On Saturday, February 28 from 7:00 p.m. to midnight, join The Friends of CHOP for the 2015 Cheers for CHOP at the Valley Forge Casino! This year’s event will benefit CHOP’s Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy program—one of the first programs in the country to recognize the therapeutic value of play for hospitalized children. Guests will be treated to a special live performance by the chart topping hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa as well as a live auction benefiting CHOP. To purchase tickets or for more information visit: www.cheersforchop.org.

dineKOP Restaurant Week

King of Prussia District (KOP-BID) is excited to announce dineKOP; KOP-BID’s unique interpretation of a restaurant week launching March 2-8. KOP offers diners the opportunity to experience the best culinary offerings in the area, with the participation of nearly every major steakhouse, lively sports bars, and locally owned establishments alike. A portion of the proceeds from participating dineKOP restaurants will be donated to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) new Specialty Care Center, slated to open in King of Prussia in summer 2015. In addition, participating dineKOP restaurants will be welcoming CHOP families to dine with them and enjoy a special restaurant experience during dineKOP. During dineKOP, participating KOP restaurants will create special prix-fixe lunch and/or dinner menus for guests to enjoy at affordable prices*: $10, $15, or $20 for lunch and $20, $30, or $40 for dinner; For a list of restaurants and more information visit: visitKOP.com/dineKOP. *Price does not include tax, gratuity or alcohol.

Diego Boneta, Carrie Hyman, and Nick D’annunzio

Siena Tavern Miami Chef Fabio Viviani and co-owners David Rekhson and Luke Stoiff welcomed actor Diego Boneta to the restaurant, where he celebrated his return to music and onscreen with the premiere of his new song Warrior–which will be the theme song for his upcoming mini-series Dovekeepers set to air on CBS this April. The group enjoyed the intimate SOBEWFF Tuscan Trio Dinner hosted by Viviani, Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos.

World champion boxer and actor Lennox Lewis was at the Forge on Tuesday with his wife and a group of friends.

Ken Lowe, head honcho of the Food Network, had dinner at the Forge last Thursday night with a group of twelve. Taking place simultaneously, an ultra-exclusive Chateau Lagrezette Malbec four course Wine Dinner by Chef Christopher Lee.  The dinner was presented by Haute Living magazine and hosted by Alain Dominique Perrin, owner of Chateau Lagrezette, Forge owner, Shareef Malnik and Kamal Hotchandani, CEO of Haute Living.  Special guests included Scottie Pippen, Gabrielle Anwar, and Wayne Chapin.

Joe Jonas was spotted at the SLS South Beach. He spent a couple of nights relaxing at the hotel before heading to New York Fashion Week.

In light of a recent partnership with The Miami HEAT, CGI Merchant Group was honored to announce the attendance of NBA champions Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers for the 55 Miracle Mile ribbon-cutting ceremony.

By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Solange Knowles, Emily Ratajkowski, Jamie Chung, Padma Lakshmi, William Levy, Chelsea Leyland, Brendan Fallis, Kelly Framel, Gala Gonzalez, Hassan Pierre, Chef Carla Pellegrino and a few hundred of Miami’s influencers joined Veuve Clicquot champagne for a beautiful brunch on Saturday, February 7 at The Thompson Hotel in Miami Beach. The celebrities and socialites celebrated Clicquot Carnaval complete with a multi-course dining experience, Carnaval games and dancers and of course, lots and lots of bubbles. The action-packed afternoon started with a sophisticated Brazilian-inspired brunch followed by Carnaval entertainment including Samba dancers, steel drum bands, and capoeira performers, accompanied by seemingly endless flutes of Veuve Clicquot champagne. Read the rest of this entry »

by: Maryanne Salvat

MIR Charities and Quality Meats Miami Beach 

Mission International Rescue Charities (MIR Charities) is partnering with Quality Meats Miami Beach for an exclusive, grand opening benefit party on Thursday, February 26. The event will mark 25 years of educational services and collaborative programs provided to families in need. The event is expected to bring together local dignitaries, celebrities and other influential personalities. Tickets to the event are priced at $150 per person; guests will have an opportunity to preview the restaurant’s delicious cuisine and ambiance by way of lavish food stations, free-flowing cocktails and a performance by Miami local, DJ Gringo. They will also have a chance to bid on not-to-be-missed items during a live auction. Tickets can be purchased online through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mir-charities-and-quality-meats-grand-opening-benefit-party-tickets-15577253986.

PALO! at Ball & Chain

On Friday, February 27 GRAMMY Nominated PALO! will be performing their famous afro-Cuban funky tunes on the Pineapple Stage at Little Havana’s hottest new spot Ball & Chain.  Miami Boheme Friday’s are hosted by Joe Cardona – this Friday is a special celebration however, the birthday of Ball & Chain co-owner Zack Bush.  No cover, 21 and older.

Wall Brawl Miami

On Friday, March 6 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., join Wynwood’s most recognizable street artists as they battle it out at Wall Brawl Miami and raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.  Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to watch some of the biggest names in street art go face to face and compete for the title of the Best Street Artist of Miami.  Open bar by Bombay Sapphire and Zacapa Rum with lite bites by Morgans will be available for all those attending. Guests are encouraged to vote for their favorite artist and have a chance to take one of these originals home via auction. Artists include: HecOne Love, Skott Marsi, Bruno Vago, Furious (DAM Crew), KEDS (DAM Crew), Monique Lassooij, Claudia La Bianca, TeePop, NateD, Wilson, Jorge-Miguel Rodriguez, Ill Surge, GG, Atomik, Ivan Roque, Registered Artist, Aquarela Allyson Sabol, Nicole Salgar, Rigo Leon, Kazilla and Trek 6. Admission is only $40.00 at The Annex located at 44 NE 29 ST in Wynwood; for more information visit: www.wallbrawl.com.

