Miami Lakes foodies can rejoice in February, when there will be two fun nights to enjoy lite bites from Miami Lakes restaurants. The Miami Lakes Food and Wine Festival returns for the eighth year on Feb. 7.
“I’m super excited, I’m on countdown mode at this point,” co-founder Lynn Matos said.
She launched the festival with restaurateur Giuseppe Zuozo. Profits fund community grants awarded by the Miami Lakes Town Foundation.
Held at Miami Lakes Optimist Park, the celebration of kindness welcomes guests who can sample food and wine from more than 29 restaurants and bars.
This year’s participants include 1910 Restaurant & Bar; Acai Express; Amazonia Nikkei Fusion; Bon Vivant Charcuterie & Gourmet Market; Bolay; Café 4 You Catering; CAO Bakery & Café; Chela’s Miami; Creations in Bloom; Diced; Domenico’s Italian Restaurant; Dr. Limon Ceviche Bar; El Churrascaso Brazilian Grill; El Pimiento Restaurant; Envie Cookies and Ernie’s Acai.
Also, Gauchos Gourmet Market; Giardino Salads; Hill’s Café; Korner 67; Mama’s Cakes; Mayor’s Café; ML Steaks & Sports; Mangu Cafe Restaurant; Sergio’s Go; The Bend Liquor Lounge; Butcher’s Cuisine; The Garrison Taproom & Billiards and Vicky Bakery.
New to the party are 1910 Restaurant & Bar, and Hill’s Café, which was opened by a former employee of Beverly Hills Café.
“I’m excited about that,” Matos said. “We have great beverage suppliers coming as well.”
The full list of vintners is to be announced.
For those who want to relax after an indulgent night, the Miami Lakes Hotel on Main is offering a 20% discount on rooms, from Feb. 5 – 8. Book at TinyUrl.com/nhcbzpet.
Matos urges residents to get their tickets for the evening, which runs from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., and is for those 21 and older. The cost is $124.56, at MLFoodWineFest.com.
After enjoying everything the Miami Lakes Food and Wine Festival has to offer, residents can work off the calories during the Culinary Bike Tour on Feb. 28.
The five-mile, nighttime ride through Miami Lakes will stop at restaurants at the Lake Katharine, Lake Patricia and Cypress Village shopping centers and along Main Street. It always draws a crowd that is ready to have fun.
The event was moved to early in the year because of weather conditions.
“September is the rainy season,” Clarisell De Cardenas, communications & community affairs director, said in an email. “We hope to have better weather in February.”
Guests can ride their own bikes or join a party bicycle that allows multiple riders to eat and drink while traveling together.
The Culinary Bike Tour departs from Town Hall at 6 p.m. At each destination, riders park their bikes to sample more lite bites and drinks before pedaling off to the next stop, until 11 p.m.
Sheriff’s deputies will accompany the crowd.
Tickets will go on sale in late January. Register to purchase at TinyUrl.com/yhuehp9p.