/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CKGO6WXNONENBBNCVWCHO4ZTAQ.jpg "The inaugural Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival features a Chef Showdown. Pictured is the same event at the South Beach Seafood Festival in Miami.")
As more proof of the flourishing local food scene, a large food and wine festival is coming to Tampa for the first time.
The Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival kicks off April 12 and runs through April 15 at Hyde Park Village and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
It’s produced by Miami-based CI Management, an event company that puts on the South Beach Seafood Festival.
Valerie Roy, director of marketing and client strategy with CI Management, said Tampa’s noticeable restaurant growth made it an attractive destination for a festival.
“We’re excited to create an elevated experience that really highlights the culinary talent in Tampa Bay,” Roy said.
Sean Brasel, executive chef at Tampa’s Meat Market, has participated in CI’s events because the restaurant has a Miami location. Roy also credited him for pointing to Tampa for a festival.
Brasel said an important part of the festival is building community with other chefs, who don’t often get the chance to work together.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7BDAOPVXXFCWTBJ3CWYISSXEMQ.jpg "Sean Brasel, executive chef of Meat Market, is an honorary host of the inaugural Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival, happening in Tampa from April 12-15.")
The festival begins on Wednesday evening with an invite-only ticketed event at the Tampa Club. On Thursday at 7 p.m., Meat Market, Forbici Modern Italian, Sur La Table and Timpano will present off-menu dinners paired with fine wines and scotch for the Experience Hyde Park event.
Friday brings the action-packed Chef Showdown to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park at 7 p.m. The event pits 14 chefs against each other in battles centered on burgers, seafood, sushi, truffles and more. It’s hosted by an emcee and a DJ spins tunes while the chefs present showy demonstrations. Judges include Brasel as well as chefs Ferrell Alvarez of Rooster and the Till, Jeannie Pierola of Edison: Food + Drink Lab and Tampa Bay Times food and dining critic Helen Freund. Prior to the battles, guests can visit the chefs in their sampling pavilions and vote for their favorite.
The festival culminates on Saturday with the Grand Tasting from 1 to 5 p.m., also held at Curtis Hixon park. Restaurants include Allelo, Hales Blackbrick, Oxford Exchange and Rusty Pelican, to name a few.
There will be various experiences along the way, including samples from Goya foods, the Milagro Margarita Mobile Tour and the Ready to Drink Cocktail Village. Of course, there will be lots of wine to sample from Treasury Wine Estate, Sonoma Cutrer and more.
The festival benefits CI’s Eat Smart program, which provides meals and nutritional guidance to youth in Florida.
Brasel said he hopes to see the festival return after this inaugural year.
“Next year, we want to take it to the next level with more chef dinners, bringing celebrity guest chefs in to cook and really try to bring Tampa to the forefront of the culinary scene as well,” he said.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/67QG34JSMNC6FNCZXNWNBDJ7VM.png "Dig in to Tampa Bay’s food and drink scenes")
Dig in to Tampa Bay’s food and drink scenes
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Tickets range from $100 to $250 for Experience Hyde Park (1602 W Snow Ave.), $150 for the Chef Showdown and $99 for the Grand Tasting. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa. tampabaywff.com.
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