The Eight Best Food and Drink Events in Miami This Weekend

This weekend, restaurants and bars across town, including the Wharf, Lincoln Eatery, and Abbey Brewing Company, will offer holiday happenings. Plus, the food blog Hungry Black Man is in search of Miami’s best fried chicken sandwich, which explains why he’s ready to host the $1,000 Chicken Sandwich Battle this Saturday afternoon.

Celebrate the Season at the Betsy South Beach

Stop by the Betsy for roasted chestnuts, holiday carolers, and “winter warmer” holiday cocktails this weekend. Plus, pastry chef Gabriela Amelunge has rolled out the ultimate holiday hot chocolate menu with boozy options at Carlton Room Café. “Naughty or Nice” holiday hot chocolate is available from noon to 8 daily. 5 p.m. to close Friday and Saturday through December 21 unless otherwise noted, at the Betsy, 1440 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; thebetsyhotel.com.

Pri-Madonna Preshow Series at Sweet Liberty

The Miami Beach bar will host a preshow series to celebrate the legendary Madonna before her upcoming Madam X performances at the Fillmore. This Saturday through next Sunday, stop by the bar for nightly parties hosted by the Miami-based drag queen Morphine Love. Expect food, drinks, performances, and other diversions. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, December 14, through Sunday, December 22, at Sweet Liberty, 237 20th St., Miami Beach; 305-763-8217; mysweetliberty.com.

$1,000 Chicken Sandwich Battle at a Space Called Tribe

It might be the most ridiculous, high-stakes rivalry of the year: Who has the better spicy chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A or Popeye’s? The latter chain introduced its take on the dish earlier this year, and it promptly sold out at locations across the nation. Nevertheless, there are some noble souls who believe fast-food chains have no right deciding the best chicken sandwich. That’s the idea behind the $1,000 Chicken Sandwich Battle, sponsored by the food blog Hungry Black Man. Locals can enter and vote on who really has the best fried chicken on a bun (the best in Miami, at least), with $1,000 in prize money up for grabs. 3 p.m. Saturday, December 14, at a Space Called Tribe Co-Work and Urban Innovation Lab, 937 NW Third Ave., Miami; spacecalledtribe.com. General admission is free; competitor and vendor fee is $50 via eventbrite.com.

Twenty Years of Celebration at Nikki Beach

Sip champagne on the sand during Nikki Beach’s 20th-anniversary celebration. Cheers to one of South Florida’s most famous “day clubs” while you enjoy live music, dance performances, bottomless rosé, food, and a fireworks finale. 1 p.m. to close Saturday, December 14, at Nikki Beach, 1 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; 786-515-1130; nikkibeach.com.

Festivus Party at Abbey Brewing Company

It might seem like being obsessed with Seinfeld is old hat nowadays (current trends indicate everyone has moved on to Frasier), but fortunately, Festivus is here to remind us all of the show’s absurd greatness and that we don’t have to conform to the standard goings-on of the holiday season. If you’d like to air your grievances, head to the Abbey Brewing Company for its Festivus Party, complete with food, drink specials, and the Feats of Strength, of course. 1 p.m. to midnight Sunday, December 15, at the Abbey Brewing Company, 1115 16th St., Miami Beach; 305-538-8110; abbeybrewinginc.com. Admission is free.

Frohzen Ice-Cream Shop Opens in the Design District

Maybe you avoided the Design District during Miami Art Week because you’re not really into art. But there’s a new reason for dessert lovers to head to the neighborhood ASAP: a new ice-cream parlor, and it has quite a pedigree. Frohzen, located in the Paradise Plaza shopping block on NE 41st Street, is now open. It’s the brainchild of pastry chef Salvatore Martone, who worked under the all-star chef JoÁ«l Robuchon (RIP). Frohzen offers ten flavors of ice cream and sorbet, several inspired by Miami, and a topping bar to make them “extra photographable,” according to a press release. Expect other unique dishes that fuse ice cream with dessert items, such as macaron ice-cream sandwiches. 151 NE 41st St., Miami; 305-402-9060; frohzen-miami.com. Tuesday through Sunday noon to 8 p.m.

Jingle All MoÁ«t at the Wharf Miami

The Wharf will jump-start holiday celebrations with Jingle All MoÁ«t this weekend. Sunday, enjoy a holiday specialty bar with more than 30 cocktails, 500,000 holiday lights, oversize decor, and $50 bottles of MoÁ«t & Chandon. Noon to 3 a.m. Sunday, December 15, at the Wharf Miami, 114 SW North River Dr., Miami; wharfmiami.com. Admission is free.

Jingle and Mingle at the Lincoln Eatery

Celebrate the holidays at the Lincoln Eatery’s all-day party. Expect a life-size gingerbread house, holiday crafting, face painting, cookie decorating, and festive food and drinks. 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 15, at the Lincoln Eatery, 723 Lincoln Ln. N., Miami Beach; thelincolneatery.com. RSVP via eventbrite.com.