Palm Beach is perhaps best known as Florida’s luxurious beach retreat, where high-end hotels, polo matches and fantastic beaches welcome travelers. However, the area is also home to some of the best food in the country. Restaurants range from those offering gourmet, multi-course meals to more casual spots with outstanding burgers and key lime pie. An abundance of locally sourced produce and seafood guarantees excellent ingredients and the town’s top chefs promise to impress with their creative interpretations of the classics. To try as many of these hot spots as possible, consider spending a few days at the’s Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival; this year, the event takes place between December 7-10 and chefs from around the country will also be on hand.

Every year is a little bit different and this year the festival returns with several new events, expands its footprint to include Boca Raton and highlights a new charitable component. The festival has committed to donating a portion of proceeds to benefit the Els for Autism Foundation, a non-profit organization serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. This year’s events will be elevated by the festival’s enhanced lineup of fine wines and spirits, a result of its new joint venture with Wine Spectator. And at the Festival’s Grand Tasting closing event, there will be an expanded wine program of over 60 wine tables pouring only selections with a prestigious 90+ rating by Wine Spectator. In fact, all wines poured throughout the festival will also be rated 90+ by Wine Spectator.

But some things will not change. Guests can expect a star-studded lineup of renowned chefs and culinary personalities from around the globe, live cooking demonstrations and wine tastings, as well as small chef-led workshops and private dinners. Some of the highlights include:

Festival tickets are now available at PBFoodWineFest.com, Several ticket options are available for purchase. Ticket packages include the “Pick 4, Save 15%” option; and the Pick 3, where guests can save 10%. American Airlines Advantage® Mastercard® cardholders will enjoy special benefits like discounted tickets to select events and fast access entry at the Grand Tasting.