Bring on the Festival

Food. Wine. South Beach. Need I say more?I just returned from a weekend at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival.  A long weekend wine, food, music, good times.  It’s my second time and not to be the last.  I’m lucky I got out. I thought, eh, a little snow, a little ice, whatever.  Seems as though every flight was canceled or delayed.  I would have started walking down there.  I land in Miami and it’s 86 degrees. Please.    The fun began at the Bubble Q that Friday night. The event, presented by Moet & Chandon, and hosted by Giada De Laurentis, was my favorite for the weekend. Hours of champagne?  Seriously. Some ne-ked woman in a bubble? Uh-not sure, but interesting. The go-go dancers with the Chewbaca boots – they worked it while I sipped glass after glass of the bubbly. God bless them.The Public Grand Tasting on Saturday – not impressed. I wish I liked it better. It was hot and there was no reprieve from the sun because the tasting tents didn’t open until 1PM.  And unlike the last time I went, there were no fabulous food from my favorite chefs – just wine and spirits distributors and a smattering of local restaurants with mediocre food.  The demonstrations did feature some top-tier Food Network talent, but constant thanking of Food Network was tiring. So, walked around with wine glass lanyard around my neck (which, by the way, gave me a dumb tan line) and filled up as best I can with yumminess of the liquid kind.I took it easy that night and the following morning. It’s Miami and I did feel some guilt for not whooping it up – but how much whooping can you do when traveling alone?I did wish that the Maison D’Azur restaurant at the Anglers Resort, where I stayed, had better service.  Look, I can appreciate a good scene, but frankly, it’s about the food and the service. Don’t try to sugar coat crap with the George Hamilton hued waitstaff. And know your menu.  And for chrissakes – get a bigger bar.  A Milk Dud is bigger than that bar.   I’ll stay at the hotel again, but not visit the restaurant – even if I saw the Take Home Chef there – who, by the way, is truly yummy in person.But aside from that hiccup – a good time. 

Menu? Yes Please.

My favorite-st thing in the world is sitting at a fabulous restaurant, taking in the atmosphere, the ambience.  Perusing the wine list.  Contemplating the tasting menu. All at the bar. The thing is, sitting at a table can be stuffy, perhaps a little rushed, sometimes.  At the bar, you get the best of both worlds – which hopefully, is great food, great drinks – that’s a bit more casual than the main dining room. Now, if you can snag a table for 4 at Per Se, you cannot sit at the bar.  But I highly suggest that you sidle up to the bar for your next meal.  Cheers!