Chef Chris Valdes Puts His Signature Spin On A Martini & Fries Pairing At South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Chef Chris Valdes partnered with Tanqueray to bring a bold Miami-inspired twist to one of the most iconic pairings - martinis and fries - at this weekend’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival. 

The Tanqueray Diner pop-up will be serving Valdes’ Loaded Salchipapas con Salsa Rosada alongside a classic Tanqueray martini, blending vibrant Miami flavors with timeless cocktail culture. The exclusive experience celebrates indulgent comfort food, elevated mixology, and the playful spirit of South Beach’s dynamic culinary scene. 

Chris Valdes had some time before the festival began to sit down with The Blast to share some of the inspiration behind the iconic pairing, why this partnership was special to him, and give some insight into his early days of cooking. 

Miami-born and raised Valdes has built a dynamic career as a chef, actor, philanthropist, celebrity caterer, and cookbook author. He’s known for bringing bold flavors and vibrant energy to everything he creates. 

His cookbook, “One With The Kitchen,” has gained national recognition through appearances on many show including “Good Morning America” and “LIVE with Kelly and Ryan." You may also recognize him from the Food Network and as cohost of Roku’s “Que Delicioso!”

Since a young age, Valdes was intrigued by what his mom was creating in the kitchen.

"I was born into a family restaurant here in Miami, Florida and growing up, I was always curious in the kitchen. I would always ask my mom, 'What are you cooking? Why are you cooking it? Why does it smell like that? What are you adding in there?' And my mom always took the time to answer each and every question," Valdes told The Blast exclusively. "She would let me taste and would let me help her and I think that curiosity, along with watching TV when I was home around 10 years old and I see this man and he goes 'BAM,' I instantly saw myself with a chef jacket and I saw myself cooking for others."

He carried that vision with him throughout junior high and high school and would tell everyone his plan to be a chef when he grew up. He won a $10,000 scholarship and then at the age of 19, opened his own catering company.

When asked about his defining moments on his journey to becoming a chef, he said it all started at the family restaurant and seeing the group effort it took to keep it going.

"Having an interest in something which was food. It was my outlet, it was my therapy. It was the joy I was looking for, so it gave me something that I could hold onto in my teenage years and work towards just creating dishes and happiness through pairings, which is why I am so excited about this partnership," he said, referring to his partnership with Tanqueray for the food and wine fest.

"I think that vision I had when I was 10 years old, it took me to, I think I was 26 when I decided I am going to start working on my TV career and within a year, I was cast on 'Food Network Star."

He also credits not letting obstacles get in his way, saying, "You just have to ride them out and learn what you need to learn."

Valdes is excited for the partnership and the wine and food festival this weekend. He created a pairing like no other for the occasion.

"Tanqueray is spotlighting this iconic martini and fry pairing with a little Miami spin, and that's where I come in," he told The Blast. "I am the Miami Spin. I am very proud of my city. I have a key to the city of Miami for my contributions, so I think the Loaded Salchipapas con Salsa Rosada is paired with that classic Tanqueray martini is just a combination that you could only experience at the Tanqueray Diner. It's an elevated classic duo that you just can't go wrong with." 

While Valdes is excited for the pairing itself, he's just as excited about seeing people's happiness and reactions live in person.

"I just love things that bring people together and I think this is one of those moments," he said. "So what's what I am looking forward to this Saturday and Sunday at South Beach Wine & Food Festival."

For festivalgoers this weekend, the Tanqueray Diner experience is one you won't want to miss!

"Just because we're in Miami, you know we do things a little different," he said, adding that he might see people visiting multiple times throughout the weekend. "I think what makes it special, obviously aside from having Salchipapas, which is something that's so traditional and loved in Hispanic culture, is that you just can't go wrong with the perfect martini and the perfect fry duo. We're gonna celebrate. It's a party." 

When asked what his favorite Tanqueray drink is, he said a "classic one."

"I like a little classic with the olives, freshly squeezed lemon, and just making sure that you chill that Tanqueray just the right perfect amount," he said. "It's just like the perfect product. No need to mess with it."

Valdes said that perhaps Ina Garten gave cilantro a "little bad rep," but he feels everyone should give it a chance.

"I've worked a little overtime throughout the years telling people, no, it does not taste like grass or whatever she said," he said with a laugh. "Maybe she just hasn't had a nice visit to Miami in a while, and we need to invite her again. But I promise cilantro adds such a breath of freshness and crisp flavor to ingredients that just binds things together."

Another staple in his kitchen is garlic because "it makes everything better." He also said citrus - lime, lemon, and orange - as they can be used for a tasty marinade, but it has to be fresh squeezed.

After this weekend's festival, Valdes will be doing more TV. He's also excited that he will be celebrating five years of his cookbook, "One With The Kitchen."

"That was my COVID project, while people were stuck home playing games and eating their lives away, I was doing two things - working on my cookbook and feeding 50,000 hot meals to people in need here in South Florida," he said. "So I'm super excited to celebrate that. And I am also celebrating 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, which means a lot to me because that was the first platform that I decided to use when I launched my TV career 9 years ago."

For more information about the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, visit the website. And to keep up with Chris Valdes, visit his website, YouTube, and Instagram pages.