Food, Wine & Fête: It’s Electric 

A Powerful Caribbean Celebration of Culture, Cuisine, and Community in Miami 

By Lisaluvslove 

MIAMI – Food, Wine & Fête, brainchild of cultural curators Vanessa James and Marco Rodriguez, was a fusion of party, power, and paradise. 

On Saturday, May 17, Miami’s Virginia Key Beach was the site of a Caribbean culinary celebration.  

During segregation, this “Blacks Only” beach was a safe haven for families who weren’t welcome anywhere else. At the Food, Wine & Fête, the sand and the shores told stories of resilience, joy, and resistance, that made this celebration even more poignant.  

“This is more than just a party—it’s about us showing up for each other,” Rodriguez said. “It’s about legacy. This is a love letter to our people, our flavors, and our rhythm.”  

For many, it was a reunion, decades in the making. Old classmates, former neighbors, cousins, and long-lost friends were transported by Soca beats and Vincy rum cakes. You could walk through the crowd and hear the same thing in every dialect: “I haven’t seen you in 10 years!” 

That sense of belonging was intentional.  

The Caribbean region is stitched together by history, music, and resilience—and when its people gather with intention, the joy is palpable. Ultimately, love is the motivation. Love is expressed through hands. Hands that roll dumplings, stir stew peas, and rub jerk seasoning into chicken with the kind of care that can’t be rushed. That’s what was on display at Food, Wine & Fête. The chefs’ demonstrations told stories. From Trinidad to Jamaica to the Bahamas and beyond, each plate was a declaration of heritage. Chef Irie’s “Food on Fiyah” brought explosive flavors and flair. Chef Troy Tingling’s creations were homages to childhood memories. Vegan options by Chef Kimesha Chong reminded us that Caribbean food is not a monolith. 

No Caribbean celebration is complete without libations. But Food, Wine & Fête offered more than just offering drinks—it was a curated sensory journey. From wine pairings to cocktail infusions, the bars became stages for taste. The drinks didn’t just complement the dishes—they complemented the moment.  

The soundtrack to the night? An unrelenting blend of Soca, Dancehall, Reggae, Kompa, and Afrobeats. DJ sets morphed into call-and-response spirituals. Farmer Nappy lit up the crowd with the kind of energy that only a true carnival veteran could summon. Guiding the crowd with vibrant energy and signature Caribbean flair was none other than Giselle “The Wassi One,” the legendary emcee whose voice is synonymous with Caribbean festivals around the world. Her presence elevated the evening from a party to a true cultural moment—igniting the crowd, honoring tradition, and making sure every soul on the dance floor felt seen and celebrated. 

James and Rodriguez’s vision was clear: to create a space where Caribbean excellence is celebrated and centered. The event introduced the VJMedia x FWF Culture and Caribbean Leadership Fund, designed to support Caribbean creatives and businesses. It’s a powerful signal: this is more than one night; this is a movement. 

“We have some of the most talented, diverse chefs in the world—hands down—but we don’t always get that mainstream recognition. The ingredient missing from most culinary festivals is Culture,” Rodriguez said.   

In a world that often flattens cultural identity or appropriates it without understanding, Food, Wine & Fête was a defiant embrace. It said: We are still here. We are worth celebrating. We are worth investing in. In a time when division is loud, this event reminded us that joy is a form of resistance—and community is the strongest currency we have. And most of all, it reminded us that love is the ingredient that binds everything—food, music, and memory—into something sacred.