Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival

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I'll be at the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival this weekend and will be participating in two seminars and one dinner. This is my second appearance at the festival and it's a rocking good time! Then again - I don't need much convincing to slip down to South Beach in the middle of a Chicago winter. The food and wine is the delicious icing on the cake. And yes - I'm bringing the computer so check back for updates.



Sushi and Wine Pairing Seminar with Thomas Buckley, Executive Chef of Nobu Miami - Saturday, Feb 21
Chef Thomas Buckley and I are hosting this seminar and we'll be tasting everything from Rose sparkling to cocktails, sake and red wine! Chef Buckley co-wrote the Nobu Miami Party cookbook with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa.



Passage to India Dinner hosted by Madhur Jaffrey - Saturday, Feb 21
I'm the featured sommelier for a dinner titled Passage to India hosted by the amazing Madhur Jaffrey. Participating chefs for the dinner include Floyd Cardoz, Suvir Saran, Adish Jain and Setai Executive Chef Jonathan Wright. Madhur Jaffrey can best be described as the Indian Julia Child. I grew up watching her cooking shows and film appearances and not to mention how much everyone in the Indian community completely worships and respects her. This is a huge honor for me and I'm going to try my best to not act like a blubbering fool.



Sizzle and Swirl: Barbecue and Wine Pairing Seminar with Chef Howie Kleinberg- Sunday, Feb 22
Fans of Top Chef season three will recognize Chef Howie. He recently opened a Barbecue restaurant in Miami appropriately named Bulldog Barbecue. Chef Howie is cooking the food and I'm pairing the wine and we'll discuss the merits of BBQ, how to make it at home and what wines to pair with it.

If you are in the area, tickets are still available for a handful of seminars and events.