Tampa Bay Eateries Shine at South Beach Wine & Food Festival Feb. 19-22 led by Chef John Fraser and The Tampa EDITION's MICHELIN-starred Lilac

Tampa's Mise en Place and Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters to also offer tantalizing tastes

Tampa, FL (February 17, 2026) – The Tampa EDITION and Chef John Fraser's MICHELIN-starred Lilac lead Visit Tampa Bay's offerings from several local restaurants at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival in Miami February 19-22. The Tampa EDITION's Punch Room as well as fine-dining trailblazer Mise en Place and the artisanal Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters round out the list of Tampa-based bistros crafting culinary creations for festival goers over the four-day event.

As a diamond-level sponsor of this year's event, Visit Tampa Bay and the three Tampa-based restaurants are participating in SOBEWFF for the first time. A destination with a well-established dining culture, Tampa Bay's world-class culinary scene has erupted in recent years, growing exponentially and garnering accolades in the most prominent food circles, including earning nearly 30 recommendations in the MICHELIN Guide over the last several years.

Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO, Santiago C. Corrada, says that as part of Visit Tampa Bay's mission to create vibrant economic development, the organization has emphasized the region's world-class dining offerings and a partnership with an event like SOBEWFF provides Tampa Bay the platform to continue to showcase its culinary capabilities.

“Tampa Bay's delicious dishes, and the talent that brings them to life, have earned their way on to the center-stage at the world-renowned South Beach Wine and Food Festival,” said Corrada. “Their presence at this year's festival coupled with repeat MICHELIN recognition since 2022 means that Tampa Bay has truly arrived in the upper-tier of gastro-tourist destinations.”

As the award-winning eatery matching the luxury of The Tampa EDITION since its opening in 2023, Fraser's Lilac serves food that reflects his passion and commitment to creating an elevated yet approachable fine dining experience. Lilac will be prominently featured in the Goya Food's Grand Tasting Village February 20-22 where attendees can experience Maine Lobster Tartlet with Calabrian Chili and Avocado paired expertly with the Punch Room's tropical-inspired Ziggy's Punch cocktail composed of Jamaican Rum, mango, clarified lime, Jamaican jerk spice, and EDITION lager.

Lilac's culminating effort will be showcased during February 21's primetime event, Tacos & Tequila presented by Tequila Cazadores hosted by Aarón Sánchez, at Jungle Plaza. Here, tempted tasters can feast on Guajillo Braised Beef Cheeks with Truffle Mole and Kumquat Salsa coupled with a Smoke Break on Collins Ave comprised of Mezcal, hibiscus, Mexican dried chili peppers, cinnamon, salt, and demerara.

“We are really excited to showcase the synergy between Tampa and Miami at South Beach Wine and Food Festival this year,” says Christopher Southwick, General Manager of The Tampa EDITION. “Tampa Bay has emerged as a world-class destination for hotels, dining, and lifestyle experiences, and we're eager to demonstrate how it stands alongside Miami as a must-visit city for travelers to the region.”

Mise en Place's forty-year journey as one of Tampa Bay's most discerning dining experiences hasn't slowed, and owners Maryann Ferenc and Chef Marty Blitz will showcase their delicious dishes February 19-20 during two Jungle Plaza events. First, Mise steals the show during February 19's A Taste of Italy presented by Pasta Rummo hosted by “The Pasta Queen” Nadia Caterina Munno and Scott Conant with their Casarecce White Mushroom Sunchoke Bolognese consisting of brown butter, sage, gremolata, toasted breadcrumbs,  and shaved Grana Padano.

Saturday night's alright as Mise returns for an encore performance with their Koji Aji Amarillo Chimichurri Grilled New York Strip during Steak and Whiskey presented by Florida Beef Council hosted by Michael Symon February 20. Served with grilled corn, mushroom, daikon, Fresno chili salad, black garlic, white miso, and yuzu aioli, the dish's beverage partner is the Haiku made with Pork-Fat-Washed Suntory Toki, black garlic shoyu syrup, lemon, and Averna.

“We have always been inspired by a love of sharing great food and drink with others and after forty years, that inspiration is stronger than ever, particularly since our recent move to Ybor City where Tampa's community, cuisine and culture were born,” said Ferenc. “SOBEWFF is a premiere venue to share our creations with others, and in doing so help spotlight our story and the immensely talented Tampa Bay food scene to the wider culinary world.”

For tempting tastes to start the day, Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters makes it easy like Sunday morning as they brighten up brunch at Jungle Plaza during Coffee Culture: A Miami Wellness and Brunch Experience presented by THE WELL at Miami Tropic February 22. Relish the morning with a Bombon Latte – a decadent and smooth treat inspired by Spanish tradition, featuring rich espresso layered over sweet, velvety condensed milk. Or enjoy something cooler with the Well Cold Brew – a signature cold brew that is expertly steeped for 16 hours to extract maximum flavor with minimal acidity, offering a clean, refreshing profile with deep chocolatey undertones. Either one pairs perfectly with a tropical twist on a puff pastry classic, the sweet and savory Guava and Cheese Turnover.

“With it's Cuban, Spanish, Italian, and German roots, coffee is foundational to Tampa Bay's culture,” said Torres. “Bringing that experience to SOBWEFF is an opportunity to share our heritage through the delicious tastes that have been quintessential to life as a Tampeño for generations.”

Members of the media are invited to learn more about these and other Tampa Bay food offerings. Representatives from Lilac and The Tampa EDITION, Mise en Place, Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters, and Visit Tampa Bay are available to speak to the press before, during, and after the event. Interested press should contact Visit Tampa Bay's Director of Public Relations, Curtis Kellogg, at ckellogg@visittampabay.com or (580) 504-2052.

About Visit Tampa Bay

The hip, urban heart of Florida's Gulf Coast beats boldly in Tampa Bay, where active adventures, sky-high coasters, exotic wildlife, authentic culture, and award-winning, world-class cuisine await you. As a not-for-profit, private 501(c)(6) corporation accredited by Destinations International's Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), we collaborate with hundreds of partners to share Tampa Bay's story with the world. Treasure awaits! For more information, visit our website.