Miami Beach, FL (AHN) - The annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival hosted by the Food Network closed its tents and served its last dish on Sunday. However, as a first-time participant to the event, I'm already looking forward to next year's recipes.

The four-day festival can credit bringing together the biggest names in the food industry and some of the most discerning palates. From meeting celebrity chefs to sampling dishes from world-renowned restaurants, visitors had a smorgasbord of activities centering around food and libations to satisfy even the pickiest connoisseurs.

Widely known chefs such as Bobby Flay, Nigella Lawson, David Chang and Norman Van Aken were on hand at the festival and inside the Publix Kitchen to lend expertise and samples of their dishes during seminars and book signings. Restaurants from all over the world also had their hands in the pot in creating a culinary sampling experience. Some of the biggest events besides the Great Tasting were Friday's Bubble Q, a BBQ event spearheaded by Al Roker of NBC's "Today" show, and the first annual Food Network Awards.

The one-of-a-kind, two-day-long American Express Grand Tasting event differs from other tastings by allowing visitors to have many return trips to their favorite vendors. A further surprise was it varied from other food- or alcohol-related events by being not what you'd expect. The food was actually really good, the cost albeit a little steep at close to $100.00 a pop, but the tasting allows guests to enjoy as much as they want of some of the best food and wine in the world. I myself was quite partial to the duck gumbo made by New Orleans-famed LaCote Brasserie. However, I'm getting ahead of myself ...

Walking up to the event, the first thing you see are two large open-air tents right on the beach. As someone who loves to cook and did a lot of camping with Boy Scout Troop 188, I know that cooking like that is a challenge. Between the wind and sporadic showers it must have been difficult to keep the food piping hot.

Once inside the event's roped-off area, guests were given a large wine glass to keep hanging around their neck, a tasting tray and a menu of sorts to the activities inside and under the massive tents.

Upon entering the several tents and stages that line the sand on ocean drive, what you first notice is that this is unlike what you thought it would be. You aren't quite bombarded with food yet, but by several interesting appetizers, so to speak. There are sponsor and vendor tents from everything from Evian water to Hummer.

Florida International University, a big contributor to the Wine and Food Festival, also had a tent there. Students in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management served up desserts and venison. School administrator Roger Probst told

AHN they served about 3,600 lbs. of venison made to order in about 2 hours.

Mark Rafeldi, an FIU student originally from New York, could be heard shouting over the music and hordes of people, enticing them to come over and try some delectable desserts, "Come on folks, you know you wanna!"

He was right, I did and I did.

The school, which teaches students both fundamental and advanced cooking skills, also has a working restaurant.

Instructors teach classes of between 24-48 students, and the university boasts an attendance roster that includes students from across 28 different countries.

Following the initial stages and tents, guests are able to watch the biggest names in the cooking industry show off their talents at workshops - imagine Martha Stewart's show but on a sandy beach. Instead of just watching the foods be prepared, you get to sample the final dishes too.

Once entering the two large subsequent tents separated by smaller Future Brand-sponsored tents, you notice margaritas and mojitos are definitely in abundance in this area. For those of us wondering where people were getting them, this was our "A-ha" moment.

Guests are able to tour the main food areas where it literally is a free for all of delicious foods and wines from some of South Florida's, and the world's, best brands and restaurants.

Some of the names that participated in the sixth annual event were Mohegan Sun, Pama, Ghirardelli, Blue Door, China Grill,Tommy Bahama Rum, 1220 at the Tides, Tuscan Steak, Nobu, Evian, and La Cote Brasserie. Not to mention various cultures were represented: Thai, Caribbean, American, French and a lot of fusion cooking.

New Orleans' La Cote Brasserie survived hurricane Katrina with minimal damage and enjoyed its first Wine and Food Festival in 2006. Executive Chef Chuck Subra said it was an easy decision for him to come back.

"Its a great event, good people, and it contributes to the industry growing," he said.

Subra says he got his passion for cooking from his grandmother. His New Orleans-inspired food was a welcome change and a sign of rebuilding and success in a place that saw Katrina spare Miami its wrath.

Subra and his wife flew into South Florida and began cooking for Subra's family in South Florida Friday night. By cooking, I don't mean a signature Rachel Ray 30-minute meal. Rather a feast for 20. Then at 8:30 am Saturday, he began the two-day-long cooking marathon for the thousands who would pass by his booth. His duck gumbo is his signature dish and one he takes pride in.

During our conversation he stressed the importance of it not being just a mish mosh of food (I was told it contains duck, andouille sausage, theroux, Tabasco and more) but a carefully orchestrated choreography of timing.

"Everything has got to be done correctly. It may be time-consuming, but it's not to me," he said.

That mindset is shared by many. Beyond the delicious food, the Grand Tasting gave visitors the chance to indulge in the first part of the festival's name. Wine and liquors were freely flowing, and some had their conception and "gestation" timed just as carefully as the Tide's ceviche wrapped in a plantain case.

An Australian wine company named Alice White was on hand in the center of the second tent and had a very impressive wood wrap-around bar. Another unexpected surprise at the event was the young lady serving me at the Aussie bar. Her name was Jasmine Vidal.

Vidal, who works for the company, admitted she isn't a drinker, but she said she truly enjoyed herself at the festival by enjoying the sampling of foods. Thankfully, she knew enough about her brand and consumer expectation to still suggest a good Riesling.

If the 2007 South Beach Food and Wine festival was the globe's cultural epicenter over the weekend, the grand tasting event was the place to be at the festival. Preparations are currently being made for 2008's event.