"Nothing is Done In Miami....

...unless it's overdone." So wrote Gianni Versace, and who better than Gianni to know about being over-the-top. The South Beach Wine and Food Festival stretches across the street from his mansion as if in honor to him. And there was no better way to take one's mind off of things than to go for a walk on the beach (even if you don't like sand).

As you cross the dunes, the immensity of the Grand Tasting becomes clear; tent after tent, pavilion after pavilion are all connected to provide access to the representatives of the finest restaurants, distilleries, and distributors.

The tents are open to the Atlantic to catch the sea breeze and reflect light.

The north end of private tents where cooking demonstrations and the display of everything associated with consumption in general gives the beach an almost Arab feel, something sandy and bazaar-like.

Yes, we KNOW it's sold out. I won't even go into what tickets are being scalped for, but somewhere--coming from heaven--is a press pass with my name on it.