The road to SoBe, Pt. 3

Nathalie Cortes is pursuing a master’s in hospitality management at FIU. She is a culinary coordinator assistant for the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Feb. 25-28. Panthers such as Cortes who are working on the event are keeping us posted on their experiences leading up to “SoBe” in a Blue & Gold Blog.

Week of Jan. 25, 2010

Working on the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, FIU student Nathalie Cortes has rubbed elbows with a Who's Who from the culinary world, including chef Tom Colicchio.

This is my second year working for the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Last year, I was a student associate assigned to work the Perrier-Jouët BubbleQ. Food preparation took place a couple of days before the event. I had never seen so much food in my life!

During the event itself, I served as an assistant to chef Myron Mixon, of Jack’s Old South Competition Team. He was great to work with – he even brought us, his assistants, chocolates from the Godiva tent. It was amazing to watch Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio cooking right in front of our tent!

For the 2010 SoBe, I am working with event producer Elaina Moran, co-founder of Aspire Catering & Events. I was introduced to Elaina through my good friend Shena Corrado, the festival’s student associate coordinator. Elaina was searching for an assistant and I was searching for a connoisseur of the trade: it was a perfect match. Elaina is the culinary coordinator and event manager for four of the events: Dolce Brunch, Best of the Best, Wine + Dine + Design and Joe’s Big Chill.

As Elaina’s assistant I am very involved with organizing, planning and collecting information for us to produce the events. Right now, I am compiling a list of the ingredients and equipment needed for each of the events. From the lists, we will determine which ingredients will be sponsored and which others need to be purchased. Working with the chefs and their assistants is incredible. I never imagined myself doing something like this.

While it’s certainly a huge amount of work, putting it all together, it is so much fun! I can’t help but wake up excited every morning. I had such a great time working the festival last year, and I know that this year will surpass my expectations.

So little time, so much to do!

To read more blog entries from Panthers working on the 2010 South Beach Wine & Food Festival, click here.