30th Annual Festival of Chefs

Benefiting Easterseals South Florida

Miami’s premier and longest-standing culinary event, featuring a mix of South Florida’s top culinary talent in support of the mission of Easterseals South Florida was a big success raising over $100,000! The 30th Annual Easterseals South Florida Festival of Chefs took place on Wednesday, November 14th at Jungle Island at 6:30 p.m. featuring the following chef participants:

Pubbelly Sushi – Chef Chair, Jose Mendin; Jungle Island – Host Chef, Mark Borowski; 800° Woodfired Kitchen – Chef Anthony Carron; Area 31 – Chef Alex Olivier; Devon Seafood Grill – Chef Michelle DeGeorge; Diez y Seis – Chef Jose Icardi; Easterseals South Florida Culinary Arts High School Students; Goya Foods – Chef Fernando Desa; King of Racks BBQ at the Wharf Miami – Chef Anthony Garcia; La Mar at the Mandarin Oriental – Chef Diego Oka; La Moderna — Chef Gianluca Messano; Lemoni Café – Chef Assia Dahrouch; Marabu – Chef Alberto Cabrera; Maska Midtown Miami – Chef Hemant Mathur; Mason Eatery – Chef Brian Nasajon; Novecento – Chef Jaime Pesaque; Passione Napoletana – Chef Giacomo Cesaro; Pilo’s Tacos – Chef Sebastian Jaume; R House – Chef Rocco Carulli; Roho Kitchen – Chef Jorge Montes; Rusty Pelican – Chef Jim Pastor; Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante – Chef Pietro Vardeu; Seawell Fish n’ Oyster – Chef Julian Garriga; Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill – Chef Timon Balloo; The Local Craft Food & Drink – Chef Juan Bedoya; The Social Club – Chef Jeffrey Williams; Three & No.3 Social – Chef Juan Garrido; Timō Restaurant – Chef Tim Andriola; Truluck’s – Chef Michael Cerny; Xixon Spanish Restaurant – Chef Juan Manuel Campos.

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The annual event pays tribute to South Florida’s culinary scene with an evening of featured signature dishes, wine & spirit tastings, silent auction and entertainment, all to benefit the Easterseals South Florida Culinary Arts High School, a vocational training program for students with autism and other disabilities. At Festival of Chefs, Easterseals culinary students showcased their abilities with a signature dish and incredible hospitality.

Their signature dishes were complemented by a variety of wine and spirits courtesy of 1852 Kurant Crystal Vodka, 958 Santero Love Cuvee, 958 Santero Rose Dry Sparkling Wine, Acqua Panna/S. Pellegrino, Artisan Don Bernadino Wines from Spain, Banyan Reserve Vodka, Berentzen Bushel & Barrel, Blue Nectar Tequila, Helsinki Vodka, Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co., Loco Por Ti Wines, Maestro Dobel Tequila/Diamante, MD Alcantara Blue Chardonnay, Nespresso Professional, Old St. Pete, Ponte Vecckio Sangria, PRP Wine International, Royal Santero Moscato Rose, Selvarey Rum, The Tank Brewing Co., Tincup Mountain Whiskey, Tippler’s Orange Liqueur, Veza Sur Brewing Co., Villiger Cigars, Zunte Mezcal and Zyr Vodka. The event also featured the following vendors: Exquisito Fine Chocolates, Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop, LA Sweets, Nothing Bundt Cakes and Taste of Redland. In addition, a silent auction of original paintings, sculptures, multimedia artwork, travel, vacations, fine jewelry, and restaurant experiences promises for an altogether memorable evening.

Event sponsors included Edgar Allen Corporate Society Member, Ryder System Inc., Barry Solomon Family Trust, Cook Prep Eat, Victoria Cast Iron Cookware, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Edgar Allen Corporate Society Member, Holland & Knight, Northern Trust, Royal Caribbean, Simply Healthcare, Solstice Point Partners, EY, Goya Foods, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Rossman, Baumberger, Reboso & Spier, P.A., Security Alliance, Comcast Universal, Mr. Greens Produce, Jungle Island, AC Graphics, Brustman Carrino PR, Cox Media Group Miami, Creativas PR, Food Comma Hospitality Group, Foundation Lenders, Indulge Magazine, Rockaway PR, SocialMiami.com, Miami Herald, and Tony Guerra Miami.