It’s been a week since the South Beach Wine and Food Festival made its triumphant return back to sunny South Florida for the 16th year, and if we’re honest, we’re still a little full. But as we settle back into normal life here in the Magic City, we’re still dreaming about all the delicious eats and drinks we had at last weekend’s A-list foodie fest… like these crave-worthy bites, listed below.
Ricotta Toast with Roasted Tomatoes, Herb Pesto & Saba
from Butter Restaurant, NYC
The brainchild of the event’s co-host, Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli, this bite topped olive oil-toasted sourdough bread with saba, oven-dried cherry tomatoes, herb pesto, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Where we had it: Barilla Italian Bites on the Beach hosted by Valerie Bertinelli and Alex Guarnaschelli
Exclusive SOBEWFF Donut!
from The Salty Donut, Miami
The Salty Donut is undeniably Miami’s most popular artisanal donut shop. Special for this late-night fête, the shop made this 24-hour raised brioche donut with dark chocolate ganache, milk chocolate crémeux, passion fruit gel, salted caramel, and for yet another impressive Salty Dog presentation, a Swank Farms Micro Blossom.
Where we had it: Salty, Sweet & Savory Treats: A Late-Night Party presented by Thrillist
Jacmel Jet Pilot
from Broken Shaker & Bar Lab
This tiki cocktail was a cunning concoction of Rhum Barbancourt 3-Star (aged four years), Rhum Barbancourt White Rum, housemade falernum, lime and grapefruit juices, cinnamon syrup, Absinthe Refined™ and a mint sprig, Parachuting Cinnamon, and a bamboo straw.
Where we had it: The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown hosted by Robert Irvine
Via Kon Tiki
from Rhum Barbancourt
The event sponsor, Rhum Barbancourt, made this tasty little sipper: a mix of coconut rooibos tea-infused Rhum Barbancourt White Rum, Long Hot Coconut Cream, Don’s Spices and pineapple, orange and lemon juices.
Where we had it: The Art of Tiki: A Cocktail Showdown hosted by Robert Irvine
Coccoli
from Prime Italian, Miami Beach
This out-of-the-box sandwich stuffed fried dough with a pile of prosciutto, covered it in creamy stracchino cheese, and doused the whole thing in truffle-laced honey.
Where we had it: Barilla Italian Bites on the Beach hosted by Valerie Bertinelli and Alex Guarnaschelli
Porchetta & Pasta
from Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar & Pizza, Fort Lauderdale
Is there anything more indulgent than hot, melted cheese? How about a hot, cheesy pasta… made in a wheel of cheese? At this year’s SOBEWFF Barilla Italian Bites on the Beach event, the famed Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar & Pizza hollowed out a wheel of Parmesan, filled it with hot pasta, tossed said pasta with a mushroom-based sauce, let the surrounding Parmesan melt all over it, and served the pasta with pieces of crispy-skinned porchetta carved right onsite.
Where we had it: Barilla Italian Bites on the Beach hosted by Valerie Bertinelli and Alex Guarnaschelli
That Guy’s Burger
from Jr’s Gourmet Burgers, Miami Springs

The people have spoken, and the winner of Burger Bash’s Heineken Light People’s Choice Award was none other than this burger from Miami Springs-based Jr’s Gourmet Burgers. More like a patty melt than a burger, this bacon-wrapped bite was made with a guava ketchup and a guava cream cheese.
Where we had it: Heineken Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons hosted by Rachael Ray
Bacon PB&JJ Burger
from Quality Meats, Miami Beach
Quality Meats Bacon PB&JJ Burger was equal parts spicy and sweet, thanks to its jalapeno jelly, crunchy peanut butter, and salty bacon, all in (you read that right)… a burger.
Where we had it: Heineken Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons hosted by Rachael Ray
Cuban Frita
from Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina, Miami Beach
Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina is already a favorite of ours, and its Cuban Frita is just one example why: it tops a beef and chorizo patty with smoked paprika aïoli, crispy potatoes, and spicy chicharrones.
Where we had it: Heineken Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons hosted by Rachael Ray
Old Fashion Spiked
from Salty Donut
Yep, we’re calling out The Salty Donut twice. At the festival’s main event, it served a slew of donuts, including this Old Fashion Spiked donut hole. It covers a 24-hour brioche donut hole with Angostura sugar and stuffs it with a shooter of a simple syrup, orange zest, and bourbon redux.  
Where we had it: Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village
Braised Lamb Shank
from R House
There’s a reason R House is one of our favorite Miami restaurants, and this Braised Lamb Shank bite is just one reason why. In it? A porcini-mushroom-coriander-cinnamon rub, Israeli couscous, arugula pesto, glazed baby carrots, and a port reduction.
Where we had it: Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor