By Patsy I. Linares…. St. Theresa School (STS) starts the fall season with a special event, which is sure to mark an evening of satisfying taste buds as the seventh annual “Taste of the Gables” is underway.
STS cordially invites you to step into an evening of culinary delights as well as premiere wine and spirits. It is the seventh year of this successful event to benefit the St. Theresa Sports Society. Join in on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the newly renovated historic Venetian Pool with a VIP reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. and general admission from 7 to 10 p.m. Participating area restaurants include Vialetto’s, Porfin, Talavera with nouveau Mexican fusion cuisine and much more. The cost is $50 per ticket and checks may be made payable to St. Theresa School. Sponsorships are welcome and available upon request.
By Michelle Palomino…. Miami Seaquarium will go pink this October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as it welcomes its guests with the opportunity to make a contribution to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and save 50 percent on general admission.
The park also will encourage its visitors to get involved in other ways by transforming several park locations with the iconic pink color. The offer starts Sept. 26 and continues until Oct. 31. To participate, guests may visit www.facebook.com/MiamiSeaquarium for a donation form.
“Hopetober is a new campaign initiative aimed at creating awareness and funds for breast cancer research,” said Andrew Hertz, Seaquarium general manager. “We’re excited to be joining forces with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and its missions in education and research funding.”
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is dedicated to saving lives and ending breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. Since its inception in 1996, the Miami/Fort Lauderdale Race For the Cure and the Affiliate have raised approximately $12 million and reached hundreds of thousands of women and men through educational outreach.
For additional information or to volunteer, call 305-383-7116 or visit www.komenmiaftl.org.
Miami Seaquarium, South Florida’s most popular tourist attraction, is a family-oriented marine-life park open to the public 365 days a year. The park provides visitors with a greater understanding and appreciation for marine life through shows, presentations and marine-life exhibits. General admission to Miami Seaquarium is $38.95 and $28.95 for children (ages 3-9).
To help Tropical Audubon Society feather its proverbial nest, Whisk Gourmet, George’s and Town are dedicating ten percent of dinner checks on designated dates to the local nonprofit conservation organization (consecutive first Tuesdays of the month). Each Dining Partner is a Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) neighbor, located within one or two blocks of the society’s headquarters in South Miami. In the spirit of philanthropy and community, the owners of each restaurant recently met with TAS outreach coordinator Stephanie Cornejo as to “hatch” the Dine Out with Tropical Audubon Society partnership that introduces potential new patrons to each restaurant while elevating TAS’s profile as the Voice of Conservation in South Florida — a role that includes helping preserve our community’s natural resources and enhancing quality of life. To help Tropical Audubon Society feather its proverbial nest, Whisk Gourmet and George’s are dedicating ten percent of dinner checks on designated dates to the local nonprofit conservation organization (consecutive first Tuesdays of the month).
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 – Dine Out with Tropical Audubon Society at Whisk Gourmet and help protect South Florida’s natural environment, resources and architectural treasures such as the historic landmark Doc Thomas House, which serves as TAS headquarters.
A Taste of Whisk Gourmet
Located just a few steps west of the TAS property, Whisk Gourmet is owned by siblings Brendan and Kristin Connor, and is critically praised for its deftly prepared locally and seasonally inspired dishes turned out with contemporary American flair. Signature dishes include homemade shaved parmesan cheese and cracked pepper potato chips, cumin-dusted grilled chicken breast and the house classic fried green tomato sandwich.
Whisk Gourmet is located at 7382 SW 56th Ave, South Miami, FL 33143 Dinner is served from 6 p.m. to 10 pm
Limited reservations are accepted for parties 6-12. (786) 268-8350 http://www.whiskgourmet.com/main/.
Ten percent of Tuesday, November 1st dinner checks (exclusive of sales tax) will be donated to Tropical Audubon Society, helping amplify the nonprofit Voice of Conservation in South Florida.
