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Tackling Taste Buds: A Culinary Touchdown at Gridiron Grill-Off

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From Touchdowns to Tastebuds, Gridiron Grill-Off’s Milestone Event Scores Big in Food, Fun and Charity.

November 9th, 2019

The 10th-anniversary celebration of John Offerdahl’s Gridiron Grill-Off Food and Wine Festival at The Pompano Beach Amphitheater on Saturday, November 9th, was a delightful culinary and charitable event that showcased the best of South Florida. The festival, created by former Miami Dolphins linebacker John Offerdahl, brought together a stellar lineup of former Dolphin legends and some of the region’s top chefs.

The primary focus of the event was not only to celebrate a decade of this fantastic festival but also to support a noble cause. The Gridiron Grill-Off benefits Offerdahl’s Hand Off Foundation, which aims to address the needs of those in crisis. This philanthropic mission was at the heart of the event, making it more than just a food and wine festival.

The entertainment for the evening featured country sensation Brett Young, adding a musical touch to the celebration. The fusion of culinary excellence, sports legends, and live music created a dynamic and engaging atmosphere for attendees.

A unique aspect of the festival was the pairing of 22 high-end restaurants with 22 Miami Dolphin legends. This collaboration resulted in a diverse and exquisite range of culinary offerings, including tacos, grilled cheese, burgers, steak, sushi, octopus, and chicken. The variety of selections showcased the culinary prowess of the participating chefs and provided a delightful experience for food enthusiasts.

Despite lousy rainy weather, the mood at the festival remained pleasant and vibrant. Attendees embraced the spirit of the event, enjoying four hours of exceptional food and wine offerings. The inclusion of a cornhole tournament added an extra layer of entertainment and engagement for the attendees.

What sets the Gridiron Grill-Off apart is its commitment to giving back to the community. With 100% of the net proceeds benefiting Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation, the festival is not just a celebration of food and wine but also a significant contributor to a meaningful cause. The mission to “Feed the Need of Those in Crisis” is commendable, and the festival’s partnership with various organizations reflects a collaborative effort to make a positive impact on the community.

John Offerdahl’s Gridiron Grill-Off Food and Wine Festival’s 10th-anniversary celebration was a remarkable success. It seamlessly combined culinary excellence, sports nostalgia, live entertainment, and a philanthropic mission. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the festival remained an uplifting and enjoyable experience, leaving attendees with not only a satisfied palate but also a sense of contributing to a worthy cause.

  • Bo's Pub at The Balcony Las Olas with Keith Byars and Chef Jimmy Dean

  • Fans get to Q&A players as Louis Oliver looks on

  • Terry Kirby mingles with fans

  • AND Fish Kitchen + Bar in the Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Pompano Beach Resort & Spa with Terry Kircby and Chef Eric Kaszubinski

  • The Foundry with Mercury Morris and Jim Kiik and Chef Mark Heigl

  • Mercury Morris and Jim Kiik

  • Oceans 234 with Shawn Wooden and Chef William Middleton

  • Oceans 234 with Shawn Wooden and Chef William Middleton

  • Keith Byars having a laugh with fans

  • Burlock Coast at the Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale

  • Steelpan at the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach with Troy Stradford and Chef Kevin Baker

  • Beach House Pompano Beach

  • John Offerdahl’s Gridiron Grill-Off Food and Wine Festival

  • The Popsicle Bar

  • JWB Prime Steak & Seafood

  • Sky Thai Sushi with Larry Little and Chef Khruawan Russmetes

  • Naked Taco with Mark Higgs and Chef Ralph Pagano

  • Aprons Cooking School with Mark Duper and Chef Rey De La Osa featuring Duper's Schweid & Sons Burger with Chimichurri Aioli & Crispy Onions

  • Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro with Jeff Cross and Chef Tony Fliyou

