In the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook: Recipes and Behind-the-Scenes Stories from America’s Hottest Chefs, the authors have taken the time to incorporate the history and anecdotes of the Food and Wine Festival with numerous recipes shared by chefs who have participated in the South Beach Festival. This annual event takes place in February and is one of the largest of its kind.
South Beach Wine & Food Festival
The first 20 pages of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook describe the development of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. It includes the intense enthusiasm that accompanies the planning of each year’s Wine & Food Festival and the enthusiasm of those who attend. Photos of previous festivals are included. In addition, many of the recipes have large photos of the completed dish. Additional information about the Festival is distributed throughout the book with each recipe chapter beginning with a page or more of information about the Festival. Periodically, a brief interview is included. Interviews were with Francis Ford Coppola, Spike Mendelsohn, Alain Ducasse and others.
Recipes from South Beach Wine & Food Chefs
The top chefs who have participated in the South Beach Festival submitted the recipes included in this hardback edition. Many of these chefs are well known and include Rachel Ray, Emeril Lagasse, Gordon Ramsey and others. Selected recipes were then tested before they were accepted for the cookbook.
Beverage Recipes from the Chefs
The large recipe section is divided into seven sections with “Drinks” as the first chapter of the recipes. The 13 drink recipes include “Satsuma Margarita with Basil,” “Lemon-Cucumber Cocktail,” and “Frozen Pina Colada Pops.”
Appetizers include Starters and Small Plates
Starters and Small Plates, Chapter 2, offers many types of options for appetizers. Ingredients range from the lowly grapefruit to a caviar luxury item. Recipes include “White Sturgeon Caviar with ‘Crepe au Moussse de Crème Fraiche,’ and Meyer Lemon Syrup,” “Garlic Chips,” “Caramelized Tomato Tarts,” and “Salad of Roasted Beets, Asparagus, and Quail's Eggs.”
Barbecue and Burger Recipes
What would a cookbook be without barbecue recipes? Chapter 3 entitled “Barbecue” offers more than 20 recipes. Recipes include sea bass, shrimp, pulled pork and more. However this chapter does not include hamburgers. For that cooks need to wait for Chapter 4, “Burgers.” Besides numerous ways to cook burgers, recipes include “Toasted Marshmallow Shake,” “Crispy Onions,” “Cheddar Cheese Biscuits,” and “Sola Truffle Fries.”
Comfort Food Recipes, Not the Usual Macaroni and Cheese
Chapter 5, “Comfort And Casual Food” is for those times when comfort food is needed in someone’s life. The recipes in this chapter include many familiar dishes. Recipes include “BLT Grilled Tuna Sandwich,” “Dressing Room Meat Loaf,” and a few others. However, don’t look in this cookbook for macaroni and cheese.
Main Courses offers recipes for grilled chicken cutlets, rack of lamb, foie gras, pork shoulder, fish and shrimp. For instance, recipes include “Rack of lamb with Green Chile, Mint, and Sweet Pea Puree,” Foie Gras Tapioca Ravioli with Sunchoke Emulsion,” and “Braised Black Cod.”
Recommendations of Food Network South Beach Food and Wine Festival Cookbook
Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook: Recipes and Behind-the-Scenes Stories from America’s Hottest Chefs offers a descriptive and enthusiastic view of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. For those who are not able to attend the annual event, it provides a delightful description. Chefs who have participated in the festival provided the recipes. For those who have been to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, this book provides a delightful keepsake.
For those who are interested in a good cookbook to help prepare everyday meals, there are better cookbooks available. Many of the recipes in the South Beach Festival need special ingredients that can quickly increase the cost of the meal.
Those who are comfortable in the kitchen and have plenty of recipes may want to consider purchasing this book. Those who are comfortable in the kitchen and have plenty of recipes, then by all means consider this festival/cookbook.
About the Authors: Lee Brian Schrager and Julie Mautner
Lee Brian Schrager is the brainstorm and force behind the South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami. Lee graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. He is also the vice president of Southern Wine and Spirits of America.
Julie Mautner is a food and wine writer. Her articles have appeared in Wine Spectator, Travel & Leisure, and Bon Appétit.
Publication Information
Title: Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook: Recipes and Behind-the-Scenes Stories from America’s Hottest Chefs
Author: Lee Brian Schrager with Julie Mautner
Publisher: Clarkson Potter/Publishers, New York
Copyright: 2010
ISBN 978-0-307-46016-5
Kathleen Sullivan - Kathleen Sullivan is the co-owner and writer for Wine Trail Traveler, a winery and vineyard virtual visitor center. The Wine Trail ...
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