By John Tanasychuk April 6, 2012 02:25 PM Letty Alvarez and Eddie Dominguez, owners of LA Sweets bakeries in Miami and South Miami, get their turn in the dessert spotlight at 8 p.m Sunday on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” What began as a childhood memory of baking with her grandmother became LA Sweets South Miami in November of 2008. The Mary Brickell location came almost one year ago. Starting Monday, the LA Sweets owners will launch a rename campaign for some of their most popular flavors. They’re looking to rename cupcakes after local celebrities and will donate a portion of sales proceeds of each renamed flavor each month. First up are Pitbull and dentist to the stars Dr. Karent Sierra in Coral Gables. LA ... Continue reading →

By John Tanasychuk March 16, 2012 05:43 PM Slow Food Miami will honor chefs, food producers and purveyors at the first Snail of Approval awards party at 7 p.m. March 23 in Miami Beach. Here are the honorees: Kris Wessel, Red Light Little River; Paula de Silva, 1500° at the Eden Roc; Alex Piñero, Sustain Restaurant + Bar; Monica Rios, Green Table; Michael Reidt, Area 31; Julie Frans, Essensia; Simon Stojanovic, Altamare; Mark Zeitouni, Lido Restaurant at the Standard Hotel; Giancarla Bodoni, Escopazzo; Michelle Bernstein, Michy’s, Sra. Martinez; Frank Randazzo and Andrea Curto-Randazzo, Creative Tastes Catering; David Bracha, The River Seafood & Oyster Bar; Philippe Paul Reynaud, Ocean Reef Club; Richard Hales, Sakaya Kitchen; Real Sorbet; Gaby’s Sorbet; and Grey Goose Vodka. Each honoree is ... Continue reading →

She’s a little neurotic and a little too skinny. But she’s so wickedly smart and funny that I wish Bethenny Frankel was coming to dinner at my house this weekend. Alas, she’ll be in our midst come Saturday, but she’ll be shilling her Skinnygirl cocktail brand at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. “I love South Florida,” Frankel says by phone from New York. “It’s the ease and the freedom. And I love the weather, the music. I love the vibe.” She ought to know. Frankel, 41, graduated from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale where she lived on campus, when the school still had residents. “When I went, it didn’t have the prestige and fanciness that it does now,” she says. “It was ... Continue reading →

Miami’s celebrated chef Michael Schwartz holds his second chef pop-up series 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 with celebrated New York chef Jonathan Waxman. Waxman, chef and owner at Barbuto in the West Village, had his second cookbook published last April. Called “Italian, My Way: More Than 150 Simple and Inspired Recipes That Breathe New Life into Italian Classics,” it’s explores Waxman’s unique take on Italian. He’ll be cooking from the book on Wednesday at Schwartz's new Harry's Pizzeria. Harry’s is small enough that guests will be able to interact with Waxman and Schwartz. The $160 dinner called Barbuto Pizzeria includes welcome cocktail, hors d'oeuvres, four courses, a signed copy of Waxman’s cookbook, wine and beer, tax and tip. Order tickets here. Here’s the menu: Welcome: ... Continue reading →

By John Tanasychuk December 13, 2011 11:32 AM I love chicken wings. I'm fond of a good milkshake. But a chicken wing milkshake? Check out this video and recipe. Categories: Video (18) COMMENT BOARD GUIDELINES: You share in the SunSentinel.com community, so we just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Terms of Service. Continue reading →

By John Tanasychuk December 12, 2011 02:54 PM Anthony Bourdain stops in Miami tonight on his new Travel Channel series called "The Layover." Each week, Bourdain has 24 to 48 hours to explore a destination. The 10-episode series, which started Nov. 21, has him visiting such cities as Amsterdam, Montreal and Hong Kong. No surprise, Bourdain looks for off-the-beaten-track attractions that are budget friendly. I haven't had a chance to walk the entire episode, but I do know that one of Miami meals is at Garcia's Seafood Grille & Fish Market on the Miami River. PHOTO: Bourdain orders ginger Brussels sprouts from Sakaya Kitchen's food truck called Dim Ssäm à gogo (Courtesy Travel Channel) Categories: TV (111) COMMENT BOARD GUIDELINES: You share in the SunSentinel.com ... Continue reading →

By John Tanasychuk November 16, 2011 12:33 PM While only a home cooked meal will do for most of on Thanksgiving Day, six percent of Americans will eat in restaurants, according to the National Restaurant Association That’s about 14 million people. Another 16 million will buy at least party of their meal from restaurant takeout. And on the Friday after Thanksgiving, 32 million Americans will eat in restaurants while out shopping. If you’re looking for South Florida restaurants that are serving Thanksgiving, call around. I’d start with your favorites or restaurants that serve more traditional American fare. There are exceptions of every rule, however, and Philippe by Philippe Chow Boca Raton has upped the Thanksgiving Day restaurant ante with a unique take on turkey. Peking ... Continue reading →

“Be different. Stand out. Take chances,” says Randy Bernstein, supervising casting director for the third season of “MasterChef.” Consider them his words of wisdom for any home cook looking for a spot on the next season of the Fox TV hit, in which amateur cooks compete for a huge cash prize and a chance to change their life trajectories toward careers in food. Casting directors and food judges will meet potential South Florida cast members 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 5 at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, 3221 Enterprise Way, Miramar. “For MasterChef, what we really look for are people who are driven,” says Bernstein, who has cast such other shows as “Top Chef,” “Project Runway” and “The Biggest Loser.” “People who have a ... Continue reading →

By John Tanasychuk October 3, 2011 02:04 PM At 7:30 p.m. tonight, “Check, Please! South Florida” on WPBT-Ch. 2 takes a break from its usual format. Instead of the usual real-people restaurant reviews, host Michelle Bernstein and Paul Castronovo of the “Paul & Young Ron Show” will announce details of a Nov. 8 tasting tour. Tickets also go on sale tonight. Just 100 tickets will be available for this tour of some of the show’s most memorable restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale area. Bernstein and Castronovo won’t reveal specifics of the event until tonight. They’ll also make spinach and artichoke dip with blue cheese and churrasco with green peppercorn sauce. Proceeds from Check, Please! South Florida Tasting Tour will benefit continued production of the TV ... Continue reading →