The Museum of Discovery and Science hosted 2,000 people at the 19th Annual Bank of America Wine, Spirits and Culinary Celebration on Friday, April 4, 2014. This successful fundraising event showcased a sequence of wine, spirits and beer, and included culinary samples, which delighted, educated and entertained guests and their palates. The event raised over $175,000 with proceeds benefiting the Museum. 

The event co-chairs included Mark Talbott, John Ebenger and Vivian Porcelli. The highlights of the evening were tastings from South Florida’s leading restaurants, and a vast array of wines and spirits from around the world, as well as craft beers all courtesy of beverage sponsor Southern Wine and Spirits. Each guest received a complimentary Riedel wine glass. Visitors had the opportunity to bid on some amazing silent auction prizes ranging from exotic travel packages to local concerts and sporting events.

The evening began with an exclusive VIP Martini Reception generously provided by A Thierry’s Catering. It concluded with the ultra chic Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort VIP Lounge to eat, drink and dance under the stars in the Museum’s Atrium. Special seminars included a champagne tasting by “Champagne Wayne,” teaching that champagne is not just for weddings, and a wine tasting with local radio personality and vinter, Paul Castronovo, where guests sampled wines from his vineyard. The evening attire was City Chic.

The culinary celebration showcased a sequence of wine, spirits and craft brews provided by Southern Wine & Spirits. The highlights of the evening included tastings from over 30 of South Florida’s leading restaurants including 3030 Ocean, A Thierry’s Catering and Event Design, Agape Cakes, Inc., Aruba Beach Café, Beauty and the Feast, Bravo Ristorante, Café Ala Carte, Café Vico, Capital Grille, Cookies by Design, Crepemaker, D’Angelo Pizza, Winebar, and Tapas,  Dapur Asian Tapas and Lounge, Gino’s Italian Market and Bakery, Grateful Palate, Grille 401,  Himmarshee Public House,  Hoffman’s Chocolate, Hyatt Regency Pier  Sixty-Six, Johnny V. Restaurant, Melting Pot, Publix Aprons Cooking School, ROK: Brgr, S3, SAIA, Sea Level Restaurant and Ocean Bar, Shooters Waterfront Cafe, Sky Thai Sushi, Susie’s Scrumptious Sweets, Texas de Brazil, Timpano, Trulucks, Vienna Café and Wine Bar, Whole Foods Market, and Yolo Restaurant.

This year’s “People’s Choice Awards” winners, voted on by attendees, were as follows: first place, for the fourth year in a row, went to Capital Grille for its Slow Roasted Short Rib, Maple Cured Pork Belly, Sriracha Aioli Sliders; in second place for the third year was Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-six, which served Togarashi Poached Lobster Tail; and new-comer Himmarshee Public House tied with Grille 401 taking third place with a Himmarshee’s Root Beer Glazed Lamb Ribs and Grille 401’s Crab Cakes and Pressed Tuna Roll.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE EVENING'S FESTIVITIES (goes to website)

Major sponsors of the 19th Annual Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration included Bank of America; Southern Wine & Spirits; Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Other sponsors included JM Lexus, ADT, BB&T, Southern Waste Systems, Christine & Austin Forman, Republic Services, Fort Lauderdale Magazine, Print Dynamics, Gold Coast Distributors, SA1A and radio partners are HITS 97-3, EASY 93.1 and HOT 105.