Nadia Caterina Munno Hosts Pasta Rummo's Taste of Italy at SOBEWFF's 25th

Nadia Caterina Munno, known as "The Pasta Queen," anchored A Taste of Italy presented by Pasta Rummo during the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s 25th-anniversary run, hosting the walk-around tasting alongside Chef Scott Conant on Feb. 19. Miami Design District and Sobewff promotional copy placed the event at Jungle Plaza in the Miami Design District and framed the evening as an open-air, under-the-stars gathering of pasta, wine and Italian flavors.

Festival materials described the format as a walk-around tasting that brought together about a dozen, or in some promotions more than a dozen, standout chefs serving bite-sized Italian creations. Miami Design District copy said, "Renowned for her infectious energy, authentic recipes, and passion for la dolce vita, Nadia, a two-time New York Times and international best-selling author, will set the stage for a walk-around tasting featuring a dozen all-star chefs serving their favorite Italian creations." Sobewff’s messaging leaned into the atmosphere with the line "Pasta. Wine. Perfetto." and noted that "Handmade pastas, exceptional wines, and an open-air setting come together to bring la dolce vita to the heart of Miami."

Biscaynetimes singled out participating chefs and dishes, naming Luigi Iannuario, executive chef of Donna Mare Italian Chophouse at Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, and Alex Martinez, research and development corporate chef for V&E Hospitality Group and Donatella Restaurant. Biscaynetimes highlighted Iannuario’s Cavatelli alla Norma as "Cavatelli alla Norma tossed in a slow-simmered pomodoro sauce, bright basil, and shaved ricotta salata," and described Martinez’s offerings as "Nduja Arancini, crispy risotto balls filled with nduja and mozzarella cheese, and Amalfi Limone Pasta, made with reserved Meyer lemons, crème fraîche and Sicilian lemon oil, handmade dishes that marry Italian authenticity with coastal sophistication." That report also listed Bistro at Sarasota Art Museum among notable participants, though it separately tied Peyton Leffingwell to a different SOBEWFF event.

Ticketing information in coverage varied. Biscaynetimes listed Taste of Italy tickets at $225 and referenced sobewff.org/italy as the event page, while the Sobewff site and newsletter provided "Reserve Your Spot" calls to action without publishing a price in the excerpts provided. Biscaynetimes also referenced a distinct Voltaggio event at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science with tickets listed at $399 on sobewff.org/voltaggio, underscoring festival pricing differences across marquee dinners.

One notable discrepancy in pre-event listings involved venue naming: Miami Design District and Sobewff placed the tasting at Jungle Plaza in the Miami Design District, with Miami Design District marketing stating, "Set under the stars at Jungle Plaza in the Miami Design District," while Biscaynetimes reported a Jungle Island location. SOBEWFF’s 25th-anniversary programming included A Taste of Italy among other headliner events across Feb. 19–22, such as The New York Times Dinner Series on Feb. 20 and specialty dinners at museum venues, and the Pasta Rummo presentation aimed to foreground handmade pasta and wine as central to the festival’s milestone celebration.