The Great Taste of the Grove announces lineup

The Great Taste of the Grove Food & Wine Festival is this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15 at Peacock Park (2820 McFarlane Road).

Each day, the festival is open from 11 am until 7 pm. Entrance fee is $5 and food and beverages are available for purchase from $1 to $8 at the various food booths. There is a Dealtificate special going on now -- $30 for VIP Admission for 2 and $50 in Drink Tickets. More info on that here. And Groupon has half price offers here.

The restaurants will be competing for the “Best of Taste” and “Best of Presentation” awards, to be presented by Deco Drive’s Belkys Nerey on Sunday, and in an attempt to take the title from the 4-year undefeated Panorama restaurant, the following venues will serve judges and attendees their best dishes:

§ Atchana's East West Kitchen
§ Bahama's Specialty Seafood
§ Bizcaya at Ritz Carlton
§ Calamari/Taurus/La Bottega
§ Chart House
§ Corny Guys
§ Dona Arepa
§ El Rey de la Paella
§ George's in the Grove
§ Greek Eats
§ Jaguar Ceviche & Latam Grill
§ Nespresso
§ LM Catering
§ Los Ranchos
§ Master C - Southern Experience
§ New York Roma Pizza
§ Panorama at Sonesta
§ Spartico at Mayfair

During the two-day festival, two sets of judges will carefully evaluate the dishes presented. Local dignitaries were selected for their expertise in the hospitality and culinary industries, including food writers, consultants and chefs, and they are: Maria Arguello, Grace Della, Laine Doss, Cari Garcia, Michael B. Jacobs, Jen Karetnick, Peter Laird, Kathy Martin, Jorge Montes, Andrew Rothschild and Trina Sargalski

Named as one of BIZBASH’s 100 Top Florida Events, The Great Taste of the Grove is celebrating 22 years of tradition in bringing together Miami’s locals and visitors for a true food and beverage festival.

The festival will bring back the "Sommelier Tasting Grove" and "Connoisseur Spirits Lounge," both, introduced last year, providing guests with the opportunity to taste the best wines and spirits on the market. Also included in this year’s event are the original Batman and James Bond car, provided by Dezer Collection, and an expanded Kid’s Adventure Park with zip-lining, ferris wheel and more surprises.

Also on the schedule are Tastings & Presentations of Local Restaurants & Local Businesses + Fashion Show + Palate Culinary Pavilion + Connoisseur Spirits Lounge + Sommelier Tasting Grove + ECO-Education Lounge by ECOMB + Kid’s Adventure Park + 16 hours of Live Music of all genres including local favorites, Ryan Stone and Campo Deluxe.