The 18th Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival presented by Wine Spectator wrapped up its weekend of culinary excitement with Sunday’s Grand Tasting on Dec. 14 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. It was a feast for the senses that drew chefs, vintners and food lovers from near and far.
Guests strolled through aisles of gourmet bites and world-class wines, savoring an experience that Juan Gomez of The Breakers described as “bringing so many producers together in one place… an experience you usually only find in big cities.”
Among the highlights: spotting chefs on the move. Gonzalo Rivera, formerly of the all-too-brief Zara in Palm Beach Gardens is now Executive Chef at Pink Steak in West Palm Beach. David Chapman, formerly of The Salty Zebra, represented Succo D’Oro, a soon-to-open supper popup at Golden Juicery in Tequesta. Chapman also jumped into the Throwdown competition, adding extra buzz to his busy day.
The tasting tables were full of surprises, from refined pairings to playful comfort food. Luke Poulakakos, attending with his father Peter of Harry’s fame, declared the sloppy Joe from are Smoke & Maple Gastropub his favorite bite. Meanwhile, Evan Berlin of Sarasota shared the story behind his presence: “We were at a charity fundraiser in Sarasota where this was an auction item that we won for $10,000.”
The four-hour event wasn’t just about indulgence — it was about connection. Silvia and Eddy Lacasa, who make the trip from Miami every year, summed it up best: “It’s curated exceptionally well… a four-hour trip around the world, meeting vintners and tasting amazing bites.”
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post’s food & restaurant writer. Care to share news tips about the local dining scene? Please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best moments from Wine Spectator’s 2025 Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival
Reporting by Diana Biederman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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