FIU booth at Wine Spectator Trade Day presented by Beverage Media Group hosted by Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

The 21st South Beach Wine & Food Festival® is officially underway

1,200 FIU students are helping run the Festival

February 25, 2022 at 5:07pm

The 21st annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival® is officially underway. More than 1,200 FIU students are helping run it.

From a bartender robot, to delicious diner treats, to celebrity meet-and-greets, here are some of the highlights of the first two days of the four-day, 90+event Festival.

FIU student culinary volunteer preparing tacos to serve to guests at Coke Zero Sugar presents Diners, Drive-ins and Dives LIVE.

Alumnus Adolfo Zambrana M.S. '22 poses with Food Network Chef Jet Tila and wife Alison Tila at Asian Night Market presented by LOX Club.

FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management's newest teaching tool and labor shortage solution — Cecilia.ai, the robot bartender powered by Artificial Intelligence — is featured on The Today Show. The camera crew set up inside FIU's tent at the Grand Tasting Village. Watch the entire clip at https://twitter.com/todayshow/status/1497194446873575425?s=21.

FIU hospitality students serve their original restaurant idea menu item at a pop-up at SOBEWFF® Wine Spectator Trade Day presented by Beverage Media Group hosted by Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits.

FIU volunteers pose for a photo at Coke Zero Sugar presents Diners, Drive-ins and Dives LIVE.

To date, the Festival has raised more than $31.8 million for FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management.