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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 09 July 2013

Beginning on Thursday, July 11,  Wynwood Kitchen & Bar (WKB)   'Taste of the Americas' culinary series will continue with the tastes of executive chef Miguel Aguilar’s native country of Venezuela, till the end of July.

The three-month showcase took diners on a tour across Latin America each Thursday, highlighting specialties from Mexico in May,  Peru in June and now Venezuela.  In addition to the regular menu, the à la carte Venezuelan menu  − Trio of Mini Arepas ($7), Tequeños ($8),  Pabellon Criollo ($14) Beef ropa, maduros, queso, beans, rice and egg, Cocktail: Vene Libre ($12) − will be available every Thursday (11th, 18th, and 25th) throughout the month for lunch or dinner.     Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, 2550 N.W. 2nd Avenue.   305-722-8959. www.wynwoodkitchenandbar.com

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 02 July 2013

Mercadito Midtown’s Chef/Partner Patricio Sandoval has created new BBQ-inspired dishes and grilled meats, seafood, fruits and vegetables for Miami’s summer with ingredients like fresh corn, pineapple, lemon-poached lobster, jicama, skewers of grilled shrimp and zesty mole-q sauce.  Among the new dishes, sharing-style,  theres’s Guacamole, Botanas −  Beef, pork and rice meatballs, requesón cheese, corn polenta, chipotle-tomato sauce; Tacos of Lemon-poached lobster, grilled scallions, pea hash, jalapeño-butter emulsion, crispy red onion; Wild mushrooms, tomato sofrito, queso fresco, salsa roja, crispy potato; or Chicken al carbon, avocado, corn, salsa verde, queso fresco ($15.50 for four); Entrées like Callo de Hacha ($21.50) Pan-seared diver scallops, huitlacoche, wild mushrooms, corn crema, and childe de árbol oil and Brochettas ($23.50), skewers of grilled shrimp & chimichurri, grilled steak & salsa toreada, smoked chicken & mole-q sauce. All watered down with build-your-own margaritas.

Mercadito Midtown is open seven days a week for dinner Sunday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays with brunch offered Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3252 NE 1st Avenue, Midtown Miami. (786) 369-0430.

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 01 July 2013

The Setai Grill at The Setai, Miami Beach is now open for lunch Mondays through Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and Executive Chef Mathias Gervais, a native of Provence, France, who has trained at Michelin-starred restaurants throughout France and Italy ,  has launched new light, summer-inspired lunch and dinner menus reminiscent of the French Riviera.

The Setai Grill’s summer lunch menu features simple yet attractive European classics, such as Andalusian Gazpacho and Panzanella Salad Burrattini, and Mediterranean favorites like Tabbouleh Salad, Ceviche and Agnolotti.

The new dinner menu straddles the French Riviera and the American  steakhouse. Appetizers include Langoustines, Tuna Carpaccio, artisanal cheeses served in the fromagerie, and a selection of refreshingly chilled summer soups.

Main courses are predominantly Mediterranean, including Trout Amandine, Catch of the Day with Sauce Vierge and Paccheri, along with the hand-selected steak options, for which The Setai Grill is known, from legendary New York meat purveyor Pat La Frieda. Dessert is also kept light yet sumptuous, with lemon or strawberry tarts and chocolate mousse – French-inspired favorites of Chef Gervais.

The Setai Grill opens for lunch and dinner as The Restaurant at The Setai closes for lunch and dinner for the summer season, until October 31, 2013,  while serving breakfast Mondays through Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and Sunday Jazz Brunch from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The Setai Grill at The Setai, Miami Beach,  (305) 520-6400, email dining@thesetaihotel.com or visit thesetaihotel.com/dining.

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 01 July 2013

Miami Beach’s Tosca, which recently re-launched with  Executive Chef Matthew Oetting - formerly of BLT and Scarpetta in New York City – now offers Sunday brunch served al fresco in the restaurant’s intimate garden or inside the dining room, to the sounds of resident DJ, J.Dolby.

The Brunch menu starts with a bottomless champagne bar with a variety of juices, and an unlimited crostini bar featuring bruschetta, goat cheese and truffle honey, and eggplant caponata for $20 per person.

