Celebrity chefs descend on South Beach

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- While the South Beach Wine & Food Festival expects to draw more than 18,000 hungry people to its annual food-fest, tickets to some of the events are still available -- a far cry from the early sellouts of previous years.

The four-day event, which started Thursday night, showcases the talents of culinary experts and celebrity chefs such as Rachael Ray, Emeril Lagasse and Martha Stewart. It has become one of the largest festivals of its kind in the country.

But tickets to more than half of the 44 events are still available.

The festival's director said Wednesday the festival gave fewer free passes to sponsors this year and created a bigger ticket supply. Prices were hiked and receipts so far have topped $3.7 million, compared with $3.2 million in 2008.