Intercontinental Miami host Vibrant Rioja Wine Festival
I was invited for a sneak preview of the Vibrant Rioja Wine Festival hosted by Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Miami. I’m not a wine connoisseur, but I have good taste buds and know a nice wine when I come across one.
Of course, my focus was on the delicious Spanish Tapas buffet galore!!! My favorites were the seafood and calamari salads, tender and tasty, yum. After sampling the hot dishes, I went back and had a second round! I think this Spanish Tapas buffet is only around during the Rioja Wine Festival, so head on over before it goes!
There’s still time to catch this Wine Festival tonight and tomorrow. Details of all the different wine tastings and wine dinners are here. Enjoy. I’ll be posting up a photo gallery and blog soon. I was thrilled to see they have their own herb garden and private Chef’s table, more about that
EXCLUSIVE BLOCK PARTY AT MIAMI IRON SIDE
Next one Nov. 16, save the date!
I absolutely LOVE this unique 3 block community of artists, creatives, designers, showrooms and interesting businesses. Coverings, etc. hosted the main event with Itsabundt and Cioccolada giving demos and tastings as well as Wok Star Eleanor Hoh.
Here are photos and media mentions from that last Open Day, enjoy! I’ll be posting mine soon.
Thanks to:
New Times Short Order for all the food mentions here!
Soul Of Miami for amazing photos, here , here and here!
Miami Art Zine for promoting the event here!
Bee’s New Cookbook and Wok Star website ReLaunch!
Bee Yinn Low’s new cookbook, Easy Chinese Recipes launches in conjunction with Wok Star Eleanor Hoh’s new website launch! Double happiness and whammy!!! Hop over here for more about Bee’s book. It’s all the Chinese dishes you enjoy in restaurants which she’s made easy to make at home! Wok Stars: you can apply my NO-recipe technique to any of her recipes, bingo.
New Websites Launch!
I am so thrilled to announce our joint website launch. Thanks to Sze, the brains behind 852cmd I couldn’t have done this without her. Her guidance with everything from concept and design to execution and most importantly, marketing and targeting my audience! It was hard work but she’s so much fun to work with. Honestly, if you need to improve your web presence, she’s your gal.
I’ll be doing a HUGE Giveaway with goodies from many of my sponsors to celebrate sooooon, so keep checking back. Click contact and let me know what you think of my new website?
Yardbird: Top Chef Jeff McInnis new restaurant
I think Yardbird is going to be a huge success. The whole cozy feel of Southern cooking and atmosphere is just what’s needed in the heart of South Beach! There’s even a wood deck with outdoor seating for people watching.
Chef Jeff McInnis looking very calm on his first night’s opening at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. I so enjoyed hanging with my foodie friends and thanks to Gretchen for inviting me. We sat at the high table with comfy bar stools so you can watch the chefs cook! Best seats in the house. Even though it was ridiculously busy, the wait staff were all very well trained and friendly. I can’t wait to try Cast Iron Chicken because as you know, I’m a HUGE cast iron wok advocate. Produce and meat are all sourced locally here and proudly stated on their website here.
I remember watching Jeff as a contestant on Top Chef. Soon after, I went to see him “grill” Chef Tom Colicchio in an amusing interview session at Arsht Center in Miami. Next, Jeff was the chef who helped open up popular Gigi’s and asked if I wanted to ‘work’ one of the wok stations there when he found out I teach wok cooking! He actually remembered our conversation last night.
Left: Meatloaf Slow Braised Short Ribs, melt-in-your-mouth tender & tasty bite!
Right: Ham wrapped peach, didn’t get to try this.
Very fresh & perfectly fried Catfish. Deviled Eggs
Left: Smores, cupcakes, cookies. Right: Smoked Drumsticks were juicy, yummy!
Left: the crowd didn’t slow down at the bar!
Right: Paul Newman, Cool Hand Luke photo slides to go with theme of Southern cooking!
Left: Chef plating my fav: Meatloaf made of Slow Braised Short Ribs!
Right: Mama’s Fried Chicken Biscuit (ID by Yardbird, thx!) with pepper jelly.
Didn’t get to try this.
All the details at the bar with the fixings were beautiful. Showing all the wonderful food canning along the wall.
Goodie bag of Moon pie, pickled onions, bourbon and a calculator?
I love Jeff’s mission and what he’s trying to do with his restaurant! You can read more about Yardbird here, here and here. And here’s Gretchen’s writeup. Last but not least from one of my fav writers.
Well, good luck to Jeff’s first night (yeah, I got this up before he opens to the public tonight.) I’m all about supporting chefs who have the guts to open their own restaurant, it’s a tough business.
I was very honored Jeff’s mom emailed to say, “It was great to live it through your eyes!”
Like to hear what you ate?
Miami Iron Side Open Day
Miami Iron Side hosts EXCLUSIVE EVENING, Wednesday September 21: 7-10pm
Miami Iron Side is a 3 block community of artist galleries, design showrooms and creative businesses located in the MiMo Historic District. For one evening only, Wednesday, September 21 from 7-11pm, the whole Campus will be filled with unique happenings in each block. Come and join in the conversation, collaborations, viewings and tastings. It’s FUN and it’s by invitation to info@miamiironside.com
See amazing photos and find out about all the creatives on Iron Side’s Facebook page as well as on Miami Iron Side.
• an art installation and doll house by Rita Motta, an industrial and furniture designer at Mr. O Inc. Design in collaboration with Real Sorbet.
• Happy Village with Fat Boy and Micoco Coconut Water
• Kids will get treats from a churros truck.
Piazza Art Studio:
Treats by Johnson & Wales Culinary College
Seriously Organic featuring organic produce.
Coverings, etc. will be hosting the main event in their amazing loft-like showroom, rsvp@coveringsetc.com
Dewar rum cocktails will be flowing together with Damir Sinovcic’s 100 Florida Architecs and Interior Designers Book Signing *Books & Books
7-8pm Wok Star Eleanor Hoh demonstrates Pineapple Fried Rice and you’ll get to taste it and enjoy with some Fiji Water.
8-9pm Cioccolada presentation and demonstration. Raw organic non-dairy chocolate will be available for purchase.
9-10pm Itsabundt treats of red velvet velour, Luscious Chocolate and Caribbean Sunrise, a guava orange and rum flavor. Available for purchase.
DOXA Hospitality will be launching their new showroom that evening serving finger foods and DJ music.
Miami Iron Side was masterminded by founder, Ofer Mizrahi who had a vision of a sustainable village concept. It’s been a seven year project that’s grown to 60 tenants and continues to expand daily. I’m thrilled Ofer is hosting my Wok Star cooking class at Coverings, etc.
Hope to see you there!