January 8-14, 2024
www.VisitLauderdale.com
By Leia Bosco
Chef Jason Smith serves up what to expect at the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival
Calling ‘Everyone Under the Sun’! It’s time for foodie fanatics, mixology masters, and good ol’ fashioned good-time seekers to unite for the 2024 Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, this seven-day series of curated culinary experiences and Signature Events celebrates all who contribute to the ever-evolving epicurean scene in South Florida and beyond.
The festival will take place January 8-14, 2024, welcoming a new headline chef MasterChef judge Chef Aarón Sánchez, and welcoming back the ever-exciting talents of Chef Jason Smith, Chef Nancy Fuller and Chef Nicole Layog.
What’s a foodie festival without a little bit of friendly competition? The VLFWF wouldn’t quite know as they’re serving up some serious stage time to the oh-so-fabulous Chef Jason Smith during The Grand Tasting.
“Lord honey children, when we say that you will see a show like no other, this will be the one of the many highlights of the VLFWF,” dishes Chef Smith. “Event goers will be able to see myself and my great friend Nancy get down to some awesome cooking, laughter, and storytelling.”
A recipe for entertainment, Chefs Smith and Fuller show up for the showdown of a North vs. South cook-off creating the same recipe with a personal twist on the main stage during The Grand Tasting on January 13th at Las Olas Oceanside Park. And while the featured recipe is still under wraps as these culinary masterminds plan an unforgettable stage performance, Chef Smith promises a good time, “When me and Nancy get in the kitchen it becomes not only a teaching moment for all that watches, but also a down home knee slapping good time. We love to have fun in the kitchen all the while making memories for years to come, and teaching folks a few tricks of the trade. It will leave you wanting more and having laughed so hard your sides will hurt. Imma gonna tell y’all I’m pretty sure I will pull out the win on this little cooking battle. I’m not one to brag but, when it comes to southern cooking it’s always heartwarming and memorable to say the least.”
In short, “Lord honey, it’ll be more excitin’ than two frogs fightin’ over a piece of pie,” says Chef Smith and if that isn’t enough of a must-see, must-taste reason to make your way down to the Grand Tasting then perhaps a little one-on-one time with Chef Smith would be. New to this year’s week-long lineup of culinary classes is Southern Cooking with a Country Bling Twist!
“Last year was my first year at the VLFWF and boy was it a great, wonderful time. So, I said to myself, ‘Self, I want to do even more at next year’s event,’” shares Chef Smith. “I wanted to do more events, to be able to touch an even bigger audience than before. Being involved in the Southern Cooking experience at Sistrunk Marketplace was just the sort of thing I was thinking. I get to be up close and personal with each attendee at that event and really give them a taste of my southern roots.”
On January 11th guests can belly up to Chef Smith’s southern table where they’ll indulge with a downhome southern welcome libation of Bourbon Lime Tea and Sweet Tater Fritters with Hot Maple Butter. Then, you’ll learn to make Hoecakes with Blue Crab and Avocado and Chef Jason’s Country Fried Steak Fingers with Garlic Dill Mayo. Cooking alongside Chef Jorge Montes of Sistrunk Marketplace, Chef Smith reassures those with weary kitchen skills or a knack better suited for eating rather than cooking to, “don’t fret children! We will show you the ease of preparing and cooking these fab dishes that will make ya’ want to be in the kitchen whipping them up for your family on a daily basis. The recipes are featured in my new cookbook.” And guests will receive a copy of the Lord Honey – Traditional Southern Recipes with a Country Bling Twist to take home.
And for those that may miss this more intimate cooking affair with Chef Smith, they’ll still have a chance to snag their own copy and have it signed by Chef during the Grand Tasting. “It is a cookbook like no other on the market. Not only is it a recipe book, but it’s a road map of my life up to this point, from growing up on the Kentucky farm to being on television and beyond,” says Chef Smith. “All the recipes are easy to follow and easy to make, with few ingredients you can cook like a southerner too. The book features great breakfast dishes, sides, mains, desserts and quick pickles & jams you won’t be able to put down, along with great stories and A LOT of Jasonisims throughout the book.”
As we take a moment to add ‘Jasonisms’ to our permanent vocabulary, we leave you with the entire week’s schedule of culinary amazingness. For the full schedule of events, visit visitlauderdale.com.
But don’t take our word for it. Chef Smith advises to “mark your calendars, make your plans now, get ya tickets, and come out and enjoy the sights, sounds and wonderful events. From cooking classes, BBQ Brawl, Bar Fight, Grand Tasting, and many, many more events you won’t be disappointed. It’s one of the best Food & Wine events I’ve ever been to. We have more fun than you can shake a stick at.”
Fun and excitement aside, cooking for a cause is an understatement when considering the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival dedicates its entire week-long program in support of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (JDCH).
“Going into five years of rounding up the most impressive chefs, mixologists, and restaurants that all benefit a tremendous cause, you can say we have a taste for philanthropic foodie fun, and aren’t done yet,” says Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival co-founder Kate Reed. “We’re inspired and motivated more than ever by all the talent, purveyors, and foodie-fun seekers that unite each year to support our official charity partner, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. This is where the culinary community feeds our entire community by cooking up awareness, support, and funds for organizations that are equally as driven, like Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.”
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital will receive a portion of all proceeds from the seven-day culinary experience. Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of the region’s leading pediatric hospitals, offering a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a child-friendly atmosphere. It is a full-service, pediatric hospital that treats minor illnesses, trauma-related accidents, and some of the most complex medical conditions.
And if you needed just a bit more motivation to make your way to the festival, well, we couldn’t have said it any better than Chef Smith declaring “Lord Honey. It’s more excitin’ than two skunks kissin’ in a corn patch!”
