America headlines second annual event Saturday in Cocoa Beach
10:33 PM, Mar. 10, 2011 |
Written by
JENNIFER SANGALANG
FLORIDA TODAY
The details
What: Cocoa Beach Wine and Food Festival 2011
When: 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lori Wilson Park, Cocoa Beach
Cost: $50 for the festival and the America concert or $30 for the concert, which begins at 6 p.m.
Call: 321-799-3971 or visit cocoabeachwine foodfestival.com.
Other: No pets or outside food
If you ask Tony Hernandez to explain why he started the Cocoa Beach Wine and Food Festival, his answer may surprise you.
“I used to love to watch my mother cook,” the festival chairman said. “While my mother was cooking, she used to tell me stories of Cuba and stuff that happened in the revolution. So I was always mesmerized by her stories and her cooking.”
From there, Hernandez’s passion for food grew. He used to own Mr. Cubano in Cape Canaveral.
“I became a foodie when foodie wasn’t cool,” he said. “I’ve been to a lot of food and wine festivals. I knew that a food and wine festival would do great here in Brevard County, which is something we don’t have.”
Saturday’s event is the second annual Cocoa Beach Wine and Food Festival, and it’s presented by Craig Technologies. Hernandez said he learned a lot from last year’s event.
His advice for a food and wine fest first-timer?
“Come to the festival, enjoy the samplings of 25 of the top-of-the-line restaurants in our community,” he said. Among the participating restaurants are the Melting Pot, Chart House, Chameleon Fusion Bistro and Gregory’s. “You can taste their food, then taste some different wines and educate yourself on wine,” citing the wine 101 demo of the festival.
Other bites to look forward to include some from local bakeries, beer samples from Charlie and Jake’s and coffee from Juice-N-Java called “the coffee with no name.”
There will be a ’60s and ’70s classic car show, and local band Mo Geetz will perform. The headliner of the festival is America, known for its hit song, “The Horse with No Name.” Tickets just to see America also are available.
After the concert, there’s an after-party next door at Mambo’s Beachside Bar and Grill at the International Palms Resort.
“It’s all for a good cause,” Hernandez said. “We’re raising money for the Children’s Home Society and Junior Achievement.”
One restaurant the festival chairman is excited about showcasing this weekend is what he describes as one of the best-kept secrets in Brevard.
“We have the Health First culinary team from Cape Canaveral Hospital,” Hernandez said, particularly citing chef Will Hannon and his hamburgers. “They’ll be breaking the mold in restaurants and hospital cuisine.”
Contact Sangalang at 321-242-3630 or jsangalang@ floridatoday.com.
