Mark your calendars for one of Northeast Florida's most anticipated food events: the 4th Annual Amelia Island Cookout runs October 15–18 at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Spanning four days and 19 distinct experiences, the festival brings together nationally recognized chefs, pitmasters, mixologists, sommeliers, and culinary enthusiasts for a celebration that spreads well beyond the resort's walls and into the island itself.
The festivities kick off Thursday evening with a chefs' meet-and-greet in historic downtown Fernandina Beach at Marché Cotier, featuring charcuterie, fine wines, and champagne, followed by kickoff dinners at David's Restaurant and Lagniappe Restaurant and a Cigars & Port gathering. The event is led by Chef de Cuisine Okan Kizibayir of the resort's Michelin-recommended Salt Restaurant.
Friday's highlight is Cast to Table, a chef-led angling experience from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in which guests join chefs aboard private fishing boats, with a coastal-inspired lunch back at the resort to follow. The evening winds down with a craft cocktail bar takeover by a legendary bartender at Tidewater Grill. Saturday afternoon and evening build toward the signature Amelia Island Oceanfront Cookout — a beachside gathering from 5 to 9 p.m. where chefs prepare seafood, grilled meats, and slow-roasted dishes alongside a curated selection of wines, cocktails, and desserts.
Sunday closes the weekend with a Chef's Demonstration & Breakfast at Salt Restaurant centered on an eggs-and-truffles showcase, followed by a Mystery Destination Lunch, a Backyard BBQ & Oyster Roast, and a Master Chef's Gala Dinner. The grand finale is an intimate, multi-course courtyard dinner prepared for just 12 guests — a truly exclusive send-off to the weekend. Other Saturday events include a Bourbon & Chocolate Seminar and a Cookbook & Chef Conversation at Story & Song.
Tickets and the full event schedule are available at ameliaislandcookout.com. This story was first reported by the Ponte Vedra Recorder.
