Gastronomic Gatherings

Dish Mob Is Coming to Orlando; Celebrate in South Florida Too

By Laine Doss Tue., Feb. 19 2013 at 9:53 AM
Categories: Gastronomic Gatherings
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"Dish Mob" a local restaurant tomorrow.
Dish Mob is coming to Orlando on February 20. The event, whose name sounds like an impromptu group of people converging on a restaurant, is exactly that.

Sponsored by Restaurant.com, the event is a way to benefit independent restaurants by asking people to get out and dine at them. For Dish Mob, a few select restaurants are chosen, and people are asked to try out the place at the exact same time.

Everyone wins -- the restaurant gets new customers, and diners get to experience a new, potentially great place to dine.

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Dish Mob
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Gastronomic Gatherings

Mardi Gras in South Florida: Where The Fat Tuesday Fun Is

By Laine Doss Mon., Feb. 11 2013 at 3:39 PM
Categories: Gastronomic Gatherings
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Laine Doss
NOLA comes to south Florida on Fat Tuesday.
It's totally cool that one of the wildest eating and drinking days of the year has ties in religion, but Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, has those roots.

The holiday, which is celebrated in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, was created basically to gouge yourself in the rich, fatty, sinful foods that you're about to give up for Lent starting the next day.

Maybe not all of us practice the "giving up" part, but most of us can agree on the "party" aspect of it.

Though Mardi Gras is best associated with New Orleans, there are still plenty of places to party in south Florida:

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Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras
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Bacon Files

BaconFest Announces Restaurant Lineup

By Laine Doss Mon., Feb. 11 2013 at 11:00 AM
Categories: Bacon Files, Gastronomic Gatherings
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BaconFest: Eat like there's no tomorrow.
Bacon Fest, the all-things-porky event that's coming to the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek on Saturday, February 23, has announced its restaurant and food lineup -- and it's nothing short of spectacular.

For one evening and one evening only, forget your sodium and cholesterol intake and go crazy on nature's pig candy. Bacon!

Read Also: Bacon Fest Coming to Town: Gettin Piggy With It



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BaconFest Florida
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Food Fun

Garlic Fest 2013 Coverage: The Five Weirdest Ways to Eat Garlic

By Tricia Woolfenden Mon., Feb. 11 2013 at 10:51 AM
Categories: Food Fun, Gastronomic Gatherings

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All photos, Tricia Woolfenden
Garlic ice cream is a Garlic Fest staple and, yes, it's kind of weird.

Over-the-top fair and festival food is one of the great American art forms. But instead of dealing in deep-fried butter and chocolate-covered scorpions, the Delray Beach Garlic Fest indulges in all manner of creative uses of the fragrant bulb. This past weekend, the 14th annual Garlic Fest in downtown Delray Beach drew thousands who came for the live music, Garlic Chef showdown, and tons of stinky food. (Check out a slideshow of the Garlic Fest for more images.)

After the jump, see five of the strangest ways to get garlic breath, plus, learn who took top honors in the festival's Garlic Chef Showdown.

See Also:
- Delray Beach Garlic Fest Tickets Available: Online Sales End February 3
- Dada in Delray Beach: Q&A with Executive Chef Bruce Feingold Who Shares Ghost Stories and Cooking Tips
- Totally Bananas: Chocolate-Covered Bananas for the Masses


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Gastronomic Gatherings

2013 Fort Lauderdale Greek Festival Is This Weekend

By Nicole Danna Fri., Feb. 8 2013 at 7:25 AM
Categories: Gastronomic Gatherings
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Try some Metaxa, the traditional Greek brandy.
Gyros, souvlaki, tyropita, fried cheese, dolmades, stuffed grape leaves. And ouzo -- how could we forget the ouzo! All that's left to say: Opa!

This weekend, celebrate the 3rd annual Flavors of Greece, Fort Lauderdale's first Greek food and drink tasting event organized by St. Demetrios Church. 

The festival will run February 8-10 this year, once again set-up under a taverna-inspired tent outside the church where you can eat, drink and dance the day (and night) away.

The three-day event focuses on serving up an authentic Greek experience, with plenty of food and drink, as well as dancing and live entertainment. 

Food will take center stage, however, with an indoor market selling Greek pastries and desserts (or glyka), and concession stands serving buffet-style fare and appetizers. 

For more information on the event, and information on how to receive a free admission coupon, keep reading:

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Cocktail Culture

Jimmy Buffett Coming to BB&T Center: What to Bring to the Tailgate Party

By Laine Doss Fri., Feb. 1 2013 at 11:34 AM
Categories: Cocktail Culture, Famous Foodies, Gastronomic Gatherings
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tailgatingideas.com
A pirate ship!
It's almost time for the big day and Clean Plate Charlie is getting the cooler and the portable barbeque ready for some epic tailgate action.... before the Jimmy Buffett concert tomorrow, February 2 at BB&T Center in Sunrise.

