GKB is a contemporary bistro and bar located in the heart of Miami’s Wynwood area that features a globally influenced Peruvian menu created by Chef Rafael Perez. Perez, a native of Peru, draws on his background as well as incorporating local flavors and ingredients to deliver stellar ceviches, tiraditos and modern twists on traditional Latin dishes. Fans of boozy brunches and incredible food in an upscale, modern and relaxed atmosphere are welcome to enjoy the new brunch menu featuring traditional brunch staples, modern twists on classics as well as fresh summer dishes and specialty cocktails.

For those who fancy a free-flowing beverage option can opt for the $24 “All Day Rose” Billette Rose from Provence special. The brunch cocktail menu also features the new GKBloody Mary for two piled high with shrimp and bacon for $26. For Champagne lovers, the bubbly options include $15 ‘POP’ by Pommery Champagne Splits as well as full bottles of Heidsiek Monopole Champagne options for $60.

In addition, GKB’s Sunday brunch menu includes a “Bottomless Brunch” for just $24. For those who fancy a free flowing “Bottomless Brunch” cocktail options include Pisco Punch, Sangria, Mimosa’s, Bloody Mary’s and Rosé. The a la carte brunch menu features sweet brunchy treats including Guava and Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast, in-house Baked Granola, Florida Honey & Yogurt and 3 different types of Pancakes – Buttermilk, Quinoa or Blue Corn. For the savory, the menu will offer dishes like: Lomo Saltado Quesadillia, Pulled Pork & Quinoa Pancakes with Sunny Side Egg, Shrimp Sofrito, Soft Shell Crab Benedict as well as classics like Steak-n-Eggs with a Peruvian twist, classic ceviches, tiraditos, and a selection of their main dishes throughout the day. Don’t miss the churrasco- it’s one of the best!

This October 2016 will mark the restaurant’s one year anniversary. To celebrate, GKB Wynwood is excited to announce the new additions which will include a unique indoor/outdoor ceviche & raw bar offering ceviches, oysters and sushi. In addition, Chef Rafael Perez will be hosting weekly interactive master classes where guests will learn the fine art of ceviche and sushi making. For reservations: call 1 786-477-5151 or www.gkbistronomie.com or email info@gkbistronomie.com.

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Culinary Community Joins Together for Camillus House

Culinary Community for Camillus house is currently taking place until November 23 with more than 16 restaurants offering 2-course lunches for $15 and 2-course dinners for $25 excluding gratuities. Five percent of proceeds from these menus will be donated directly to Camillus House to feed and house needy individuals and families!  It’s a win-win deal and diners can change lives one meal at a time.  Website: www.cc4camillus.org

Wacoal Fit For The Cure

Wacoal is hosting over 1,200 regional Fit For The Cure events throughout the months of September – November, offering complimentary bra fittings to every woman who attends.  Join Miami’s own Wordy Girl, Maria Tettamanti at Macy’s Dadeland this Saturday, October 8^th from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For every woman fit, Wacoal donates $2 to Susan G. Komen® to benefit breast cancer research and community health programs, and for every Wacoal or b. tempt’d item purchased during the event, Wacoal donates an additional $2.Research shows 8 of 10 women are wearing the incorrect bra size, making it all the more important to get fit. By taking less than 15 minutes to meet with a Wacoal fit expert, you are helping to contribute to an important cause. Over the last 16 years, Wacoal has raised 4.4 million dollars through Fit For the Cure. This fall, help Wacoal reach its goal of fitting 1 million women and donating over $5 million to Susan G. Komen

Please click the following like to schedule your complimentary Wacoal fitting: http://wacoal.schedulista.com/dadeland.html?utm_source=Generic&utm_medium=Media%20%26%20Social%20Posts&utm_campaign=Macy%27s%20Miami%20FFTC%20event

PHS fundraiser brings together the region’s great chefs and local growers 

The region’s leading chefs and mixologists will showcase their garden-to-table creations at “PHeaSt,” the delicious, fundraising celebration on Friday, October 7, from 7:00to 10:00 p.m. at the Navy Yard. 

Hosted by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the fifth annual PHeaSt brings together renowned chefs, mixologists and urban growers for a special party to benefit the PHS City Harvest program, which supports community gardening and provides healthy, locally grown food for families in need throughout the Philadelphia region. This year the event celebrates the 10^th anniversary of City Harvest and will provide the opportunity to help “build” a new community garden. Guests will be invited to pull a plant stake from an interactive, model garden and choose from different levels of support that will fund the purchase of tools, soil, seeds, and other materials needed for the new garden.

