Posts in #SOBEWFF
Food + Film: Ella Brennan documentary at Miami Film Festival

Food + Film makes for a tasty combination and this year's Miami Film Festival (March 3- 12) featured the documentary, “Ella Brennan: Commanding The Table”, which combined the two for a special and unique culinary event.

Ella Brennan is the matriarch of the family behind NOLA’s iconic Brennan’s and Commander’s Palace, an inspiring creator of New Orleans breakfasts and jazz brunches, a great proponent of Creole cuisine, and a pioneer in what would become the modern American food movement. But there’s a fascinating story beneath the glory, a biographical trajectory that swings between familial conflict and dazzling success. The New York Times called her, “The Grand Dame of New Orleans”.

Oscar and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks delves deep into Brennan’s roots, life and work, her struggles and strategies, and the triumphs that make her an iconic figure in American culinary culture and business.

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Saturday Sweets: Sweet Eats at #SOBEWFF

Last week Food Network and Cooking Channel’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival took over South Beach with tons of celebrity chefs, food, and alcohol. Of course, there were plenty of desserts to choose from - in fact; there were TWO dessert specific events! Naturally I made sure I was at both.

Friday night, The Sarsaparilla Club hosted Salty, Sweet & Savory Treats featuring The Salty Donut, Sarsaparilla Club, and The Bar Lab Boys poolside at the Shelborne. There was no shortage of desserts on deck, especially with Chef Max Santiago of The Salty Donut involved. All of the usual favorites were present - Maple Bacon, Guava, Traditional Glazed, and Brown Butter + Salt. But the serious show stopper was made exclusively for SOBEWFF. The Passion Fruit + Dark Chocolate + Salted Caramel: salted caramel glaze, passion fruit foam and gel, dark chocolate ganache, house made chocolate garnishes and edible blossoms from Swank Specialty Produce. It was just as delicious as it was beautiful! I was lucky enough to sneak an extra one and save it for breakfast the next morning.  

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The 2017 “Unofficial” SOBEWFF event guide

Welcome the 65,000 attendees of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival February 23-26!  Don’t despair if you got closed out of a coveted event, or found the prices a bit rich for your tastes. In celebration of Miami’s own amazing food scene, local chefs and restaurants have come up with some creative and unique events of their own. 

Hence, the “Unofficial” SOBEWFF guide is here:

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Chef "Uri Buri" brings Israeli food to Miami

It was another of those lovely Miami nights….no humidity, a warm soft breeze and walking into the barely 2-month-old Café Roval just off Biscayne and 54th felt like I had traveled many days to this green oasis of coral, wood, lush vegetation and small pools and ponds.  But, the feature on Café Roval is a whole other story saved for a later date, as last night, Café Roval and it’s chef, Peter Fred, played host to internationally acclaimed, Israeli Chef and Hotelier, Uri Jeremias of Uri Buri in Acre.

Uri Jeremias, most recognizable for his long flowing white beard, is a bit of an old soul, who not only shared with us his menu of 8 courses of authentic Israeli cuisine, but his wise thoughts on relationships, the current state of the world and offered hope for a future of living together peacefully in these complicated times.

It was an evening of food and friends with a dash of philosophy, and I am not sure which I enjoyed most.

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South Beach Wine + Food Festival : MIAbites picks for #SOBEWFF

Countdown to #SOBEWFF! February is our favorite month in Miami as the South Beach Wine and Food Festival and it’s over 65, 000 guests take over Miami Beach and surrounding Miami venues from February 22-26 for 4+ days of Food, Wine, Fun and maybe even a little sun in between all of the over 85 different events and seminars.

Now in its 16th year and hosted by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Florida International University (FIU), the Festival benefits FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center. To date, the Festival has raised more than $24 million for the school.

So, where to begin?  Here are MIAbites picks for best 12 SOBEWFF events with a focus on some of the amazing local chef talent and local venues featured this year in collaboration with many of your favorite Food Network stars. Many events sell out quickly, so check availability and buy your tickets online at www.sobefest.com.  ( Pro Tip- Many of the below events have limited discount tickets available on both Gilt City and Groupon.

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