(L to R) CEO Colin Brown and Kim Bentley® of JM Family Enterprises with Museum President Kim Cavendish.

14th Annual Wine & Culinary Celebration raises nearly
$100,000 to support the Museum of Discovery and Science

The 14th Annual Museum of Discovery and Science Wine & Culinary Celebration held at the Museum of Discovery and Science on April 24, 2009 raised nearly $100,000 to benefit the Museum. Chaired by Andrew Hillier of Tangled Spider Design Group and Jackie Barnett, the event was a resounding success. Over 1,000 guests enjoyed tantalizing cuisine, music and a bountiful silent auction. The exclusive beverage sponsor was Southern Wine and Spirits and the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort sponsored the VIP Lounge. Media partners included 101.5 Lite FM and Gold Coast Magazine and the printing sponsor was Print Dynamics.

This year’s event featured a progressive sequence of wine and food pairings selected to delight, educate and entertain guests. Thirty of South Florida’s top restaurants and chefs were represented, as well as 200 wines, beers and spirits from around the world.

VIP guests started the evening off with a private Martini Reception and a wine tasting led by certified wine specialist and Sommelier, Sandra Wauquier. Then it was off to the Grand Tasting where executive chefs served up their best, each competing for the People’s choice award. This year’s winner was Sage French Café with their ratatouille on a bite size piece of bread and escargot served in scooped out new potatoes. Also a crowd favorite, Himmarshee Bar & Grille earned their spot as the 1st Runner Up, with Vienna Café just a few votes behind in the 2nd runner up position.

Highlighting the evening were some of South Florida’s top restaurants such as YOLO, Bova Prime, Café Martorano, The Capital Grille, Casa D’Angelo, Sage French Café, ilios @ Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Shooters Restaurant, A Thierry’s Catering & Event Design, Vienna Café, Mancini’s Ristorante, Valentino’s Cucina Italiana, Big City Tavern, La Marquise Desserts, Inc., Hugh’s Culinary, Galanga Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar, Jackson’s Steakhouse, VUE on the Water, Cookies by Design, Johnny V Restaurant, The Melting Pot, CrepeMaker, Inc., Really Good Cookies, Jackson’s Bar and Grille, Himmarshee Bar & Grille, Joe’s Riverside Grille, Pancho’s Backyard, We Take the Cake and Lola’s on Harrison.

The event hit a high note at the end of the evening when the very chic Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort VIP Lounge opened. VIP guests stopped by the Caipirinha Bar to sip on Brazilian cocktails and enjoyed samples created by Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort including sliders, gelato, warm Nutella crepes and more.

(L to R) Terry Stiles, Jamie Taylor, Doug Eagon and Jane Brand Eagon.

(L to R) Wayne Ballard, John Magee, Steve Martorano and Tom Angelo.

Wine Event 2009 Co-chairs,
(L to R) Jackie Barnett and Andrew Hillier.

Hilton Fort Lauderdale Resort VIP Lounge.

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