February 26, 2020 – The 2nd Annual Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival (GFLFW), presented by Visit Lauderdale, is pleased to announce that Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (JDCH) will be the Festival’s Charity Partner this year. The Festival will take place from Wednesday, March 18 – Sunday, March 22, 2020 throughout Broward County, FL.  Led by a distinguished Host Committee, the Festival will once again showcase Broward County’s renowned and emerging chefs, restaurateurs and local food and drink establishments.  

 

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital will receive a portion of all proceeds from the five-day epicurean event. Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of the region’s leading pediatric hospitals, offering a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a child-friendly atmosphere. It is a full-service, pediatric hospital that treats minor illnesses, trauma-related accidents and some of the most complex medical conditions. Sunday, March 22nd is Family Day at ArtsPark in Hollywood and is FREE to attend.  However, the suggested donation for admission is one new/unwrapped toy that will go to the children at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

 

"We’re excited to be hosting the Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival once again this year and we’re thrilled to have Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital as the Festival’s Official Charity Partner, said Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival co-founder Kate Reed. “While we strive to showcase the wonderful culinary delights and spirits that the Greater Fort Lauderdale area has to offer, we also want to recognize the important work that Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital does day-in and day-out and are delighted to give back to this incredible organization.”

 

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival presented by Crave will kick off on Wednesday, March 18, with Cocktail Confidential at Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery, and GFL on the Rise will take place Friday, March 20, at The Atlantic Hotel & Spa. The Festival will also include a Grand Tasting Event on Saturday, March 21 featuring food and beverage tastings, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment as well as a FREE Family Day presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (JDCH) on Sunday, March 22.  Both events will take place at ArtsPark Hollywood.  

 

On Thursday, March 19, the Festival will host a series of ‘Catch The Love’ Dinners at well-known restaurants throughout Broward County, which will benefit JDCH’s ‘Catch the Love’ campaign. Participating restaurants will offer a prix-fixe menu with proceeds going directly to the Hospital. Restaurants offering a ‘Catch the Love’ Dinner include: Mastro’s Ocean Club in Fort Lauderdale, Sardelli Italian Steakhouse in Hollywood, Capriccio’s Ristorante in Pembroke Pines and Café Maxx in Pompano Beach. The ‘Catch the Love’ campaign is an initiative to raise $50,000,000 to meet South Florida’s increasing pediatric healthcare needs. In order to do this, JDCH is expanding facilities to add new surgical and medical capabilities, cutting edge technology, innovative programs and more family resources.  

 

“The Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival creates a great opportunity for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to raise awareness and funds for its ‘Catch the Love” campaign,” said Caitlin Stella, CEO of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “Few hospitals nationwide offer families the highly specialized pediatric care and expertise of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, and we’re pleased that the Festival is partnering with us to help us reach our financial goals to continue providing pediatric care that is second to none.”

 

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Event Schedule is outlined as follows:

 

Wednesday, March 18

Event: Cocktail Confidential: A Spirited Affair (7 p.m. – 9 p.m.)

Location: Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery – 115 NW 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Tickets: $49

This ‘Spirited Affair’ will feature signature cocktails and bites that will take guests on a culinary journey to be remembered.

 

Thursday, March 19

Event: ‘Catch the Love’ Dinners 

Locations: Mastro’s Ocean Club in Fort Lauderdale, Sardelli Italian Steakhouse in Hollywood, Capriccio’s Ristorante in Pembroke Pines and Café Maxx in Pompano Beach 

Tickets: Visit www.gflfoodwine.com for individual restaurant menus, prices and to purchase your tickets. 

 

Friday, March 20 

Event: GFL on the Rise: An Elevated Culinary Experience (6 p.m. – 9 p.m.)

Location: The Atlantic Hotel & Spa, Ocean View Terrace – 601 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Beach, FL.

Tickets: $125

Release your inner foodie with bites from Greater Fort Lauderdale’s culinary stars while taking in the 180-degree oceanfront view you can only get in South Florida.

 

Saturday, March 21

Event: Grand Tasting (12 p.m. – 5 p.m.)

             Live Cooking Demonstrations (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.)

Location: ArtsPark Hollywood- 1 North Young Circle, Hollywood, FL

Tickets: VIP Tickets are $110 and General Admission Tickets are $60 

The Grand Tasting event features tastings, chef demonstrations, cooking demos, live music and more. 

 

Sunday, March 22

Event: Family Day presented by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (12 p.m. – 5 p.m.)

Location: ArtsPark Hollywood- 1 North Young Circle, Hollywood, FL

Tickets: FREE to attend. Suggested donation of one new/unwrapped toy

Round up the family, chairs and blankets for a great cause as we host a toy drive that will benefit Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. This FREE event promises to be fun filled with live entertainment, a fantastic JDCH Kid’s Zone, kid friendly activities (culinary and non-culinary) with food trucks and drinks.

 

To purchase tickets for any of the events, please visit: www.gflfoodwine.com or follow us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/GFLFoodWine/.

 

 

About Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival: Set to once again celebrate the food, wine, craft beer and spirits scene at unique venues in Broward County, the 2nd Annual Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival includes five days of signature events taking place between March 18-22, 2020, with various sanctioned events throughout the calendar year. From our 23 miles of award-winning beaches, to sprawling downtown communities and emerging art districts in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, our events will offer a unique setting that will showcase why Greater Fort Lauderdale is so special to us all as we benefit local charity.  For the latest information about the Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival please visit www.GFLFoodWine.com.

 

About Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital: Established in 1992, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital combines advanced technology and the expertise of the largest, most diverse group of board-certified pediatric specialists in the region. With its summer 2011 expansion, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital now has 226 beds and is South Florida’s newest freestanding children’s hospital. The hospital is staffed 24 hours a day by world-class pediatric specialists, specialty-trained nurses and ancillary support staff. Today, more than 650 physicians are on the medical staff. For more information, please visit Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

 

About Greater Fort Lauderdale: Greater Fort Lauderdale, also known as the “Venice of America,” boasts an average year-round temperature of 77˚F and has 3,000 hours of annual sunshine. Explore 4,000+ eateries, 300+ miles of navigable waterways, eight distinct beaches, a thriving arts and culture scene, craft breweries, rooftop bars, outdoor adventure, and world-class shopping – all conveniently located in the center of South Florida. Made of up 31 municipalities, the destination boasts more than 35,000 lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts and Superior Small Lodgings reflecting a cosmopolitan vibe. Upon arrival at FLL Airport (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport), it is just 5 minutes to the beach, Port Everglades, the Broward County Convention Center and downtown. For trip planning inspiration, visit the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.sunny.org and follow @visitlauderdale.