Article
Rocker-turned-Restaurateur Rino Cerbone’s Culinary Journey
Of the presumed soupçon of chefs who are also rock musicians — Heritage’s Rino Cerbone says he doesn’t know of any others — he might be the only one who’s opened for Bon Jovi.
From Rockstar to Restaurateur
It was in 2017, when Cerbone was singing lead for Stellar Revival, the rock band he’d started with a few friends from Coral Springs. Signed by Capitol Records and touring internationally, the band got its one-night-only shot to open for the New Jersey rock gods at the LA Forum.
Opening for Bon Jovi
"It was one of those very surreal moments, to play with one of your childhood idols," says Cerbone, 39. "Besides the show being amazing and a great time, Jon himself and his team were just so awesome and accommodating."
Pandemic Survival Story
Three years later, Cerbone took a different kind of shot when he delivered on his lifelong chef aspirations and opened his upscale Italian eatery in a burgeoning Fort Lauderdale warehouse district. It would become yet another pandemic survival story.
"We are going into our fifth year, which is pretty magical, especially since the pandemic was a month into our opening," he says of the restaurant, which has fewer tables (13) than varieties of pizza (14). "We’re still killing it. We’re still booked almost every single night."
Heritage’s #VLFWF Dining Series
Come Jan. 13, the restaurant will be booked when Cerbone pops the cork on the sixth annual Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival. As it has each of its five years, Heritage will host the opening night of the #VLFWF Dining Series, which dishes up exclusive, one-night-only menus curated by chefs from Greater Fort Lauderdale’s top dining destinations — such as Timon Balloo, who will host guest chefs at his restaurant, The Katherine, for the following night’s event.
Festival Highlights
The 10 intimate dining experiences, which range from $99-$340 per person, are just the icing on the cake of Broward County’s premier food and wine event. Through Jan. 19, the week-long festival features 35 immersive epicurean experiences at a range of venues that invite food and drink lovers to learn from renowned chefs and savor the flavors that make the region unique through classes, seminars, signature events, and intimate dinners.
Celebrity Chefs
While those dinners generally feature local culinary luminaries, the festival’s other events showcase visiting celebrity chefs and personalities. Chef Nancy Fuller is back with her Farmhouse Rules culinary class on creating heartwarming meals, and she additionally hosts the Beachside Brunch. Chef Jason Smith puts a contemporary twist on Southern style with his Country Bling Cooking class. Smith also holds court at one of the festival’s Signature Events, BBQ at the Beach, which dishes up Southern-style barbecue and a pit-master competition.
Local Favorites
Local favorite Chef Jorge Montes tours a couple of the world’s most celebrated cuisines with his Flavors of Spain and French Cookery classes. Temple Street Eatery chefs Alex Kuk and Diego Ng explore the rising popularity of the Japanese noodle with their The Art of Ramen classes.
Festival Events
Other Signature Events shine a spotlight on Broward’s effervescent food and drink scene: Bar Fight!, a spirited mixologist competition; Wok ‘n Roll, featuring Asian-inspired cuisine and live music; and the family-friendly Picnic in the Park. And the marquee event, The Grand Tasting, presents over 100 tastings of food, wine, and cocktails, as well as live entertainment and cooking demos by celebrity chefs Fabio Viviani and Alex Belew and social media personality Alexa Santos.
A Portion of Festival Proceeds Supports Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
For more info and tickets, please visit vlfoodwine.com.
Conclusion
Rino Cerbone’s journey from rockstar to restaurateur is a testament to his passion for food and music. With his restaurant, Heritage, and his band, Stellar Revival, he is always on stage, entertaining and sharing his creativity with others.
FAQs
Q: What is the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival?
A: The Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival is a week-long event featuring 35 immersive epicurean experiences at a range of venues, showcasing the region’s premier food and wine scene.
Q: What are some of the festival’s signature events?
A: The festival features a range of signature events, including the #VLFWF Dining Series, Bar Fight!, Wok ‘n Roll, and The Grand Tasting, among others.
Q: How can I get tickets for the festival?
A: For more info and tickets, please visit vlfoodwine.com.
Q: What are some of the festival’s menu highlights?
A: The festival features a range of menu highlights, from local culinary luminaries to visiting celebrity chefs, and events like the #VLFWF Dining Series, which offers exclusive, one-night-only menus.