Les Dames d’Escoffier Miami Brunch

Les Dames d’Escoffier Miami, presents a lavish brunch at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens featuring a stellar lineup of South Florida chefs, farmers, restaurants and authors. Participants to date include Oolite, Basil Park, Smith and Wollensky, Siam Oishi, Le Provencal restaurant Francais, Front Porch, Mise en Place; La Provence; Pastry is Art, Thierry’s Catering, A Fare to Remember, Small Tea, and Cookie Pursonality, among others. Restaurant participants will offer delicious brunch menu items; San Ignacio College and Miami Culinary Institute will host quesadilla and omelet stations; Le Cordon Bleu and Les Dames Miami will host additional culinary stations.  Republic National Distributing Co. and Sangria Lola will offer luscious libations.Attendees can also sample South Florida’s beautiful spring harvest from Verde Farms and Teena’s Pride, the latter farm owned by Dame Teena Borek; enjoy tasty eye-opening cocktails at the Bloody Mary bar, hosted by Patron and Smirnoff and savor a jolt of java from the Nespresso station.  Raffle items will include a trove of spa treatments, fabulous dining certificates, gift baskets, fine wines and other prizes. New culinary techniques will be featured at Les Dames d’Escoffier cooking demonstrations and Les Dames’ members, authors Ellen Kanner and Jen Karetnick, will offer signed copies or their current books, “Feeding the Hungry Ghost”, and “ Mangoes”, respectively. The Les Dames brunch takes place Sunday, March 8, 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Tickets may be purchased atreservations@lesdamesmiami.org or via PayPal: http://lesdamesmiami.org. 

MISO’s Golden Sounds from Hollywood

The Miami Symphony Orchestra (MISO) presents the sixth annual installment of “Golden Sounds from Hollywood” on Sunday, March 8, 6:00 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Maestro Marturet compensates for the days of inferior soundtracks by conducting a program that features works written specifically for motion pictures, and combining actual projections from the film onto the stage of the Knight Concert Hall. Executive Producer Fernando Duprat adds visual elements of excitement to Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra from Stanley Kubrick’s “2001 Space Odyssey,” Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries from Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” and the soundtrack from Steven Spielberg’s “E.T.,” among many more popular and recognizable films. Tickets can be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center website, calling the MISO box office at 305.275.5666, or by e-mailing info@themiso.org.

One of the highlights of the South Beach Wine and Food Festival was the private dinner party held at a gorgeous waterfront residence in North Miami Beach to celebrate famed Uruguayan hotspot La Huella, which is opening its first stateside restaurant, Quinto- La Huella later this year at the EAST hotel in Brickell City Center. Hosted by Laurent Fraticelli, General Manager of EAST, who operated the exclusive Soho Beach House for several years, the La Huella party treated VIP guests to white glove service and exquisite signature Uruguayan dishes featuring a selection of prime grilled meats. A live band kept partygoers dancing while sipping on top shelf cocktails and glasses of Uruguayan Tannat and Caipiroskas. Read the rest of this entry »

#SOBEWFF 2015 IS HERE!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, for all foodies that is. The 14^th Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE hits South Beach this weekend and consists of more than 75 events during the four-day, star-studded gourmet extravaganza, featuring new parties and talent alongside a noticeable refresh of the Festival’s most signature tastings.  As it has since its inception, the Festival benefits the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management’s Wine Spectator Restaurant Management Laboratory and Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center at Florida International University. Stay up-to-date with the excitement by following the Festival at www.Facebook.com/SOBEWFF; for more information about the Festival, visit www.sobefest.com or call 877.762.3933.
Food Talk with Geoffrey Zakarian

Head to The Thompson Hotel South Beach on Friday, February 20 for the recording of Geoffrey Zakarian’s Sirius XM radio show, “Food Talk.” Enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres poolside at the resort, while rubbing elbows with the likes of  Robert Irvine, Anne Burrell, Ted Allen, Rachael Ray. Marcus Samuelsson, Marc Murphy, Al Roker, Carla Hall, Aaron Sanchez, and many more. The fun takes place from 2:30-5:00 p.m. and is presented by Sirius XM, and Key Group Worldwide.

Martha Stewart’s Clean Slate

On Saturday, February 21, at 5:00 p.m.,Macy’s Dadeland welcomes founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Emmy Award-winning television show host, entrepreneur and bestselling author, Martha Stewart, for a special signing of her new cookbook Clean Slate: A Cookbook and Guide: Reset Your Health, Detox Your Body, and Feel Your Best. The book offers great recipes and helpful tips for eating clean and restocking your pantry.  With any Martha Stewart Collection purchase of $50 or more in the Home department, customers will receive a $10 Macy’s gift card, a copy of Martha Stewart Living’s Clean Slate, and an opportunity to meet Martha and have her sign your cookbook. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are suggested as space is limited; RSVP to 305.577.1818 then press 1 when prompted;One per customer while supplies last.