Miami is about to turn all the way up. In just 30 days, the highly anticipated returns to the sands of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park on Saturday, May 16, bringing together Caribbean culture, cuisine, music, and vibes for one unforgettable night.

Now entering its fourth year, Food, Wine & Fete has evolved into one of the most talked-about Caribbean lifestyle events in South Florida — blending premium food experiences, island tourism activations, world-class Soca energy, and immersive cultural storytelling into one all-inclusive beachfront celebration. According to organizers Vanessa James Media Productions, the 2026 edition will be its “most curated immersive Caribbean experience yet.”

Your Passport to the Caribbean
This year’s event is taking guests on a culinary and cultural journey across the Caribbean with destination experiences featuring Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, St. Martin/Sint Maarten, and Nevis. Festival organizers are leaning deeper into authentic island storytelling, transforming the venue into a vibrant passport through Caribbean heritage, flavors, and Carnival spirit.
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One of the standout activations for 2026 will be the Pure Grenada experience, complete with Jab Jab culture, a traditional rum shack powered by Clarke’s Court Rum, and an official countdown to SpiceMas Carnival. Guests will also experience live performances from Grenadian Soca sensation V'ghn, whose hits have been making waves throughout the diaspora this Carnival season.

Caribbean Culinary Excellence Takes Center Stage
Foodies can expect an elevated culinary lineup featuring some of the Caribbean diaspora’s most respected chefs and culinary creatives. Returning favorites and new talent will showcase island-inspired dishes, live cooking demonstrations, fusion concepts, artisanal desserts, and signature cocktails throughout the evening.

Featured chefs include:

• Chef Garfield Seivwright Jr.
• Chef Irie
• Chef Alain Lemaire
• Chef Paul Griffith
• Chef Mimi Charles

Guests can also discover emerging Caribbean brands, unique spirits, craft sauces, Trinidadian-style ice cream, and Caribbean-inspired street food concepts throughout the festival grounds.

Vanessa James Media Productions is thrilled to announce the triumphant return of Food, Wine, and Fete, Miami’s premium all-inclusive Soca experience, set to take place on Saturday, May 18th, 2024 at 3 pm at the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park’s Grand Pavilion. The eagerly anticipated second annual event celebrates the vibrant culture of the Caribbean, showcasing the region’s most brilliant chefs, mixologists, tastemakers, culinary creatives, and some of the region's most buzzed-about wine brands, Caribbean spirits, as well as Soca artistes, and South Florida’s vibrant Caribbean community.

This year’s lineup includes renowned chefs such as:

● Chef Irie, recipient of the prestigious James Beard award and serving as the festival's
official culinary ambassador is a Jamaican culinary trailblazer, whose journey from
architecture to the kitchen is as bold and flavorful as his Caribbean-inspired dishes.
● Myriam “Chef Mimi” Charles, the award-winning pastry chef from Haiti and Miami
native known for her triumph on Cooking Channel’s “Cake Hunters' and as the
founder of Lux Cakery.
● Chef Alain Lemaire, the host chef of the "Luda Can't Cook" series on Discovery+,
brings his Haitian culinary heritage to life with his renowned dish "Ou Manje Deja",
showcasing his unique flair and flavor.
● Celebrity Chef Paul Griffith, a Barbados-born culinary prodigy, serves us some of
the best meals to music and Hollywood celebrities in Miami, including NFL teams.
● Jamaican Chef Troy Tingling of SoulFly Kitchen will be serving up his signature jerk
fried chicken sando sandwich and doing a tasting on Foodie Avenue Chef Troy began
mixing Caribbean flavors to create fusion recipes that he uses with clients today. During
his time in Jamaica, he was honored to cook for then Prime Minister, Bruce Golding.

No Soca fete experience would be complete without the electrifying Soca music that
all-inclusive experiences around the Caribbean are known for. Food, Wine, and Fete delivers a
jam-packed lineup of the most buzzed-about DJs and Soca Artistes, Teddyson John of St.
Lucia and King Bubba of Barbados, who are set not only to perform at this year’s experience
but to try their hands in the kitchen too!

“My passion for the Caribbean runs deep. Our people, world-renowned food, infectious energy,
and eclectic culture are all a part of what keeps me grounded in my roots and goals to show theworld the beauty of the region beyond sun, sand, and sea.” says co-founder Vanessa James.
“After many years of travel and storytelling about the beloved Caribbean, I realized there was a
huge void in the market to celebrate the special entrepreneurs who feed us from the moment we land on the islands. With Food, Wine, and Fete, I hope to spark a new generation of cultural
events and experiences that elevate Caribbean creatives from all genres. Food, Wine & Fete is
our love letter to the culture that we hold so dearly and appreciate so deeply. This is more than a fete — our goal is to transport your senses to the islands until you can take the journey yourself. Guests can expect an interactive array of experiences from the moment they arrive and most importantly, get ready to FETE Caribbean style” says James.

