Tag Archives: Andrew Zimmerman

South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2013

Culinary Students from FIU’s Chaplin mSchool of Hospitality and Tourism ManagementSumptuous Cuisine at Best of the Best SOBE 2012Celebrity Chefs at SOBE 2012

Florida International University - School of H...

Calling all foodies and wine enthusiasts. It’s time to uncork and decant your favorite wine and hide your scale so you can indulge in four days of sumptuous cuisine at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2013!

WHEN: February 21-24, 2013

TICKETS: www.sobefest.com

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Raise Your Glass to the Philanthropic Celebrity Chefs and Sponsors at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival for generating over $17 million for FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism management. The Food Network, Southern Wine & Spirtis of Florida and FOOD & WINE Magazine presented a series of culinary events led by world-renown chefs and world-class spirits and wine companies at the annual Foodie Event of the Year.

Celebrity Chefs at SOBE 2012

Wine and Swine Event at SOBE 2012

Hundreds of food and wine festivals are held in the U.S. each year. Some  are decades-old events and others are new kids on the block.

A typical food and wine festival  feature tastings, pairings, demonstrations and “dine-arounds” held at local restaurants. Some even have cookbook signings by celebrity chefs.

These events are generally about philanthrophy. In South Beach, sponsors collaborated with Celebrity Chefs, culinary students and over 11,000 team members raise money for culinary students. The South Beach Food and Wine Festival 2012 was one of the best food and wine festivals in the country!

Celebrity Chefs at SOBE 2012

The 2012, 11th edition of the annual fund-raiser for Florida International University‘s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management worked to generate over $17 milllion since the inception of the Festival eleven years ago. Nearly 1000 students volunteered thousands of hours preparing for this incredible 4-day wine, spirits and culinary extravaganza. The students are preparing to walk in the footsteps of the Celebrity Chefs to become future leaders in these exciting industries.

Emeril Lagasse at SOBE 2012

There were dozens of exciting events including: late-night parties, special dinners, signature food and wine tastings and culinary demonstrations led by Rock Star celebrity chefs. For the full list of events visit www.sobefest.com so you can save the date for next year’s extravaganza!

Bobby Deen at SOBE 2012

Nadia G at SOBE 2012

Rachel Ray at SOBE 2012

In front of the Ritz-Carlton, at the Delano Beachside there were incredible events like: Moet Hennessy’s “The Q after Dark” hosted by Emeril Lagasse and Guy Fieri and “Late Night Bites and Sweets” sponsored by Godiva Chocolatier. Paula Deen had a Sunday Brunch, Andrew Zimmerman hosted “Trucks on the Beach”, “Burger Bash” was hosted by Rachel Ray. There was a “Swine and Wine” event hosted by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos at the Biltmore Hotel Country Club in Coral Gables.

Guy Fieri at SOBE 2012

Roasted Pig at SOBE 2012Moet Hennessy’s “The Q” at the Delano Beach Front at SOBE 2012

Wine Spectator‘s “Best of the Best” offered extraordinary wines rated 90 points or higher with world-class chefs serving a sampling of their signature cuisine. This lavish event was held at the iconic Fontainbleau Hotel on Collins Avenue.

Wine Auction at Best of the Best Sobe 2012

Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Miami 2012

There was even a Tribute Dinner honoring Chef Charlie Trotter and winemaker Piero Antinori at the Lowe’s Miami Beach Hotel. Anthony Bourdain was the Master of Ceremonies at this event.

The Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village  offered sips and bites as well as Culinary and Lifestyle Demonstrations at 13th Street and Ocean Drive on the Beach.

SOBE Bites 2012

Tasty bites at SOBE 2012

There were plenty of Vino con Vista opportunities this weekend at SOBE 2012. I was sipping plenty of wine from around the world and tasting the unbridled flavors of signature bites from famous restaurants around the country.

Sumptuous Cuisine at Best of the Best SOBE 2012

Grand Tasting Village Entrance at SOBE 2012

Over $17 million has been generated over the past 11 years to fund state-of-the-art facilities including: the Southern Wine and Spirits Beverage Management Center, the Hilton Training Kitchen, a teaching restaurant, dining room and wine cellar and the Angostura Culinary Lecture/Demonstration Classroom. For more information on this extraordinary program visit  www.hospitality.fiu.edu

Follow my blog to learn about Wine and Food Festivals that are held all over the country.

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

Gina and Pat Neely at SOBE 2012

SOBE 2012

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Top Picks for Chicago Restaurant Week 2012

Chocolate Bar at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago

Image by benchilada via Flickr

For ten days starting February 17, 2012, you will have an opportunity to dine at over 200 Chicago Restaurants that offer three-course, Prix fixe menus starting at $22 for lunch and $33 for dinner. Visit www.eatitupchicago.com for the full list. Make reservations ASAP!!

Here’s are some of the restaurants that I dined at last year. I am including them as my favorites for the 5th annual event:

1. The impressive Lobby Restaurant of the Peninsula Hotel offered a starter buffet of roasted vegetables, crabmeat ceviche over a medley of fresh fruit and an assortment of cheeses and charcuteie options. I ordered the grilled salmon BLT for lunch and indulged in the incredible dessert bar with my latte.

2. Sepia is a delightful restaurant in Chicago. The dining room is located in a former 1890′s print studio and it is filled with photography memorabilia. Executive chef Andrew Zimmerman graduated first in his class at the prestigious French Culinary Institute and it is reflected in his Meditterranean influenced cuisine. The urban eatery has exposed brick walls and is located at 123 N. Jefferson Street in Chicago just east of the Kennedy Expressway between Washington and Randolf. I order the porchetta for starters followed by the grilled pork loin and frozen ginger parfait-YUM!

Restaurant Week Chicagao 2011

Sepia Restaurant in Chicago

3. NAHA is located at 500 N. Clark St. where executive chef Carrie Nahabedian merges her Armenian roots with Mediterranean influenced flavors that earned her a Michelin star. She was the former executive chef at the Four Seasons Properties in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara. For my first course I ordered the “Laughing Bird” Shrimp from Belize served over white corn grits. For my main course, I opted for the braised Mishima Ranch “Kobe” Wagyu Beef Brisket with Beluga lentils, bacon roasted parsnips and carrots. My dessert was a millefeuille of bananas with vanilla mousseline and salted caramel.

Restaurant Week Chicago 2011

4. David Burke”s Primehouse is located in the James Hotel at 616 N. Rush. For started I ordered the Surf and Turf Dumplings, two of them were filled with lobster mousse and the other two were filled with braised short-ribs. My entrée included a dry-aged classic fillet served with a side of mushrooms and mashed potatoes. For dessert, I enjoyed the pinapple upside down cake with rum caramel and sour cherry sorbet.

5. Le Colonial has one of my favorite French-Vietnamese inspired menus. It is located Rush Street and is housed in a two-story vintage townhouse  decorated in the millieu of 1920′s Siagon. I indulged in the Cha Gio for starters; these fried spring rolls were outstanding! Follow up with the “Bun Thit Nuong”;  BBQ pork served over angel-hair noodles. For dessert try, the crispy banana wonton.

Restaurant Week in Chicago

6. Il Mulino’s Italian menu at 1150 N. Dearborn is served in a lavish, historic Gold Coast mansion. The eggplant filled with ricotta is one of my favorites for starters. For the entree, I selected the Piccata di Vitello al Limone and my dolci option suggestion is Torta di Formaggio; cheesecake with whipped cream and berries.

7. The Atwood Cafe in the loop on State Street is one of my favorite dining rooms and is located in the elegantly-renovated Hotel  Burnham across from Macy’s on Washington. This dining room is one of my favorites in Chicago. They  offeried the regular menu with a three-course option for Restaurant Week. I loved the Ahi Tuna appetizer and they serve one of the best pork chops in town. The chocolate dessert was decadent.

8. Blackbird’s award-winning restaurant at 619 W. Randolf offered seared scallops for a starter with a roasted chicken entree and a choclate ganache dessert.

9. Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab at 60 E. Grand is the Chicago outpost of Miami’s legendary Joe’s Stone Crab. For dinner have a cup of chowder of bisque with crab claws or steak and don’t leave without indulging in the famous key lime pie for dessert.

10. This year, I’m torn between Terzo Piano at the Art Institute, Rosebud Prime in the Loop and Aria on Chicago’s east side at the Fairmont Hotel  http://www.ariachicago.com.

But I’m definitely going to Piccolo Sogno, one of my all time favorites Italian restaurants in Chicago!

For more information about specific Restaurant Week 2012 Menus, read my “Related Articles” listed below:

Chicago Skyline 2008

Image by TomC via Flickr

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com

Salute and Buon Appetito- Vino Con Vista Travel Guides can be purchased at these sites
 

English: Executive Chef and Owner of the Stant...

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Filed under Attractions in Chicago, Buon Appetito, Chicago, Chicago Architecture, Chicago Hotels, Chicago Restaurant Week 2011, Chicago Restaurants, michelin guide to chicago restaurants, Restaurant Week in Chicago