South Beach Seafood Festival|October 23-26, 2024|Miami Beach, Florida

VIP Chef Showdown

Friday, October 25, 2024
7:00 PM

22 Chefs. 11 Battles. 1 Championship Night.

Brought to you by Herradura Tequila and presented by GOYA

#ChooseYourChamp at the iconic VIP Chef Showdown, presented by Goya FoodsTequila Herradura, Cadillac, Halperns, and official bank partner, First Horizon Bank. Experience a night of culinary excitement with Miami’s top executive chefs as they compete in thrilling battles, and YOU get to be the judge! Savor endless seafood and sip on cocktails with all-inclusive tickets for the ultimate indulgence!

In a perfect combination of competition level cuisine, tropically fresh cocktails, and live entertainment, the Chef Showdown tours guests through the BEST of Miami’s culinary scene with the ultimate BEACH BASH meets Chef SHOWDOWN, thanks to the help of DJ PaulE. Hosted inside the VIP Hospitality Village and #SobeSeafood Week’s GOYA Culinary Pavilion, 22 chefs will go head-to-head in 11 unique seafood showdowns. Before you watch the competitions unfold, chefs will host battle pavilions where YOU sip, sample and VOTE on your favorites. And when we say sample, we mean “Good Luck trying to finish all the Champion Dishes!”

Chefs from each battle will take the stage throughout the night where representatives from the culinary and media world will judge the best in each showdown. The deciding factor are THE GUESTS! Help us decide the 2024 CHAMPIONS!

Follow @sobeseafoodfest to stay up to date on battle pairings to be announced in September!

The Chef Showdown delivers a uniquely entertaining culinary experience in the most beautiful, beach-front setting thanks to our partners GOYA Foods. Come ready to experience a VIP evening on the sands of South Beach.

What will you find with your VIP Admission to the Chef Showdown?

  • A chef-competition-beach-bash including an all-inclusive evening of epic proportions!
  • Indulge at 22 restaurant battle sampling stations and VOTE on your favorite chef competition dishes. Then, head on over to the Jack Daniel’s LIVE STAGE, presented by GOYA Foods, to cheer on your favorite South Florida Chefs as they battle with a panel of executive judges weighing in and MC’d by Food Network’s celebrity, Chef Robert Irvine
  • This year’s Seafood Chef Battles include Taco, Crab, Sushi, Surf N’ Turf, Salmon, Shrimp, Ceviche, Seafood Pasta, Tuna, Lobster, and an all new: EAST COAST VS WEST COAST competition
  • Dive into the full bars and experiential activations around the 1/2 block VIP Hospitality Village featuring a variety of cocktails brought to you by Tequila Herradura, Jack Daniels, Hendricks Gin, Irvine Vodka, Pacifico beer, and wines from Vineyard Brands showcasing Villa Bianchi’ Verdicchio, ‘Podere’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and the ‘Vellodoro’ Pecorino and Gundlach Bundschu Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
  • Indulge in additional seafood bites from GOYA Foods
  • Grab a taste of Barilla’s very own Pesto Pasta Recipe as they sponsor this year’s Battle Seafood Pasta
  • Help us find the ultimate bartender by sipping, sampling, and voting in the Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown
  • Swing by the All New Walmart Style Tour to discover your perfect fall collection and grab a free lipstick to complete your look
  • Hop in your brand-new Cadillac
  • Pop into the All New First Horizon Bank Client Experience
  • Stop by the Halpern’s Steak and Frites Sampling Station hosted by the official proveyor of the SOBE Seafood Festival
  • Dance the night away with DJ PaulE on the Jack Daniel’s Live Stage, presented by GOYA Foods and hosted by Food Network’s Chef Robert Irvine and Irvine Vodka!
  • And the fun continues….

BATTLE PAIRINGS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER!

Ticket Options

$175
VIP Admission

An All-Inclusive Experience:

  • A chef-competition-beach-bash including an all-inclusive evening of epic proportions!
  • Indulge at 22 restaurant battle sampling stations and VOTE on your favorite chef competition dishes. Then, head on over to the Jack Daniel’s LIVE STAGE, presented by GOYA Foods, to cheer on your favorite South Florida Chefs as they battle LIVE on stage with a panel of executive judges weighing in and MC’d by Food Network celebrity,  Chef Robert Irvine.
  • This year’s Seafood Chef Battles include Taco, Crab, Sushi, Surf N’ Turf, Salmon, Shrimp, Ceviche, Seafood Pasta, Tuna, Lobster, and an all new: EAST COAST VS WEST COAST competition
  • Dive into the full bars and experiential activations around the 1/2 block VIP Hospitality Village featuring a variety of cocktails brought to you by Tequila Herradura, Jack Daniels, Hendricks Gin, Irvine Vodka, Pacifico beer, and wines from Vineyard Brands showcasing Villa Bianchi’ Verdicchio, ‘Podere’ Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and the ‘Vellodoro’ Pecorino and Gundlach Bundschu Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
  • Indulge in additional seafood bites from GOYA Foods
  • Grab a taste of Barilla’s very own Pesto Pasta Recipe as they sponsor this year’s Battle Seafood Pasta
  • Help us find the ultimate bartender by sipping, sampling, and voting in the Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown
  • Swing by the All New Walmart Style Tour to discover your perfect fall collection and grab a free lipstick to complete your look
  • Hop in your brand-new Cadillac
  • Pop into the All New First Horizon Bank Client Experience
  • Stop by the Halpern’s Steak and Frites Sampling Station hosted by the official proveyor of the SOBE Seafood Festival
  • Dance the night away with DJ PaulE on the Jack Daniel’s Live Stage, presented by GOYA Foods and hosted by Food Network’s Chef Robert Irvine and Irvine Vodka!
  • And the fun continues…..
$275
VIP Weekend Pass

(Value of $335)

  • ONE ALL ACCESS ticket to Friday, October 25, 2024: Chef Showdown ($175 value)
  • ONE ALL ACCESS Ticket for Saturday, October 26, 2024: SEAFOOD SLAM, Best of the Fest ($160 value)
$475
Three Day VIP Pass
  • ONE ALL ACCESS ticket to Thursday, October 24, 2024: Crabs, Slabs, and Cabs ($250 value)
  • ONE ALL ACCESS ticket to Friday, October 25, 2024: Chef Showdown ($175 value)
  • ONE ALL ACCESS Ticket for Saturday, October 26, 2024: SEAFOOD SLAM, Best of the Fest ($160 value)

Ticket includes re-entry.

$1150
VIP Weekend Pass for TWO with a 2-Night Hotel Stay
  • TWO ALL ACCESS tickets to Friday, October 25, 2024: Chef Showdown ($350 value)
  • TWO ALL ACCESS Tickets for Saturday, October 26, 2024: SEAFOOD SLAM. Best of the Fest ($320 value)
  • ONE Signature Standard Room at The South Beach Festival’s Host Hotel, The Loews Miami Beach, checking in Friday, October 25 – checking out Sunday, October 27.

Ticket includes re-entry.

$1750
Three Day VIP Pass + Hotel for TWO
  • TWO ALL ACCESS Tickets for Thursday, October 24, 2024: Crabs, Slabs, and Cabs Experience ($500 value)
  • TWO ALL ACCESS tickets to Friday, October 25, 2024: Chef Showdown ($350 value)
  • TWO ALL ACCESS Tickets for Saturday, October 26, 2024: SEAFOOD SLAM, Best of the Fest ($320 value)
  • ONE Signature Standard Room at The South Beach Festival’s Host Hotel, The Loews Miami Beach, checking in Thursday, October 24 – checking out Sunday, October 27.

Ticket includes re-entry.

Beverage Partners

Herradura Tequila
Jack Daniels
Gundlach Bundschu
Hendricks Gin
Irvine
Vineyard Brands
Umani
Ron Del Barrilito
Castaway Coffee
Topo Chico
Smartwater

Sponsors

Title Sponsors

Herradura Tequila

Presenting Sponsors

GOYA
Demesmin & Dover

Hosting Sponsors

First Horizon
Halperns
Walmart
Pacifico
Tartufo Prestige
Miami Beach VCA
Castaway Coffee

2024 Chef Showdown Lineup

Battle Lobster

2024 Champion
Chef Bernie Matz
Chef Bernie Matz
Representing
Winning Dish
Winning Dish
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Shrimp

2024 Champion
Chef Generric Kyles
Chef Generric Kyles
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Sushi

2024 Champion
Chef Gustavo Zuluaga
Chef Gustavo Zuluaga
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Tuna

2024 Champion
Chef Andres Garcia
Chef Andres Garcia
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Surf N Turf

2024 Champion
Chef Fiorela Cornejo
Chef Fiorela Cornejo
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Ceviche

2024 Champion
Alvaro Machado
Alvaro Machado
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Taco

2024 Champion
Chef Sharon Fernandez
Chef Sharon Fernandez
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Crab

2024 Champion
Chef Jose Negron
Chef Jose Negron
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Seafood Pasta

2024 Champion
Chef Donatella Arpaia
Chef Donatella Arpaia
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Salmon

2024 Champion
Chef Ryan Leonard
Chef Ryan Leonard
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

Battle Taco East VS West Coast

2024 Champion
Chef Chris Yadid Garcia
Chef Chris Yadid Garcia
Representing
Versus
2025 Challenger
TBD
TBD

South Beach Seafood Week 2024