Tickets are available for purchase on Eventbrite for $135. The festival has partnered with Hilton Garden Inn Miami Brickell South to provide reduced group rates for those visiting from out of town or South Florida who want to make a weekend out of the experience.

Participating sponsors include: Vanessa James Media, La Fete Rosé, The Buccaneer Hotel - St.
Croix, Virgin Island Food Tours, Best Dressed Plate, Ron Barcelo, Real Sangria, The Pale
Rosé, LunaLiteDroneShow, Proximo Spirits Cristalino Tequila, Carib Beer, WIPS (West Indian
Pepper Sauce), LifeNetforFamilies and LunaLiteDrone Show.

Food, Wine, and Fete offers a unique opportunity for brands to tap into an affluent, well-traveled, and highly motivated diverse community and showcase their offerings. Partnership and press opportunities allow brands to stand out amid a sea of motivated patrons. For more information about partnership opportunities, sampling opportunities, and press inquiries, visit
www.foodwineandfete.com.Follow the Food, Wine, and Fete fun on Instagram and Facebook.

For more information, visit
https://www.vanessajamesmedia.com/ or follow Vanessa James Media on Instagram at
@vanessajamesmedia, X formerly Twitter, @msvanessajames, and LinkedIn.

About Food Wine & Fete:

Founded by Vanessa James and Marcos Rodriguez, Food, Wine, and Fete is a premium all-inclusive Soca fete experience celebrating the Caribbean’s vibrant culture - our chefs, artists, and community. Conceptualized with a deep-seated passion for celebrating Caribbean roots and amplifying the creativity of the vibrant and talented diaspora. Born out of a love for travel, carnival, Soca music, and the delicious culinary scene of the Caribbean, Food, Wine, and Fete was born.

The first-of-its-kind all-inclusive Food, Wine, and Fete is an annual event that debuted in 2019 to a sold-out crowd of 500 foodies and Soca aficionados with a similar passion for celebrating Caribbean culture. In its second year, returning to Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, Food Wine & Fete will also highlight Caribbean brands, and feature curated pop-up experiences, giveaways, and a few fun surprises.

As proud children of the Caribbean, this legacy project is Vanessa and Marcos’ unique way of highlighting the diverse Caribbean diaspora and its many touch points including travel, music, food, and live culinary experiences. Although the Caribbean is known as the birthplace of rum, wine enthusiasts are now able to explore the many pairings of their delicious island food with their favorite wine too. For more information about partnership opportunities, vendor sampling
opportunities, and press inquiries, visit www.foodwineandfete.com.
Follow the Food, Wine, andFete fun on Instagram and Facebook.

About Vanessa James Media:
Vanessa James Media is a multimedia company that champions authenticity, diversity, and creativity. Specializing in voiceover, on-camera and event hosting, and content creation, the company has been a beacon for creative collaboration, spirited storytelling, and innovative brand synergies in the media landscape.

Founded by Vanessa James, known as "the voice you hear everywhere,” a sought-after, seasoned multicultural voice-over actress, who has lent her voice and talents to some of the world's most iconic brands, Vanessa’s captivating voice can be heard on television and radio stations nationwide, and in the bustling yellow cabs of New York City on the iconic 103.5 KTU, as well as over 30 radio stations. Vanessa has voiced campaigns for PGA Tour, The CW Network, Netflix, Amazon, IHeartMedia, and Macy's. In 2023, she was tapped by Reach TV
Network, to host their Business Traveler show, highlighting the best hotels, destinations, and inspiring travel content. Vanessa is also the voice behind the CW Network's "All American Homecoming,” Infiniti Motors' campaign, and WAZE GPS voice for their global Women's History Month celebration and most recently, new promo voiceover artist for the nationally syndicated “Tamron Hall” daytime talk show. She is currently represented by Atlas Talent Agency NYC. Vanessa is also a champion for diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship, and creative
collaboration through her three signature annual events. VJMedia Mixology, a signature event for connection among brands, influencers, trailblazers, and innovators. The Women of Impact Series, an intimate yearly gathering celebrating female entrepreneurs and multicultural creatives and Food, Wine, and Fete, a first-of-its-kind all-inclusive Soca experience in Miami, celebrating Caribbean culture and amplifying Caribbean chefs and cuisine.