The two-day beach side event that is the Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival made quite a splash this past weekend at the Don CeSar Resort on St Pete Beach. Actress and comedienne Marilu Henner, best known for her roles in the popular TV shows Taxi and Evening Shade, now author of multiple books on healthy eating and living, served as the celebrity host to the weekend's events.

The festival kicked off on Friday afternoon with the Trade Day Grand Tasting event under the big tents on the beach, where members of the food, beverage and restaurant trades, as well as media and sponsors, were invited for an exclusive taste of the food and spirits offered by sponsor Southern Wines & Spirits and many local restaurants.

LUSH, was a decadent display of high end reserve wines and gourmet cuisine prepared by some of the Loews Hotel's most renowned executive chefs that took place on Friday night. The event, hosted by Channel 8 anchorwoman Gayle Guyardo, showcased the work of Nando Belmonte, the Executive Chef at Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando; Osama Fujita, Loews' Executive Sushi Chef; and the Don CeSar's own Executive Chef, Eric Neri. Featured wines included selections from Stag's Leap, Northstar, Napa Cellars, Mondavi Reserves, and Ravenswood. Local clothing designer Ivanka Ska, known for her eclectic and eye-catching one-of-a-kind ensembles, put on a high energy fashion show which featured some of her pieces inspired by the artwork of Salvador Dali.

Saturday's Grand Tasting, the main event of the Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival, took place under tents right on the sand in front of the hotel, and was attended by food and wine lovers and, of course, the familiar see-and-be-seen faces from around Tampa Bay. Even bigger and better than last year, the event hosted some well-known restaurants from the Bay area, offering small plates ranging from Spanish paella from Ceviche, cioppino from 717 South, and Bonefish Grill's famous Bang Bang Shrimp.

Southern Wine & Spirits provided the astonishing exhibition of wine and liquor which was flowing plentifully (the amount of booze outweighing the amount of food served). Culinary demonstrations and wine seminars featured local restaurant chefs, brand representatives and wine experts.

This year's revelers ate and drank to their fill having enjoyed yet another year at the festival (and hopefully, some even responsibly took cabs home).

The final event to round out the weekend festival was the Beach Bash BBQ which took place at The Postcard Inn on St. Pete Beach, serving up some finger lickin' barbeque and a fun-filled evening under the stars. The hotel's very own restaurant, Wild Wood BBQ, provided the grub, offering traditional 'cue: ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, as well as classic burgers straight off the grill.

Tips to better enjoy the Grand Tasting:

  • Ladies, forget about wearing heels, and gents, leave the dress shoes at home. Be prepared to kick off your shoes and enjoy the sand beneath your feet.
  • Hydrate. There's plenty of free water offered at the event so drink plenty of it. Not only will the heat dehydrate you, all of that alcohol will dehydrate you twice as fast.
  • If you're planning on enjoying the huge array of wine and liquor offered, take a cab, get a ride, or just book a room at the hotel. You don't need a DUI to ruin your weekend.
  • Buy your tickets early next year to make sure you can get in on the fun!

If you've never been to the Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival, be sure to indulge in it next year — it definitely won't be your last visit.

This article appears in May 13-19, 2010.