Food, fun, drinks, music and dancing are on the agenda at Flavors 2016, taking place Friday, April 8 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
Visitors will wine and dine their way through booths representing some of the best area restaurants and caterers at the Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s 13th annual Flavors of Wellington Food + Wine Festival from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Musical entertainment will be a 1980s flashback by Studio 54, a 10-piece band that will bring attendees back through time.
“They’re absolutely amazing,” Wellington Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michela Green said.
As attendees take in the atmosphere of the International Tent at PBIEC, the flavors of local eateries will beckon them to have a taste, along with a glass of wine. Flavors is an opportunity to discover new and new-to-you eateries.
“Flavors came about because we were looking for a way to make sure that restaurants stay busy in the off-season. It started to be a showcase for the people who live here year-round, and our seasonal people, that these great restaurants and catering facilities are here, and not to forget about them in the summertime,” Green said. “We have been very fortunate that the event has gone 13 years and grown to the degree that it has.”
Participants include Art Cellar, the Binks Forest Golf Club, Bolay, Chef Donna Kokulak, Chef Shannon Atkins, Grand Champions Events, Gandhi’s, Great American Cookies, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Jordan’s Steak Bistro, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pasquale’s, Rollatini Restaurant, Romeo’s Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Starbucks, Stonewood Grill & Tavern, Suri West, TaOne Asian Fusion, Trader Joe’s, the White Elephant Bar & Grill, Whole Foods Market Wellington, and specialty vendors CJR Fine Arts and Clothed4APurpose.
Chukker.TV’s Michael Ferreira, chairman for the past two years, wanted to create a personal spin on the event and has created a new awards category: Best Cocktail.
“I loved it last year. It was a lot of fun,” Ferreira said of his desire to return as chairman this year. “I’ve always really liked food and wine events. I like the turnout. I like to see everybody enjoying the food that’s right here in our community. It’s a nice event for everybody to come together and taste Wellington.”
This year’s judging panel includes Ferreira, polo player Nic Roldan, Michael Stone from Equestrian Sport Productions, Stephanie Mitrione from Florida Power & Light, Roxanne Stein from WPTV News Channel 5, Wellington Mayor Anne Gerwig and Chamber President Debbie Crompton.
Sponsors include the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, Grand Champions Polo Club, Chukker.TV, FPL, the Wellness Experience and My Community Pharmacy.
“This year’s Flavors has a brand new feel to it,” Green said. “We’ve been able to get some of our brand-new restaurants, such as Suri West, Bolay and a new Asian fusion restaurant that just opened, called TaOne, as well as Ghandi’s, which has just opened. We’re going to have such an array of food. There’ll be no duplications of anyone’s menus. We do know that Suri West will be bringing a handmade custom sangria, which they invented. It will be our signature cocktail of the evening in addition to all of the wine tastings.”
The continued success of Flavors, showcasing the many different eateries in the community, is important to Green.
“I think the most exciting thing for me is the fact that we’ve been able to continue this event for 13 years and that the residents of Wellington and beyond do patronize it,” she said. “We’ll keep doing it as long as people keep asking us to do it.”
Flavors is a unique experience, Ferreira said, noting that it is a great way to experience multiple new restaurants in a fun atmosphere. Through the event, people often discover new favorites, he said.
There are 1,000 individual tickets available, in addition to 500 VIP tickets, both of which are quickly selling out. Tickets will not be sold at the door and must be purchased by April 7 at the latest, Green said.
“We anticipate a total sellout at this event,” she said.
For Ferreira, Flavors is a must-attend event.
“If you’ve never been to a food or wine event, or even if you have, there’s nothing like the one we’re doing here in Wellington. It’s a little bit different. It’s a little bit more intimate. You really do get a great value for your ticket,” he said. “You really shouldn’t miss it.”
For more information, or to order tickets, visit www.wellingtonchamber.com/events/flavors-2016.
