Greater 'Fork' Lauderdale Dishes Up Dining Festival

Dine Out Lauderdale, a six-week culinary festival in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., returns Oct. 1. The popular program features $35 three-course prix fixe meals at 36 restaurants from the sawgrass to the seagrass of South Florida Oct. 1 to Nov. 8.

From dock dining and farm-to-table to global cuisine and award-winning concept restaurants, Dine Out Lauderdale has dinner options for all palates. This year's festival continues with the new Flavors of Fort Lauderdale, Nov. 8 to 11, with chef Allen Susser, the event's "Ambassador of Flavor," who will showcase South Florida's rich culinary offerings and sustainable seafood.

Many of the area's hotels are participating, including China Grill at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Dos Caminos at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel, East End Brasserie at The Atlantic Resort & Spa, 3030 Ocean at the Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, and Via Luna at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale.

Restaurants like SoLitas Las Olas are located along the alfresco shopping arcade, Las Olas, which is located steps from the beach, and others are directly on the water, like Grille 66 & Bar Restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six, 15th Street Fisheries, and SAIA at B Ocean Fort Lauderdale.

The inaugural four-day Flavors of Fort Lauderdale kicks off with Dine Around Fort Lauderdale, an evening of prix fixe specialty dinners paired with wine and spirits, hosted by the area's top executive chefs and sommeliers, and culminating with Late-Night Flavors, an after-hours celebration on Nov. 8.

Chef David Hackett prepares a gourmet tasting with wine at the Flavors Kick-Off Party, a VIP poolside gathering at The Westin Beach Resort & Spa on Nov. 9 followed by Flavors After Dark, an evening of entertainment, themed beverages, action stations, and food trucks on Nov. 10.

The four-day fete culminates with the Flavors Grand Tasting on Nov. 11, which features food and beverage purveyors and local restaurants who provide sampling at themed pavilions. Tickets are $79.

Lauren Mack is the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.