  • Suviche Fort Lauderdale with Troy Drayton and Chef Alvaro Machado

  • Troy Drayton chats with fans

  • Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery at The Atlantoc Hotel & Spa with O.J. McDuffie and Chef Steven Dapuzzo

  • O.J. McDuffie

  • Wild Thyme Oceanside Eatery at The Atlantoc Hotel & Spa with O.J. McDuffie and Chef Steven Dapuzzo

  • Naked Taco with Mark Higgs and Chef Ralph Pagano

  • Port South Bar & Grill at The Double Tree Hilton Hollywood Beach with Roy Foster and Chef Kati Marosites

  • Port South Bar & Grill at The Double Tree Hilton Hollywood Beach with Roy Foster and Chef Kati Marosites

  • Chef Maxx with Dwight Stephenson and Chef Oliver Saucy

  • Chef Maxx with Dwight Stephenson and Chef Oliver Saucy

  • Bravo Peruvian Cuisine with Twan Russell and Chef Betografo Quiroz

  • Twan Russel chatting with fan

  • Channing Crowder joking around with with fans

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Events

Finding Finland Hidden in Plain Sight

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FinnFest USA Brings Finnish Culture, Creative Voices, Global Ideas and an Unexpected Pizza-Roll Connection into Focus in Minneapolis.

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Zéya 100k

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The Miami born app celebrated a major milestone with a seriously fun South Florida party, but 100,000 downloads are only part of what’s next.


September 26, 2026

Zéya had plenty to celebrate, and they definitely knew how to throw a party.

The Miami-born swapping app recently marked 100,000 downloads, and SFL Insider joined the celebration for a night that felt much more like a fun Miami get-together than a typical tech event.

The atmosphere was lively, social, and genuinely welcoming, which actually made a lot of sense once we learned more about what Zéya is trying to build. This isn’t supposed to be another faceless marketplace where you post something and hope a stranger buys it. Zéya wants swapping to feel social, easy and connected to your community.

And after spending the evening celebrating with the people behind it, that part of the concept clicked.

Because we all have stuff.

The dress you wore once. The bag you loved until you didn’t. The camera you were definitely going to learn how to use. The random purchase that seemed necessary at the time and has barely moved since.

Zéya’s question is pretty simple: Why keep buying more when someone nearby might want exactly what you already have?

Even better, the app is now getting ready to move beyond swapping just things.

Services are coming too.

And that could make Zéya a whole lot more interesting.

– Creative Director & Strategist: Kateryna Brovkova — @kate.directs – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7 – Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Sounds by: Lacré Studios — @studioslacre

Swipe. Match. Swap.

The easiest way to describe Zéya is old school bartering with a very modern makeover.

You browse what’s available nearby, see something you want and connect with the person who has it.

Then you offer something of your own.

Swipe. Match. Swap.

If the values don’t quite line up, Zéya allows an optional cash top-up to help make the trade work. And now, you don’t necessarily have to swap at all.

Zéya’s new cash-only option is officially live, meaning users can purchase an item directly when they find something they want. That’s a pretty significant shift for an app that started with swapping at its core. You can still trade, add cash to balance out a swap, or now skip the trade altogether and simply buy.

In other words, Zéya is starting to look less like a traditional bartering app and more like a flexible local marketplace where you decide how you want to make the deal.

100,000 Downloads Is a Pretty Big Deal

Zéya has now officially surpassed 100,000 downloads across iOS and Android, an exciting milestone for a company that started right here in Miami.

Founder and CEO Mehdi Taifi sees that number as something bigger than just downloads.

“One hundred thousand downloads is exciting because it shows that swapping can become a real habit, not a last resort,” Taifi said.

That idea stuck with me.

We’re so used to thinking buy when we want something new. Zēya is trying to get us to think swap first.

Earlier this year, the company also closed a $2.45 million strategic growth round led by Storage Innovations LLC, helping support its next stage of development.

Judging by the energy at the celebration, Zéya certainly isn’t treating 100K like a finish line.

