast sandwiches and a sparkling mimosa in the lush tropical gardens of The Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach. Zak Stern of Zak the Baker is joined by a who's who of Miami's bakery scene: Jesus Brazon (Caracas Bakery), Cindy Kruse (Cindy Lou's Cookies) and Matteson Koche (El Bagel), among others. $139. Sunday, 11am-1pm. Overtown Gospel Brunch: Award-winning chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson, of Red Rooster Overtown, is hosting a community brunch with great food and live gospel music from the Florida Fellowship Super Choir. He will be joined by his chef friends, including Amaris Jones (Chick N Jones), Travis Reece (Chef Reece Kitchen) and Derek Turton (World Famous House of Mac), among others. $199. Sunday, 11am-1pm at Red Rooster.
