Win Two Tickets to SOBE Wine and Food Festival

I know, I am obsessed with this event, but if you are anything like me, and trying to watch where the pennies are going, but still like to enjoy a good event, enter the contest, you never know, you just may be the lucky winner this year.

Hope to see you there...

The Dinning Divas - TABLE 8

It was the Dinning Divas night, and two of the divas didn't show up, and that should have been a good indication things will not be perfect that evening, and traffic was awful, all the indications, it's not the right night, but I must say, the company of the diva that did come, was fabulous, and I was glad two of us didn't cancel as it was great chit chatter and I totally needed that.

But onto the food portion of the evening. The reason we picked TABLE 8 was b/c it's still the Winter Miami Spice and if ever, this was a great chance to go to the South Beach hot spot and plus, we are talking TABLE 8 - Executive Chef Govind Armstrong, nonetheless, the master of the cuisine and I just couldn't wait for 7pm to meet the other Dinning Diva at this fabulous locale.

The ambiance is amazing, outdoor seating is perfect for South Beach Ocean Drive, and the indoors were great too, just enough of dimmed lighting, good light techno music and waiters seamlessly moving through the restaurant and always there just when you need them but never in your sight, you just can't ask for more than that.

After carefully looking over the menu, I decided to opt out of the Miami Spice menu, and try things off the regular menu, as Miami Spice just didn't do it for me. So my meal started like this:
Appetizer: BURRATA: heirloom tomatoes, wild arugula, olive oil fried croutons, aged balsamic. It was DELICIOUSLY AMAZING - I should have just had this, it would have been sufficient. It was sweet, little zesty, refreshing and opulent.
Entree: SKIRT STEAK - I am sure you are not surprised about this choice, right?!?!

It was a lot of steak, and I am talking A LOT of steak...First, we waited for the entrees to arrive for over 45 minutes. 4 tables around us received all of their meals, coffee and checks and they were seated after us, and our steaks still didn't arrive, so we finally said something to our waiter and it was an usual response "it's the kitchen's fault" and I completely understand that answer, and he did offer us a martini on the house, which was nice, since they were $14 each, but it must have not been so good, as I don't even remember what it was, something with berries, but the ice-cubes were floating all over it... So anyway, once the steaks/entrees arrived, the steak was AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL - it tasted like it sat in lemon juice for hours. It was tough, lemony and no other taste to it. It was done medium just like I asked, but nothing else to it...I was expecting so much more and than on top of that, with the steak I got five, and no I am not kidding you 5 shoe strings of yucca fries, so I ordered a side order of Parmesan cheese fries, which were just delicious.

So if I ever find my way back to TABLE 8, I will be ordering a glass of wine (no more cocktails for me), buratta and Parmesan cheese fries.

Oh, let me just add this one other little tidbit, they include with the bill a 18% gratuity (which is normal for the Beach) and on top of that you get taxed a resort fee with the regular tax...I was floored. The tax at the end was 26%- a freaking 26%, yes, I won't be making a trip back to TABLE 8 nor will I be recommending it in future.

I had such high hopes and so much excitement for that evening, but unfortunately, it was really, really disappointing food wise and expensive. I really don't mind spending money on a good meal, but this wasn't even near good...
So with that said, I hope February's Dinning Divas will be a better experience, I need it. Until then, hopefully I will have some good food stories to tell.

Enjoy the Parmesan cheese fries, they were delic :)

VINO 2009

If you are anything like me and like to plan things ahead, here is another event that should most definitely appear on your social calendar - VINO 2009, a wonderful event sponsored by Italian Trade Commission. Don't get scared away b/c it sounds so official, because it's all about promoting the Italian wines and of course, FREE tastings of some of the most amazing wines Abruzzo's distinctive Whites, Tuscany's superb Reds, delightful Rosès from Calabria and elegant Sparklers from Lombardia. You won't regret making a trip to downtown Miami - the event is held at the Hotel Intercontinental. Cheers - Ciao!!!

Aaah, the world of cupcakes

Is there anything more delicious, more delicate, more trendy than a cupcake...I hardly doubt that. Yes, I am a fan, a big fan, fan to the point that I will drive over 40 miles to go to the opening of the new cupcake store in Coral Gables...join me, it will be deliciously fun...
I had few extra minutes today so I decided to "google" words cupcake and Miami and more than 10,000 different postings came up, and more than 5 pages were serious stuff - listing of all the bakeries around town selling cupcakes, promoting small home businesses, and one thought that I was left with...what is the profit margin on selling cupcakes??? It has to be huge, especially if you operate from home and there are no overhead costs like store space...a business idea you might add :) Aah, who knows, but it seems something that even I the FAUX FOODIE could do...or should I just stay with my "tasting" business, it's fun:)

Eat, Pray, Love

Since we are talking food here, I thought it would be just appropriate to let you know of an upcoming event...
This event encompasses just a few things that I really care about: food, love, books and travel and of course fight against breast cancer...so it seemed perfect to promote the event and to invite you all to join us against the breast cancer and enjoy an amazing book that has changed lives of many women, perhaps it can do the same for you...

