Last week was a grandiose one for vegans and wine lovers from all over the United States. Starting on Thursday and going through Sunday, Miami Beach and Wynwood hosted the 1st conscious plant-based food and wine festival in the country: the Seed Food & Wine Festival!
This five-day extravaganza brought together over 40 plant-based celebrity chefs, 130+ exhibitors, more than 9,000 attendees, and over 30 vegan experts, athletes, authors and celebrities to raise awareness to the countless health and environmental benefits that plant-based and sustainable lifestyles provide.
In an effort to educate and inspire the Miami community and the planet as a whole, all of these talented individuals worked together to convey one great message- plant-based lifestyles can taste good and definitely feel good.
Kicking off the festival, was a two-day Seed Summit which lasted from 9am-5pm and included morning yoga & meditation, plant-based breakfast, and organic vegan lunches. These two days were filled with a series of workshops, panels, and networking designed for eco-friendly entrepreneurs and conscious content creators.
On Thursday night, the Second Annual Plant Based Burger Battle took place at the Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort where attendees sampled and voted for the Best Veggie Burger in America, enjoyed paired craft beers, and listened to some lovely live music. Chefs from Austin, LA, and South Florida competed and Love Life Café in Wynwood eventually came out victorious!
All day on Friday, food and sustainability industry entrepreneurs, chefs, policy makers, farmers, and anyone passionate about the future of food gathered at the stunning 1 Hotel for the Food Forward conference. From 9am-4pm, thought leaders and innovators took the stage and tackled six global and local issues including Food Waste, Regenerative Agriculture, GMOs & Organics, Sustainability, and Feeding Good Food to Everyone.
Friday evening featured two special plant-based chef dinners: The Best of the East and The Best of the West. The former featured the best vegan chefs on the East coast of the US and the latter exhibited the top vegan chefs on the West coast. Starting off with craft cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, the lavish four-course, wine-paired meals culminated with decadent desserts.
For all the fitness lovers, Saturday morning started at 8am with the Seed 5K Fun Run followed by yoga and guided meditation. This free event aimed to educate the public on the importance of aligning one’s body, mind, and spirt and advocated the notion that sustainability not only refers to environmentally friendly practices, but also to individual health and wellbeing.
The rest of the day on Saturday was spent at Mana Wynwood’s Seed Festival Day Tasting Village where attendees enjoyed loads of food & juice sampling, beauty products, beer garden, apparel, chef demonstrations, and many more cruelty-free, plant-based treats! There was even a yoga lounge and fitness zone for those looking to stay active throughout the day.
On Saturday night, some of the absolute best chefs in Miami prepared an extraordinary five-course dinner at the beautiful Surfcomber Social Club. The Made in Miami Farm to Table Dinner focused on honoring the local organic farms in South Florida and each course was paired with craft cocktails and organic wines. Needless to say, these local all-stars whipped up a pretty spectacular banquet!
The event concluded on Sunday with a morning of mindful living which included a yoga practice, guided meditation session, and a delicious, organic plant powerful brunch served with fresh juices, cocktails, and bellinis.
Whether you already live an active and plant-based lifestyle, you’re passionate about fitness and the environment, or you’re simply curious to try some yoga and amazing vegan cuisine, I highly recommend you check out the Seed Food & Wine Festival next year. It’s sure to be a great time for the entire family!
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