Whiskey Wine & Wildlife wraps up a weekend of enjoyable and taste

By Holly Tishfield

Sun’s out, scales out, because the saying goes. At least, that was the case on Saturday, Nov. 8, as friends from far and vast arrived on the Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach for an additional 12 months of Whiskey Wine & Wildlife’s W3 Grand Tasting.

After receiving a complimentary wine glass to get the festivities began, friends had been greeted by a couple of scaly associates on the entrance to the Vilano Beach takeover, courtesy of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. Sharp-toothed reptiles like Datil Pepper the alligator had been there to teach the general public on coastal wildlife.

Beyond the occasion’s mission to provide friends an opportunity to expertise Floridian wildlife up shut and private, Whiskey Wine & Wildlife’s W3 Grand Tasting invited attendees to pattern the easiest of beverage tastings and impressed delicacies from a number of the South’s greatest cooks and native culinary superstars.

There had been a whole lot of limitless types of meals and beverage tastings from up and down the A1A hall and past. Local favorites such because the San Sebastian Winery and Culhane’s Irish Pub supplied limitless samples of wines and liquors, whereas broader manufacturers corresponding to Crown Royal and the Biltmore Winery supplied friends a style of distinctive cocktails and aged wines.

Guests loved a stay band within the convention corridor and a DJ within the outside space as they ate their approach by way of barbecued hen, smoked pork stomach, skirt steak, mushroom gnocchi, braised duck and far, way more.

The end result of the occasion ended within the Grand Tasting, whereby judges put their heads collectively at hand out awards in numerous classes for the very best meals and drinks. Attendees additionally had a possibility to vote on their favorites.

The winners for the People’s Choice Best Taste Awards had been: 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 had been: 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.