Cooking competitions are always fun. They're all about heat, suspense, speed, and mystery ingredients.
Starting tomorrow, you'll be able to get your fix on a regular basis. Kitchen Kreative, a monthly series benefitting Slow Food Miami, launches at 7 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.
Its first contenders? Giorgio Rapicavoli of Eating House and Adrianne Calvo of Chef Adrianne's Vineyard Restaurant & Bar.
See also: Giorgio Rapicavoli Wins Iron Fork 2013 (Photos)
Here's how it works: Every month, two chefs will go knife-to-knife and prepare a five-course tasting menu. Participants will work alongside a mixologist, developing cocktails to pair with each dish.
Cocktails will be prepared in the same spirit. But the hooch will vary. This month, Kitchen Kreative will feature Diplomático Rum, a premium Venezuelan spirit.
Calvo isn't intimidated by the choice. "Diplomatico Rum is smooth," she says. "It's a sipping rum, so it's a pleasure to work with. It's not too much of a challenge when you're working with such a great product."
Rapicavoli, on the other hand, admits rum pairings can be tough. "Usually you pair food with wine or beer -- at least that's how we do it at Eating House," he says. "Rum is definitely going to a challenge."
Although chefs can pick their mixologists in advance, Calvo isn't ready to reveal her choice. "It's someone with amazing talent. He's won awards at an international level. I'm sure he's going to blow everyone's socks off," she explains.
Rapicavoli selected Eddie Fuentes from the Broken Shaker as his mixologist. "He's done some really amazing things at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and at the Broken Shaker. He's my boy," he adds.
Want to learn more about Kitchen Kreative? Check out the video below.
Kitchen Kreative will take place on Wednesday, October 23rd at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. Tickets are $150 and only 150 tickets will be sold. Purchase tickets at www.kitchekreativemiami.com
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