The 5th Annual South Beach Food & Wine Festival is slated to kick off February 24, 2006. Visiting chefs include Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and Al Roker (...Al Roker?) This wildly popular three-day event attracts the best vintners, chefs, and food experts from all over the world. The list of chefs and wine personalities expected to attend is enough to make a person swoon.

Though cost prohibitive for many people (tickets to some events go for as much as $900), the Festival receives extensive coverage in many media outlets including its sponsor, Food & Wine Magazine. If you do happen to make it, however, bring the family because the thoughtful organizers have even arranged a "Kids In The Kitchen" program.

Have any Like To Cook readers ever attended a full-scale food event like this one? I'd love to hear about your experience.