The PHS Warehouse at the Navy Yard, home to repurposed props from the Philadelphia Flower Show, is transformed for PHeaSt into an industrial-chic party setting. Guests are invited to “graze” the garden-fresh dishes, chat with the chefs and mixologists, and get gardening tips from the City Harvest growers. The event has been a sell-out each year, as hundreds of area foodies come to sample new seasonal dishes by the culinary stars and the creative cocktails, spirits, wines and beers.

Culinary partners this year include Agno Grill and Yoku, Al Pastor, Bar Bombon, Bella Vista, Brûlée Bakery, Buddakan, Campbell’s Place, Capofitto, Charline was a sinner, Christina Cooks, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Ela, Garces Trading Company, Melograno, Morimoto, Night Kitchen Bakery & Café, Red Owl Tavern,Stove & Tap, The Farm and Fisherman, Triangle Tavern, Whole Foods Markets, Your Personal Chef Joseph E. Shilling, and Zavino.

Sips partners include 13^th Street Cocktail Catering, Art in the Age, Backyard Beans Coffee Company, Bank & Bourbon, Bird Dog Whiskey, Boardroom Spirits Distillery, Caledonia Spirits, Don Julio, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, Firestone Brewery, Hendrick’s Gin, Jim Beam Apple Bourbon, Liberty Gin, Mac’s Tavern, Magical Spirits, Martin Millers Gin, Patrón, PHS Cider, Pinnacle Vodka, Round Guys Brewing Company, Russian Standard Vodka, Saint Benjamin Brewing Company, Saxbys Coffee, Stateside Urbancraft Vodka, Stoli Group USA, Tamworth Distilling, Tom Gore Vineyards, Whistle Pig Straight Rye, and Yards Brewing Company.

PHeaSt proceeds support the PHS mission to connect people with horticulture and create beautiful, healthy and sustainable communities. Through the PHS network of urban gardeners in the Philadelphia region, the City Harvest program feeds hundreds of families in need each week during the growing season. The growers involved in PHeaSt participate in City Harvest and also make affordable, locally produced food available at farmers markets in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Tickets are on sale now. General admission tickets are $165 (PHS members $150). VIP tickets are $300 (PHS members $275) and include early admission at 6 p.m. PHeaSt is held in the PHS Warehouse at the Navy Yard, 5201 S.13^th Street, Philadelphia 19112.

Over the centuries, Sicilians have become adept at coping with intense heat during the summer months when the average temperature is in the 90°Fs. As we also deal with hot, humid weather all year round in South Florida, we can adopt the Sicilian habits of eating healthy dishes and drinking crisp, refreshing wines to beat the heat.

Stemmari, one of the leading sustainable wine producers from Sicily, has created wines that pair well with traditional Sicilian summer dishes, making the saying “if it grows together, it goes together” truer than ever.

Below are a few great pairings to help us all mimic the Sicilian summer lifestyle.

• The Stemmari Baci Vivaci ($14) is the perfect wine for adding bubbles to beachside weekends in Sicily or anywhere. This sparkling wine is made from the indigenous white varietal Grillo, a Chardonnay-esque varietal that is able to withstand the hot Sicilian summers. Baci Vivaci shows the grape’s profile to be fruit forward, floral, and well structured. Fried foods, such as the traditional Sicilian fritters called panellas, are balanced out by the wine’s refreshing minerality and acidity. Panellas are made from chickpea flour and are a popular street food, particularly in Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
• One of the most prominent summer dishes is the sweet and sour eggplant dish caponata. The dish can be served warm, but chilled is popular to help cool down in the summer. The dish pairs excellently with the unique Stemmari Rosé ($10) which is made from Sicily’s native red grape, Nero d’Avola. With the roundness of a red and the brightness of a white, this blush wine balances well with the acidity and earthiness of the dish.
• The Stemmari Dalila ($18) is an expressive wine that captures the richness of Sicily in a bottle. Elegantly aromatic yet still tropical, a bit of honey and vanilla round out this delightful blend of Grillo and Viognier which makes it great with seafood dishes such as Sarde a beccafico. Sarde a beccafico (sardine rolls with pine nuts and raisins) is an old fisherman’s dish that uses sardines, one of the signature ingredients of Sicily.

We can’t rave enough about Clarins’ new products for fall! From the revitalizing boosters, to the luxurious eye shadows and mascara to the “make you feel like new” mask… Clarins is sure to bring out your inner beauty by making you shine bright on the outside!

Clarins’ new Boosters come in three different formulas, giving your skin a tailor-made boost for an innovative beauty step. Just add 3-5 drops to your moisturizer, mask, serum, or foundation to recharge your skin. All boosters will be available for $39 at Clarins counters and on www.clarinsusa.com starting September 2016.

REPAIR

External aggressors (UV, cold temperatures, hard water, etc.) weaken the skin’s protective barrier, making it finer, more permeable and fragile. The Repair booster sooths and comforts, while visibly minimizing redness.

