Taste America Miami 2026: Inside the James Beard Foundation’s One-Night-Only Dinner in Wynwood
Miami · Food & Wine
Taste America Miami 2026: Inside the James Beard Foundation’s One-Night-Only Dinner in Wynwood
Three of Miami’s most exciting chefs, four courses, one night only. On October 28, the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America sets a single table in Wynwood where Japanese wood-fire, Caribbean smoke and Latin flavor meet.
Some of the best meals in any city happen exactly once. On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America, presented by American Express and Resy, lands in Miami for one of them: a one-night-only, four-course dinner at Wynwood Event Center, cooked by three chefs who rarely share a kitchen. The menu will not be served again, which is precisely the appeal. For a city that has become one of the country’s great places to eat, it is a chance to see where Miami cooking is heading next, one course at a time.
The series comes from the James Beard Foundation, the organization behind the James Beard Awards, and is presented by American Express and Resy, the Foundation’s official credit card and reservations platform. Now in its 14th year, Taste America travels to 20 cities, pairing celebrated local chefs for evenings built around the flavors and ideas shaping American dining. In Miami, the lineup is built on collaboration rather than celebrity, and that is what makes it worth booking.
One night, four courses, and a menu that will never be served again.
The hosts: Shiso Miami’s TasteTwenty chefs
The evening is hosted by Raheem Sealy and Monika Dominguez of Shiso Miami, who were named to the James Beard Foundation’s 2026–2027 TasteTwenty class, the Foundation’s annual “ones to watch” list of chefs whose talent and vision are shaping the future of American food. Their cooking is a conversation between two traditions: Japanese-inspired, wood-fired barbecue and the bright, layered flavors of the Caribbean.
“Collaborating with chef Sebastian gives us the opportunity to tell a story through food that reflects our shared respect for craftsmanship, culture, and hospitality,” the pair say. “We can’t wait to create a menu that celebrates Miami’s culinary community.”
The guest chef: Sebastian Vargas
Joining them is Sebastian Vargas, the chef behind Los Félix, Krüs Kitchen and Füm, known for dishes that fuse bold flavor, sustainability and tradition. His cooking leans Latin and modern, which gives the night its third voice.
“Miami’s food scene is fueled by collaboration, creativity, and the exchange of ideas, which makes this dinner especially meaningful,” Vargas says. “Cooking alongside Raheem and Monika is a chance to explore how our different culinary perspectives can come together in one experience.”
What’s on the table
The three chefs are building a single four-course menu together, each course paired with a selected beverage. Expect Japanese and Caribbean smokehouse influences woven through vibrant Latin flavors and modern technique, the kind of combination that only happens when three distinct kitchens decide to cook as one. The full menu is posted on the Taste America page ahead of the dinner.
Part of the pleasure of a night like this is proximity. Taste America dinners are built for meeting the people behind the plate, with the chefs telling the story of each course as it lands.
Why it is worth a ticket
Beyond the food, the dinner does some good. Proceeds go directly to the James Beard Foundation’s national programs supporting independent restaurants, the neighborhood places that give a city its culinary identity. In a year when many of them are under pressure, buying a ticket is one of the more delicious ways to back them.
Practically speaking, this is a single seated dinner, not a festival, so seats are limited and it is worth booking early. Wynwood is easy to make an evening of: arrive early for a walk past the neighborhood’s murals and galleries, then settle in for dinner.
Taste America Miami — At a Glance
- When
- Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 7 p.m.
- Where
- Wynwood Event Center, Miami
- Hosts
- Raheem Sealy & Monika Dominguez, Shiso Miami (TasteTwenty 2026–2027)
- Guest chef
- Sebastian Vargas, Los Félix, Krüs Kitchen & Füm
- Presented by
- James Beard Foundation, with American Express and Resy
- Format
- Four-course collaborative dinner with beverage pairings
- Benefits
- James Beard Foundation programs for independent restaurants
Get Your Seat
Tickets and the full menu are available through the James Beard Foundation. Coming from out of town? Make a Miami weekend of it.
Get TicketsFrequently Asked Questions
When and where is Taste America Miami 2026?
The James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Miami dinner takes place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Wynwood Event Center in Miami.
What is Taste America?
Taste America is the James Beard Foundation’s national dinner series, presented by American Express and Resy. Now in its 14th year, it brings one-of-a-kind dinners by celebrated local chefs to 20 U.S. cities to celebrate independent restaurants and the chefs behind them.
Which chefs are cooking at Taste America Miami?
The dinner is hosted by chefs Raheem Sealy and Monika Dominguez of Shiso Miami, members of the James Beard Foundation’s 2026–2027 TasteTwenty class, cooking alongside chef Sebastian Vargas of Los Félix, Krüs Kitchen and Füm.
What is on the menu?
Guests are served a four-course menu created jointly by the three chefs, with beverage pairings. It blends Japanese and Caribbean smokehouse influences with Latin flavors and modern technique. The full menu is posted on the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America page.
What is the TasteTwenty?
TasteTwenty is the James Beard Foundation’s annual “ones to watch” list, recognizing chefs across the country whose talent, creative vision and leadership are helping shape the future of American dining. Raheem Sealy and Monika Dominguez of Shiso Miami are part of the 2026–2027 class.
How do I buy tickets to Taste America Miami?
Tickets are sold through the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Miami event page at jamesbeard.org/events/taste-america-miami, where you can also view the menu. It is a single seated dinner, so seating is limited.
Where do the proceeds go?
Proceeds benefit the James Beard Foundation’s national programs supporting independent restaurants and a more sustainable, equitable food system.
This article may contain sponsored or partner content and affiliate links; see our Editorial Policy & Advertiser Disclosure. Event details are subject to change; confirm with the James Beard Foundation before attending.