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Founder: Mehdi Taifi — @medimeds – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7

Zēya 4.0 Makes the Whole Thing Easier

The company has also rolled out Zéya 4.0, designed to make getting from “I want that” to actually completing a swap much faster.

One of my favorite additions is the AI Listing Assistant, mostly because writing listings is probably the least exciting part of selling anything online.

Take a photo, upload it, and the app can generate the item name, description, and category in seconds.

Done.

The update also adds chat before making an offer, group chat, and a visual balance meter that makes it easier to see whether a proposed swap feels fair.

Zéya has expanded its categories too, including Baby & Toddler and Sports & Outdoors.

So that barely used handbag has value.

But so do the golf clubs in the garage.

And Now Zēya Is Moving Beyond Stuff

This might be my favorite part of what’s coming next.

Zéya is adding services.

That changes the whole idea of what you can bring to a swap.

Maybe you don’t have a designer bag to trade, but you’re an amazing photographer.

Maybe you tutor.

Maybe you’re a personal trainer, stylist, graphic designer, pet sitter or the magical person who actually knows how to organize a closet.

Your skills have value too.

The full details of how services will work are still to come, but opening Zēya to services takes it beyond simple bartering. It becomes more about exchanging value, whether that value happens to be sitting in your closet or comes from something you know how to do.

And suddenly the possibilities get much bigger.

It All Feels Very Miami

Maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed the celebration so much.

Zéya feels very Miami.

It’s social. It’s stylish. It’s a little entrepreneurial. And it revolves around discovering something you want without necessarily paying full price for it.

We can absolutely get behind that.

The party reflected that same energy. People were mingling, talking about the app and celebrating what is clearly a big moment for the team, but it never felt overly corporate or stuffy. It felt like a community celebrating something that started locally and is beginning to grow.

That seems especially fitting for a company that wants its marketplace to feel like a community too.

Swap, Don’t Shop

There is an obvious sustainability benefit to giving perfectly good things another life instead of constantly buying new ones.

But Zéya doesn’t make that feel like a lecture.

The appeal is much simpler.

You have things you don’t use. Someone else wants them. And chances are, they have something you want too.

Add AI-assisted listings, local discovery, cash top-ups, cash-only purchases, community features, and soon the ability to exchange services, and it starts looking very different from the bartering most of us remember.

Zéya’s tagline is “Swap Don’t Shop.”

After a fun night celebrating 100,000 downloads and getting a closer look at where the Miami company is headed next, we’re curious to see just how far people are willing to take that idea.

Because if swapping can be this easy and this social, maybe we really don’t need to buy everything new.

CHECK OUT ZEYA HERE 

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Venue: One K — @onek_socialbar

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Little Mania Delivers Big Mayhem in Boca

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Short on rules and long on laughs, Little Mania turned Boca Black Box into an intimate collision of athleticism, comedy and crowd-fueled chaos.

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Disney On Ice: Spotlight Magic Brings Childhood Memories to Life

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Once Upon a Rink: Disney On Ice Spins Childhood Favorites into a Spectacular Night of Skating, Sparkle and Storybook Magic.

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Brews, Bites and Bryant Park

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A Brew with a View: West Palm Beach Beer Fest Pours on the Flavor with Craft Beer, Cocktails and Bites at Bryant Park.

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Monster Jam Sends Sunrise Into Overdrive

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Jon Zimmer Jr. Rules Racing and Skills Before Team Grave Digger Pulls Ahead Through a Wild Mix of Monster Trucks and Freestyle Motocross. (more…)

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The Hobby Card Show Turns Fort Lauderdale into a Collector’s Playground

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Cards, collectibles, childhood nostalgia and a loaded celebrity lineup made the Broward County Convention Center feel like one enormous treasure hunt. (more…)

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Luli Fama Launches Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Swimwear Collection in Miami

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Luli Fama celebrates its Paradise Found Cruise ’27 swimwear and resortwear collection with a luxury Miami launch at its Dadeland Mall boutique.


