Forget Valentine’s Day–in 2017, Fontainebleau Miami Beach {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412} is celebrating love throughout the entire month of February! In honor of National Romance Month, through February 28, this hotel will offer everything from offerings at its signature restaurants, to chocolate and champagne tastings and a bevy of romantic activities that locals and tourists alike can enjoy.
In addition to the hotel’s Valentine’s Day celebrations, here are some of the things you can get excited about at Fontainebleau Miami Beach all month long:
Weekly Chocolate and Champagne Tastings
At Scarpetta by Scott Conant, get a sommelier-led chocolate and champagne tasting every Thursday from 6 p.m.–6:30 p.m. During this weekly event, you can indulge in a trilogy of champagnes paired with three decadent chocolate pralines, all of which are handcrafted in-house by Fontainebleau’s elite team of chocolatiers. This tasting is priced at $30 per person. Space is limited, so call 305.674.4660 to make a reservation. 
Sweets at Chez Bon Bon
All this month, Chez Bon Bon, Fontainebleau’s coffee and patisserie shop, will offer a variety of love-themed sweet treats. On the menu? Dark Chocolate-Strawberry Cake ($37.95) with strawberry mousse, strawberry preserves, and dark chocolate buttercream; “My Heart” petit gateaux ($5.95) with fresh raspberries, Madeleine sponge, and vanilla Bavarian cream; and other sweet treats like cake pops, cupcakes, and pralines, to name a few. 
Private Cabana Dinner for Two
This February, couples can enjoy a private cabana dinner for two under the stars every Saturday and on Valentine’s Day. Hosted by StripSteak by Michael Mina, this romantic, candle-lit dinner will take place in a cabana covered in flowers, and will include a prix fixe menu of Kabocha Pumpkin Soup, a Shellfish Platter, Baby Beet Salad, Chateaubriand, and for dessert, a Milk Chocolate Mousse Bar. Making it even more special, a sommelier-led wine pairing is also available. This dinner is priced at $500 per couple. Space is limited, so call 305.674.4660 to make a reservation.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Brickell City Centre’s hot, South African haunt, Big Easy Winebar & Grill {701 South Miami Avenue #339a, Brickell; 786.814.5955}, may have opened just before Christmas, but earlier this month, it threw a swanky soirée to celebrate. In honor of the night, esteemed guests and venerable foodies noshed on tasty bites by Big Easy Executive Chef and South African native, Maryna Frederiksen–and to wash it all down, sipped on handcrafted cocktails, African beers, and award-winning wines by the restaurant’s concept partner and Hall of Fame international golfer, Ernie Els.
This lavish party, which was hosted in conjunction with Miami Magazine, attracted 200+ guests, including Els himself, as well as two of his golf pals: Michelle Wie and Branden Grace. Ignacio Garcia-Menocal, Francesco Balli, and Eddie Acevedo, of Grove Bay Hospitality Group (the team behind Big Easy Winebar & Grill and two other popular Miami spots, American Harvest and Glass & Vine), also joined the festivities.
And at an event that celebrated wine and food, it comes as no surprise that it was filled with…. you guessed it, more wine and food. In fact, as a special treat, Big Easy’s private dining room was transformed into a wine cellar experience, complete with charcuterie, cheese, and special tastings of Els’ wines–all of which hail from the Western Cape region of South Africa, otherwise known as “Africa’s Napa Valley”–for guests to taste.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

If you’ve ever been to Lincoln Road, you know about Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833}. In a sea of outdoor cafés, every type of restaurant, and shade umbrellas in a rainbow of colors, Quattro is that one Italian restaurant that draws you in with the alluring aroma of its authentic Northern Italian dishes.
And now, this longstanding Italian locale has a new chef, straight from Naples, to helm the kitchen. Coming to the restaurant from other Italian staples like Joya, Vita, Murana, and most recently in Miami, Bianca at Delano, Executive Chef Luciano Sautto is the Magic City’s own Italian chef to the stars. But as any hometown boy or girl knows, Italy will always have a special place in his heart. In fact, Chef Sautto’s family owns the oldest pizzeria in Naples, Da Michele, which has been around since 1864 and was even featured in the book Eat, Pray, Love. In recent years, Sautto also spent time traveling through places like Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Bologna to learn about the foods of the region, hone his cooking techniques, and familiarize himself with emerging trends in Italian cooking.
