Miami's Best Eats and Drinks This Week: Beer School, Miami Smokers at SushiSamba, and Free Queso

Heirloom tomatoes with burrata cheese, rigatoni pasta in a white-wine cream sauce, and chocolate lava cake with strawberry mousse. The Forge's updated Miami Spice dinner menu is a foolproof way to end your Monday and begin your week on a happy and tasty note.

This week is busy for foodies. Get back into the classroom Tuesday with a Beer 101 class at Whole Foods Coral Gables. Wednesday, grab Martha Stewart's latest cookbook and head to your local Williams-Sonoma for the monthly cookbook club. Celebrate Mexican Independence Day at Wapo Taco this Wednesday or Quesopalooza at Moe's Thursday. And don't miss Andres Barrientos from Miami Smokers at SushiSamba Thursday as the restaurant says goodbye to the summer guest chef series. 

Monday

Miami Spice at the Forge 
It's time to get selective. With a little less than three weeks left of this year's Miami Spice, the countdown to get to as many of the 181 restaurants as possible is ticking. Here's a suggestion: Make a list of your must-go places; then add the Forge. The iconic Miami Beach restaurant has updated its menu for the remainder of Spice, and for $39, you can make your heart and belly happy. That's the best remedy for those infamous Monday blues. 

Tuesday

Beer School: 101 at Whole Foods Market Coral Gables
Get ready to get beer-schooled. Whole Foods Market Coral Gables’ beer experts will hold class at the store's Tapas y Taps area, located behind the chef’s case, at 7 p.m. Beer students 21 or older will get to taste the “class assignments.” No registration necessary.

Wednesday

Mexican Independence Day at Wapo Taco
Hump day is Mexican Independence Day (when the small town of Dolores stood up to Spanish authorities in the 19th Century), and Wapo Taco wants to celebrate with you. Coral Gables and Hallandale Beach locations will have all-day happy hours featuring two-for-one Mexican beers and micheladas and two gourmet taco specials created by chef David Muñoz. The taco de lengua is made with braised beef tongue and comes topped with avocado, cilantro, tomatoes, and crema de rancho. The taco de chile relleno con nogada is filled with a roasted cuaresmeno pepper, picadillo, pomegranate seeds, parsley, and nogada, a walnut-based cream sauce. The restaurant's regular menu will be offered as well.
Martha Stewart's Appetizers at Williams-Sonoma
If you find yourself with one too many cookbooks in the kitchen and an overwhelming desire to try that new, 15-ingredient recipe, Williams-Sonoma's monthly cookbook club is for you. Each class features recipes from a different volume. September will showcase Martha Stewart's Appetizers, with recipes for her favorite small-bite dishes. You'll get to try roasted spiced chickpeas, cauliflower-spinach dip, cherry tomato BLTs, and Provençal onion tart. It begins at 6 p.m. and costs $75 per person for the class, cookbook, and 10 percent discount after class.

Thursday

Quesopalooza at Moe’s Southwest Grill
To celebrate queso, music, and loyal fans, Moe's Southwest Grill has created a new holiday: Quesopalooza. For the entire day, people can stop by for a free six-ounce cup of cheesy goodness and all of the tortilla chips required to enjoy every last drop. The best part: No purchase is necessary. Use the hashtag #FreeQuesoRocks to keep the party going all day long. 

Andres Barrientos from Miami Smokers at SushiSamba 
It's the final installment of SushiSamba's summer guest chef series, and they saved the best for last: Andres Barrientos from Miami Smokers will cook with executive chef David Sears from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $50 per person for a five-course meal and two cocktail pairings. Reserve your seat by calling 305-448-4990.