Tag Archives: wine

Miami’s First Wine and Fashion Florence Week Pays Tribute to Tuscany

Posted in Brickell, Downtown Miami Comment
 
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Food, wine and fashion marry well at Toscana Divino in Miami's Brickell district.

In February, Toscana Divino opened its doors in Mary Brickell Village, bringing Italian food, wine and luxe style to one of Miami’s best and bustling condo lifestyle districts.

This month, Toscana Divino inaugurates a sumptuous tribute to all things Tuscany during Wine and Fashion Florence Week, October 8 to 12. Italian dining, fashion and art are among the cultural offerings in this immersion experience, including an Aperitivo Italiano social gathering from 6 PM to 8 PM, with complimentary cocktails and bites, as well as an exclusive Chef’s Tasting Menu.

Handcrafted handbags will take center stage on the fashion front, with master tailors from the Scuola di Pelleteria di Firenze. Florentine designers from Italy’s top luxury leather producers will stitch exotic handbags on the premises, so ladies with a penchant for purses shouldn’t miss.

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Florentine leather craftsmanship direct from Italy to Miami.

Italian painting will come alive as well.  Maestro Alessandro Reggioli, renown for his contemporary Tuscan-inspired art work, will create original pieces inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci themes, including “The Flight” and “The Heart” — a fitting tribute to Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

The art of the palette will give way to pleasures of the palate as Executive Chef Julian Baker and Michelin Star Chef Marco Stabile join forces in the kitchen. An exclusive menu for the event will focus on traditional organic dishes paired with wines from the region’s top labels.  Sommeliers and winemakers will be at Toscana Divino to share their love of fine wine.

 

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Tuscan-inspired dishes are a staple at Toscana Divino, but fashion week will include special menu items.

Toscana Divino is no ordinary restaurant. “Toscana Divino, a Beacon Council project, is a unique concept, comprised of the public and private sector of Tuscany and the region’s small and medium sized producers of the Fashion-Lifestyle industry,” said Frank R. Nero, President & CEO of The Beacon Council in a statement. “The Beacon Council is delighted to see Toscana Divino’s efforts from its Miami-based location, the first of its kind from Tuscany, and its investment in our community.”

Reservations are strongly suggested for the exclusive Chef’s Tasting Menu. Call 305-371-2767. Guests may also order from the regular menu a la carte.

For specific details on artist appearances, RSVP and other information, please visit Toscana Divino.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

Portugal Wines at the Rubell Family Art Collection

Posted in Events, South Florida Art Scene, Wine 1
 

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On June 12, the world of art and wine came together at the Rubell Family Collection in Miami – an art gallery in the city’s revitalized Wynwood arts district.  In 1964, Donald and Mera Rubell established one of the world’s largest privately owned collections in New York City.  In 1993, the Rubells took over the 23,000 square-foot Miami building and a year later, they created the Contemporary Arts Foundation to support their public mission in art.

The space was a fitting location to examine the art of wine making. Wines of Portugal hosted the annual grand tasting, where guests sampled dozens of varieties and enjoyed a master class led by Wine Educator and Master Sommelier Emilio Guerra.

ONE | Sotheby’s was present to take notes.

Swept by Atlantic breezes on the west coast of the Iberian peninsula, the region known as Portugal today has been producing wines since 2000 BC.   Portugal is most famous for sweet Port, but in fact 50% of its production is dry wine, including sparkling.  With 250 grape varieties and numerous microclimates spanning 25 DOCs  – even off the mainland the Madeira and the Azores islands — Portugal is the 10th largest producer of wine in the world and 5th in Europe. The masterful blending of grapes is the focus of many wineries.

The Douro region in the northwest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1756, Douro became the first demarcated and regulated DOC in the world for its Port production.

wines-of-portugal-miamiPortuguese wines range from crisp and fruity whites to rich and earthy reds.

The Quinta de Aveleda Vinho Verde 2011, a combination of Loureiro and Alvarinho grapes, would make a great summer wine in Miami to accompany light meals.

The Quinta de Garrida 2008, made from Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional grapes — the latter being “the king of grapes,” according to Guerra — would pair well with aromatic dishes such as mushroom risotto.

No meal should end without a sip of Port.  Silky on the tongue and with a heady scent of raisin, the 2005 Barros LBV owes its flavor to Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca and Tinta Roriz grapes.