And at Quattro, Chef Sautto will bring what he learned to the restaurant’s classic menu. Keeping Quattro’s signature favorites, the new chef will also add a few seasonal dishes, some lighter options for Spring, different seafood plates, and a handful of vegetarian menu items. Get excited, Miami!
Quattro Gastronomia Italiana is open Sunday through Thursday, from Noon to 11 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays, from Noon to 11:45 p.m.

By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

If you still haven’t made plans for your Valentine’s Day in Miami, try calling one of our favorite restaurants below. (You can thank us later.)
The Biltmore Hotel
If there’s one thing The Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 855.311.6903} does well, it’s romance. This Valentine’s Day, take your pick of three options! You can reserve a table at one of the property’s signature restaurants, Palme d’Or or Fontana, or for something really intimate, book a private dinner in one of the hotel’s poolside cabanas. Finally, if you’re looking for something more hands-on, head to the hotel’s Culinary Academy for a special pre-Valentine’s Day class on February 10. While there, you can work side-by-side with Executive Chef David Hackett and learn how to prepare your very own romantic Valentine’s Day feast at home. The “Date Night” lesson will take place on February 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and is priced at $114 per person. Valentine’s Day dinners at Palme d’Or or Fontana start at $85+.  
The Setai, Miami Beach
On February 14, treat your loved one to a six-course dinner at Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}. The feast will start with an amuse-bouche of Tandoori Scallops with lemon grass and lemon zest, all topped with mango and papaya, followed by the restaurant’s signature Salmon Tartar, Onsen Tamago, Maine Lobster with kabocha and confit onion, Sea Bass poached in vermouth sauce, and Wagyu Ribeye grilled with truffle ponzu. For a sweet ending, pair your complimentary glass of Rose Champagne and strawberries with dessert: Black Forest Chocolate and Cherry Mousse. This dinner is available on February 14, from 5 p.m. to close. It’s priced at $125 per person. Couples who make a reservation for Valentine’s Day dinner by noon on Monday, February 13 will be entered for a chance to win a one-night stay at the hotel on Tuesday, Feb. 14th only.
Not fancy enough for you? Try the hotel’s $14K package. It includes a private dining experience by Executive Chef Mathias Gervais in the Chef’s Kitchen, a one-night stay in a one-bedroom Ocean Suite, a rare bottle of 1996 Château Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classé, signature spa treatments in the Spa by THÉMAÉ, a private jewelry showing in Asprey, and more. This package is priced at $14,000.

Bakehouse Brasserie
Celebrate Valentine’s Day a day early at Bakehouse Brasserie {808 1st Street, Miami Beach; 305.434.8249} with a French chocolate and wine pairing. Curated by the spot’s Pastry Chef Tatiana Vernot, with live entertainment there to serenade guests with French poems all night long, this night is designed to make you feel like you’re in Paris. This tasting will take place on February 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and is priced at $30 per couple.
Bulla Gastrobar
From now through February 20, make Valentine’s Day last even longer with a special Valentine’s Day-inspired market menu at Bulla Gastrobar {2500 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 305.441.0107}. Available for dinner only, this a la carte menu includes En Las Nubes, de Ibérico (bread with Bellota ham), The Lady and the Tramp (homemade Spanish truffle spaghetti), Pasiones (Wild King prawns tartar), Los Amantes de Teruel (Guinea hen), Flores, Bloody Mary y Salmon (Salmon goat cheese stuffed zucchini blossoms) and for a cocktail, the popular Apple of my Eye. Prices for each a la carte menu item range between $12 and $30.
db Bistro Moderne
Downtown Miami’s top French bistro, db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Blvd Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}, is offering a special, four-course menu for Valentine’s Day. Created by Chef Clark Bowen, this feast will include dishes like Kampachi Crudo, Sunchoke Agnolotti, and Dover Sole with optional wine pairings by the new Head Sommelier, Haunah Klein. The a la carte menu will also be available in the db Bar and Lounge. The prix fixe is priced at $95 per person, with optional wine pairings priced at $50 per person. 
Seaspice
This February 14, Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200} invites couples to come experience Executive Chef Angel Leon’s special candlelit dinner. Sit right by the Miami River, beneath a canopy of lights, and indulge in a la carte dishes like Kaluga Caviar on toasted brioche with peeky toe crab, Pan Seared Day Scallops with fennel jam and preserved grapefruit, Wood Fire Roasted Chateaubriand, and Grilled Maine Lobster served with caramelized cauliflower. For dessert, Executive Pastry Chef Jill Montinola has quite the treat: A Woman’s Sigh, made with dulcey mousse, port gelee, passion fruit, and marshmallow.
MR CHOW
This year, celebrate love with a romantic dinner at MR CHOW {2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.1695}. Start your three-course meal with sharing plates of Crab Claw Squab with Lettuce or Fresh Clam with Rice Cake, and move on to mains, served community-style, like Braised Prawns with Sweet Fermented Sticky Rice, Hunan Bean Fish, or Gamblers Duck with Special Pancake Fiery Beef. A chef’s dessert selection will be served, and drinks will be available a la carte. This dinner is priced at $95 per person, for the food only.
Pisco y Nazca
From now through February 20, make the holiday last longer with a Valentine’s Day-inspired market dinner menu at Pisco y Nazca {8405 Mills Drive #260, Kendall; 305.630.3844}. Available for dinner only, this a la carte menu includes Ensalada de Higos, Tiradito Cupido, Pachmanca’s Love (roasted baby chicken), Langosta a la Plancha, and Atún Nikkei (sesame seed crusted tuna). For dessert, finish your meal with Chocolate Apasionado and a Cupid’s Arrow cocktail. Prices for menu items range between $12 and $38.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Still haven’t bought your tickets to the 16^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF^®) yet? Don’t fret! Fortunately for you, there are still tickets available for some (emphasis on some) of the weekend’s best events. If a day on the sand is more your style, buy tickets to one of SOBEWFF’s walk-around tastings here. For something a little more debonair, however, try one of the weekend’s intimate, celebrity chef-led events.
Don’t which one(s) to choose? Start with these−as of today, tickets for each are still available:
Tribute Dinner honoring José Andrés and Louis Roederer owners Jean-Claude Rouzaud and Frédéric Rouzaud with Master of Ceremonies Anthony Bourdain
Presented by Bank of America
Part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series
Tickets: $500/person
Amigos de La Huella: A Dinner
Hosted by Florencia Courreges, Alejandro Morales, Harry Sasson, Fernando Trocca, & Nano Crespo
Tickets: $250/person
Vegan Dinner
Hosted by Chloe Coscarelli and Matthew Kenney
Tickets: $250/person 
A North Carolina Sisterhood: Dinner hosted by Vivian Howard, Ashley Christensen, Andrea Reusing, Gavin Pera & Ryan Cross
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person 
Mango Gang Reunited: Dinner hosted by Cindy Hutson, Allen Susser, Norman Van Aken, Robbin Haas, Mark Militello and Douglas Rodriguez
Part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series
Tickets: $250/person 
Point Royal Clambake hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian, Valerie Bertinelli, Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person
Michael Solomonov’s CookNSolo Dinner Party
Sponsored by Eighty Seven Park
Tickets: $250/person
Dinner hosted by Marc Murphy and Chris Miracolo
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person
Dinner hosted by Uri Jeremias, Aret Sahakyan and Sergio Sigala
Tickets: $250/person
An Asian Inspired Dinner with Pok Pok, Babu Ji and NaiYaRa
Tickets: $250/person
10 Years of Genuine: Dinner hosted by Michael Schwartz, Marc Vetri and Jonathan Waxman
Presented by Bank of America
Tickets: $300/person
Dinner hosted by Amanda Freitag and Angelo Elia
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person
Burnt Ends: A Kosher BBQ Dinner hosted by Alon Shaya
Tickets: $300/person
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

First launched in Paris in 1988 by a man named François Pasquier, Le Dîner en Blanc–the swanky “secret society” of the dining world–has since become a global culinary phenomenon. Every year, 10,000 of the world’s finest foodies don their fanciest whites and anxiously wait for that one day a year when this top-secret picnic pops up in their city. And lucky for us Miamians, that day is just around the corner: Le Dîner en Blanc is coming back to the Magic City for the third time on Saturday, March 11.