Planning for the 2012 Relay of Life has already begun
The 2011 Pinecrest Relay for Life was a community success. The committee and teams of the Candyland Relay thank all of the Pinecrest residents, businesses, schools, and neighboring communities for their enthusiastic support. The Relay raised over $110,000 to help with the American Cancer Society’s mission of research, advocacy and development of community support systems for those touched by cancer.
Pinecrest Relay 2011 was chaired by Debra Strochak and Mayor Cindy Lerner. Their energy and enthusiasm harnessed the grassroots effort of the community, bringing Pinecrest into the mix of Relay for Life, the No. 1 non-profit program worldwide.
This success and spirit of caring is continuing full steam ahead with planning for the 2012 Pinecrest Relay for Life. In September, there was an enthusiastic turnout for the kickoff event at Bargello Bistro in The Falls. The theme for the Feb. 25 Relay for Life is Romantic Movies and teams are hurrying to secure their favorite choices. Teams come from across the spectrum that is Pinecrest — schools, churches, synagogues, book clubs, businesses, scouts, friends and families. You will want to be part of this year’s event, whether as a team member, volunteer, committee member or cancer survivor attending the Survivor Lap on Feb. 25. Here’s a look at some of the movies already chosen:
“Mama Mia,” if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. It’s “Up” to you to make this “AWalk to Remember”.
“It Could Happen to You” so don’t let any “Big Fat Greek Wedding” keep you away. Even though some of the food might have a little “Grease” we know that you have a “Braveheart” and won’t want to miss this incredible “Saturday Night (Relay) Fever.”
This is an opportunity for a family fun experience guaranteed to touch your heart and lives. Consider being part of this event that helps to celebrate, remember and fight back against cancer. You can participate by using your best talents to form a team, be on the committee, be a sponsor or donate to honor someone you care for.
Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen of Florida’s 18th Congressional District, recently spoke to the business leaders of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce at the Quarterly Pillar Breakfast at La Gorce Country Club. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen’s District stretches from Little Havana to Miami Beach, and from Key Biscayne to Key West. At this Quarterly Breakfast, key issues were addressed regarding boosting the economy through the engine of small businesses and foreign trade to the Miami Beach Community along with issues surrounding the Visa Waiver Act.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen set the tone of her remarks by stating, “Small Businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy, employing tens of millions of workers, and creating most of the new private sector jobs, which are important for economic growth.” Which she supported by highlighting statistics showing that according to the Small Business Administration, Florida has more than 2 million small businesses, which account for half of the private sector jobs in this state. With a National unemployment rate of 9%, it is important for institutions such as the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce to assist small businesses by promoting the economic well-being of the local community.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen recently participated in the U.S. Export/Import Bank Forum and its focus to help small businesses increase their involvement in international trade. Florida was the number two state in exports sales in the nation in 2010 with over $1 billion, of which 73% of these sales were made by small businesses.
President Obama presented to Congress three trade agreements with Columbia, Panama and South Korea, which is going to expand international trade for the U.S., without increasing taxes. As Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Ros- Lehtinen recently held a hearing on the importance of these trade pacts to access overseas markets.
South Florida is known as the gateway to the Americas, and accessing the foreign markets in Columbia and Panama will further increase the economy for Miami-Dade County. Columbia is already Florida’s number 2 trading partner, and Panama sells with Miami have increased by 30% in trade. The U.S. International Trade Commission stated that these three trade agreements will increase U.S. exports by $10 billion of goods. The U.S. Budget Deficit has sky rocketed from $160 billion in 2007 to $1.64 trillion this year, and it is important for the House of Representatives to work together to bring about a full economic recovery for everyone, “So that Americans can do what they do best, create, innovate, and lead” said Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen.
The U.S. Visa Waiver program was addressed by her, which would allow travelers from Argentina, Chile and Brazil to visit the United States for up to 90 days without a visa. The problem stated by Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen is how these countries would fulfill the criteria to be admitted into the program, and how to fully monitor travelers over staying their Visas once they enter the United States.
