The 2nd Annual Hess Select South Beach Seafood Festival brought forth Miami culinary flair and swanky fashion at new event before Festival Day.

While the main Saturday Festival was the talk of the town, the Chef Showdown at the Seafood & Sneakers Ball offered the most exclusive ticket in town for sea-foodies on Friday, October 24, 2014. This event served as the sizzling appetizer before the main event and featured Miami’s finest culinary master chefs showcasing amazing seafood dishes along with some fun and fashion as a complete “Made in Miami” experience!

Miami is all about style and the Seafood & Sneakers Ball, sponsored by Range Rover and Bacardi, showed how Miamians do things just a little bit differently. Taking place at 9th & Ocean Drive in the GOYA Culinary Pavilion at the event site, the Chef Showdown @ the Seafood & Sneakers Ball featured Miami’s finest, participating in cook-offs on the 305-KITCHEN.com demo stages throughout the venue, hosted by none other than Celebrity Chef and current owner of Naked Taco, Ralph Pagano. Attendees participated in the public vote as guests visited the Chef’s restaurant tasting stations around the event space, sampled their signature dishes showcased on the demo stages, and voted on who is the best in each showdown category. The “Cutting Board” experts also lended their expertise to assist in choosing the final winners at the end of the evening. Participating restaurants for the Chef Showdown included: Lure Fish bar, Siena Tavern, Red the Steakhouse, Florida Cookery, Oceanaire, Dolce Italian, City Hall, Café Avanti, CIBO, De Rodriguez, Naked Taco, Park Central, and Poseidon. All sustainable seafood for the event was provided by hosting sponsor, Whole Foods. To see the full list of winners, see Instagram.com/p/ukhve7enbl or https://Twitter.com/SobeSeafoodFest/status/525886440568524800

The Seafood & Sneakers Ball focused on highlighting our seafood masters in South Florida, the event also featured a major fashion element with a “Made In Miami Fashion Show” taking place during the Sneakers Ball. Hosted by fashion blogger Kelly Saks, the fashion show showed the latest styles by some of Miami’s best local designers to include: The Edition Boutique, Pretty Beachy Swimwear, accessories by TAudry Jewelry, and The Fashion Poet. Lyfe Brand Apparel, known for their creation of the popular “Heatles” shirts during the Miami Heat’s quest for their NBA Championships were also be present. All guests were encouraged to be part of this amazing fashion spectacle by wearing their most stylish, outrageous, swankiest sneakers.

SobeSavvy.com joined in and captured the fun for the “gala” evening of the weekend that helped kickoff the fundraising for Hess Select South Beach Seafood Festival’s beneficiary, Community Initiatives Foundation and their new EAT SMART Campaign. Find out more at http://www.cifoundation.org. Miami Cigar Company provided complimentary cigars and a silent auction was also part of the evening , hosted by Marty Wallach/Whip Fundraising . More at http://www.WhipFundraising.com

For more information about the festival please visit: http://www.sobeseafoodfest.com. Follow Facebook: Hess Select South Beach Seafood Festival | Instagram: @SobeSeafoodFest | Twitter: @SobeSeafoodFest use HASHTAG: #SobeSeafood

Here is my photo recap of Friday night’s Sobe Seafood Fest Event, “Chef Showdown at the Seafood & Sneakers Ball ” ! *Additional Photo Credit: Barry Heigh , Rebecca Darling