The sixth annual St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival took place May 6-9. The festival, presented by Publix, is a showcase of culinary, beverage and historic coast culture that highlights local and celebrity guest chefs, wines, beers and spirits from around the globe.
Among the many popular events was the Harvest Awards & Tastings held at the Hyatt Place Vilano Beach on May 7, an opportunity to taste fare from some of Northeast Florida’s best fine-dining restaurants, presented by St. Johns Food Service and The Ponte Vedra Recorder.
The ST. A Soirée was held May 8 and The Grand Tasting was held May 9 at the Ancient City Farmstead. This was a showcase of chef and pitmaster creations and included unlimited wine, beer and spirits tastings.
During the Harvest Awards & Tastings event, professional culinary judges officiated as the restaurants competed for the Harvest Award, which requires the tasting dish to incorporate the use of a local ingredient.
This year’s winners were:
• Best Seafood: Mama Llama Catering
• Best Fish: O-Ku
• Best Shellfish: 1912
• Best Beef: FunGuy Kitchen
• Best Pork: The Reef
• Best Poultry: Viva Hospitality
• Best Meat: La Cocina at the Cellar Upstairs
• Best Dessert: Crème de la Cocoa
• Overall: Ajua Mexican Kitchen and Bar
The People's Choice Harvest Awards, presented by The Recorder, were held at the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 9. Attendees voted for their favorites.
This year's winner's were:
• Best Seafood: Chef Ellie Rose
• Bst Shellfish: The Reef
• Best Meat: WD Cattle
• Best Beef: Smokin' Spencer's Q
• Best Pork: Legacy Gold BBQ
• Best Poultry: Three Js Catering
• Best BBQ: Heart & Soul Food Truck
• Best Vegetarian: FCTC
• Best Dessert: Verdell's Total Package
• Best Overall: Sauté Kingz
• Best Wine: Renegade Lemonade
• Best Spirit: Devil's Grin Gin
• Best Beer: Veterans United
• Best Cocktail: Barcelo Rum
