Guy Fieri, Rachael Ray, Bobby Flay and More Stars Gather at the 2025 South Beach Wine & Food Festival: See Highlights

Mar. 15, 2025

Guy Fieri attends Tournament of Champions during the 2025 South Beach Wine and Food Festival on Feb. 21, 2025.Photo:Alexander Tamargo/WireImage

Alexander Tamargo/WireImage

This year’sSouth Beach Wine & Food Festivalwas as star-studded as it was delicious.

In addition to bringing together fan-favorite Food Network stars, the festival serves a good cause. Proceeds from ticket sales benefitFlorida International University(FIU) and its students preparing to work in the hospitality industry. Past years have already raised more than $40 million total for FIU.

Here were some of the highlights from the four-day festival, which featured more than 105 events.

Rachel Ray hosts Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash.Jason Koerner/Getty

Jason Koerner/Getty

Ray hosted Mike’s Amazing Burger Bash on Feb. 20, telling PEOPLE: “I love the concept of asking the world’s greatest chefs to come and put their work on a bun." She added of the festival, “I come here because I love the kids and pushing all of their lives forward. For over 20 years, I come here out of loyalty. I think that’s a big part of life.”

Themeaty showdownsaw Skinny Louie taking the Schweid & Sons Very Best Burger Award, and La Birra Bar winning both the Mike’s Amazing People’s Choice Award and the Idaho Potato Best Side Dish Award.

Hunter Fieri, Mei Lin, Maneet Chauhan, Guy Fieri, Tiffani Faison and Brooke Williamson attend Tournament of Champions on Feb. 21.Alexander Tamargo/WireImage

PastTournament of Championswinners Brooke Williamson, Maneet Chauhan, Tiffani Faison, and Mei Lin each led teams of six chefs who faced off in a culinary competition on Friday, Feb. 21. While each group served up delectable dishes, Chauhan took top honors.

Host Fieri called the event “really special,” telling PEOPLE, “This is probably going to be one of the greatest culinary moments in South Beach.”

Guy Fieri, Lori Fieri, Tara Bernstein and Hunter Fieri at the Celebrity Pickleball Tournament.World Red Eye

World Red Eye

Hunter Fieri cohosted a celebrity chef pickleball tournament with fiancée (and pickleball pro) Tara Bernstein on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Speaking with PEOPLE at the festival, Guy shared that the engaged couple is struggling to shorten the guest list for their upcoming wedding at his Northern California home later this year.

“They’re both such big personalities, and they both have a lot of friends,” the proud dad said. “I mean, that’s the toughest thing. [How] those two [will] whittle it down to 350. I have no clue.”

Flay was among the Food Network stars who offered cooking demonstrations at the festival’s marquee event, the Grand Tasting Village, which included oceanside tastings from 30 South Florida restaurants.

Antoni Porowski at the Grand Tasting Village.Jason Koerner/Getty

The Fab Five’s culinary expert Antoni Porowski hosted a drag brunch withThe View’s Ana Navarro — and her dog ChaCha — on Saturday afternoon.  TheQueer Eyestar then appeared at Grand Tasting Village for a cooking demo.

Tyler Florence at Masters of Fire on Feb. 22.World Red Eye

Tyler Florence treated grilling enthusiasts to Masters of Fire, a celebration of outdoor cooking, Saturday afternoon.

Duff Goldman at the Grand Tasting Village on Feb. 22.Alexander Tamargo/WireImage

“When I do my one-man show, I don’t rehearse,”Ace of Cakesstar andKids Baking Championshipcohost Goldman told PEOPLE before hosting “A Duff Goldman Late Night Dessert Party & One Man Show” Saturday. “I don’t prepare. I get onstage and whatever comes out of my mouth, comes out of my mouth. Because when you do it like that, that’s what keeps it fresh. That’s what keeps it sort of exciting and engaging.”

“If you’re saying something that you’ve memorized, unless you’re Robert De Niro, you’re going to look like you’re acting,” he added. “And it just puts a layer, I think, between you and the audience where if I get out there, and I have no idea what I’m going to talk about and then I just start talking, it turns into an honest conversation. I find that that’s when people really connect.”

Aarón Sánchez hosted Tacos & Tequila on Feb. 22.Jason Koerner/Getty

MasterChefjudge Aarón Sánchez hosted Tacos & Tequila, a margarita-fueled gathering where chefs put various spins on the beloved Mexican dish.

Kardea Brown and Alex Guarnaschelli at Alex vs. Miami.Kardea Brown/Instagram

Kardea Brown/Instagram

Goldman, herKids Baking Championshipcohost, told PEOPLE of theDelicious Miss Brownhost, “I think the kids can really sense that she is as real as it gets and is safe and lovely and wonderful, and she’s got a really amazing sort of point of view on pastry, which is totally different than mine.”

Eva Longoria and Ana Navarro perform a demo at the Grand Tasting Village during the 2025 South Beach Wine & Food Festival on Feb. 23.Jason Koerner/Getty

source: people.com