"miami events"

South Florida’s Taste of the Nation Helps End Childhood Hunger with No Kid Hungry

June 24, 2016 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

One of the most important culinary events to raise awareness about childhood hunger is South Florida’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry. 80 top chefs, sommeliers and mixologists showcase their talents and lured over 1,100 charity minded foodies to Wynwood’s Soho Studio recently.

NKH-collage1 — clockwise top left: Chef Michael Pirolo, Macchialina’s caponata and zucchini salad and yours truly at LG lounge area; Chef Eileen Andrade, Finka Table & Tap with arroz con pollo fritter topped with aji amarilla sauce; Chef Cindy Hutson, Zest Restaurant; VOSS showcasing their new sparkling flavored artesian water.

Share Our Strength produces Taste of the Nation and has raised over $70,000 this year in Miami alone to support the No Kid Hungry’s programs to end childhood hunger and educate families about healthy cooking and eating. No Kid Hungry is especially important in the summer, funding enables programs like a school bus in North Carolina to feed the kids when schools are closed. It’s hard to believe 1 in 5 kids in America struggles with hunger from lack of access to food, so I’m thrilled to see this program so successful in Miami which raised enough funds for over 700,000 healthy meals for children.

NKH-collage2 — clockwise top left: Chef Nelson Fernandez, Byblos braised Colorado lamb shoulder; Chef Xavier Torres, Drunken Dragon’s octopus carpaccio; Chef Adrien Grenier, 3030 Ocean, Wahoo; Chef Jose Mendin, PB Station, octopus pepperoni.

LG, a home appliance partner of No Kid Hungry was just one of the numerous national corporate sponsors who are committed to helping this cause. I liked how the LG area provided a nice setting of beautiful wood dining tables and chairs and a wonderful spread from a very popular Miami Italian restaurant, Macchialina’s Chef Michael Pirolo. His caponata and refreshing zucchini salad was a perfect start to a whole evening of top notch gourmet bites from Miami and Broward’s best restaurants. I was given a little presentation of the fabulous LG Black Stainless Steel Series Door-in-Door Refrigerator that’s finger print and smudge resistant, how handy cause I can’t stand smudges. What I love best was the refrigerator’s outer door that opens but doesn’t open the whole fridge so you have easy access to seasoning bottles and beverages! So clever especially if you have a big family of kids who keep opening the fridge to get stuff. The freezer below was very interesting, it had layered drawers and very convenient to see what you have in there instead of those deep drawers so you have to wade through. As a cooking educator and someone who enjoys cooking, I love products that are beautiful and functional. Since Asian seasonings are a big part of what’s in my refrigerator door, I think LG’s got it down, well they are from Korea!

Chef Rebholz, Quality Meats with his famous pork belly and peanut butter

LG Black Stainless Steel Series, love the outer door!

To find out more about the No Kid Hungry program, visit them here.
For future Taste of the Nation culinary events in your city, visit here.
Disclosure: I was invited by LG to this event.

April Events (More Updates)

April 2, 2016 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Wok Star Eleanor Hoh’s Picks of April Foodie Events or get the RSS feed!

Cochon555
Sunday, April 3rd
4pm VIP
5pm General Admission
Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Get your tickets here!
Five chefs, five pigs, five wines, hence Cochon555, a good food movement! It’s my favorite event cause you all know I love pig and hope to score some heritage pig belly this year! There’s lots of activity going on so you’re not just eating. What I love most about this hyper-local food event is their focus on raising awareness for heritage breed pigs with the world’s first nose-to-tail pig competition and a butchering demonstration with Andres Barrientos of Miami Smokers. The Butcher Shop is a retail experience raising money for the charity Piggy Bank.

The Ultimate Brunch
Sunday, April 3: 10-3pm
The Citadel, 8330 NE 2nd Ave, FL 33138
FREE Admission, Food is $7, Drinks start at $5 (beer)
click here for details
The Citadel in Little River is a soon-to-be construction site for Miami’s first food hall. This is your last chance to experience the vast space before they break ground so get ready to brunch in architecture at its most raw, beautifully decorated with plants and string lights for that perfect brunch vibe.
It will open its doors for one game-changing Sunday featuring tantalizing suprises for every taste. Take your pick of over a dozen Miami brunch masters, jam to the live tunes of Patrick & The Swayzees and Magic City Hippies, and bounce to electronic rhythms provided by III Points’ Legs Benedict and Klangbox.FM’s Patrick Walsh. Sip on pitchers of brunch essentials like Bloody Marys and Mimosas, plus some other great family-style cocktails by Mac’s Pubs.
Some of my fav chefs from Pinch Kitchen and Niu Kitchen will be there, woohoo!
Grillin N Chillin
Sunday, April 3: 11-7pm
click here for details
Miami kicks off BBQ season for the whole family with Grillin N Chillin held in Wynwood. Everyone will enjoy the best BBQ in every style from Memphis, Texas or Kansas City barbecue to the well-known Brazilian Churrasco and Argentine Parrillada. Kids will have a blast in the family fun zone, while adults enjoy drinks and sports in The Pit, a pop-up sports bar. Get smoked in the Kitchen Lab by the best in the biz, who will share tips and tricks for the BBQ master in all of us. Don’t miss your chance to Grill N Chill with us!
Common Threads Happy Hour
Wednesday, April 6: 6-8pm
GK Bistronomie
RSVP here!

