FIRST ANNUAL HOT TOQUES PARADE™,   

A TRIBUTE TO TALENTS OF SOUTH FLORIDA’S GASTRONOMY,   

KICKS-OFF 10^th AMERICAS FOOD & BEVERAGE SHOW, OCT. 29 – 31

Monday, October 29, 11:30 AM-- Miami Beach Convention Center

Gala Celebration Planned to Honor South Florida’s “Hottest” Chefs; Chef Allen Susser Honorary Chairman

From contemporary American to Latin-Asian fusion; from New World cuisine to nouvelle French, avant garde Italian and organic gourmet – South Florida’s “Hot Toques” have placed Miami and South Florida on the world’s culinary map  

MIAMI — The South Florida Gourmet is joining forces with the World Trade Center Miami to premiere a special tribute to South Florida’s top chefs -- the first annual Hot Toques Parade™.

The Hot Toques Parade will launch as the opening event for the 10th Americas Food and Beverage Show—IFE Americas, October 29 to 31, 2007 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and will become a new signature event for the World Trade Center in conjunction with S. Florida Gourmet specifically for future Americas Food & Beverage Shows.

The 2007 Hot Toque Parade, featuring over 60 leading South Florida chefs in tall toques and chef’s whites is planned for Monday, October 29, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.   Participating chefs will be feted during a VIP Perrier Jouet Champagne and Caviar Reception as a way of saying “Thank You ” for the outstanding and creative work they are doing to make South Florida an exciting culinary experience and tourist destination.   Award-winning chef and restaurateur, Allen Susser is the honorary chairman of the Premiere Hot Toques Parade.

According to Simone Zarmati Diament, editor and publisher of the South Florida Gourmet, “We are turning the tables on chefs. This time the chefs will just have fun; no cooking, no work.   They will be the recipients of our pampering hospitality.”

Some of the “pampering” on tap for the invited chefs includes complimentary VIP valet parking, Red Carpet entry, the VIP Perrier Jouet Champagne and Caviar Reception, gifts, goodie bags (did we mention Truffles?) and a drawing for an exciting array of prizes. Among the prizes, a trip for two to Europe, compliments of American Airlines and a four-day “Sideways Trip” to Oregon Wine Country sponsored by Willamette Valley Vineyards.

The 10th Americas Food and Beverage Show-IFE Americas is the largest Americas focused trade show in the hemisphere. The trade-only show brings exhibitors from all over the world together with buyers from the Western Hemisphere during three days of exhibits and conferences. According to Jelena Meisel, show director, “Under the auspices of the World Trade Center Miami, we bring new ideas and new companies together in the world's second fastest growing market. Miami.”

Following the show, all food products from the show will be donated to Camillus House.

To learn more about the Hot Toques Parade and the 10^th Americas Food & Beverage Show, IFE Americas, visit http://www.americasfoodandbeverageshow.com   or contact Jelena Meisel, jmeisel@worldtrade.org; Phone +1.305.871.7910.

Media Contact:

Clarice MacGarvey

KSR PR

Ph: 786-338-3358

Clarice@ksrteam.com

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