From pumpkin spice to squash, fall is a food lover’s season. Several October and November culinary events are on deck to sip and taste a range of cuisines and libations, often for a good cause. We’ve rounded up fun festivals, multi-course feasts, and fundraisers to celebrate fall and the start of peak season here in Florida. Lastly, a friend of ONE Sotheby’s offers some sound advice on healthy eating habits.
Big Taste of Martin County
Twenty local restaurants will compete in the 25th annual Big Taste of Martin County fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters on October 12. Held at the Stuart Jet Center, the evening features tastings, a silent auction, music, and raffle prizes. Purchase tickets in advance or at the door for this tremendously needed charity.
Treasure Coast Seafood Festival
Vero Beach hosts a two-for-one, family-friendly event by combining its 2021 Treasure Coast Seafood Festival and Treasure Coast Marine Flea Market and Boat Show at the Indian River Fairgrounds from October 9-10. The seafood festival continues to Hutchinson Island from November 5-7, adding live music by 10 home-grown bands.
Eat Your Heart Out
After shopping at Fort Lauderdale’s Galleria Mall, treat yourself to its “Eat Your Heart Out” fundraiser on the night of October 7. Celebrity servers are dishing out bites from restaurants such as Anthony’s Runway 84. Enjoy drinks and live entertainment, too, all for the Heart Gallery of Broward County which places foster children.
An Evening in Spain
Who doesn’t love a fall feast? Café Boulud’s “An Evening in Spain” on October 7 features four courses like black squid ink pasta with seafood, grilled venison with huckleberries, and goat’s milk cheesecake with fig ice cream paired with fun pours including a cider and rosé from the Basque Country.
SEED Food & Wine Festival
The 7th annual, plant-based SEED Food & Wine Festival returns to Miami from November 3-7. Among its many panel discussions, cooking demos, and grand tastings, pencil in Michelin-starred chefs’ New York City State of Mind dinner at 1 Hotel South Beach, and the Sacred Space’s Bloom Brunch with yoga.
Fall Wellness Tip
Author and NPR program host Judith J. Wurtman, PhD, has penned eight books on nutrition, weight loss, obesity, and how nutrients affect mood and performance. She shared a tip to alleviate seasonal affective disorder as daylight hours grow shorter during fall. Eating 25-30 grams of carbs (such as Pumpkin Spice Cheerios) boosts serotonin to help with depression and fatigue.
