“SoBe” raises almost $2 million for FIU

The annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival raised funds for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and provided approximately 900 Golden Panthers with invaluable hands-on experience in the process.

By Martin Haro

Last month’s Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival exceeded all expectations when it raised $2 million for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at FIU.

“SoBe,” which began as a one-day event known as the Florida Extravaganza at Biscayne Bay Campus, has grown into a world renowned hot-ticket event since moving to South Beach in 2002.

In 2009, approximately 900 students helped make the event a success, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in the process and working side-by-side with a Who’s Who of the culinary world like chefs Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, Rachael Ray, Tom Colicchio, Paula Deen and Emeril Lagasse, among others.

Hung Huynh and Ilan Hall, winners from past seasons of Bravo’s Top Chef, praised FIU for its “No.1” global reputation and its students for their “amazing” work ethic.

“[The students] were so professional, but they also had a great positive attitude,” said Hall.

“They’re like sponges,” said Huynh. “Very eager to learn.”

The 2010 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival is scheduled for Feb. 25-28, 2010.