The 70th annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival gets under way Thursday. I mean seventh — it just feels longer because the whole shebang has gotten so big so fast. In fact it was only in 2002 that Lee Brian Schrager, director of special events and media relations at Southern Wine & Spirits, took what had been a Florida International University campus event known as Florida Extravaganza, brought it to South Beach, renamed and rebranded it, and attracted 7,000 guests. The next year drew 10,000, the year after 20,000. In 2007, the Food Network added its name and clout, and the number of attendees rose to 3.2 million. All right, I'm exaggerating again — but honestly, there were so many damn people! Point is, foodie folks are pouring in from across the land, and the burgundy carpet has been unfurled for a mix of chefs and food celebs such as Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Anthony Bourdain, Alice Waters, Wylie Dufresne, Masaharu Morimoto, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Coming in through the back door, probably on linoleum, are event manager Randy Fisher and FIU... More >>>