À la carte Brunch items include Steak and Eggs - grilled wagyu skirt steak and two eggs any style with home fries and spring ramp salsa verde ($29); Tosca Benedict with toasted focaccia, poached eggs, ham, home fries and truffle béarnaise ($19); Ricotta Cheesecake Filled French Toast with wild strawberry sauce, mascarpone butter and Vermont maple syrup; and a modernized take on Bacon and Eggs with braised pork belly dulce de leche, two eggs any style, home fries and spring ramp salsa verde ($22).  Among the items from chef Oetting’s dinner menu available for brunch: Short Rib & Foie Gras Agnolotti ($26); Grilled Florida Swordfish with agrodolce glaze, chilies, ramps and baby artichokes ($32); Apple-Brined Cornish Game Hen with dried fruit chutney and apple brandy verjus ($28); and Cucumber Risotto with tiger prawns, jalapeño and mint ($26).

Tosca is open Monday through Saturday with Bar Aperitivo beginning at 6:00 p.m. and open for Sunday Brunch from noon to 5:00 p.m., 210 23^rd Street in Miami Beach,  786.216.7230, www.toscamiami.com

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Written by SFG Staff

Published: 25 June 2013

From now through July 31, Cascata Grill in the Turnberry Isle Miami resort is offering  a special 2 -course summer dinner menu for $30 per person, plus tax and gratuity.  Dishes include garden heirloom tomato gazpacho; caprese with buffalo mozzarella, long stem artichoke, roast Roma tomato and watermelon drizzled with orange basil reduction; as well as Marguerite flatbread to start. Main course options:  fennel -dusted snapper; seared scallop served over paella cake; and osso buco. Desserts are abundant with coconut tres leches at the top of the list. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Summer menu is available nightly and Valet parking is complimentary with dinner. Cascata Grill in the Turnberry Isle Miami,  19999 West Country Club Drive in Aventura. . (786) 279-6800.

At The Dutch through July 31,    Bourbon, Beer & ‘Cue -  a $30 BBQ feast offering different styles of BBQ including St. Louis, Korea, Hawaii and All-American. will be offered every Wednesday night during dinner service.  The Dutch inside W South Beach Hotel & Residences, 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, is open daily for  breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ; Lunch from noon to 4 p.m. and for dinner is served from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.,   till  midnight, Thursday – Saturday. The bakery counter is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m  (305) 938-3111 www.thedutchmiami.com

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana continues Mangia Mondays -dinner only - regional tasting series in July with Campania – the  $39 frix fixe includes dishes such as paccheri pasta with swordfish; veal scaloppini; and sea bream baked with cherry tomatoes, garlic and white wine. Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, 1014 Lincoln Road on South Beach  is open for lunch and dinner daily. Telephone: (305) 531-4833; www.quattromiami.com

Devon Seafood & Steak ‘s  Executive Chef Scott Barrow rolls out new summer offerings including potato wrapped grouper; southern fried soft shell crabs and grilled Copper River Salmon. Devon Seafood + Steak ,  at 11715 Sherri Lane, inside The Palms at Town & Country Mall, in Kendall.  (305) 275-0226;   www.devonseafood.com.

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 21 June 2013

For summer 2013, Hakkasan’s chef de cuisine Jian Heng Loo and his team have concocted new à la carte dishes. You will find appetizers such as Peking Duck with Petrossian caviar (30g); Jasmine tea smoked beef short rib; main dishes like Stir-fried grouper with shaved black truffle; Steamed red snapper with lily flower and mushrooms; Stir-fried Bahamian lobster with X.O. sauce; Stir-fried scallops with braised mushrooms;  Stir-fried Wagyu beef with assorted mushrooms in wine soy sauce; Stir-fried venison clay pot with ginger and leek; Roasted chicken with dried chili and garlic; Black truffle roasted duck, as well as Tofu-based  and noodles and rice dishes.

Diners with gluten sensitivity can reply on a  gluten-free prix fixe menu for  $75 per person (excluding beverages, tax and services charges). Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight.  Dim Sum Lunch is available Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. Hakkasan, 4441 Collins Avenue at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach   (877) 326-7412.

