The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami hosted its annual Burger Bash, showcasing over two dozen delectable burgers. However, one creation truly stood out, not just for its taste, but for the celebrity touch behind it.
The burger in question featured a unique kick: a hot sauce crafted by 26-year-old Brooklyn Beckham, the eldest son of global icons Victoria and David Beckham. His recent public criticism of his parents has kept him firmly in the spotlight, adding an unexpected layer of intrigue to his appearance.
Beckham, a self-taught cook and burgeoning food influencer, co-hosted the event with veteran television personality Rachael Ray. He collaborated with Chef Jose Diaz of Miami’s Pastis restaurant to create a tangy burger, generously topped with a sweet jalapeño sauce from Cloud23, Beckham’s own condiment line.
At the beginning of the evening, a smiling Brooklyn Beckham was seen mingling with guests near the Pastis booth, one of many bustling stations under a large tent on the sand behind the Ritz-Carlton South Beach. He even posed for selfies, captured in a moment wearing a black baseball cap, tan cardigan, and white T-shirt. However, his presence was brief as he soon stepped away from the main tent.
A photograph from the event showed judges and attendees meticulously sampling and ranking the diverse range of burgers prepared by various chefs, highlighting the serious culinary competition. Another pair of images captured the sheer scale of the event, with thousands of enthusiastic participants feasting on burgers.
Later in the evening, Beckham reappeared alongside Rachael Ray to officially welcome the estimated 3,000 burger aficionados. Toward the event’s close, they returned to announce the coveted People’s Choice award for best burger, which was proudly claimed by La Birra Bar, an Argentine restaurant with a Miami outpost.
Lee Schrager, the festival’s founder and director, remarked that Brooklyn seemed a bit “nervous” but commended him for following through with the appearance despite the ongoing “family feud” that had recently dominated headlines. Representatives for Mr. Beckham declined interview requests that night.
Schrager had initially invited Beckham to participate in his festivals after observing his genuine interest in cooking through his social media posts over the years, a collaboration that began last October at the New York City Wine & Food Festival.
The heightened public interest surrounding Beckham due to his family matters was not lost on everyone. Rocco Carulli, chef at R House Wynwood in Miami, humorously noted that with all the recent buzz, “Brooklyn Beckham has become a celebrity chef.” A photograph showed Beckham with Rachael Ray and Lee Schrager, underscoring his role at the event. Other prominent judges at the bash included model Ashley Graham and television journalist Gayle King, adding further star power. The festive atmosphere was complemented by cocktails and musical performances.
Yet, for many attendees, the culinary delights were the main attraction. Gayle King, a judge, simply stated, “it was nice he was here, but I love burgers.” Miami teacher Katherine Nelson echoed this sentiment, admitting, “Sure, Brooklyn’s family drama is fascinating to read, but we are here to simply eat great burgers.” Perhaps most amusingly, Stephen Flores, a Miami marketing representative and festival regular, was completely unaware of Beckham’s celebrity, asking, “Who’s Brooklyn Beckham?” This highlighted that for some, the joy of a good burger surpassed any celebrity gossip.