Held in the W South Beach's ballroom, just feet away from Carmellini's other baby, the Dutch, the event wasn't overcrowded with restaurants or people. They sold just the right amount of tickets for the intimate affair, and you had the luxury of not having to battle sand in your shoes for a change -- which is nice when you're drinking copious amounts of bubbly.
Less than 20 participating restaurants made it easy to get through all of them without feeling completely gluttonous and like we needed loosen up our drawstring pants (worn on purpose, of course). Endless flowing champagne is not only the perfect compliment to chicken skin, but got us feeling sassy and classy at the same time, and in the mood to keep the party going after, which continue at the Broken Shaker with Andrew Carmellini, Michael Schwartz, and Jose Mendin all in attendance.
Clayton Miller of Yardbird is extra poised while serving the restaurant's famed mama's chicken biscuits with pepper jelly and pickles.
Cafe Boulud served up a beautiful fried chicken drum that had nice spice to it and accompanied with red cabbage slaw and charred scallion.