She went on to delineate the criteria to participate in the Visa Waiver Program, specifying that a country must have had a nonimmigrant refusal rate of less than 3%, the country must certify that it has established a program to issue passport that are fraud resistant by incorporating biometric identifier, the country must accept the re-partition of any citizen for whom a removal order is issued, and it must share information regarding if an individual traveling to the United States presents a threat to the U.S. National Security. Security issues and passport control with countries like Brazil are of major concern for the House of Representatives in passing a Visa Waiver Program for Brazil.
These regulations are strictly enforced, though there is a Bill circulating to change some of the criteria. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen expressed to the group that she is aware of the economic benefits from granting countries such as Brazil, Chile and Argentina Visa Waiver status, however, to secure the Country from foreign threats, there are security items that must be addressed before these countries can be approved by Congress.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen encourages the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and its constituents to take a trip to Congress and to write letters addressing the importance of opening the Visa Waiver Program in countries in South America to assist the economic growth in South Florida and closed the session by fielding questions ranging from the Miami Beach Convention Center issues to reform of the Medical Insurance practices and making medications more affordable.
By Robert Hamilton…. Friends of the Orphans’ Second Annual All the World to One Child Gala fundraiser sponsored by Chevron is taking place on Oct. 21, 8 p.m., at Fairchild Tropical Garden in Coral Gables.
The evening’s theme is to “Plant a Seed of Hope” and invest in a child’s future, giving them the start to a better life. Friends of the Orphans is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to improving the lives of orphaned and abandoned children through the support of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), a network of orphanages, hospitals and community outreach programs that operates in Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, México, Nicaragua, Peru and the Dominican Republic.
The evening is shaping up to be a memorable affair headlined by the emcee, renowned Mexican singer/actress/comedienne Angelica Vale and co-host, pop urban artist PeeWee. Friends of the Orphans is close to Vale’s heart, as its work originated in her homeland more than 50 years ago. Angelica is well known for her work on the Mexican telenovela La Fea Mas Bella (The Prettiest Ugly Girl) alongside her real-life mother, legendary actress Angelica Maria, who is also the evening’s guest of honor.
Pop urban artist and actor PeeWee is known for his hits Carita Bonita (Pretty Little Face) and Tan Feliz (So Happy) as well as starring in the Mexican telenovela Camaleones (Chameleons).
Other celebrity guests at the gala include Nicaraguan Latin music artist Luis Enrique and Grammy-award-winning Latin music producer Sergio George. Enrique’s hits include the Grammy-nominated song Amiga (Friend) from the Grammy-nominated album Luces del Alma (Lights of the Soul).
Also in attendance that evening will be Blanca Soto, Mexican actress, international model as well as 2010 All the World to One Child gala emcee, journalist and television news anchor Neida Sandoval.
Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy delectable hors d’oeuvres and food stations along with Bacardi premium cocktails at an open bar. A silent auction and raffle, highlighted by a Cartier Solo Small Steel timepiece with Opaline silver dial along with vacation, restaurant and luxury packages and fine wines, also will take place.
Sponsors of the second annual All the World to One Child gala are Gold Benefactor sponsor Chevron; patron sponsors Bacardi and Joseph Nader, chief investment officer, Coral Gables Trust Company; Friend of Friends sponsors Jorge Uribe, Sotheby’s Realty, Hogan Lovells, AR New York and Agostón wines, and Mentor sponsor American Airlines.
To purchase tickets to the gala at $150 per person, or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call Friends of the Orphans Southeast Region Miami office at 305-663-6211 or visit www.friendsoftheorphans/2011SE.
South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC), 10950 SW 211 St. in Cutler Bay, presents “A Night in Treme,” The Musical Majesty of New Orleans on Friday, Oct. 21 at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $30, $20, $10 ($5 tickets CultureShockmiami.com), $5 off orchestra level seats for students and seniors. For ticket information visit <www.smdcac.org> or call 786-573-5300.
The show features the legendary Soul Rebels Brass Band and special guest artists alto saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr., singer and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, and trombonist and singer Glen David Andrews. These artists are featured prominently in the acclaimed HBO Series, Treme, (pronounced truh-MAY), from David Simon and Eric Overmyer.
Treme follows musicians, chefs, Mardi Gras Indians and ordinary New Orleanians as they try to rebuild their lives, their homes and their unique culture in the aftermath of the 2005 hurricane and levee failure that caused the near-death of an American city.
The famous Treme neighborhood of New Orleans has been a source of African American music and culture for as long as cooks in the Crescent City have been serving red beans and rice on Monday nights. Birthplace of the great New Orleans brass band tradition and one of the first black neighborhoods in America, Treme is the heartbeat of New Orleans and the home to Congo Square.
Community education and outreach is planned with artist Glen David Andrews on Oct. 20 and 21. Andrews will hold master classes and lecture demonstrations with students at Mays Conservatory for the Arts, Miami Dade College Kendall Campus (Jazz School), and MacArthur South Young Men’s Academy.
By Nancy Eagleton…. They say clothes make the man, and the man behind the best dressed men, and women in South Florida is John the Tailor according to many famous clientele. Since 1964, John Khoury says he has been creating custom European suits for men and tailoring the clothing worn by the best-dressed people around.
In the 1970s, John made suits for the one and only Johnny Carson. Today, his client list includes former Miami Heat coach Pat Riley, current Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, Alonzo Mourning, Penny Hardaway, Heat basketball players, mayors, city and county commissioners and clients from the Keys to Palm Beach.
John the Tailor opened his shop in South Miami more than 30 years ago. He tailors off the- rack suits and dress shirts to give them a made-to-order look. John also crafts custommade European suits from the finest English and Italian fabrics. It takes only three brief fittings to create the perfectly tailored, customized suit, says John.
“Most men don’t want every suit to look exactly the same. I follow current trends so I can make recommendations to my clients about fabrics, cut and styling.”
The secret of a well-dressed woman is the Sharp dressed men go to John the Tailor South Miami’s John the Tailor fit,” says John. He also tailors women’s business pantsuits, skirts, blouses and dresses, as well as special occasion dresses. “What good is a nice suit or dress if it doesn’t fit well?” asks John. “Your clothing will fit, and therefore will look so much better. I guarantee all of my work.”
To handle fashion emergencies, John the Tailor offers same day “emergency” service at no extra charge. He has four talented tailors, including one of his brothers, who work with him and have been sewing under his watchful eye for more than 17 years.
John learned to sew with his grandmother and uncle in Lebanon at a very young age. He described his uncle, Doumit Khoury, as “the best tailor in Lebanon who has made suits for the kings of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Africa.”
“I made my first pair of pants when I was 13, I would leave school to go work with my uncle. I love to sew – it’s in my blood. I love this business and I love what I do.”
John is one of 10 children from the Khoury family, who all came to the U.S. from Lebanon. The Khoury name is a familiar one in South Miami. His brother Maroun owns Khoury’s Restaurant on Southwest 73rd Street. John has been married to wife Layla for 38 years and together they have three children and three grandchildren.
John the Tailor is at 5609 SW 74 St., 305- 667-8768. The shop hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
By Richard Yager…. A $2.7 million project to improve Sunset Drive (SW 72nd Street) east of 87th Avenue is scheduled to get underway by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) during October.
Due for completion by June 2012, the project includes repaving and restriping the roadway and narrowing sections of the center median to permit wider outside lane access for bikers.
Also known as Marjorie Stoneham Douglas Drive, the section between SW 84th Place east to SW 69th Avenue will get new sidewalk sections and pedestrian ramps, curb and gutter replacements and new drainage installations.
Trees not conforming to safety standards for FDOT will be removed, with new pavement markings added, along with installation of updated signage and newly erected “Share the Road” signs for bicyclists.
FDOT also marked the completion of a new $330 million, 18-mile section of US1 connecting the South Florida mainland with the Florida Keys, between Florida City and Key Largo.
Requiring almost seven years to construct, a dedication ceremony marking the end of the project took place on Sept. 28 with officials praising new road features as well as safety, environmental and aesthetic improvements between SW 344 Street in Florida City and Mile Marker 116.
“No. 1 is safety and we will be able to eliminate 10 to 14 critical accidents a year,” said Gus Pego, FDOT’s District 6 Secretary.
The project over three-and-one-half years included two bridges, building an auxiliary lane in Florida City, installing a median barrier and installation of box culverts over the C-111 Canal.
Other current Kendall area FDOT projects include:
Kendall Drive (SW 88th Street) repaving and re-striping with minor widening along SW 87th Avenue, including drainage and signalization improvements, begun February 2011 with completion due in July. Cost is $536,388.
Bird Road (SW 40th Street) repaving and re-striping from SW 73rd Avenue to SW 71st Avenue, and between SW 70th and SW 69th avenues, replacing existing storm water drains, extending left-turn lanes from eastbound Bird to northbound SW 72nd Avenue and SW 69th Avenue; replacing sidewalks, curb, gutter and pedestrian ramps, as well as traffic and railroad signals and gates at the CSX Railroad crossing west of SW 72nd Avenue; plus street light upgrading. Project due for completion by December at a cost of $1.02 million.
M-Path Extension from Dadeland South Metrorail Station to SW 67th Avenue includes pedestrian/bicycle bridge over SR 878 (Snapper Creek Expressway), installing lighting, signage, fencing; cleaning Snapper Creek Canal; installing a wall with railings along the south side of the canal; new signage, traffic signals at intersections; pedestrian ramps, repaving and re-striping intersections, adding landscaping and decorative pavement. Cost: $4.5 million with project completion by December.
Hard Rock Café Miami, located in Bayside Marketplace was the place to be as hundreds of guests from the Aventura Marketing Council (AMC), Argentine American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), Downtown Miami & Brickell Chamber of Commerce (DMBC), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce (MBCC), Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce (M-DCC), Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) and Viernes Culturales joined together for a jumbo networker that featured great food and drink, amazing singers and unbeatable networking.
Gonzalo del Rio, sales manager for Hard Rock Café Miami, said, “This was the third year that we hosted this fabulous event… and each year surpasses the one before! This year, we’ve asked guests to donate ‘from the heart’ to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of So. Florida, my chosen charity.” Using a “Christmas in October” theme, del Rio and his talented team served up a full holiday dinner with all the trimmings in their private dining room, as well as wonderful passed hors d’oeuvres and gracious hospitality throughout the evening.
There was no doubt that Hard Rock Café Miami is a perfect place for upcoming meetings and social events.
Blue Bell Ice Cream was back for the third time, and the line of guests waiting to enjoy their delicious ice cream was testament to the tremendous success the company has had since entering the Florida market.
Emcee “showman extraordinaire,” George Neary from the Gr. Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, was just that- a ‘showman extraordinaire’! Everyone knew they were in for a treat when he donned his ‘sparkle’ jacket to take the stage. Ad-libbing off his 36-page agenda, Neary had the audience eagerly awaiting his next joke.
Celebrity Judges included community leader and philanthropist Aventura Comm. Billy Joel; multi-Carbonell Award- winning actor and director Dan Kelley, now starring at the Miami Beach Stage Theatre; Super DJ Angel Rodriguez who is also agent for the legendary salsa duo “Hansel y Raul”; Nicole Gates, Promotions Director of WLYF-101.5 FM Radio; and Heather Davis, noted model and actress.
Henry Menendez of HNO Productions provided all the audiovisual and photographer Juan Saco Miranoff was taking photos throughout the evening.
Each singer took the stage, representing one of the participating organizations: 11-year old Samuel Alexander, representing the GMCVB, sang “It Feels Like Tonight; 17 yearold opera singer Nicole Bequer sang “Think of Me”; Daniel Bouchet, who sang “Mack The Knife” representing the AACC; Octavia Cummings – the winner of the contest – representing the M-DCC, blew the roof off with her version of “A Fool in Love”; Lourdes the Voice, representing the DMBC, sang her original song, “Bajo la Luna”; Magda Ortiz, representing the MDGLCC, sang “Animal” and Rona Rose Witek, representing the MBCC, won runner-up with “Before He Cheats.”