Miami’s wine lovers needn’t travel across the Atlantic to savor Portugal’s wines.  Many of the wines sampled at the event are available at the following local retailers:  Stefano’s Key Biscayne, Best Time Wine Grove, Sunset Liquors, Big Daddy’s and more — ask your local wine dealer.

To learn more about the wines and the region’s rich history, visit Wines of Portugal.

The art space is accessible to the public. Summer hours are by appointment only. Visit the Rubell Family Collection for more details.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

PHOTO CREDITS: All photos by Dale Stine.

Taste of the Gables Showcases Culinary Delights in The City Beautiful

Posted in Coral Gables, Events Comment
 

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The Taste of the Gables event last year in the Westin Colonnade's elegant, marble-tiled rotunda.

The 5th annual Taste of the Gables kicks off May 31 with a two-hour event at the Westin Colonnade Hotel. During the event, guests will enjoy food samples from the area’s best restaurants and vote for their favorite dishes.  Libations will include cocktails from Bacardi and wines from Jackson Family Estates.

Taste of the Gables continues in June for eager gourmands. Restaurant Week, which is actually two weeks of three-course lunch and dinner menus at discounted prices, takes place Monday, June 4 to Sunday, June 17.

Known as The City Beautiful, Coral Gables is visually appealing for its elegant homes, winding streets and lush landscaping. The historic city, founded by George Merrick in 1925, also offers a feast for the palate, featuring some of Miami-Dade County’s finest restaurants and upscale cocktail lounges.

All the participating restaurants are easily accessible within a few blocks of downtown Coral Gables and a testament to the city’s cosmopolitan flair  — French, Thai, Italian, Peruvian, Argentinian, German, Japanese, Mexican are just among some of the cuisines available — in addition to traditional steak house and American fare.

In between dining experiences, this summer or throughout the year, catch a movie at the Coral Gables Cinema, attend a book signing at Books and Books, enjoy a play at the Actor’s Playhouse or visit the local art galleries to round out a cultural evening in downtown Coral Gables.

Taste of the Gables begins at 6:30 PM on May 31.  Advance tickets are $25, available online at Coral Gables Restaurant Week. Visit the website for a list of participating Coral Gables restaurants.

– Maria de los Angeles is a freelance wordsmith based in Miami.

Best Food and Wine Apps for the Culinary Enthusiast

Posted in Events, The Scoop Comment
 

With so many food and wine related events happening this month in South Florida, we thought it would only be appropriate to share a few of our favorite apps to help you navigate through all the delectable glasses of wine and heaping plates of food. Wish so many incredible chefs now calling Miami home, and many top restaurants now on the scene, these apps will help you find your favorites based on your personal preferences, locations and more. Also, the suggested wine apps are useful when shopping for the perfect bottle or searching for something new to pour in your glass.

Food and Restaurant apps


Food and Wine Best Chefs App- This app allows users to search through Food& Wine Magazine’s list top chefs around the country and find nearby restaurants that are serving their food. It also allows you to look through an extensive description of each restaurant and find a list of awards the chef and restaurant have received.

Click here to download the Food and Wine Best Chefs App.

FoodSpotting- The Foodspotting app goes beyond helping you find restaurants, it suggests what dishes to order based on the experiences of other diners. If you’re one of those people (like us) that wants to order everything on the menu, then the Foodspotting app will help you narrow it down. You can also take photos of your meals and include notes to recommend to other users.

Click here to download the FoodSpotting app.

Wine apps
Cor.kz- Cor.kz has been rated as one of Fast Company’s “must have” apps and has also appeared in The New York Times. Cor.kz lets users scan a database of more than 1,200,000 wines and twice that number of reviews. It also lets you record the wines you’ve had with tasting notes and email them to yourself or friends. One of the best features is that it lets users compare wives and also share their wines with friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to download the Cor.kz app

AG Wine- This app is the ideal companion for any wine lover. It has an intensive wealth of information on wine regions, types of grapes and vintages. If you’re craving a light white wine or a bold red, use the app to find suggestions you will enjoy as well as food pairings.
Click here to download the AG Wine App.

Cellar- If you are an avid wine collector the Cellar app will help you organize each bottle. It creates an archive of the wines that you currently have, the ones you’ve enjoyed and the ones you would like to try.

Click here to download the Cellar app.

Here’s a list of upcoming Food and Wine events in our area, make sure to download your apps before you go!

4/20/2012 Las Olas Wine and Food Festival
4/18-4/20 Miami Food and Wine
4/14-4/15 Food and Garden Festival at Fairchild