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 19 June 2013

This summer, every Saturday night from 7pm – 10pm the dining room at The Backyard Bar is the setting for Cheffee and Melanie’s Saturday Night Summer Chef Table.    The three-course fixed seasonal menu changes weekly and is paired with the right wine by Sommelier Melanie Ober. The Backyard Bar @Palm Beach Hibiscus House, 213 South Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL  33401

$45++ per person includes 2 glasses of wine. Additional wine is available for purchase or BYOB for a $15++ per bottle corkage fee. Seating is limited and reservations are required at 561 339 2444. www.cordonbleucatering.com

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 19 June 2013

From June through September, book a party of eight or more for lunch or dinner at Restaurant Michael Schwartz at The Raleigh Hotel in South Beach and receive a complimentary cabana in the Oasis space with a magnum of Château D’Esclans Whispering Angel Rosé.  

To make reservations e-mail events@raleighhotel.com; 305-612-1159

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 18 June 2013

 
To mark  the first official day of summer, Florida Cookery at The James Royal Palm is throwing out a pool bash.  It will kick off its first annual Summer Seafood-driven Menu on Friday, June 21, from 7 to 9PM with a poolside celebration on the newly opened Florida Cookery Patio.   

The kick-off party  is FREE and OPEN to the public,  with complimentary  local brews, wines and passed light bites from the new menu such as Watermelon Habanero Ceviche and Gulf Shrimp Brochette with Tamarind Glaze.   RSVP by Wednesday, June 19,  to FloridaCookery@Taraink.com   Validated valet  $10.

The celebration marks the first official day of summer on South Beach, beginning a season of  Florida Cookery Patio special offers for locals . From June 21 through Labor Day, Miamians can enjoy half-off  select spirits, wines and brews, seven days a week from 4 to 11 p.m. with their meal .  Complimentary valet parking will also be offered. To view the full summer menu  visit  www.facebook.com/floridacookery. 

 Florida Cookery Patio at The James Royal Palm, 1545 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139,  786.276.0333, www.florida-cookery.com

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 12 June 2013

On Tuesday, June 18, Chef/Co-owner Sean Brasel of Meat Market on Lincold Road, South Beach will take the James Beard House on an adventurous gastronomic journey with a decadent six course meal, paired with cocktails and wines. featuring stylish seafood, striking steaks, and sides with the South Beach sizzle.    On the menu there will be dishes such as King crab and hearts of palm-stuffed Prime teras major carpaccio; sous-vide pork belly with abalone, garlic-butter confit, arugula and micro-tomatoes; ajî panca-marinated Prime aged deckle with minted Key West shrimp, shiso–mixed pepper salad, and black garlic and white yuca sauces; and short rib-lobster risotto with Florida Keys stone crab slaw and pickled red onions. To end the evening  a macadamia-dark chocolate cube with macadamia brittle, gold leaf-berry gel and salted caramel ice cream.

Tickets are still available for the six-course dinner, which features wine pairings and pre-dinner reception for just $130/person for James Beard members, and $170/person for non-members. Tickets can be purchased online athttp://www.jamesbeard.org.

Culinary virtuoso, Makoto Okuwa of Makoto at Bal Harbour Shops is also heading to the James Beard House  in NYC where he will host an elegant Japanese-themed journey on Thursday, June 27. Chef Makoto will treat South Florida locals to a preview of his special James Beard Menu at his Bal Harbour flagship restaurant, Makoto. The five-course meal will be available for $75.00.  Each dish can be paired with sakes carefully selected by Makoto and his team for an additional $35.00. The menu  starts with a Seasonal Vegetable Salad, Shoka no-vegetables ‘takiawase’, black garlic soil; followed by assorted sashimi, scallops, crispy seaweed, sea bean, squid, pickled jellyfish; the third course, Wagyu beef Arroser with Ash Onions and Walnut Bread; the fourth course will be a chef’s choice sushi tasting. To conclude an Okinawa Tres Leches, Japanese black sugar cake and soy ice cream.  Makoto, 9700 Collins Ave, Bal Harbour, FL 33154 www.makoto-restaurant.com

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 12 June 2013

From now though November 30, 2013, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach offers a Dining Plan for $105 per person, per day ( Kids 12 and under eat free when ordering from the Kids’ menu)  that includes breakfast at Vida, the resort’s American brasserie and dinner featuring a choice of appetizer, soup or salad, one entrée and one dessert at your choice of six casual and signature restaurants including Gotham Steak, Hakkasan and Scarpetta. 

Available for booking now, Fontainebleau’s Signature Dining Plan is valid for hotel stays through Nov. 30, 2013.  For general information or accommodations at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, visit www.fontainebleau.com or call 1.877.512.8002.

