Over the weekend the National Honey Board (NHB) was in sunny Miami, Florida for the 15th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE (SOBE WFF). A first-time event for the NHB, honey was well represented throughout the weekend through the grand tasting and many special events.
The NHB brought along fellow honey enthusiasts Chef David Guas and Master Mixologist Kim Haasarud to help showcase honey's versatility across the entire menu, especially in cocktails and mocktails. Visitors to our grand tasting booth were pleasantly surprised at how delicious honey beverages can be and couldn't help but come back for more. In partnership with Kim Haasarud, the NHB served participants three brand new honey-inspired beverages:
And what would a wine and food event be without a little something to eat right? In addition to 700 samples of each honey beverage, the NHB served up 2,100 samples of our Honey Brushed Pear Crostinis to almost four thousand visitors each day.
In addition to delicious eats and drinks, members of the NHB team also gave booth visitors honey sticks, baking with honey conversion magnets, and our exclusive honey vanilla lip balms, perfect for the beach.
Saturday night proved to be exciting and sweet. NHB-sponsored chef David Guas joined more than 25 chefs from around the country participating in the second annual Meatopia, a celebration of all things meat. At the event, hosted by Food Network and Cooking Channel host and chef Michael Symon, crowds gathered in the center of the action as Chef Guas grilled up his delicious Polynesian Honey Grilled Tri-Tip, eager to try a bite.
The NHB was also honored to be the official honey sponsor for the sold-out Chicken Coupe event. Who doesn't love fried chicken, right? Chicken and waffles anyone?
As lovers of all things burgers, we were more than happy to partner with M.E.A.T. Eatery & Taproom by donating honey to their booth at the tenth annual Burger Bash event, hosted by celebrity chef and talk show host Rachael Ray.
Though the weekend was long, we couldn't be happier with our decision to participate in the SOBE Wine & Food Festival and feel that honey was very well represented. We look forward to connecting with, and creating more, honey lovers at future events.