Vacationers flock to Greater Miami and the Beaches for glorious weather, sizzling nightlife and the dynamic fusion of cultures that fuels the metropolis. A sexy, modern city as well as an international resort destination, Miami's cultural diversity and sophistication are integral to the city's ascendancy as a serious culinary destination. Attracting the attention of acclaimed restaurateurs, chefs and critics, Miami plays host to a year round slate of prestigious wine and food events, and is home to a breathtaking array of serious and see-and-be-seen restaurants featuring cutting-edge design and innovative cuisine. Over 6,000 dining spots cater to an increasingly sophisticated resident population as well as the more than 10 million visitors who consumed over $3 billion worth of delicious meals in Miami restaurants in 2003. From casual alfresco cafes perfect for people watching, to palaces of haute cuisine, Miami is a full-fledged culinary hot spot, with a flavor-packed menu filled with spicy and delicious options.

Fabulous Festivals and Events Miami serves up deliciously diverse culinary events year-round, such as South Beach Wine & Food Festival (February/March), a must-attend forum for serious foodies. The celebrity meter is always dialed on high, as the most prominent figures in the culinary and wine and spirits industries travel to Miami for a jam-packed weekend of tastings, star-studded dinners, and culinary seminars. More not to be missed events which have a culinary component include: Art Deco Weekend (January), Coconut Grove Arts Festival (February), Redland Natural Art Festival (January) at the Fruit and Spice Park; FAB Fest � A Taste of the Beach (February) on South Beach; Carnaval Miami (March) showcasing Miami�s Latin flavor; Annual Miami Wine & Food Festival (April/May) at downtown Miami�s Hotel Intercontinental and the Biltmore International Food & Wine Weekend (April/May) at the historic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, both top, annual wine events that raise millions of dollars each year for South Florida charities; Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival (May/June) where Goombay transforms Coconut Grove into Nassau�s Bay Street; 11th Annual International Mango Festival (July) featuring a series of delightful mango events at Fairchild Tropical Garden; Discovery of America Day (October) at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami; Festival of the Americas (October) featuring a giant street party and food from every corner of Latin America; and Downtown�s Holiday Village (December) theme park featuring a full-size village and more. Every August and September the city's top restaurants take part in Miami Spice Restaurant Month. More than 60 of the city's finest dining destinations entice culinary visitors and residents with incredible savings on three-course meals ($29.99 for dinner and $19.99 for lunch). For more information visit www.MiamiRestaurantMonth.com.

New World Cuisine: The Birth of a Culinary Philosophy The idea of Miami as a culinary destination was born more than fifteen years ago, along with a new style of cooking -- "New World" cuisine (also known as Floribean, Tropical Fusion and Nuevo Latino). A quartet of star chefs dubbed the "Mango Gang," a.k.a. Mark Militello (Mark's South Beach), Allen Susser (Chef Allen's), Doug Rodriguez (recently returned to his hometown to open OLA Miami) and Norman Van Aken, (Norman's in Coral Gables and Mundo at Merrick Park) pioneered this contemporary cuisine, which combines the freshest local ingredients and influences from the Caribbean and Latin America with time-honored European cooking techniques. High in flavor and low in fat, Florribean cuisine showcases clean flavors derived from ingenious combinations of fresh seafood and tropical fruits and vegetables. Local waters offer a bounty of fresh seafood including snapper, grouper, lobster, stone crabs, shrimp and conch. Exotic fruits and spices grown in Miami's backyard in the agricultural breadbasket of South Dade include citrus, yuca, mango, chermoya, hearts of palm, avocado, guava, papaya, coconut, banana, cilantro, ginger, garlic, coriander, carambola, lychi and scotch bonnet peppers. Intriguing entrees are simply prepared: marinated, grilled and steamed with tropical sauces and accents to create dishes that delight the palate. "Mango Gang" members have received their industry's highest honors and distinctions, authored cookbooks, created empires and product lines. They continue to hold diners in thrall, constantly refining and re-inventing this seminal cuisine, all the while inspiring a new generation of talented young chefs.

