This Thursday evening, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden will be hosting the Third Annual International Chocolate Festival Kickoff Party. No, I didn't know about the first two either, but this year's one-hour shindig (6 to 7 p.m.) features hors d'oeuvres from exceptional chef Edgar Leal of Cacao Restaurant -- reason enough to attend. Throw in Bella Sera Italian wines (admittedly no wow factor here), chocolates by Romanicos in Coral Gables (New Times' 2006 BOM winner for Best Chocolate), and the
The James Beard Foundation has announced its nominees for the best chefs around the country, and two of our hunky, homegrown hubbas are among this year's picks: Chef Dean James Max (pictured left) of 3030 Ocean, in Fort Lauderdale; and Chef Zach Bell of Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach. It seems as though the Beard judges read our minds this year, because we were thinking precisely the same thing just as we heard of the announcements, to whit: "Dean and Zach are just so close to perfect in every w
We're referring to Mario Batali being "up there" on stage at the SBWFF's Wines and Food of Spain dinner. You've probably heard that he dropped a couple of F-bombs in front of the royal company. And speaking of F-bombs: What the fuck was he even doing on that platform welcoming the King and Queen of Spain to our city? We've got more than enough great chefs that could have done so, and in the process given Miami's culinary scene a boost. It is nothing less than a slap in the face to our local culi
On Saturday, March 21, Cacao Restaurant in Coral Gables will hold a symphonic celebration following the Miami Symphony Orchestra's performance at Guzman Concert Hall earlier that evening. Guests will have a chance to mingle with world-renowned Miami Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Maestro Eduardo Marturet while sipping wine and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres prepared by Cacao's chef, Edgar Leal, one of this year's James Beard Foundation semifinalists for Best Chef in the South. The e
