South Beach Wine And Food Festival 2013's VIP Chef Party At The James Royal Palm (PHOTOS)

PHOTOS: Where The Chefs Afterpartied

And so it begins! South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2013 kicked off Thursday with a handful of great events and the ever-estimable "The Q" party hosted by Paula Deen.

But this is Miami Beach, and that means one thing: there's also an afterparty. Festival founder Lee Schrager hosted the first night's late-night VIP bash with a backyard barbeque-themed tribute to all of Miami’s local culinary talent at the James Royal Palm Hotel. The invite-only soiree was punctuated by Latin pop-band Locos por Juanes and a special menu from Chef Kris Wessel of Florida Cookery. ("Do you like my goat!?," he asked Zagat.)

Spotted: Emeril Lagasse, Geoffrey Zakarian, Lorena Garcia, Rocco DiSpirito, and some of your favorite Miami scenesters. Take a bite, with photos from Marisa Matluck:

Rocco DiSpirito

SOBEWFF's VIP Chefs! After Party At The James Royal Palm Hotel

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot