Thursday, January 28, 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010

Boutari Wine Dinner @ Eos 2/2/10

This looked interesting enough to pass along.  I've liked the Boutari wines I've tried and the meal I had at Eos.

The first wine dinner of 2010 at the Viceroy Hotel's Eos restaurant takes place on Tuesday February 2nd, featuring the incredible wines of Boutari.

The amazing menu for this dinner was created by executive chef Michael Psilakis. Chef Psilakis is only one of two greek chefs in the world to hold the most coveted Michelin star with his restaurant Anthos in New York City.

The menu for tthis fantastic dinner is as follow:

BOUTARI WINE DINNER
February 2nd, 2010
7p


RECEPTION
hamachi truffle
tomato & olive oil sorbet, crab
pork belly, fennel & lemon glaze
Moschofilero, Mantinia, Peloponesse 2008
·         A fresh wine with intense floral and fruit bouquet dominated by aromas of white rose, melon, and citrus.


FIRST COURSE
tuna sashimi  pickled cucumber, hiji blossom, strawberry-rose foam
Kretikos White, Crete 2008
o Intense fruity aroma of citrus trees, pineapple, peach and grapefruit.  A fresh wine with notes of lemon and pineapple.


SECOND COURSE
smoked octopus  spicy sopressata, pineapple, fennel
Assyrtiko Kallisti Reserve, Santorini 2006
o Rich and complex with fruity aromas (apple and peach).  Oak, roasted nuts, butter and vanilla dominate.  This wine provides a rich lingering, aromatic finish of smoke, honey, and roasted dry nuts.


THIRD COURSE
lobster risotto  uni, caviar, fried herb
Agiorgitiko Nemea, Nemea 2006
o A marmalade of red fruits, including berry, plum and cherry, as well as hints of vanilla.  Velvety taste with very good structure, yet light and refreshing.


FOURTH COURSE
short rib  gigante bean, smoked tomato ragu
Xinomavro Grande Reserva, Goumenissa 2003
o Red fruit with hints of green olive, tomato juice, and cooking spices.


DESSERT
chocolate essencia  sesame halva, lemon tea
Mavrodaphne from Patras, Peloponesse
o Aromas and flavors of caramel, chocolate, coffee, raisins and plums.


Executive Chef Michael Psilakis

$95 + tax + service charge

For reservation please call 305 503 0373


 
Boutari Moschofilero 2007

WEBSITE: Viceroy Miami Hotels and Resorts

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Project New Born - Wine Tasting 1/30/10

I came across this charity event today and wanted to spread the word.  I know from personal experience how special the Jackson Memorial Neonatal Unit is and the incredible work that the doctors and nurses do there on a daily basis.  Impressive is an understatement.  If you've been watching the news this week, you've probably seen the arrival of injured Haitian babies to the facility.  A wine tasting for a great cause is perfect.  See you there.     


A Wine Tasting Like No Other
Over 150 Great Wines, One Great Cause
PROJECT:NEW BORN
Benefiting the Jackson Memorial Neonatal Unit
 Saturday January 30th 6-10pm
At the Westin Diplomat Hotel Convention Center Hollywood
$125 per person (tax deductible!)
Wine-Food-Music-Live & Silent Auctions
To Reserve call 1-888-563-9463
or  On-line www.crownwineandspirits.com under events
Over 150 High End, Single Vineyard & "Cherry Wines" including Beringer Private Reserve - Cakebread -Caymus - Chalk Hill - Conundrum - Darioush - Dominus - Duckhorn - Far Niente - Grgich Hills - Heitz - Jordan- Joseph Phelps - Opus One - Pahlmeyer - Robert Mondavi Reserve - Silver Oak
The Full List is on our Web Site under events


WEBSITE: Crown Wine and Spirits
January 30, 2010 (Sat)
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location:
Westin Diplomat Hotel Convention Center Hollywood
3555 South Ocean Drive
Hollywood, FL 33019


 
Project: New Born is a nonprofit philanthropic organization founded in 1973 by a group of committed and dynamic women who devoted themselves to raising much-needed funds for maintenance and support of the Project: New Born Neonatal Special Care Center, a facility for imperiled premature and high risk infants located at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. In 1986 Project: New Born was joined by the Infantry, an offspring group of young energetic men and women, dedicated to the same goals and pledged to support the annual funding necessary to provide the best possible care for the babies. The organization has raised large sums of money and has pledged to continue to do so! Fund raising occurs through annual dues, through an annual luncheon and gala as well as other events, and through plaques in honor of or in memory of family or friends, which are displayed outside the Project: New Born Neonatal Special Care Center.
The main purpose of the organization is to enable the Neonatal Special Care Center to provide the best possible care of infants with special problems too complex to be managed in other institutions. Chosen by the National Institute of Health, the center is one of small number of centers which form a Neonatal Research Network to investigate specialized problems in the care of sick neonates. Survival for the smallest infants in the Project: New Born Neonatal Special Care Center is one of the highest in all of the Florida counties, and amongst the highest nationwide.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Help Haiti by Eating and Drinking

I came across a couple of charity food events on Twitter and wanted to pass them along.