 August 20, 2026

Miami swimwear favorite Luli Fama is stepping into Cruise ’27 with Paradise Found, a new swimwear and resortwear collection inspired by tropical escapes, exotic prints and effortless vacation glamour.

South Florida Insider has already taken a closer look at the Luli Fama Paradise Found collection, and it feels made for Miami.

The new Cruise ’27 collection combines the bold, body-confident swimwear Luli Fama is known for with elevated resort pieces designed to move effortlessly from the beach and pool to cocktails and dinner.

On Thursday, August 20, Luli Fama will celebrate Paradise Found with an exclusive evening at its newest Dadeland Mall boutique in Miami, complete with fashion, light bites, personalized surprises, and a luxe espresso martini bar.

Inside Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Collection

Paradise Found is inspired by the feeling of discovering a hidden tropical retreat.

Think lush landscapes, warm golden hour light, exotic patterns, and silhouettes made for somewhere beautiful.

The collection features Luli Fama signatures, including flattering ruched details, seamless construction, adjustable fits, and statement swimwear, alongside an expanded selection of resortwear.

We especially love the pieces that blur the line between swim and ready-to-wear.

Flowing dresses, sleek coverups, and body-skimming silhouettes make it easy to transition from a sun-drenched afternoon to an evening out without losing that relaxed resort feeling.

It is sensual, polished, and unmistakably Miami.

Luli Fama Brings Luxury Resort Style to Miami

There is a reason Paradise Found feels so natural in South Florida.

In Miami, resortwear is not reserved for vacation.

A swimsuit can become part of an outfit. A coverup can take you to lunch. A flowing resort dress can carry you from an afternoon by the water straight into cocktails and dinner.

Luli Fama has always understood that lifestyle.

Paradise Found takes it a step further, creating a Cruise ’27 wardrobe that feels as appropriate for a tropical getaway as it does for a weekend in Miami.

The campaign captures that mood beautifully, pairing the collection with palms, lush greenery, tropical architecture and the kind of sun soaked setting that makes you want to extend your vacation indefinitely.

Paradise Found Comes to Luli Fama at Dadeland Mall

Luli Fama will bring the world of Paradise Found to life on Thursday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its newest boutique at Dadeland Mall in Miami.

The intimate celebration will bring together invited guests, influencers, celebrities and media for an early look at Cruise ’27.

Luli Fama is also dressing invited guests in pieces from the brand, allowing the new collection to be experienced the way it was designed to be worn: in motion, styled and out for the evening.

Luli After Hours Espresso Martini Bar

Fashion is only part of the experience.

For the Paradise Found celebration, Luli Fama is introducing Luli After Hours, an Espresso Martini Bar inspired by the glamour of the collection.

Guests will be able to sip three specialty espresso martinis created for the evening.

The Luli Babe puts a polished spin on the classic espresso martini, while Golden Hour pairs salted caramel with edible gold shimmer. Miami After Dark takes a richer approach with chocolate hazelnut and a cocoa dust finish.

Along with cocktails, guests can expect light bites, curated details and a special personalized surprise.

The result feels less like a traditional retail event and more like checking into a private resort for the evening.

A Miami Swimwear Brand Celebrates at Home

For a brand with such a strong connection to South Florida, launching Paradise Found in Miami feels especially fitting.

Luli Fama has built its identity around colorful, confident swimwear and resort fashion with a distinctly tropical point of view.

Paradise Found carries that identity into Cruise ’27 while giving it a more elevated, escapist mood.

And with Luli Fama’s newest boutique now at Dadeland Mall, Miami shoppers have another destination to experience the brand in person.

After getting our own closer look at Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 collection, we can safely say the name fits.

Paradise has officially been found, and this time, it is in Miami.

Check out the collection HERE

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