To SOBE, with love

by Feb 24, 2022Pulse

Jamaica’s love of creating unique culinary masterpieces is again on show this year at the Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF), a four-day gourmet gathering from February 24-27.

The event is a collaboration between the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), which gives local food ambassadors the chance to show off their passion for cooking while also giving them more international exposure in the culinary world.

RJ Deed

Jamaica’s participation in an event such as SOBEWFF is strategic due to the island’s proximity to Miami. Since 2019, the Gastronomy Network of the Tourism Linkages Network (a division of the TEF) and JTB’s involvement in SOBEWFF have resulted in a sold-out Brand Jamaica event, the promotion of Jamaica as a renowned Caribbean gastronomic destination, and the establishment of an opportunity for food ambassadors to integrate and stake claim to an expanded culinary community.

This year, JTB & TEF will feature first-generation Jamaican-American Chef Troy Tingling preparing a sizzling oxtail burger at the Red Stripe Burger Bash, which he hopes will become the fan favourite for the night.

Jamaican American Chef Troy Tingling will be preparing a sizzling oxtail burger at the Red Stripe Burger Bash.

The event, presented by Schweid & Sons, will take place on February 25 at the North Venue, Beachside at Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, Miami.

Chef Troy Tingling preparing one of his signature dishes.

Among the judges are Ahmad Alzahabi, Kalen Allen, Jeff Mauro, Al Roker, Rev Run, Dwyane Wade, Melba Wilson, Brian Kelly aka The Points Guy, and Florida International University (FIU) Football Head Coach Mike MacIntyre, who will choose this year’s winner of the Schweid & Sons The Very Best Burger Award. Rachael Ray and José Andrés are hosting the event.

In 2020, the TEF, in collaboration with JTB, hosted the inaugural Taste Jamaica event as part of the SOBEWFF activities. The event, which took place at National Hotel on South Beach, was completely sold out, with 550 attendees.

SOBEWFF is an American, star-studded, four-day destination event showcasing the world’s most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs, and culinary personalities. All net proceeds from the festival benefit FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. The organisers predict the event will attract more than 60,000 patrons and in excess of 400 culinary and industry experts.

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