It was a difficult decision for the five celebrity judges to select a winner and runner-up…their scores were combined with the audience votes to reach the final decision. CPAs Steven Price and Derby Norvilus from the firm of Goldstein Schechter Koch, served as Official Scorekeepers, and tallied the votes.
Just before the results were announced, 14-year old Ashley Briggs, a singer/songwriter, who is a volunteer for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, entertained the audience with “There’s Your Trouble.”
The winning singer, Octavia Cummings, won two round-trip tickets on Continental Airlines to go anywhere in the U.S., Mexico or Canada, thanks to friends from the GMCVB and Continental Airlines. In addition, the M-DCC’s selected charity ‘Voices for Children,’ received a $500 donation.
Runner-up Rona Rose Witek won two tickets to all the 2011- 2012 shows at the Miami Beach Stage Door Theatre, thanks to the MBCC and Sharon Kersten PR.
For more information on Hard Rock Café Miami, call 305- 377-3110 or visit hardrock.com.
So my very picky brother came to the states (he lives in Costa Rica) a few weeks ago and wanted to go out to dinner. I didn’t really feel like hiking it all the way down South – not even to mid-town or the Design District, but was at a loss. What would satisfy his need for the best food and service – while remaining really close to home. Well, let’s see – Chef Allen… gone. Pilar… too old-school. Grill on the Alley, Bella Luna, Cheesecake Factory (yeah, right) …all “mall”…not going to happen.
So after racking my brain, I remembered Turnberry. Bourbon Steak. When you think about Michael Mina, you just can’t go wrong. So in we went. It was quiet…at 8:30 ona Saturday. I was a bit surprised bwecasue I’d expected a bit of chaos. Aventurians do not usually go to dinner much later than the 8PM hour so I thought, “Hmmm…maybe something is wrong.”
But much to the contrary. At 9 PM the place started filling up. Not the tables so much, but the entire bar area. There was a private party. And as the folks filed in, the appetizers began circulating and all was right in the world. Little sliders, bacon wrapped scallops, fries, fries, and more fries, and the like.
From our “front view table” my husband Ian and I, my brother and our friends Charles and Jacque all watched the action while dining on delicious cuisine. So, what did we have? Okay, here’s the deal. As we sat down, mere minutes after out perfectly mixed artisanal cocktails were transferred from the bar to our table, the waiter delivered Bourbon Steak’s signature fries. Some places offer bread – Mina’s idea of an “on the house” starter are hand-cut fires. They come – crispy, hot and fresh from the fryer with three dipping sauces including a house made ketchup.
Starters, which are not inexpensive, are large enough to share. I began with the heirloom tomato salad, which was served with Burrata cheese, pine nuts, and a light vinaigrette ($18). I could have stopped there and it would have been enough, but naturally, hat is dinner without, well, dinner. I ordered short ribs with celery root purée, baby vegetables, and perigourdine ($32). The meat was so tender it literally fell off the bone. Being a fan of slow cooked food, I was thrilled with my choice.
My husband began with Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho, which was topped with Alaskan King Crab, and Serrano Chili. It was light and refreshing and a perfect beginning to his petite Wagyu NY Strip ( medium rare and was so tender it was fork-cuttable). Served with Short Rib Croutons, Jasmine Rice, and Cilantro Chimichurri it would have been worth any price, however, as part of the Miami Spice menu (on a Saturday, too) – it was only $45 (usually $35 but there was a $10 supplement – it is Wagyu after all).
