Here’s a perk we’d all welcome

October 17, 2022 Andy Furman

Jay Rokeach. Photo courtesy of Andy Furman

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Some jobs have perks.

But let’s face it, some perks are better than others.

Just ask Jay Rokeach.

The 10th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival gets underway this week – and is back for the 10th season ready to take over Miami on the sands of South Beach.

And Jay Rokeach – the same Jay Rokeach who was a member of the first graduating class at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School (1968), will be the emcee for the event.

“This has always been quite the transition for me,” Rokeach told the Eagle. “Being a sports guy, I’m used to introducing players and coaches.”

Now Rokeach will be introducing restauranteurs and chefs.

This Florida seafood festival is not your typical East Coast seafood festival, but a curated showcase of the best talents of South Florida’s leading chefs and culinary masterminds via a diverse group of events, where guests experience the best seafood in Miami and kick-off world renowned stone crab season.

And Jay Rokeach is right in the middle.

“I’m so very fortunate to be involved,” he said. “And I get to stay in South Beach three nights. That in itself is a unique experience.”

He was quick to praise Todd and Valerie Roy and their Celebrity International Group.

“Todd and Valerie,” he said, “are the driving force behind this event. And they spare no expense in making it first class all the way.”

In fact, this event is touted by USA Today as one of its Top 5 Specialty Festivals in the country, listed by Forbes in 2019 as Top 5 things to do this Fall, and by the Travel Channel as the best seafood festival in the United States.

“The event is all about mouthwatering seafood from local restaurants and participants,” Rokeach said. “In fact, we bring together the top South Florida seafood chefs to create handcrafted gourmet seafood dishes that you won’t find anywhere else.”

And the event also brings the Voice of South Florida in Jay Rokeach.

The University of Miami graduate will enter his 55th consecutive year behind the microphone at Miami’s Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.

He handles the PA chores.

But there’s more to the voice that roars throughout the south.

He serves as press box announcer for the Miami Dolphins, does PA for local high school volleyball and baseball and has handled such major events as The Ray Lewis Golf Classic and Alonzo Mourning’s Golf Tournament.

High-end events seem to find Jay Rokeach – and they roll off his tongue.

And instead of introducing a player, his position and spot in the batting order, he’ll be talking about such seafood specialties as: Seasonal stone crabs, shrimp cocktail, fish tacos, fresh oysters, lobster waffle cones, seafood ceviche and much more.

The City of Miami hosts the event which spans four blocks and welcomes over 15,000 sea foodies to enjoy a day of fun in the sun.

The Chefs Challenge – open to the public – Saturday (Oct. 22nd) is set for South Beach and open to the public.

“I’ll be introducing the chefs,” Rokeach said, “Some of them have a cult following like wrestlers. The public actually adores what they do.”

They also adore the Voice of South Florida.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected] Twitter: @AndyFurmanFSR.