Throngs show up for Food, Wine and Music Fest

Ah, the Coconut Grove Food, Wine and Music Festival, where do I begin. It took place last night on the grounds of St. Stephen's Church and while there could be room for improvement (like maybe moving it to Peacock Park next year to allow for the multitude of people who showed up), it was a success, simply by the sheer number of people. It was too much of a good thing, the large crowd took the event organizers by surprise. While pre-ticket sales online were high, many people showed up at the gate which overflowed the large tent. Organizers told me that 1200 tickets were sold, and I believe it. I think the lady at the right here sums up my feelings in the big tent, simply because it was just too claustrophobic for me. And the guy in the hat behind the wine counter looks like he is in total shock.


I honestly ended up with a bottle of water the whole time -- no wine, no food. The people attending were like animals -- they acted as if they had never seen food in their lives! I really think there is a lot of room for improvement, the premise was pay once at the gate and eat and drink to your heart's content. The problem is, there are too many gluttons and they ate up all the food before many could get to it. Maybe next year they can do what the Great Taste of the Grove does -- have people pay as they go, this way people can pace themselves and not grab at every morsel on a plate. I honestly tried to get photos of the food, but it was never on the plate long enough to get a photograph. It would be placed on a table and it would be gone in seconds.


Above, Giana Levya, Chef Carmen Trigueros from La Bottega, who did a cooking demonstration, and Liliana Dones were part of the masses.


Bravo's Real Housewife of Miami Adriana De Moura, left, was enjoying herself as well as Alfred Sarria and Patricia Hernandez.


The really great part was that the promoters, Ed and Barbara Ferenczi, brought so many people into the Grove and they all seemed to stick around and enjoy our village before, during and after. Well into the night, CocoWalk was jammed with people and the Gallery Walk taking place all around town had lots of people enjoying the art. Ed and Barbara truly did get the word out about this event and the people showed up! I had people come up to me and ask how they could be part of the event next year, so people did like it and apparently want to be part of it.


And while the food festival could make some improvements for next time, it was a crazy, wild, overcrowded event -- something we need more of in town. It brings people in, who stay, engage and enjoy the night in Coconut Grove.