Specials occur regularly, and that particular night, they were offering a 48-ounce bone in New York Strip for just $125. Okay, it was on the pricey side, but there was a lot of “dinner” waiting to happen. After a bit of hemming and hawing, my bro decided that it was his vacation and he could indulge if he chose to. And with that, a stunning piece of beef, prepared a perfect medium and pre-sliced came to the table the pan it was cooked in. I am not sure how I feel about this because, while it was flavorful and well done (as in perfectly prepared), there were only seven medium slices of meat. Most of the weight came from the bone. We were, at first, going to share it and if we had chosen to go that route, we would’ve been sorely disappointed (and still hungry).
Sides are all separate. We shared broccoli – nothing special, but being a fan of the veggie – it was quite tasty. The truffled mac and cheese was creamy and tasty, and in my opinion, amazing. After all, you can never go wrong with anything with the word truffle in the title.
One of our friends ordered the scallops. For $36, he received a few medium sized crustaceans on a plate. They were prepared nicely, but he is a big guy and definitely needed more food.
The hit of the night came at the end. Ian’s spice menu selection included dessert. Not a huge fan of dessert, I always tend to prefer walking away with savory in my mouth. He ordered bread pudding. Bourbon and Peach bread pudding topped with Vanilla bean ice cream was enough to make it all worth it.
After each taking a very satisfying bite, we paid the check and left satisfied.
So, all in all, would I rush back? Perhaps, for select things when I want to indulge. It is expensive. But being that it is so close to my house, it did the trick.
Shari Lynn Rothstein has been writing about food, wine, lifestyles and fashion for more than 20 years, in New York and Florida. She resides in Aventura. Shari can be reached at shari@slkcreative.com, mailto:shari@slkcreative.com for comments, questions thoughts.
By Michelle Ishakov…. Fall is the start to many yearly celebrations, holidays, and other fall festivities. With all the yummy, hearty food and drinks going around, one can pack on the pounds in just a few servings! Not to mention with cooler weather comes less workouts, meaning even more weight gain. From candies, chocolates, fall beverages, and heart holiday meals, it is no wonder many of us make losing weight our new year’s resolution! Here are a few tips for keeping your figure during this wonderful time of year!
When it comes to drinks, try to have drinks that are not mixed with extra sugars. Stick to wine, tequila, vodka, or whiskey. If having a mixed drink, pair it with diet soda. Try to eliminate fruity, sugary drinks that contain a lot of calories.
On the nights you want to drink, try to eat less carbs that day so that you can use your carbs towards your drinks. If you are at a dinner and about to order food, stick to vegetables and proteins (such as fish or meat). No carbs, which means no sugars (dessert), pasta, rice, or potatoes.
If there is a buffet at a dinner party and you don’t know what foods to choose or what foods to combine, opt for 1 to 2 types of protein. For example, eat a piece of fish and/or meat plus salad. Choose a green salad over salads that contain corn, beans, and pasta. If you feel like having beans for example, you can have beans and rice (1/2 a cup each) plus vegetables; but do NOT have meat, beans, rice, vegetables, fruit, dessert, etc. This is a big no-no. Not only will you gain weight, but you will feel bloated and uncomfortable the next day. Remember, it’s all about proper food combinations!
A tip I highly recommend is having a protein snack before you leave the house to avoid arriving to dinner hungry. Hunger leads to poor food decisions!
Try not to eat a late dinner as we burn less calories at night (and are less active). If you are feeling hungry late at night, go for a protein snack that doesn’t contain lots of sugars (5 grams max per serving).
With every alcoholic drink you have, have a glass of water. Alcohol dehydrates you. Drinking water will also keep you fuller and you will not feel hung over the next day.
Finally, if you feel that you “over did it” the night before or couldn’t hold back on savoring all the yummy foods at dinner, make sure to watch what you eat the following day. Have a healthy day by having proteins and vegetables.
To avoid that holiday bulge and receive helpful recommendations for the fall season, please come visit me at Nutriway at the Promenade Shops in Aventura. I can also be reached at 305-438-7775 or mishakov@mynutriway.com. See you soon!
St. Theresa School (STS) starts the fall season with a special event, which is sure to mark an evening of satisfying taste buds as the seventh annual “Taste of the Gables” is underway.
