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Tastebud Overload at Goya Food’s Grand Tasting Village

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Eat, Sip, Repeat: SOBE Fest’s Annual Event Turns Miami into a Flavor Playground.

February 24th, 2019

Every year as millions of people hunker down in the winter, we in South Florida head to the beaches and enjoy some of the best culinary events in the country during SOBE Fest. This annual festival offers a range of high-end, fun activities that always sell out and highlights cuisines such as BBQ, burgers, Italian, and Southern cooking. But one event truly showcases it all: Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village, featuring over 50 restaurants serving their best dishes. Here, you can sample foods from all around the globe without leaving Miami Beach.

Alongside the food, attendees enjoy a wide variety of drinks, wines, and cocktails. The crowd favorite was Don Julio Tequila, with the largest line and a fun photo setup in the back of a hatchback. Other notable drinks included Grand Marnier, Hennessy, Rhum Barbancourt, Italian rosé from Freixenet, the Naked Mojito from Naked Turtle, and cold-pressed passion juice from Health-Ade Kombucha.

Two huge Grand Tasting Tents feature culinary quadrants representing South Florida districts. The festival also includes areas for book signings and two Culinary Demo stages. Celebrity chefs included Bobby Flay, Robert Irvine, Marcus Samuelsson, Scott Conant, Trisha Yearwood, Adam Richman, Valerie Bertinelli, and Michael Symon.

Michael Symon stole the show with his brash, hilarious style, brining and hay-roasting a chicken live on stage. Fans could ask chefs personal questions and learn cooking secrets firsthand.

Sampling all the food is impossible, but some standouts included: Fried Mac & Cheese Bacon Balls with jalapeños from Mac & Chess Board Game Café, Maple Bacon Donut from The Salty Donut, Nutty Banana Crepe from The Crepe Maker, Cauliflower Pizza from The Green Giant, Deep Fried Queso Blanco and Plantains from Bolivar, and Fritas from El Mago de las Fritas — easily my favorite bite of the day. BBQ offerings included Big Lee’s Brisket, Café 72’s Samurai Tenders, Cibo’s Meatballs, King’s Hawaiian BBQ Sliders, and Papi’s Steak Sandwich. Burgers were plentiful, but the top pick was Schweid & Sons Slider with maple bacon jam and crispy onions.

The David Grutman Experience kept the energy high with local favorite Cedric Gervais on the turntables, and Ludacris performing hits like Move B**ch, Roll Out, and Number One Spot, creating a lively atmosphere to match the indulgent feast.

Yes, culinary events happen worldwide, but nothing compares to SOBE Fest’s Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village. It’s a belt-busting, indulgent experience featuring some of the best chefs, drinks, and foods in the world.

  • Ludacris performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Ludacris performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Ludacris performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Ludacris performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Little Haiti's Fiorito

  • King's Hawaiian

  • Former Miami Dolphins linebacker John Offerdahl with Taste of the NFL

  • Ludacris performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Papi Steak

  • The Salty Donut

  • The Ritz-Carlton South Beach

  • The Original Greek

  • The Original Greek

  • The Mad Table

  • Taula Fresh Cut Mediterranean

  • Scweid & Sons

  • Scott Conant gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Robert Irvine invites guest to join in demonstration during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Pretty Sweet

  • Papi Steak

  • Ooh Raw!

  • Nirvana Hemp Vodka & Gin

  • Michael Symon gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Michael Symon gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Michael Symon gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Meraki Greek Bistro

  • Marcus Samuelsson gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Marcus Samuelsson gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Marcus Samuelsson gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Marcus Samuelsson gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Big Lee's BBQ

  • Charly's Vegan Tacos

  • Cedrick Gervais performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Cedrick Gervais performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Cedrick Gervais performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Cedrick Gervais performs during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Canyon Bakehouse

  • Caja Caliente

  • Cafe 72

  • Bolivar Restaurant Bar Lounge

  • Bobby Flay gives a demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Billy G. Catering

  • Cibo Wine Bar

  • Barton G.

  • Adam Richman gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Adam Richman gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Adam Richman gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • 601 Miami

  • 107 Steak & Bar

  • 21 Spices by Chef Asif

  • Wines of Israel

  • Varie Bertinelli gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Trisha Yearwood gives demonstration and takes questions from the crowd during Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • Health-Ade Kombucha

  • Treasure Coast Seafood

  • Health-Ade Kombucha

  • Grand Cake Cafe

  • GOYA

  • Goya Foods' Grand Tasting Village.

  • g.l.o.w.

  • Exquisite Catering by Robert

  • El Mas de las Fritas

  • Duke's Bourbon

  • CrepeMaker

  • CrepeMaker

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Inside Palace Bar’s Haus of Gucci Ball

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Between flying queens, strong pours, and a room full of Pride week energy, Palace turned Friday night into one of the hottest parties on Ocean Drive.


April 11, 2026

During Miami Beach Pride Week, plenty of venues try to capture the moment, but Palace Bar made Friday night feel like the place everyone wanted to be. The Haus of Gucci Ball brought together drag, fashion, nightlife, and the kind of high energy crowd that made the whole evening feel elevated from the start.

The atmosphere hit immediately. Palace was glowing, the music kept the room alive, and the crowd was fully locked in. It felt vibrant, glamorous, and very Miami Beach. More than just a dinner outing, the night unfolded like a full Pride experience on Ocean Drive.

The clear highlight was a queen whose acrobatic performance completely took over the room. She moved with an incredible mix of strength, control, and confidence, turning the floor into her stage and delivering a routine that felt both dazzling and deeply seductive. At one point, she was flipping around on a man with such effortless precision that the whole crowd seemed to stop at once. It was captivating, sexy, and easily one of the most memorable moments of the night.

The food and drinks absolutely kept up. We had the filet bites and tuna tostones, both perfect for sharing between performances, along with skinny margaritas and lemon drops that were dangerously easy to drink. And yes, Palace was pouring strong, which only added to the fun. The cocktails matched the mood of the night perfectly: bold, smooth, and hard to stop ordering.

What makes Palace Bar work so well during Miami Beach Pride is that the energy never drops. The performers are not just part of the background. They pull the whole room in. The crowd responds, the music keeps moving, and the night keeps building. That kind of momentum is exactly what makes an event feel worth showing up for.

 

The Haus of Gucci Ball was one part of Palace Bar’s larger Miami Beach Pride Week programming, which has helped make the venue one of the biggest draws on Ocean Drive this week. With events spanning multiple days, Palace has become a go to destination for people looking for drag performances, nightlife, rooftop energy, DJs, and a crowd that wants to celebrate Pride in full.

That is what makes Palace such a fixture during Miami Beach Pride Week. It is not just about location or history. It is about creating nights that actually feel exciting once you are there. Friday night’s Haus of Gucci Ball had the glamour, the chemistry, the performances, and the kind of atmosphere that kept people fully engaged from beginning to end.

If you were at Palace Bar on Friday night, you already know how good it was. If you missed it, this was one of those Miami Beach Pride nights worth hearing about.

Ready for your next night at Palace? Visit Palace South Beach for reservations, menus, and upcoming events, and follow Palace on Instagram for the latest drag shows, Pride weekend moments, and Ocean Drive updates.

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