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 08 June 2013

The world changed when the three tenors of the 20th century - Luciano Pavarotti,  José Cabreras and Placido Domingo - sang together. Millions of fans were able to bask in the magic made possible by cable TV.  

This is unlikely to happen in a restaurant due to obvious physical limitations - a restaurant, even Mirazur in Menton in the South of France, can only seat so many diners at one time and it would be impossible to produce millions of dishes exquisitely paired with wines in the span of time a concert would last.  Besides, and hopefully it will not be the case, it is impossible to play back a meal, pleasurably and at will.

So when three chefs combining 8 Michelin stars, who made the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world -  Mauro Colagreco of Mirazur in Menton, France, 2 stars Michelin and 28th placement on the cart of the 50 best restaurants in the world, Massimo Bottura, of L'Osteria Franscana in Modena, Italy, 3 Michelin stars and 3rd placement  and Quique Dacosta of Restaurant Quique Dacosta in Dénia, Spain, 3 Michelin stars and 26th place - get together on June 18th at the 2 stars Michelint Mirazur, the lucky few who will pay EUROS 250 for a multi-course dinner prepared by the three chefs ( + Champagne bollinger grande année 2004) will get the experience of a lifetime.

I hope you make it.... If not, The Mirazur is open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner with different prix-fixe menus.  

The Mirazur, 30, avenue Aristide Briand 06500, Menton +33 (0)4 92 41 86 86

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 06 June 2013

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 03 June 2013

Starting June 1 and until the end of July, 2013 Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante’s co-owners Antonio Gallo and executive chef Pietro Vardeu are offering  special three courses prix-fixe menus of simple, yet full flavored Sardinian cuisine for lunch and dinner and every Tuesday evening a Wine & Dine special  with 40% off of select bottles of wine from its extensive, primarily Italian wine list.

The lunch menu ( $23 per person and served seven days a week from noon until 4 p.m.) lists a choice traditional Italian soups and appetizers such as cozze – mussels with Vermentino wine, thyme, cherry tomatoes and fregola; salads and mains including housemade gnocchi with mushrooms and burrata; spaghetti carbonara; panino tonato or grilled chicken breast, followed by a seasonal dessert.

For dinner ( $39 per person, Sunday-Thursday from 4 p.m. until midnight ) there’s a cornucopia of the chef’s signature dishes starting with a choice of porto cervo – radicchio, fennel, endive, orange and rughetta; moscardini – baby octopus with celery, black olives and tomatoes; or polpo – octopus carpaccio with arugala, cherry tomatoes and olives. For Secondi chose between housemade rigatoni with hot and sweet sausages and fresh peas; spaghetti vongole with baby clams, skinless tomatoes, fresh thyme and Vermentino; pollastrello – poulet rouge fermier stuffed with lemon and rosemary; or diver scallops wrapped with guanciale and pan seared in a saffron broth, all followed by desserts.  

Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante, 1801 Purdy Avenue, serves lunch and dinner seven days a week.  (305) 531-2228, www.sardinia-ristorante.com.

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 03 June 2013

Throughout the summer 2013 Bianca at Delano offers a nightly  three-course Taste of Summer Prix-Fixe menu and a complimentary glass of Prosecco for $49.

Starter choices include Bianca Panzanella Salad, country bread, confit plum tomatoes; and Herb & Peppercorn Crusted Beef Carpaccio, micro arugula, Parmiggiano, lemon olive oil. Main dishes offer a choice of Rigatoni, wild mushroom ragoût, pink sauce; Grilled Local Fish, faro salad, pickled baby vegetables; or Organic Chicken Picatta, Meyer Lemon, Santorini capers, smashed fingerling potatoes. And for dessert:  Amaretto Gelato Cones or Summer Dolcetti Misti. Bianca at Delano,1685 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305.674.5752 or e-mail biancavip@lightmia.com

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 08 May 2013

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 07 May 2013

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 24 April 2013

Norman Van Aken, the James Beard Award-winning chef behind Norman's at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Fla. and executive chef at Miami Culinary Institute's Tuyo Restaurant in Miami, is the only Floridian inducted into the James Beard list of “Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage.” He was honored as one of the “Founders of the New American Cuisine,” alongside Alice Waters, Paul Prudhomme, and Mark Miller at Spain’s International Summit of Gastronomy ‘Madrid Fusión’ event.