The Next Generation Universally lauded as a rising culinary star, Miami-born Michelle Bernstein takes center stage at Azul, dazzling diners with her signature style that blends Latin, Asian and Caribbean flavors with classic French influences at the Mandarin Oriental, Miami. Azul, the hotel's signature restaurant, was recently awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award. Another chef to not to be missed, Tim Andriola, trained with both Chef Allen and Mark Militello. Drawing raves while serving as executive chef at Militello's Miami restaurant, Mark's South Beach, Andriola helped the restaurant garner a best new restaurant nod from Bon Appetit. He opened his highly successful Sunny Isles solo venture, Timo last year.

Visitors and residents alike are abuzz about Willis Loughhead's cuisine at the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove's Biscaya Grill, while The Blue Door at the Delano is a regular haunt for visiting celebrities including Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lopez. Nobu at the ultra chic Shore Club is one of Miami's most exemplary dining experiences. Pao, a project of cb5, known for opening successful restaurants in top hotels across America, offers updated Cantonese classics indoors and at poolside cabanas at the elegant Clinton Hotel in South Beach.

Important Imports Miami's rising star has attracted restaurateurs from around the world, drawn to the city's hip and diverse dining scene. The perfect market for outposts of restaurants that have enjoyed success in other cities, Miami has its fair share of thriving imports. The strip along Collins Avenue between 16th and 18th streets boasts Emeril Lagasse�s new restaurant at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin fame at the Raleigh and David Bouley of Bouley & Danube in New York will open his first outpost outside of Manhattan at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach in September 2004. Miami�s import mix also includes New York sensations such as Japanese/Peruvian/Brazilian hybrid SUSHISamba Dromo, locals' favorite Joe Allen, the groovy Bond St. Lounge and the ever-popular China Grill. New York's premiere glatt kosher steak house, Prime Grill identified Aventura for its only offshoot, while a Los Angeles import, the cheerfully hip 24-hour mega eatery, Jerry's Famous Deli serves up massive bowls of matzo ball soup to hungry South Beach patrons at 2 a.m. Cafeteria, which redefined modern comfort cuisine in New York, now occupies 8,000 square feet on Lincoln Road, featuring sprawling indoor/outdoor seating and a relaxing rooftop lounge. Equal parts upscale diner and scenester nightspot, Cafeteria exudes its unique brand of casual chic 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Eat Drink and Be Merry With its legendary nightlife driven by the fashion and entertainment industries, Miami is at the forefront of the culinary trend towards blending dining and entertainment experiences. As music pulses and celebrities flit from banquette to banquette, it is extraordinary cuisine that takes center stage at four star spots like Tantra and Touch, and more recent entrees to the fray, including 60s retro-hip Pearl and Rumi. By the time diners are enjoying coconut cr�me brulee or guava cheesecake, the music begins to pick up and the cocktails flow with more regularity. Meanwhile, at B.E.D. diners recline on, what else? Beds, while supping on gourmet cuisine. Miami's party planner extraordinaire, Barton G. has opened his own eponymous restaurant, employing the same extreme attention to detail that has powered his successful special event business.

Almost every cuisine under the sun can be found in Miami -- Cuban, Haitian, Vietnamese, Colombian, Peruvian, Thai, Japanese, Italian, German, Greek, Irish, Argentine, Russian, Indian, Honduran, Brazilian, Jamaican, the list goes on. In the mood for meat? Top-rated steakhouses like Christy's, Smith and Wollensky's, Mortons, the Palm and Capital Grille dot the dining landscape. Feel like enjoying a cappuccino and watching rollerbladers whiz by -- alfresco cafes are a quintessential part of any Miami dining experience --from Ocean Drive's famed News Caf� to Coconut Grove's legendary Green Street Caf�. Meanwhile, Joe's Stone Crabs, a Miami institution, opened for its 91st season this past October -- and there's still a two- hour wait for a table most nights. From New World specialties like Norman Van Akens's popcorn crusted crispy shrimp with warm citrus mojo to Jonathan Eismann's lobster pancake at Pacific Time; from guava pastels in Little Havana to pastrami on rye at Rascal House, Miami's culinary scene presents an ever-expanding cornucopia of delectable choices.

Throughout the year Miami hosts a multitude of outdoor culinary events that speak your cultural language. Any time you choose there�s always an event to get a delicious taste of Miami. For information on these and other hip happenings, visit www.MiamiAndBeaches.com. The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is a non-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website or call toll-free at 888-76-MIAMI (US/Canada only) or call 305-447-7777. To contact the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau offices call 305-539-3000.

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Media Contact: Michelle Revuelta +1 305 539 3111 michelle@gmcvb.com