The Miami Lakes Food & Wine Festival proved to be the successful charitable event that co-founders Lynn Matos and Giuseppe Zuozo had hoped for on Feb. 5.
“All of our restaurants, all of our wine people [it’s] just a pouring of support for the community,” Matos said.
The event sold out -- 1,000 tickets in 10 days -- without advertising and drew a huge crowd to Miami Lakes Optimist Park.
Guests paid $75 and enjoyed small bites and wines from about 50 businesses based in Miami Lakes and cities nearby.
“We couldn’t be happier,” Matos said about the response. She’s a Realtor at RE/MAX Unique Realty and Zuozo owns Anacapri Restaurant in Pinecrest.
The festival is in its 4th year and benefits the Miami Lakes Town Foundation.
The foundation provides grants to support continuing education; literacy; beautification projects and cultural happenings.
This year’s sales are still being tabulated. At the most recent festival in 2020, $16,016 was raised, said Clarisell De Cardenas, spokeswoman for the Town of Miami Lakes who is also a member of the foundation board.
“We are honored to share this evening with all of you,” De Cardenas told the crowd.
Fulfilling the foundation’s mission to support educational and cultural projects in town happens “ … with the generous support of the sponsors, ticketholders, our local restaurants and these delicious wines,” De Cardenas said from the performance stage.
Jorge and Stephanie Calzidilla of Miami Lakes were excited to be able to enjoy everything the festival had to offer, which included the La Linea band; DJs and fireworks that ended the night.
Like other guests, they were happy to be there. A festival wasn’t held last year because of the pandemic.
“We think it’s a good fundraiser to get the community together to support our local mom and pop restaurants,” Stephanie Calzidilla said.
Light F/X Pros co-produced the festival which is run by volunteers.
Participating restaurants and vintners donated their time, staff and food to make the party happen, Matos said.
Drew and Cindy Vidaurrazaga of Miami Lakes also supported the cause.
“We have an amazing town,” Cindy Vidaurrazaga said.
They liked the convenience, “the ability to try different vendors,” she said.
They tasted Nutella French toast sticks by the Mayor’s Café, co-owned by the Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Rodriguez and Danny Delgado; beers from The Garrison Taproom & Billiards; gnocchi from Anacapri in Pinecrest and salad from Giardino Gourmet Salads.
Matos also thanked festival-goers for their support, though not before a 63rd birthday celebration. She was surprised with a cake and serenaded by the crowd.
Matos also thanked Jim and Rosalyn Hamilton, owners of The Miami Lakes Sports Shop, who are retiring and have supported youth sports for decades.
“Fifty years of celebrating kindness and community, they give back and are still giving back,” Matos said about the couple as the crowd raised their glasses in a toast.
“If we’ve never been inspired to do more and give more and be more, I hope tonight and seeing these fabulous people on this stage inspires you to spread a little kindness,” Matos said. “Be kind, drink wine.”
Festival sponsors were Future Force Personnel Services; South Florida Laundry Solutions; Water N Fire Recovery, LLC; Sierra Commercial Construction, Inc.; Specialty Smiles Orthodontics; The Golden Corner Jewelry; Layer 8 Solutions; Gastesi & Associates P.A.; Floridian Health Centers; Andy’s Range & Training Center; The Graham Companies; Miami Lakes Hotel on Main; RE/MAX Unique Realty; Miami Lakes Bar Association; Maverick Marketing Co. and SB Signs & Banners Co.