Ketel One Vodka will delight fans with the debut of The Ketel One Bar at DRV PNK Stadium, the home of Inter Miami CF. The innovative bar, nestled on the first floor of the NW Club Bar, will offer premium, ready-to-serve cocktail classics like the Ketel One Cosmopolitan and Ketel One Espresso Martini. The bar will also feature new serves with a distinctive Magic City twist, like the Miami Rosa, a fresh-tasting fusion of Ketel One Vodka and bright grapefruit, among others. In addition to The Ketel One Bar, fans can expect to find Ketel One signage displayed prominently throughout DRV PNK Stadium.
To complement its partnership, Ketel One will also take the fan experience beyond the bar, offering exclusive promotional opportunities and activations at select Inter Miami CF Fan Zones during home matches. Fans and followers of both Ketel One Vodka and Inter Miami CF are encouraged to stay tuned for exciting initiatives and activations that will roll out in the coming months.

A star-studded weekend awaits as the 23rd annual Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) makes its return to Miami Beach to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. from February 22-25, 2024. The four-day Festival, which has become a haven for culinary enthusiasts and celebrity admirers alike, will be bigger than ever, featuring never before seen events, robust musical programming, and a lineup of A-list celebrity talent alongside returning signature events, intimate sit-down experiences, interactive master classes and more. 

“I like to think of the Festival as a perpetual journey of excitement and reinvention. We’re not just curating events; we’re crafting experiences based on what our audience craves,” states Lee Schrager, SOBEWFF® Founder and Director. “The key is being receptive to feedback, seeking out rising talent, and using current events as a compass to help navigate the Festival year after year. It’s a culinary dialogue, a continuous effort. It’s also imperative we never forget why we embarked on this flavorful adventure – to passionately support and give back to FIU, ensuring a legacy that goes beyond taste, leaving an indelible mark on education and culinary excellence.” 

The Festival festivities will kick off on Thursday, February 22 with the 17th annual Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons® hosted by Rachael Ray. More than 30 of the country’s most beloved restaurants and chefs will go head-to-head in creating the juiciest and most flavorful burgers the Festival’s ever seen. The fan-favorite event will host a celebrity panel of judges including American rapper, producer, DJ, and television personality Rev Run, American model and actress Kate Upton, three-time Emmy award-winning journalist and NBC 6 news anchor Trina Robinson, national radio host and President and Chief Creative Officer of iHeart Latino Enrique Santos, and Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton from the American sitcom television series “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” who will crown one very talented chef with the coveted Schweid & Sons® The Very Best Burger Award. Guests will also have the chance to crown their favorite burger and vote for the People’s Choice Award. The highly anticipated Celebrity Chef Pickleball Tournament presented by Whispering Angel hosted by Tara Bernstein and Hunter Fieri will return to the Miami Beach Golf Club with Food Network star Jeff Mauro as emcee. This year, Festival attendees will have the chance to go against their favorite celebrities and chefs on the court as the Festival will be selling tickets allowing two teams of two to participate in the tournament. 

Throughout the weekend, attendees can spot their favorite stars and musicians at Festival events all around the city. On Saturday, February 24, Grammy-nominated performer and producer DJ CASSIDY will put on a special performance presented by Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey at the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village. On the same night, Les Greene & The Swayzees will be performing on the mainland at Smorgasburg After Dark hosted by Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Robert Irvine. The David Grutman Experience will return on Sunday, February 25, turning the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village courtyard into a mini music festival. While talent will be announced closer to the event, guests can expect unforgettable performances curated by the nightlife and hospitality empresario himself, which in the past have featured the likes of French Montana, DJ Khaled, Cedric Gervais, Alesso, Busta Rhymes, Ludacris and more. Rev Run will close out the Festival with a special performance at the official closing event – BACARDĺ presents The Block Party hosted by Melba Wilson and Andrew Zimmern – which takes on a new block party theme this year. New and exciting events include Jazz Brunch at Delilah Miami, Miami’s hottest new supper club, hosted by Daniel Roy and Pablo Zitzmann, and Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Michael Beltran and Jose Mendín at Regener8 Farm. 

For those who prefer smaller, more intimate experiences, the festival has curated a plethora of new dinners, brunches, and seated experiences including Brunch at Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro Coral Gables and Kosher Dinner hosted by Zak Stern, Timon Balloo, Nando Chang, & Shimi Alon. The Festival’s most coveted star-studded sit down event, the Tribute Dinner honoring Massimo Bottura and Luca Garavoglia hosted by Master of Ceremonies “The Pasta Queen” Nadia Caterina Munno presented by HexClad, will take place on Saturday, February 24, and honor the outstanding accomplishments of the culinary community’s beloved and iconic Massimo Botturra, along with Luca Garavoglia of Campari Group. The sensational, Nadia Caterina Munno, widely known as “The Pasta Queen”, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, and a stellar cast of chefs including Bernardo Paladini, Albert Adrià Acosta, Alain Ducasse and Alberto Marcolongo, Antonio Bachour, Mauro Colagreco, and Jordi Roca i Fontané will serve up dishes to pair perfectly with some of the finest wines from the Campari Group portfolio. An extravagant Live Auction featuring once-in-a-lifetime travel and dining experiences will also be available for bidding. 

