In 1997, about 450 people attended a Sunday afternoon “Florida Extravaganza,” held on the Biscayne Bay campus of Florida International University (FIU). Before scheduling the date, the event organizers consulted the Miami Dolphin’s schedule.
“If there was a game, no one would come,” explained Joe West, Dean of School of
Hospitality and Tourism Management, FIU, the mastermind behind the food festival concept.
The South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBE) — as it’s been called since 2002 when it was relocated to South Beach and reinvented by Lee Brian Schrager, Director of Special Events at Southern Wine and Spirits — just hosted over 50 events with 35,000 attendees. It has grown into the largest food and wine festival in the country.
With the records so far (more posting and accounting to be done!), the festival raised over $2,000,000 for FIU, benefiting scholarships, beverage programs, their teaching restaurant and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center.
SOBE has become the place to be and be seen the last weekend in February — not in the seats on the 50 yard line.
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