Sun’s out, scales out, as the saying goes. At least, that was the case on Saturday, Nov. 8, as guests from far and wide arrived at the Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach for another year of Whiskey Wine & Wildlife’s W3 Grand Tasting.
After receiving a complimentary wine glass to get the festivities started, guests were greeted by a few scaly friends at the entrance to the Vilano Beach takeover, courtesy of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. Sharp-toothed reptiles like Datil Pepper the alligator were there to educate the public on coastal wildlife.
Beyond the event’s mission to give guests a chance to experience Floridian wildlife up close and personal, Whiskey Wine & Wildlife’s W3 Grand Tasting invited attendees to sample the very best of beverage tastings and inspired cuisine from some of the South’s best chefs and local culinary superstars.
There were hundreds of unlimited varieties of food and beverage tastings from up and down the A1A corridor and beyond. Local favorites such as the San Sebastian Winery and Culhane’s Irish Pub offered unlimited samples of wines and liquors, while broader brands such as Crown Royal and the Biltmore Winery offered guests a taste of unique cocktails and aged wines.
Guests enjoyed a live band in the conference hall and a DJ in the outdoor area as they ate their way through barbecued chicken, smoked pork belly, skirt steak, mushroom gnocchi, braised duck and much, much more.
The culmination of the event ended in the Grand Tasting, wherein judges put their heads together to hand out awards in various categories for the best foods and drinks. Attendees also had an opportunity to vote on their favorites.
The winners for the People’s Choice Best Taste Awards were: Best Seafood -- Meehan's Irish Pub/Johnny’s Oyster Bar, Best Shellfish -- The Reef Restaurant, Best Beef – Smokin’ Spencer’s Q, Best Pork -- Sahog, Best Poultry -- Legendary Gold BBQ, Best Barbecue -- Heart & Soul Food Truck, Best Vegetarian -- Pesca, Best Dessert -- Chocolattes, Best Overall -- Cordova Chophouse, Best Food Truck -- Heart & Soul Food Truck, Best Wine -- Executive Beverage Sales, Best Beer -- Veterans United Craft Brewery, Best Spirit -- Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur and Best Cocktail -- Crown Royal.
The winners for the Judged Best Taste Awards were: Best Seafood – Coastal Catch, Best Shellfish – Meehan’s Irish Pub/Johnny’s Oyster Bar, Best Beef – Smokin’ Spencer’s Q, Best Pork – Cordova Chophouse, Best Poultry – This Chick Can Cook/Chef Rosaria Cammarata, Best Barbecue – Sahog, Best Vegetarian – Pesca, Best Dessert – Chocolattes and Best Overall – Smokin’ Spencer’s Q.
