We’ve been waiting for it all year long. Time to loosen up the belts, or if you’re really serious, pull out the elastic waistband pants. Today marks the start of the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Not only have we been waiting for it in eager anticipation, but here at Haute Living, we’ve been writing about it for weeks. In case you missed it, here is some of the coverage that you will certainly want to check out before diving head first into barbecue and Champagne:

Jackie Powers breaks down some of the most popular events that will be taking place with headliner chefs throughout the weekend in “Miami’s Flair for Food & Wine,” in the latest edition of Haute Living Miami.

We’ve collected “Inisders’ Guides to the City” from some of our favorite local chefs, including:

• Jeff Mcinnis from The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach
• Jonathan Eismann of Pacific Time
• Shareef Malnik, owner of The Forge
• Michelle Bernstein of Michy’s and Sra. Martinez
• Lee Brian Schrager, founder of the festival

The power players who are helping to define Miami’s culinary scene such as Michael Chow of MrChow at the W South Beach, Michael Schwartz of Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, more from Michelle and Malnik, and Celeste Fierro & Chef Todd Mark Miller from STK at the Gansevroot.

We’ve also brought you news about some of our local chefs to make it through the first round of the James Beard Award 2010 selection process, what The Setai has planned for the weekend, and a plethora of other updates from sell-out events to gift ideas.

Cheers to all. Here’s toasting to a weekend of tastiness.

Check the Haute Living events page next week for photos from some of the most exclusive events of the festival.