When cultures collide in Miami Beach, it’s just another multilingual day in the sun.

But when the cultures of food celebrity, reality TV and velvet rope code converge on the sand there it can mean only one thing: it’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival weekend again.

South Beach and its shimmering mainland reflections are just now shaking off the hangover of America’s glitziest, sexiest food and drink party, which stormed the area from Thursday through Sunday night.

Wafts of smoky barbecue signaled the festival’s launch at The Q, a Moet Hennessy-sponsored shindig hosted by Paula Deen and sons beneath grand tents on the sand.

The festival closed Sunday, on those same sun-warmed sands, with a Ziggy Marley reggae jam and island feast hosted by Food Network host Guy Fieri.

In the hours between those events, the Greater Miami area saw some of the world’s top culinary talent (like Japanese super chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Peruvian chef icon Gaston Acurio), as well as food TV personalities (Martha, Rachael, Giada and such), pop gods (Pitbull) and just-because celebs (New Jersey “Housewife” Caroline Manzo).

Somehow, it all came together in a big, breathless buffet of more than 50 events. Here are a few glimpses of the festival, which to date has raised more than $17 million for the students of Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.