There were no kicks fast as lightning, it wasn't frightening, and the staff showed expert timing when the Catalina Hotel's Kung Fu Kitchen and Sushi recently hosted South Florida's Chef's Club on their South Beach rooftop lounge.
Chef Josh Wahler, of Hell's Kitchen fame, and Nobu South Beach and Los Angeles pedigree, is the new chef in charge at the Kung Fu.
He says, "Besides being a Jewish kid from northern Jersey, Asian food is what I do. I had a pair of chopsticks in my hand as soon as I could hold them."
Chef Wahler prepared a variety of party snacks for his guest including sushi rolls, a salmon tartare and fried gyoza take on chips and dip, and fried pork dumplings.
The Catalina Hotel is hosting a Spam Allstars New Year's Eve. A $95 all access pass gets you entry to three buildings, the Spam Allstars performing live, DJ's spinning, a "lavish super buffet" from 8 p.m. to midnight, open bar, champagne toast and breakfast buffet.
Here are some more pics from the Chef's Club dinner.
Here is a list of folks who were there and who they represented:
Benblatt, Russ Whole Foods Market
Bernal, Sean Oceanaire
Carrino, Larry Brustman Carrino PR
Espinel, Bernardo Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Espinel, Malka Johnny V
Hutson, Cindy & Shirley, Delius Ortanique on the Mile
Jacobs, Michael SHGC
Jeffries, Ali Brustman Carrino PR
LoSasso, Dewey the Forge
Maisonet, Isaac STK
Martin, Nate
Maybury, Gordon Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Rivera, Gonzalo The Tides South Beach
Rothschild, Andrew SHGC
Romano, Jessica Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Santiago, Max STK
White, Natalie Whole Foods Market