Miami's Best Eats and Drinks This Week: National Margarita Day and SOBEWFF 2016

Bring on fancy, handcrafted drinks. Today is National Margarita Day. Local restaurants and bars, including Radio Bar, Bodega, and Cleo, are offering a bevy of specials. Or instead, opt for a vegetarian-style dinner helmed by chef Allen Susser at Books & Books at the Arsht Center. This Wednesday and Thursday, head to Pubbelly, where chef and partner Jose Mendin will join forces with out-of-town chefs and mixologists for two special evening events.

And, after a year of anticipation, Thursday marks the 15th-annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Hundreds of chefs will serve their best creations as more than 80 events sprout up across Miami-Dade and Broward. Though some events have already sold out, tickets are still available for a handful of dinners, workshops, and parties. 

Monday 

National Margarita Day
It's only right to drink your way through this Monday because it's National Margarita Day, and that deserves a celebration. Head to Radio Bar for a mixology class; Bodega for a free margarita during happy hour; or any SBE location, which includes Cleo, Katsuya, or the Raleigh, for one-day-only handcrafted, tequila-inspired cocktails. 

Miami and Food
This evening, February 22, join industry professionals at WeWork (350 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach) for a discussion about the evolution of food and beverages in Miami. Industry insiders Bradley Kilgore (Alter), Steve Santana (Taquiza), Jessica Sanchez (Loba), and Elad Zvi (Bar Lab/the Broken Shaker) will be moderated by David Rosendorf (Food for Thought) in a panel discussion. Afterward, stay for a celebration of National Margarita Day, courtesy of Montelobos mezcal. Admission if free, but you must RSVP to [email protected] for a seat. 

Chef Allen's Farm-to-Table Dinner at the Café at Books & Books at the Arsht Center
Taste the flavors of Mexico at chef Allen Susser's farm-to-table dinner tonight. The five-course vegetarian meal will be served family-style and use fresh, organic produce. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 786-405-1745. 

Tuesday 

New Private Poolside Dining at the Biltmore Hotel
Located in Coral Gables, the Biltmore Hotel has launched private dining at its cabanas nestled alongside its pool. Accommodating up to eight guests, the new private poolside dining offers tailored, four-course menus crafted by executive chef David Hackett. Pricing starts at $200 per person and must be reserved 72 hours in advance. For more information or to make a reservation, call 305-445-8066, ext. 2373, or visit biltmorehotel.com. 

Wednesday 

Last Day to Apply to the Wynwood Yard
Today is the last day to apply for a spot at the Yard, which is looking for culinary tenants. Interested food trucks, concepts, and pop-ups that need a space in a culinary incubator are encouraged to apply.  For more information about the benefits and application process, visit thewynwoodyard.com.

Mendin & Friends at Pubbelly 
Dev Johnson and Uros Miljkovic, from New York’s Employees Only mixology team — along with Derek Stilmann and Ryan Vando of Pawn Broker, the Langford Hotel's rooftop bar — will join forces at Pubbelly. Nibble bar bites by chef Mendin and sip $15 made-to-order cocktails. Around 2:45 a.m., expect a free cup of homemade chicken soup — an Employees Only tradition. Doors open at 11 p.m. The cover charge, $45, includes bar bites. Drinks are sold separately. Purchase tickets at pubbelly.com.

Thursday 

South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Get ready, Miami — South Beach Wine & Food starts now! It's the 15th anniversary, and more than 60,000 guests are expected to attend the eats-and-drink-filled weekend. Grab a friend and reserve tickets through sobefest.com before it's too late.

Best of Menu at Pubbelly 
Ford Fry — a James Beard Award-nominated chef and restaurateur based in Atlanta — and Pubbelly's Jose Mendin will team up inside Mendin's restaurant kitchen. Expect a best-of collection of dishes from Fry's recently opened Italian concept, St. Cecilia. The four-course dinner costs $95 per person. Two seatings are available, at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at pubbelly.com.

Follow Clarissa Buch on Twitter.