2007 Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival

By JULIETTE ROSSANT All foodie eyes (and mouths) will be turned to Southbeach for the Food & Wine Festival starting on Thursday, February 17, 2007. What is new this year is the omnipresence of The Food Network and its stars from Emeril Lagasse to Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver. New, too, are the Food Network Awards. You might think that this is all about anointing the current line-up of The Food Network's own chefs (and non-chefs) with awards equivalent to the James Beard Foundation Awards or the IACP. But it isn't. This is more like the People's Choice Awards with a few opportunities for product placement like an award called Tasty Technology (new kitchen appliances that will change the way we cook) and another called “Professional Grade” Kitchen Appliance You Can’t Live Without. There is also a little bit of hero worship like an award entitled Food Hall of Fame: Tribute to Julia Child, television and food pioneer and Share Our Strength Food Humanitarian Award, and the odd-sounding Edible Entrepreneurs (acknowledging individuals with a passion for food and an entrepreneurial spirit). That one could go to any of the Super Chefs, but let's hope Ariane Daguin gets it for stick up to the pressures from animal rights activists and championing humane production of a great classic French product. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunity for all that Food Network talent and a handful of Hollywood stars – Emeril is the host and the rest will be presenting the awards. Click here for a full list of awards -- it is too late to vote. One of the more interesting award is for Favorite Childhood Classics (awarded to the favorite children’s book about food). Super Chef applauds The Food Network for including a children's book award. Super Chef would like to see a similar book award for current titles. There are plenty of recent books that explore ingredients, cooking and eating in playful, enticing ways that will get kids exploring new foods, eating more healthy foods and loving books just as much as Harry Potter has with older kids. Previous articles: Nancy Silverton: Leadership and Legacy Award SAG Awards: Alan Jackson Chef Crashing Into the Oscars AIWF Honors Norman Van Aken Emeril Lagasse: Wine Spectator Award James Beard Awards: Dearth of Top Women Chefs SoBe Honors Coppola: Oscars Honor Wine [Food Television--complete] Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to Super Chef