The not-to-be-missed FIU Embrace Dinner hosted by David Myers, Pablo Zitzmann and Ralph Scamardella will be held at ADRIFT Mare at Hotel AKA Brickell on Thursday, February 22. In partnership with the FIU Embrace Center for Advancing Inclusive Communities, this dinner aims to empower differently-abled individuals, giving them real-world experience as volunteers in the event, while raising funds for a scholarship program designed to support these students in pursuing hospitality careers through the university’s program. With over $37 million raised in support of its educational mission, the Festival continues to shape the future leaders of the hospitality industry at the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University (FIU). This dinner will be an unforgettable celebration of culinary talent, diversity, and the Festival’s continued mission – to EAT. DRINK. EDUCATE. – in new and necessary ways.

Tickets for the Festival are On Sale NOW, with events that suit all different tastes and budgets at sobewff.org. To stay up to date on Festival happenings all year long, guests are encouraged to follow along with the #SOBEWFF hashtag on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

February 18^th is National Drink Wine Day and Graziano’s is the place to be on this extremely important holiday. With wines spanning from several different countries coming from Italy to Spain to France to Argentina, Graziano’s vast wine selection has something that will be to accommodate to everyone’s liking. At Graziano’s good wine is always accompanied by extraordinary food: authentic Argentinian dishes expertly crafted and served with care.

Graziano’s extends its presence with 11 locations across Miami, inviting customers to explore both restaurants and markets situated in Bird Road, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Aventura, Doral, and Weston. Visit: https://www.grazianosgroup.com/

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival returns this weekend, just in time for Presidents’ Day Weekend on February 17, 18 and 19. Our favorite outdoor arts festival promises three days of beautiful and creative works of art and a lively group of artists and art enthusiasts. There will also be culinary showcases and showdowns, music, activations and fun for the whole family.

New for 2024

Immerse yourself in the dynamic atmosphere of creativity at the Arts & Drafts Beer Garden inside Peacock Park during Festival, where craft brews meet live artistry, offering a unique blend of libations and artistic inspiration with talented craft artists creating live works of art, providing an open forum for workshops, and celebrating the perfect pairing of arts and drafts throughout the three-day festival.

Savor the culinary delights of top-tier restaurants at Flavors of The Grove, where each presents a single signature dish, inviting you to vote for the standout culinary masterpiece that captures taste, creativity, presentation, and overall appeal.

Immerse yourself in a mesmerizing 360-degree dome experience, where state-of-the-art projectors transport you to a world of captivating visuals that surround and envelop your senses.

WHEN:

Saturday, February 17: 10 AM – 6 PM

Sunday, February 18: 10 AM – 6 PM

Monday, February 19: 10 AM – 5 PM

WHERE:

2700 S. Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33133

Tickets are currently on sale at www.cgaf.com and start at $25 online.

Leading visual artist Shawn Kolodny partnered with renowned fragrance brand House of Creed to create new sculptural installations for their holiday window displays in over 30 locations worldwide. Drawing inspiration from Creed’s iconic fragrance bottle, Kolodny created an immersive installation for store visitors, creating striking installations using his signature medium of mirrored steel spheres. This collaboration debuted at Creed’s Miami Design District store on November 15. 

Visitors in Miami during December were able to experience Kolodny’s artwork at the Creed store, and in other locations around the city as part of Miami Art Week. Kolodny partnered with the City of Miami Beach, The House of Creed and the Esmé Miami Beach Hotel to present a new, large-scale public sculpture on Española Way and Drexel Avenue near Miami Beach. This dynamic sculpture evoked the vibrancy and movement of our ever-changing natural world and invited viewers to become a part of the art amidst their own reflection. To add further dimension to the installation, the public sculpture was scented by The House of Creed. 

For additional information about Shawn Kolodny visit: https://www.kolodny.art/

By: Maryanne Salvat

Last night we had the pleasure of dining at the beloved Peruvian gastrobar, Pisco y Nazca, Centurion Restaurant Group’s (CRG) newest addition on Coral Gables’ Miracle Mile.    The authentic dining experience brings locals and visitors a taste of Peru. From the creators and owners of Bulla Gastrobar, Beehive Kitchen, and Havana Harry’s, Centurion Restaurant Group opened the company’s first Pisco y Nazca in 2015 in Kendall, Florida. Since then, Pisco y Nazca has expanded, with locations in Florida (Doral and Coral Gables) Virginia (Reston), and Washington DC. The restaurant’s name stems from the Peruvian saying, “Entre Pisco y Nazca,” meaning having fun and enjoying the company of loved ones – which is the atmosphere they aim to provide all the communities they serve.

The menu boasts a selection of Peruvian classic dishes with a twist, prepared with the finest ingredients. From traditional ceviches (we enjoyed the Cremoso) bursting with fresh flavors to mouthwatering sushi rolls, yes I said sushi, the Lomo Saltado Roll to be precise; probably one of the most original rolls we have experienced. The main dish of Lomo Saltado was exceptional, served with a plentiful side of white rice and fries large enough to share. Every dish tells a story of Peru’s rich culinary heritage.

For those seeking a true taste of Peru’s national spirit, the bar offers an extensive list of Pisco-based cocktails, expertly crafted by mixologists, as well as a daily Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m. appropriately named Hora Loca.

Located at 101 Miracle Mile, Pisco y Nazca Coral Gables is open Sunday (11am – 10pm), Monday – Tuesday (11:30am – 10pm), Wednesday – Thursday (11:30am – 11pm), Friday (11:30am – 12am) and Saturday (11am – 12am). To view the restaurant’s menus and make a reservation, guests can visit www. piscoynazca.com/coral-gables/. For updates on the restaurant and its sister locations, follow them on Instagram at @piscoynazca.