Orange Bowl Raises Over $100,000 for Local Non-Profits at Annual Orange Bowl Food & Wine Celebration Presented by Florida Blue

More than $100,000 was raised for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida, Special Olympics Florida and the Orange Bowl Leadership Academy at last week’s annual Orange Bowl Food & Wine Celebration presented by Florida Blue. The event took place on Friday, May 11 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center.

Over the years, the Orange Bowl has been able to invest millions of dollars in the South Florida community through its four pillars of community outreach: youth sports, fundraising and community events, academic programs and scholarships, and legacy gifts. 

During a special presentation, The Orange Bowl Committee and Make-A-Wish Southern Florida surprised 7-year old “Wish Kid” Andrew Harker by bringing him on stage to grant his wish to go on a Disney Cruise. Andrew was also met on stage by Obie, the Orange Bowl’s mascot, who presented him with a giant tub of ice cream and a gift package.

Charles (Charlie) DeLucca Jr., was honored with the 2018 Keith Tribble Community Service Excellence Award for his extraordinary efforts to promote and enhance social conditions that have significantly impacted the South Florida Community. DeLucca is affectionately known as the “godfather of South Florida junior golf” and a long-time champion of people with disabilities. He has been a staple in the South Florida golf community for more than 50 years, and is a long-time supporter of people with disabilities, including Special Olympics.

The Orange Bowl also donated a check for $25,000 to Special Olympics Florida during a special on-stage presentation. Several Special Olympics athletes were in attendance to accept the check.

More than 30 of South Florida’s top restaurants and chefs served up their best bites and pairings for those in attendance and competed for awards. Toro Toro took home the award for best restaurant in Miami Dade, NYY Steak won the award for best restaurant in Broward, and Miami Beach EDITION Hotel - Matador Room By Jean-Georges Vongerichten & Market By Jean-Georges Vongerichten was awarded for best overall restaurant and best dessert.

Patrons in attendance voted for their favorites in the “People’s Choice Awards” which went to Ms. Cheezious for best bite and to SOBE Promos for best dessert.

2018 Orange Bowl Food & Wine Restaurant Award Winners

• Best Overall Restaurant – Miami Beach EDITION Hotel - Matador Room By Jean-Georges Vongerichten & Market By Jean-Georges Vongerichten
  • Miami Beach EDITION Tangerine Orange
• Best Restaurant in Miami-Dade – Toro Toro
  • Hamachi tiradito with habanero passion fruit aguachile plus chile frito and sweet pepper
• Best Broward Restaurant– NYY Steak
  • NYY Steak mini surf and turf
• Best Dessert –Miami Beach EDITION Hotel - Matador Room By Jean-Georges Vongerichten & Market By Jean-Georges Vongerichten
  • Miami Beach EDITION Tangerine Orange
• People’s Choice:  Best Bite – Ms. Cheezious
  • French onion and wild mushroom melt 
• People’s Choice:  Best Dessert –SOBE Promos 
  • Ninashe’s world famous banana pudding

Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, Chef/Partners at Stiltsville Fish Bar in Miami Beach, served as celebrity chefs for the annual event. The evening was hosted by Lisa Petrillo, the Entertainment and Lifestyle Reporter for WFOR, CBS4 in Miami.

The consistent and continued success of the Orange Bowl Food and Wine Celebration can be credited in part to Florida Blue, the presenting sponsor of the event. Florida Blue is joined by the following associate sponsors: Blue Moon, CBS4, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, Dave & Buster’s, Deloitte, Delta Business Solutions, Florida Power & Light Company, Florida Prepaid College Plans, Gold Coast Beverage Distributors, L.L.C., Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, Hard Rock Stadium, Pernod-Ricard USA Wines & Champagnes, The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Toyota, Wizard Creations, and Woodford Reserve.

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