ENERGY

Due to the effects of late nights and a hectic lifestyle, metabolism slows down and skin runs out of energy, causing it to lose tone and appear dull. The Energy booster revives radiance and minimizes signs of fatigue

DETOX

Environmental factors such as pollution and cigarette smoke causes the skin to accumulate toxins. This creates reduced radiance because the skin is congested and can no longer breathe. The Detox booster detoxifies and plumps, refreshing the skin’s complexi0n.

Clarins Fall 2016 Colour Collection is inspired by skincare and reveals the natural beauty of every woman. Underneath the color lies effective natural plant extracts that respect and care for your skin. New Extra-Firming Mask is the first tension release anti-aging mask to help smooth stress lines for visibly younger-looking, firmer, radiant skin – in just 10 minutes. Stress, fatigue, and a hectic lifestyle generate emotions that can have a negative impact on facial expressions. Repeated muscle contractions due to negative emotions are responsible for the accentuation of tension lines, creation of additional wrinkles and frown lines, dark circles and puffiness, and loss of radiance. Clarins Extra-Firming Mask is an aromatic cream-gel that smoothes the skin and sooths the senses for a wonderful feeling of relaxation. Key ingredients promote firming, smoothing, oxygenating, nourishing, and hydrating benefits. Extra-Firming Mask will be available for $75 at Clarins counters and on www.clarinsusa.com starting September 2016.

Cantina La Veinte in downtown Miami’s Icon Brickell, offers an elevated, authentic dining experience in a strikingly elegant setting. What Zuma is to Izakaya-inspired Japanese dining and Milos is to Greek cuisine, Cantina is to the “Mexican gastronomic adventure.”

Brought to Miami by Cinbersol Group just over two years ago, Cantina delivers the high-end culinary tradition and exceptional service for which the leading Mexico City-based hospitality firm is well known. Upon entering, we were impressed by the opulent, luxurious setting. Immediately, the ambiance signaled that we were in for a night of exceptional dining and a lot of fun. The Friday evening crowd gathered around the striking, contemporary, floor-to-ceiling black onyx bar, complete with a pyramid-shaped black and gold chandelier overhead, to drink and chat and experience the vibe.

But the din of excited guests did not stop at the bar. The restaurant’s adjacent dining room, was filled with diners who enjoyed and sang along to music while taking in the action in the open exhibition kitchen, where the talented culinary team showcased their skills at preparing authentic creations. We enjoyed watching the chefs create Mexican tortillas by hand, right before our eyes as we sipped a cocktail at the lively bar. Downstairs, at the outdoor waterfront patio, we listened to Mariachis playing before being seated beside one of the restaurant’s expansive windows back in the upstairs main dining room. Designed by Mexican architectural firm Niz + Chauvet, Cantina’s decor pays homage to the Mexican Art Deco style, while maintaining the distinct décor of a traditional Mexican Cantina.

Cantina boasts an eclectic menu of traditional Mexican cuisine, as well as expertly crafted cocktails and a massive selection of over 260 tequilas and mezcals, considered one of the largest in the U.S. At the helm of Cantina’s kitchen is Mexico-native, Executive Chef Santiago Gomez, an alumnus of NOBU, both in Miami and Mexico City, Erawan, Piso 51 and Corporate Chef of Cantina La Numero 20’s multiple locations in Polanco, El Angel and Santa Fe, MX. Gomez most recently worked at critically-acclaimed restaurant, DANIEL by renowned chef, Daniel Boulud. At Cantina La Veinte in Miami, Cinbersol’s first U.S. restaurant, Gomez delivers a deliciously diverse menu of authentic Mexican food incorporating whimsical touches.

Staying true to his Mexican roots, Gomez has created a menu filled with authentic dishes from south of the border. Diners can choose from seafood dishes including, ceviches and aguachiles to masterful entrees. Our favorites included the Tostadas de Atun and the Tostadas de King Crab, Vuelve a la Vida Ceviche, Sopa de Camaron and the guacamole with home-made chips for starters. The Callos de Hacha (perfectly seared scallops) and the Langostinos (giant prawns) were outstanding as mains. The numerous stuffed chiles at varying levels of heat, fresh oyster selections and numerous cuts of beef are also recommended. Save room for dessert, as the dessert menu is varied and delightful.

Unique to its concept, Cantina La Veinte has its own upscale Mercado adjacent to the outdoor dining area, offering prepared foods, imported Mexican ingredients, charcuterie, fresh baked bread, caviar, wines, and horchatas – traditional rice-based Mexican beverages.

Cantina La Veinte is located at 495 Brickell Avenue at the Icon Brickell. For more information on hours of operation, visit: http://www.cantinala20.com/.