The first one is from Kris Wessel owner/chef at RED LIGHT
Haitian inspired menu this weekend 25% of proceeds going to relief fund. I have 5 employees directly affected. Lets all support!!
http://twitter.com/1chef1river
7700 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33138
(305) 757-7773

The second item is from WOLFE'S WINES
Miami Haitian Relief Friday Wine Tasting All Proceeds go to the RED CROSS 7-9
http://twitter.com/wolfeswines

Wines to be tasted:
Domaine De La Janasse Terre d’ Argile Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007
Seghesio Zinfandel, Sonoma County 2008
ADW “The Hattrick”, Australia 2005
Mas Doix Salanques, Priorat 2006
Aalto Ribera del Duero 2006
Sonador Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2002
Marengo Barolo “Brunate” La Morra 2005
Wines that will be added: Dierberg, Honig, Scavino, Ben Marco, Zuccardi and some others are coming later.
$10 to all Wolfe Pack who call (305) 445-4567 or E-mail with an RSVP to Jeffrey@wolfeswines.com or send a tweet @wolfeswines gets you in and a riedel glass to go home.
Big, Bold and Beefy Winter Reds
at Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe on the Mile

From FEVERISH ICE CREAM 
http://www.Feveri...
http://twitter.com/FeverishMiami
Give 2 Haiti get a free ice cream bar from us tomorrow! (1/15) We will be driving around picking up supplies to drop off to Food for the Poor.
 tweet,email Or call and we will come pick up donations from your office & drop off 4u Mango@feverishicecream.com 305-482-183

VICTORIA ELLIOTT (Herald Food Critic)
http://twitter.com/vpevpe

Bake Sale for Haiti relief this Sunday at South Pointe Park from 9 a.m.. Bring homemade treats and cash. http://j.mp/8XXdtM
 

I'll update post as I see more events.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Don't, Don't, Don't believe the Hype!!!

As many of you know, I'm a huge burger fan.  I've had the opportunity to visit a couple of new spots over the past couple of weeks as well as two fan favorites.  I can happily report that Le Tub is still a curmudgeon and still serving great big burgers.  They were packed at lunch time on the Monday after Christmas and I was solo and sitting at the bar which allowed me to hear many complaints and a lot of funny questions.  The best one was the Mom who walked in with little Jonny in a baby bjorn.  Mom "any seats available?"  staff " yes, but hour n half for burger" Mom, "how long for a take out burger" dohhhhhhhhh

I started frequenting Le Tub well before they became famous for their burgers. At one time  it was a great low key watering hole that happened to serve a solid late night burger... I enjoy going off season although the heat can be problematic.  If you are a burger fan, go, be patient, grab a cold beer/drink, some gumbo and wait for your tasty burger.
Le Tub on Urbanspoon

Stop 2 was at Quickies on 441 in Hollywood.  This place was made famous by Burger Beasts attempt to "master the Quickie challenge" and eat their 4lb burger. No 4 pounder for me... but I went two times and thought it was a notch better than your typical fast food burger joint. Checkers-esque.  For some reason they feel the need to load their standard burger up with their "special sauce" and onion rings.  It's overpowering.  Too much going on here and it just doesn't rise above fast food. That said, if it's a fast food burger you crave,  then you will probably enjoy Quickies. 


Stop 3 was to the hype machine aka Ingrid Hoffman's  Latin Burger and Taco Truck.  I've read many positive blog reviews and tweets about this spot and it appears that people are getting sucked into the hype machine. I know raving about food trucks is the the in thing to do but let's keep it real.  They still need to deliver the goods.  Latin B is a copy cat version of 5 guys that falls short.  Why search out a food cart when you can get the real deal down the block ?  My burgers were flavorless. (Partly because the staff neglected to include the sauce(s) I requested on two occasions, which is problematic when you open your order as you drive away in your car) On a positive note, the bun was good. I'm going to go back because I really want to try the sauce...

My most recent stop was a return to Charm City Burgers in Deerfield Beach.  Work had me in the area once again and I've been meaning to give this spot another shot since I was underwhelmed by my first visit.  This go round I didn't cut any corners and went for the $10.95 Emperor.  The E is a kobe beef patty melt served on  brioche with aged gruyere and truffled mushrooms.  The Emperor was better than the Good Ole burger I had on my initial visit but it still lacked much flavor.  Big and Juicy? Yeah, Flavorful/tasty? ehhh.  Not worth traveling for.
Charm City Burger Company on Urbanspoon

 Don't believe the hype!!

http://images.buddytv.com/articles/Image/flavor-flav-roast.jpg