BAZI: Shanghai Nights
Sundays, 6-11pm (bar opens at 5pm)
Bazi is where we had my Chinese New Year celebrations, go check this out. Asian fusion Italian, yummy! I had a blast sitting at the bar on another occasion, met some great folks and bar tender was super!

Quality Meats Spring Grill
now till end of summer
Special Spring/Summer Grill Menu at $39 pp for salad or appetizer and a select main dish! This is available every day of the week which makes it an easy decision. Chef Patrick Rebholz’s specialty is perfecting meat in any shape or form, so you’re in for a treat, enjoy! Check for full Grill Menu!
Japanese Spring Festival
April 10, 10am
Free and open to the public
Miami Beach Botanical Gardens
Details here.

Some of the featured activities include and may require RSVP to book…
* Taiko drumming performances by Fushu Daiko,
* Ikebana classes, the Japanese Art of Flower arrangement (for both children and adults),
* Authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony,
* Children’s martial arts demonstration,
* Workshop with the Miami Paper Museum,
* Japanese calligraphy demonstration (courtesy of FIU’s Asian Studies Department)
* Anime-themed vendors and plant vendors,

iPhoneography 101
April 13: 6-7:30pm
Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Iphoneography 101 with 2 very talented photographers. I went to one and learned a lot! You get to eat the food you shoot! Subscribe to their newsletter for wonderful events. Another one further down.

Songkran, Thai New Year Festival
Sunday, April 17, 2016: 10-3 PM
Wat Buddharangsri Thai Temple,
15200 S.W. 240th St.
Miami, FL 33032
Cost: Free
click here for details
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year (sometimes called “Water Festival”) which falls from April 13-15, the hottest month of a year. People enjoy splashing water on each other as they believe that water will wash away bad luck, and splashing water over friends or anyone will give them a New Year blessing. You can participate in the ordination and join in meditation, collection of merit and listening to Dharma teachings.
There will be food, fruits, vegetables, clothing, jewelry, and other items for sale. Also there will be Thai music, Thai food, and classical dance performances. I’ve experienced this event and it’s a lot of fun, just know there’s a big chance you’re gonna get soaked!

My hubby and I went to Pamela’s first one and so enjoyed it, definitely worth it! Pamela is self taught and her food is delicious with beautiful presentations. Tickets here.

WYNWOOD LIFE
Fri. April 22-Sun. April 24
Always fun, full of entertainment with live bands, art, fashion, and new this year: cooking demos from restaurant chefs! Get a free drink with RSVP. For more details, click here.

Miami Flea
Sunday, April 24, 1-5pm
Get the details here. I like going to check out new crafts and food vendors.

Redlands Blues & BBQ Festival
Sat. April 23 and Sun. April 24th: 10-6pm
click here for details
The 6th annual festival award winning BBQ and incredible blues & country music. A multitude of children’s activities and pony rides will be available.
Pecha Kucha
Tuesday, April 26, 6:30pm
Topic: Sacred
Get early bird tickets free, click here for details.

Slow Food Miami, Freshest Night Out
April 29
1 Hotel, South Beach
Tickets here.
Join Celebrity Chef and TV Personality, Tom Colicchio, Ambassador, Evan Benn, Editor in Chief of Indulge Magazine, and Miami’s freshest chefs, artisans, and the farmers and foragers with 25 stations of exquisite bites. Enjoy grey goose craft cocktails, local craft brews, and dynamic wines from Vinecraft.
Bid on amazing auction items (I donated a cooking class cert. for 2), all while raising funds for Slow Food School Garden programs.
First 50 tickets are already sold OUT at a discounted rate of $85 and I was one of the lucky ones! Tix are $95. VIP tickets are $225 and will include early entry and a special meet and greet with Tom Colicchio.
Las Olas Wine and Food Festival
Fri. April 29: 7:30pm-10:30pm
click here for details
This year’s Las Olas Wine & Food festival will feature five blocks of sips and samples from nationally recognized wineries and top restaurants throughout South Florida, this event will raise funds for research and educational programs for the American Lung Association (ALA).
There will be live music, culinary and mixology demos, cooking competitions, private VIP lounges and MYO cocktail experiences, interactive retail experiences, and more.
Tickets include all sips, samples, and fun at the Las Olas Wine & Food Festival.
Inhale Miami, April Events
Details here.
Inhale is a yoga studio and Rikki puts out amazing events. We went to a Sonic Funk mini festival and it was a bit of everything, we ended with a community acupuncture session, om!

HOH WOK CLUB: Year of Monkey at BAZI

March 5, 2016 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

This year’s HOH WOK CLUB’s annual gathering to celebrate Chinese New Year was a huge success with food and cocktails overflowing. Thanks to BAZI and all who came, it was like a big private party except Chef Mike Pirolo and his team did all the work, so I could hang and enjoy! So happy my sister, Valerie and her husband, Dennis were able to join us, at least I had one family member with me.
Feast your eyes on this food gallery, I already posted everything you need to know about BAZI in a post here. Don’t miss Chef Mike Pirolo’s video below describing his BAZI concept! Also go check one of my fav Wok Stars, blogger and super photographer, Brenda Benoit’s post here.
If you missed this outstanding fun celebration, stay tuned for upcoming HOH WOK CLUB gatherings! Numerous Asian inspired restaurants have popped up in Miami and I’d like to introduce you to them. Sign up for my free newsletter in right sidebar so you’ll get first dibs into these events.