SoBe Wine & Food Fest Recap

The 2008 South Beach Wine & Food Festival has come to a close and the reviews are rolling in. The four-day event raised an estimated $2 million and attracted a sold-out crowd of 35,000 - up 15 percent from last year. Here are some of the highlights (and lowlights):

Wednesday

The Forge Prelude Dinner kicked-off the festivities to mixed food reviews. Scotch Pate "Popsicle" Sticks were a crowd favorite, but Pistachio Crusted Foie Gras fell flat. The dessert of Milk Chocolate & Banana Ganache, Peanuts Biscuit & Chocolate Sorbet was great, but left us wanting more.

Thursday

Thursday's Burger Bash was one of the weekend's biggest hits. Host Rachael Ray entertained a throng of media and fans while Amstel Light and 18 burger chefs kept the 1,600-person crowd happily sated. Eater.com reports that Laurent Tourondel, of BLT Steak, actually worked his own station while last year's reigning champion Shake Shack didn't bring its a-game (although we had no problems with the Shack's chocolate shakes). Boston's Radius took top honors (a $5,000 KitchenAid shopping spree and a year's supply of Gold Peak iced tea) for its burger topped with cheddar, crispy onions and horseradish sauce. Other burgers of note: Tim Love's Love Shack classic, beach style bacon cheeseburger and the Ritz Carlton South Beach's "fancy" burger with gruyere "fondue", pretzel bun and fried spiced shallots.

Friday

Hosted by Giada De Laurentiis, attended by John Legend and billed (and buzzed about) as one of the weekend's marquee events, Friday night's Moet & Chandon BubbleQ fell resoundingly flat. Champagne was free-flowing, but food was said to be average and we know of more than one attendee who was jonesing for a beer. But it wasn't all bad news for the crowd of 2,800- the New Times reports top dishes included buffalo tacos, pulled pork, slow-roasted ribs, tender fillet mignon and Godiva paninis. Note to self - next year skip the BubbleQ & Sugar Shack crowds and score one of 21 invites to Bobby Flay's post-BubbleQ lunch at Joe's. Later the same evening, many patrons were disappointed by Emeril's Sugar Shack, which ran out of desserts 90 minutes into the event (and before we arrived). Although the champagne (and event sponsor) Perrier Jouët was "amazing," it too ran out by midnight. Turns out the real fun Friday night was at the AA Arena and Wine Spectator's Best of the Best. The event was pleasantly (but not overly) packed and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto's Yellowtail Pastrami was worth the trip alone.

Saturday & Sunday

As to be expected, the Publix Grand Tasting Village, was hot and crowded (isn't it every year?). The highlight was the meatball from Devito South Beach - served by Danny DeVito himself. DeVito's also scored Saturday night with its Fettuccine and Fiorentina dinner hosted by Mario Batali, Jamie Oliver and restaurant owner David Manero. Eater.com reports "Team Batali came to play" and the redheaded clog lover spent most of the evening in the kitchen alongside Jamie Oliver, Adam Perry Lang, Del Posto's Mark Ladner, Babbo's Frank Langello and Anthony Bourdain. The Collins Ave villa Access House also lived up to its billing. Around 3:30 a.m. Saturday night (or Sunday morning) Scott Feldman hosted a convivial VIP scene at the invite-only house. Top name chefs mingled with industry types, munching on truffle grilled cheese and sipping St. Germain champagne cocktails.