Happy Friday! You made it through the work week, so now it's time to reward yourself with a little indulgence.
What's your pleasure? Are you a chocolate fiend, willing to forego your main meal just to save room for an extra slice of cake? Or maybe you're the kind of person who goes wild for simple pleasures, like a good piece of beef or house-cured bacon?
Or, maybe you like a good, well crafted cocktail (at a cheap price) or brunch with friends? We've got you covered on all fronts!
Weekend starts now!
See also: Festival of Chocolate Comes to Miami Auto Museum This Weekend
Festival of Chocolate
Attention chocoholics. You know who you are. You're the person who heads straight for the dessert section of the menu when you sit down to a meal. The one who goes on a European vacation with an extra suitcase for fine, Swiss chocolate, French truffles, and Cadbury Dairy Milk. This weekend's Festival of Chocolate at the Miami Auto Museum was made for you.
The event, which takes place this Saturday, January 16, and Sunday, January 17, features all things cocoa-based. Chocolate truffles, chocolate wine, chocolate s'mores -- you get the picture. If all this chocolate gets you tired, refresh at the chocolate spa. Yes, that's a real thing. The festival runs daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is $20 for adults; $12 for kids; $15 for seniors. For tickets, visit festivalofchocolate.com
Batch Gastropub Late-Night Happy Hour
There's only one thing wrong with happy hours -- they don't last all night. That means that once the party really gets going, you're spending ten bucks or more on each drink. Not at Batch Gastropub. From midnight - 5 a.m., celebrate with a reverse happy hour with drinks starting at $4. Select bottled beers are $4, craft draft beer and select wines are $5, and house-infused fire ball shots are $6. There's also a host of rotating specialty cocktails on tap at reduced prices. Of course, if you're more of an early bird than a night owl, Batch has their regular hapy hour from 4 to 8 p.m.
New Brunch at NIU Kitchen
Looking for something new this weekend? How about NIU's new brunch? The Catalan restaurant, which New Times listed as one of the ten best reviewed restaurants in 2014, is finally serving a weekend brunch. Items include two poached eggs with truffled potato foam, jamón Ibérico, and black truffle ($14); middleneck clams with sofrito, diced jamón ibérico, and sherry vinegar ($15); and calamar a la planxa with potato cream ($16). Wash it all down with a cardomom-scented mimosa ($11). Brunch is served Saaturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. -- perfect for you late risers.
Smith & Wollensky Beef Bacon and Burgundy Pairings
Want to know what heaven looks like? Our version includes a lot of puffy clouds, and a big communal table with Elvis, John Lennon, and Marilyn Monroe sharing a meal of beef, bacon, and Burgundy. Get a little taste of heaven at Smith & Wollensky's beef, bacon, and burgundy pairings. Enjoy some special menu selections like beef Wellington with bacon wrapped tournedos, mushroom ragout and puff pastry, either a la carte or as a prix-fixe meal. Plus, guests who order two glasses of Joseph Drouhin Burgundy will receive a complimentary cup o' bacon featuring house smoked beef bacon with bleu cheese dip.
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