| Chaired by Kenneth Stiles, Matt Olsen and Dev Motwani, the event was made possible by the generosity of Bank of America and featured wine and spirits provided by Southern Wine & Spirits. Guests enjoyed tantalizing cuisine, music and a bountiful silent auction. The Silent Auction was chaired by Janet Buhl.
The celebration, attended by more than 2,100, showcased a sequence of wine, spirits and craft brews with food pairings to more than 2,000 guests. It was the second year that spirits and craft beers were introduced. The highlights of the evening included tastings from 44 of South Florida’s leading restaurants, and a vast array of wines and spirits from around the world, courtesy of beverage sponsor Southern Wine and Spirits. The event also featured a silent auction, special presentations, and culinary and wine pairing seminars and a complimentary Riedel wine glass for every guest.
The evening started off with an exclusive VIP Martini Reception from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It concluded with the ultra chic Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort VIP “Candyland” Lounge where VIP guests were treated to sweet delights, wines and specialty drinks while dancing under the stars.
Special features of the evening included a port wine tasting by Pandora Anwyl; a “molecular gastronomy” demonstration by A Thierry’s Catering, followed by a wine tasting with local radio personality and vinter, Paul Castronovo, who sampled wines from his own vineyard. THINK Magazine paparazzi were shooting the “chic-iest” for a feature in their May issue.
This year’s Think “People’s Choice Awards” winners, voted on by attendees, were as follows:
1st place, for the third year in a row, went to Capital Grille - Short Rib Slider with Maple Glazed Pork Belly
2nd place for the second year was Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-six - Coriander crusted Short Ribs and Laksa Glazed Lobster tail
3rd place Grille 401’s - Savory Crab Cake and Osaka Style Pressed Sushi Roll. |
