The Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival will return April 7-11 with an expanded lineup of events across Tampa and St. Petersburg, including three new additions and a new ticketing partnership for its dinner series.
Now in its fourth year, the five-day festival will feature chef collaborations, tasting events and competitions at restaurants and waterfront venues throughout the region. Organizers said reservations for the festival’s opening dinner events are now available through OpenTable.
Collaborative dinners open the festival
The festival begins April 7 in St. Petersburg with Experience St. Pete, a series of collaborative dinners hosted by local restaurants.
One dinner will pair chef Jason Ruhe of Pulpo Kitchen & Lounge with chef David Lazer Benstock of Il Ritorno for a four-course meal with wine and spirits pairings.
Another takes place at Birch & Vine at The Birchwood, where chef Steven Cady will host a multi-course dinner with chefs Alex Chamberlain and Andrew Huang. Organizers listed the Birch & Vine dinner at $185 per person. Pricing for the Pulpo dinner had not been released.
The following evening, the focus shifts to Tampa with Experience Tampa, which includes four dinners across the city.
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At Meat Market, chef Sean Brasel will host celebrity chef Robert Irvine, GOYA executive chef Fernando Desa and pastry chef Max Santiago for a multi-course dinner priced at $350 per person.
Chef Jon Atanacio and chef Rob Reinsmith of WildChild will present a tasting menu at the Epicurean Theatre at the Epicurean Hotel priced at $300 per person.
Along the waterfront, chef Ryan Leonard will host a four-course dinner at American Social priced at $150. Ash chefs Ferrell Alvarez and Seth Temple will collaborate with chef Matt Zappoli of the Hard Rock Hotel on a five-course family-style dinner also priced at $150.
Wednesday’s events conclude with the Chefs After Dark Party at Meat Market, an invite-only gathering for participating chefs.
Rock the Range debuts Thursday at Hard Rock
A new event joins the schedule Thursday, April 9. Rock the Range, hosted at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, will feature live-fire cooking and restaurant tastings.
Chef Robert Irvine will host the event alongside chef Beau MacMillan and chef Kristina Lavallee, known as The Cakegirl. Organizers said proceeds will benefit the Robert Irvine Foundation. Tickets are listed at $266.18.
Chef Showdown and Grand Tasting close the festival
Friday’s schedule includes Breaking Bread with Heroes, a private breakfast for veterans, active-duty military and first responders hosted with the Robert Irvine Foundation.
Later that evening, the VIP Chef Showdown returns to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The competition will feature 20 chefs facing off in 10 matchups, with guests sampling dishes and voting for their favorites.
This year’s event will also introduce the Milagro Tequila Bartender Showdown, where mixologists will compete in a parallel competition. Tickets for the event are listed at $170.
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The festival concludes April 11 with the Grand Tasting at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. The event will feature restaurant tastings, chef demonstrations, wine and cocktail stations and the Best of the Fest competition hosted by First Horizon. Tickets are priced at $160 in advance and $185 on the day of the event.
Organizers said more than 10,000 visitors are expected to attend the festival.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to watch this festival grow alongside Tampa Bay’s booming dining scene,” said Valerie Roy, director of marketing and client strategy at CI Management. “From the caliber of restaurants participating to the new chef collaborations and expanded celebrity talent, each year we’re able to raise the bar.”
The festival is presented by Breakthru Beverage Florida as title sponsor and exclusive wine and spirits provider. Additional partners include the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, GOYA Foods, Publix and Sysco.
A portion of proceeds will support the EAT SMART campaign, a 501(c)(3) initiative that provides meals and nutrition education to children and families in the Tampa Bay region. Organizers said additional details, including Chef Showdown matchups and participating restaurants for the Grand Tasting, will be announced later.
For more information about the Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival, click here.
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