Celebrity chef turns Biltmore ballroom into kitchen classroom

February 26th, 2013
Barilla Interactive Dinner

Food Network star Robert Irvine. File photo from SobeFest.com

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Leonard Goldberg, Jill Simon, Yulia Rodos, Brenda Mallett and Michelle Shermer. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Servers greet patrons with champagne. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Amy & Robert Yarrow. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Dave & Joy Kustin. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Frank & Betty Maresma. Photo by Betty Alvarez

IBarilla Interactive Dinner

Guests mingle on the plaza prior to the dinner. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Joseph & Debra Princz. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Barilla products on display at the interactive dinner. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Lisa Yigit, Debra Princz and Sam Finkelstein. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Patricia & Cesar Quintero. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Renee & Doug Himel. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Susette Siblesz and Mick Thorpe. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Sylvia & Howard Shore and David & Eva Simon. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Tim Rubin, Jemy & Jay Jacob and Chad & Amy Tamaroff. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Tim Rubin, Lil Roberts and Michelle Shermer. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Barilla Interactive Dinner

Will Corrente and Angela Bethge. Photo by Betty Alvarez

Food Network star Robert Irvine. File photo from SobeFest.comLeonard Goldberg, Jill Simon, Yulia Rodos, Brenda Mallett and Michelle Shermer. Photo by Betty AlvarezServers greet patrons with champagne. Photo by Betty AlvarezAmy & Robert Yarrow. Photo by Betty AlvarezDave & Joy Kustin. Photo by Betty AlvarezFrank & Betty Maresma. Photo by Betty AlvarezGuests mingle on the plaza prior to the dinner. Photo by Betty AlvarezJoseph & Debra Princz. Photo by Betty AlvarezBarilla products on display at the interactive dinner. Photo by Betty AlvarezLisa Yigit, Debra Princz and Sam Finkelstein. Photo by Betty AlvarezPatricia & Cesar Quintero. Photo by Betty AlvarezRenee & Doug Himel. Photo by Betty AlvarezSusette Siblesz and Mick Thorpe. Photo by Betty AlvarezSylvia & Howard Shore and David & Eva Simon. Photo by Betty AlvarezTim Rubin, Jemy & Jay Jacob and Chad & Amy Tamaroff. Photo by Betty AlvarezTim Rubin, Lil Roberts and Michelle Shermer. Photo by Betty AlvarezWill Corrente and Angela Bethge. Photo by Betty Alvarez

With cooking tips from a celebrity chef, patrons took a hands-on role in meal preparation Saturday evening, Feb. 23, as the Biltmore Hotel hosted the Barilla Interactive Dinner, part of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival,

Robert Irvine, star of the popular Food Network shows Worst Cooks in America and Restaurant: Impossible, turned a Biltmore ballroom into a kitchen classroom, providing guests with tips on creating the perfect meal. Patrons sipped on specially selected wines with each new plate at the sold-out dinner.

The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, presented by FOOD & WINE, was held Feb. 21-24 at various South Florida locations. Festival proceeds benefit the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Photos by Betty Alvarez / Events Photographer