Last evening's Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach lived up to its name. Each year, 50 of America's most celebrated chefs (as opposed to "celebrity chefs") outdo each other in a game of "my dish is more spectacular than yours." Diners marvel at exquisite oysters, tiny lobster souffles, and pasta made to order -- all paired with wines that rated 90 points and above from Wine Spectator.
That's an evening for serious food lovers. And the gastronomic star power filled the room with Stephanie Izard, Rick Bayless, Tony Mantuano, Scott Conant and Nina Compton just some of the chefs presenting. Here were our favorites, or what we call, the best of the Best of the Best.
See also: All our coverage of South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Kudos to Stephanie Izard (Girl & the Goat) for creating skate wing croquettas that were crispy, tender, and flavorful.
sPeter Vauthy (Red The Steakhouse) served the most tender piece of steak over creamy spicy corn. Think corn can't be decadent? Think again!
Top Chef fan favorite Nina Compton teamed up with Scott Conant (Scarpetta) to make a seriously delicious marscarpone ravioli with roasted mushrooms.
Scott Conant, ever the proud mentor, said of Compton's Top Chef victory, "She's got it all." We couldn't agree more.
Michael Pirolo's (Macchialina) beet filled mezzaluna with hazelnuts and brown butter stole our hearts so much that we had to proclaim his the best of the Best of the Best.
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