South Beach Wine & Food Festival -II series

OK, not to harp on the SOBE Wine and Food Festival, but I was just found out that on Monday, January 11th the nine sold out events will have tickets available, so if you are really interested, visit their website and snatch those most desirable tickets out there, you won't regret it.

South Beach Wine & Food Festival

There is no better place than South Beach at the end of February when the rest of the nation is fighting snow, cold and rain, and South Beach offers you sandy beaches, sunny weather, and plethora of food and wine tastings.
I have been living in Miami now for three years and well before I have arrived I have always dreamed of going to the SOBE Wine and Food Festival but the tickets were always sold out or just plain too expensive. So finally this year I believe my dream will come true.I will be going to SOBE, yes, me mighty me, is going to the food emporium...

I hate to bring up the economy again, but here is another sign that the economy is in trouble - SOBE Wine and Food Festival is actually advertising in the local newspapers like crazy and on top of everything, there are still quite a few tickets available for most events. You can even get tickets to some of the sold-out events. But there aren't too many of those...I know the event is not for another 6 weeks, but there are only 9 events that are sold out. So what is your pick?

What I want NOW...

Once a month I will dedicate a post to "What I want NOW.." - which will include my latest cravings, indulgences and wants...I am excited just thinking about it as I get to search and write about the things that I want. Hopefully someone (my hubbs) will get a hint and from time to time treat me to something, or I may just treat myself, what do you think? and to make things even more exciting I will have the major end of the year "What I want NOW" competition for the best product of the year. The categories - haven't really worked it all out, but it will be anything relating to food..it would be only fair. So let's the daydreaming begin. The January's "What I want NOW..." is (drum rolls, please):
Bialetti Mukka Express Electric Cappuccino Maker

Looking at the description of this product, I am thinking this is exactly what I want NOW, the problem is the reviews...I usually don't care much about the reviews but rather if I like something I get it, who cares what others are saying, but this review got me really thinking - it's an expensive product, and many difficulties were reported and many people don't recommend it, should I even want it??? For right now, YES, because I want a cappuccino maker for the office, and this seems perfect, or at least until something better comes along...So for now, this is exactly what I want...

Making plans for the weekend, think getting into the "Grove"

If you have nothing going on tonight or looking for last minute plans...Fratelli Lyon

Winter Miami Spice

Is this a sign of tough times or just generosity of our restaurant community - who knows, but it doesn't matter, the Winter MIAMI SPICE is here and I am taking advantage of it. So here is the list of places I want to dine at in the next four weeks:
--Table 8 - South Beach
--The Vix
--Ortanique on the Mile
--The Forge
So if you want to join me...you know where to find me. Pics and reviews are coming soon. Enjoy the Spice. Check out the whole list here.

Cheers!!!

Happy New Year!!! Cheers Everyone... Wishing you many great restaurants, new foods and fabulous drinks in the 2009!
Like every year, few hours before the new year we don't have any plans and as always those nights end up being the most amazing and unforgettable New Years Eves and so was this one. The hubbs had to work on New Years Eve day and I was doing a lot of pampering and resting and when he came home around 4pm we decided to go to our friends house for some drinks and cards and we would grab dinner on our own at the new sushi place that just opened up in the Fresh Market plaza - what a great decision - sushi was AMAZING. The tempura roll was delic and because we had to wait for almost an hour to get the roll, we got the second roll for free:) Always a good sign of the new beginning:)

Since I am preparing for the half-marathon at the end of January and I kind of took two weeks off, I decided that the hubbs can drink that night and I will only have a glass of champagne at midnight...well I bet you can see how this turned out...I spent the next day in bed and for the next two days the feeling of the hangover didn't leave my body...so you wonder how that happened??? Well, story goes something like this, as a good guest, I brought a bottle of my favorite champagne - Veuve Clicquot and somewhere after midnight the girls decided to play some left-right-center game with jello shots and since I don't like jello shots I decided to control my own destiny and drink shots of champagne thinking I will only have at most one glass which I can easily handle. let's just say that it didn't work quiet like that, it wasn't my night...but boy did I enjoy my champagne. Not only do I like the taste of it but I LOVE it...there is just something so magical about drinking Veuve Clicquot champagne. It's light, it's tasty, it's tingly and perfectly sweet - TRES EXTRAORDINAIRE :)

What's more to like about it is the elegance of the bottle and label... I think it's time start collecting the lables and corks:)So cheers to you all and don't forget to enjoy the 2009, it will be a good one.