By the way, if you're a football tailgater and you think you've got it going on -- get thee to a parrothead parking lot party and really see some wild action!

Pirate ships, tiki bars set up complete with whirling blenders filled with potent potables, and barbeques are fired as people dress in hula skirts, Hawaiian shirts, and parrot costumes dance and make merry -- and that's before the concert even starts!

If you're planning on joining the tailgate, we've got a few essentials to bring -- based on the master's songs, naturally.

Just don't forget the lime, shaker, and salt and if you have any questions at all -- just think: WWJBD (What would Jimmy Buffett do)?

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Jimmy Buffett, tailgate, tailgating
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Gastronomic Gatherings

Girl Scout Cookie Eating Contest at South Florida Fair

By Laine Doss Thu., Jan. 24 2013 at 10:25 AM
Categories: Gastronomic Gatherings
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Girl Scouts
Sure they're yummy -- but can you eat two dozen of them?
It's Girl Scout cookie time and that means everyone frantically running around trying to locate a troop of girls in green uniforms to stock up on Thin Mints and Samoas.

More than 9,000 Girl Scouts participate in the annual cookie sale, which runs through February 17, which means that you'll probably find these adorable sales-munchkins setting up shop in front of your local Publix or ringing your doorbell.

Hint: if you want to know exact locations, try this online cookie locator or call 866-727-GIRL (4475).

We know you love these cookies (we do too), but do you love them enough to eat two dozen at a single sitting? In front of a group of people? With your hands behind your back?

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Girl Scout Cookies
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Gastronomic Gatherings

1500 Degrees Wins Top Award at JA World Uncorked

By Laine Doss Mon., Jan. 21 2013 at 10:49 AM
Categories: Gastronomic Gatherings
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All photos by Laine Doss
Wine flowed freely at JA World Uncorked.
This weekend's JA World Uncorked saw hundreds of happy people eating food from south Florida's best restaurants, drinking fine wines, and enjoying a special selection of craft beers. Though all bites were delicious, some plates were outstanding. These dishes won the coveted Clean Plate Charlie awards, in several categories:More »
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Look What I Found

Spice Galore in Miami: Specialty Sugars, Rare Salts, and Custom Herbs

By Nicole Danna Mon., Jan. 21 2013 at 7:47 AM
Categories: Ask an Expert, Gastronomic Gatherings, Look What I Found
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All photos by Nicole Danna
Spice Galore owners Aimee Ortega and Vitoria Nodarse.
It's another quiet afternoon at Spice Galore -- until a new customer bursts through the back door nearly sprinting to a row of glass jars containing various spice blends. Her first words as she hurries across the small space: "I'm SO excited! I've been feeling like a crack head ever since I ran out."

A self-described addict, the fix she's craving isn't something you snort or smoke. The mystery substance this zealous customer is looking for isn't any sort of illegal drug -- but it can be hard to find if you don't know where to look. 

It's a rare blend of Middle Eastern herbs known as za'atar, a combination of dried sumac, sesame and thyme. The woman said her friend first discovered it at a specialty spice shop in Montreal, Quebec. When he brought some back and began cooking with it, she was instantly hooked. Naturally, both were delighted when they found a simliar shop in Miami that carried, among other things, za'atar.

Now they can't get enough of it, and the only place guaranteed to have it fresh is Spice Galore, Miami's first eco-friendly, semi-organic local purveyor of high-end salts, spices, sugars, loose leaf teas and various other rare or hard-to-find ingredients.
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Gastronomic Gatherings

JA World Uncorked Highlights Craft Beers

By Laine Doss Mon., Jan. 7 2013 at 1:06 PM
Categories: Beer Beer Beer, Gastronomic Gatherings
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Cigar City Brewing Company via Facebook
Tampa's Cigar City will be a featured brewer at JAWorld Uncorked!
JA World Uncorked, the annual event that pairs south Florida's best restaurants with fine wines at one of the most unique venues in Broward, has added a new element to this year's festivities -- craft beer.

The event, which will be held Saturday evening, January 19 from 6:30 - 10 :30 p.m. at Junior Achievement World at Huizenga Center at Broward College (1130 Coconut Creek Boulevard, Coconut Creek), features nearly 20 food and dessert stations, fine wines, and crafted cocktails.

Read Also: YOLO Wins Uncorked with "Forever Braised" Short Ribs



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Cigar City Brewing, JA World Uncorked! beer
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