You can now listen to him every Saturday on WLRN 91.3 FM at 8:34 AM for a few minutes or, if you’re not an early riser, you can catch up online at  http://wlrn.org/programs/word-food

“Essentially I am recording a show that celebrates food through the vehicle of my program called, "Norman Van Aken's Word on Food".  As an extension of my food and memoir writing the WLRN show allows me to 'wander around' in the multicultural mix that is South Florida. I choose a word (or a word or two or three) and talk about it through memory, flavors, historical information, recipe suggestions etc. And speaking of memoirs.. my memoir, "No Experience Necessary... The Culinary Odyssey of Chef Norman Van Aken" will be published this Fall by Taylor Trade Press,”  said Norman Van Aken in an e-mail received today.

Norman Van Aken has published five cookbooks: Feast of Sunlight 1988, The Exotic  by Text-Enhance">Fruit Book 1995, Norman’s New World Cuisine 1997, New World Kitchen 2003 and My Key West Kitchen 2012, (with Justin Van Aken). His next book is a memoir. It is titled, “No Experience Necessary” and will be out in the Fall of 2013.

“A Word on Food” is broadcast Saturdays at 8:34 AM  on WLRN 91.3 FM http://wlrn.org/programs/word-food

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Written by SFG

Published: 23 April 2013

Fontainebleau^® Miami Beach, has appointed Derrick Roberts as Chef de Cuisine of Gotham Steak. A graduate of The French Culinary Institute in New York City and Thailand’s Baan Thai Cookery School and Somphong Cooking School, Roberts previously served as Chef de Cuisine at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York City.

Roberts began his professional journey as a line cook at Tribeca Grill in New York City and, from there, honed his skills in kitchens across the globe: at the Michelin Star Arstiderna in Sweden, as Sous Chef at Umami Restaurant in Copenhagen Denmark, as Chef de Cuisine at the Ritz Carlton’s Bleuwater restaurant in St. Thomas, USVI, at The Palms Resort in Turks and Caicos, BWI  and Chef de Cuisine of Hualalai Resort’s flagship fine dining restaurant, before his last post in New York City.

Gotham Steak’s new menu items — in addition to a vast list of dry-aged prime beef, seafood, poultry and more — include Petrossian Royal Ossetra Caviar ($295), Petrossian Alverta President Caviar ($195), Fresh Main Lobster Salad ($25) with avocado, orange, fennel in a citrus vinaigrette; Maine Lobster Risotto ($26) with Brussels sprouts and black trumpet mushrooms; Jumbo Lump Crab Cake ($28) with smoked chili, old bay and pineapple salad; and Steamed Bouchot Mussels ($22) with cockles, chorizo, uni butter and Crostini.  New Dessert items prepared by Pastry Chef Russell Karath include Zacapa Rum Cuatro Leches ($12) prepared with coconut, passion fruit and condensed milk sherbet; Homemade Coffee Doughnuts ($12) with chocolate, nutella and banana sauce; Vanilla Crème Brulee ($12) with caramelized brown sugar, fresh berries and raspberry sorbet; Chocolate in Textures ($12) with guanaja ganache, jivara sponge and tainori ice cream; and Keylime Cremeux ($12) with compressed green apple, lemongrass and aloe sorbet.

Gotham Steak and The Lounge at Gotham Steak are located just off the lobby inside the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach.  Hours of operation: 6 p.m. to midnight, Sunday through Thursday; until 1 a.m. in The Lounge Friday and Saturday.  For reservations please call: (305) 674-4780. www.fontainebleau.com/gothamsteak.

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Written by Simone Zarmati Diament

Published: 23 April 2013

Chef Brooks competed against Timon Balloo (Sugarcane); Jeffrey McInnis (Yardbird); David Thomas (The Bazaar) and Cesar Zapata (The Federal). Twenty judges and 400 guests help decide the winning chef, who will compete against nine regional winners at the final Grand Cochon event at the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen on Sunday, June 16.

Cochon 555 a traveling culinary competition and tasting tour created to promote sustainable farming of heritage breed pigs, gathered together five chefs, five pigs and five wineries. At each event guests are treated to an epic pork feast alongside wines from five small family-owned wineries including Elk Cove Vineyards, Bethel Heights, Hamacher, Montinore, and Alloro plus special tastings from Vibrant Rioja, Anchor Brewing, Eminent Domaine, Crispin Ciders, and Illegal Mezcal.

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