Taking place at an undisclosed location until the day of (which, in 2014 and 2015, included places like Soundscape Park at the New World Symphony and Palm Court in the Design District), Le Dîner en Blanc will once again grace Miami with a fun and fabulous night of music, wining, dining, and dancing. On the morning of March 11, guests will be e-mailed a meeting location, and for the ultimate secrecy, will be guided from there to keep the location of the event a total secret until the last possible minute. Once they arrive, the magic begins, as 2,000 locals dressed in elegant whites set up tables, two white chairs and a white tablecloth, and unpack their picnic basket. And in that picnic basket, more elegance: fine food, proper stemware and white dinnerware. After the food has been eaten, the wine is gone, and the festive night comes to an end, guests pack up every last bit of their table, chairs, and debris, and like magic, make it look like their night of elegant revelry never happened.
Because this isn’t just any picnic… it’s Dîner en Blanc.
And to participate in the fun, you’ll have to act fast–everyone who’s anyone wants to be cool enough to go to this in-the-know soirée. Registration to participate happens in three stages: Phase 1 (February 8) for members who attended last year, Phase 2 (February 9) for new members who are referred by Phase 1 attendees, and Phase 3 (which starts February 14) for the general public who signed up to be on the waiting list. While Phase 3 registration starts on February 14, you can sign up to be on the waiting list now. Click here to complete all sign ups and registrations.
General Admission for this event is priced at $45 per person, and includes round-trip transportation from the meeting location, via a private motor coach, and live entertainment.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

The classic Lincoln Road Italian spot, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833}, is bringing back its acclaimed “Bacco Night”—a Monday night special where all 200+ bottles on the restaurant’s La Bucca di Bacco wine list are available for 50% off. And to make sure you enjoy it to the fullest, Executive Chef Luciano Sautto has come up with a list of dishes designed to pair perfectly with the restaurant’s best vintages.
For a real taste of la dolce vita, head to Quattro Gastronomia Italiana and try the suggested wine pairings listed below:
Branzino Interno in Crosta di Sale Marino: a whole Mediterranean Sea Bass baked in salt crust, and served with grilled vegetables.
Suggested Wine Pairing: Gavi Di Gavi Black Label
Vitello Tonnato con Capperi: thinly-sliced veal with Favignana Tuna sauce and capers.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2013 Vie Di Romans 
Agnolotti Alessandrini Alla Stufato: braised beef ravioli with Piedmontese sauce.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2014 Il Bruciato Antinori
Ossobuco alla Milanese: braised veal shank with Gremolata, served with saffron risotto.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2010 Barolo Pio Cesare
Polope del Mediterraneo con Farro Legumi Pomodorini: grilled Mediterranean octopus with farro, cherry tomatoes, and lemon dressing.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2014 Falanghina Terredora Di Paolo
“Bacco Night” at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana takes place every Monday, during dinner service only. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday, from Noon to 11 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays, from Noon to 11:45 p.m. 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the 16^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®) is offering a special, limited-time-only Fifty Shades of Food promotion. With this deal, Festival fans who buy two or more tickets to Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach online using the code VDAY17 will get two surprises: two complimentary tickets to an even sexier Festival beach party, BACARDÍ On The Beach with Beats by Rev Run & DJ Ruckus, and a copy of Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook by Clarkson Potter.
Designed to kick-off the Festival’s Miami Beach events, Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach will bring together 30+ chefs on Thursday, February 23, to take guests on a culinary tour of Italy. Keeping the party going, A-list ladies Valerie Bertinelli and Alex Guarnaschelli will play host; one of Australia’s most popular rock bands, Little River Band, will bring the tunes; and attendees will sip on complimentary glasses of Aperol, Campari, Cynar, Folonari, Frangelico, Heineken Light, Melini, Strongbow and more. When the bites are all gone, out comes the BACARDÍ. Just two days later, on Saturday, February 25, the Delano South Beach will set up a beachside tent to host the first-ever BACARDÍ On The Beach. At this late-night fête, partygoers will get to dance to beats by Rev Run and DJ Ruckus, while indulging in bites and beverages from 20 of South Florida’s top food spots.
Ready to buy your tickets? Hurry up, before they’re all gone. The Fifty Shades of Food promotion starts today and runs through Midnight on February 14. 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor