AG Pick Under $10: The Spanish Quarter 2007 Chardonnay-Albarino

Looking for a blend of old and new at a great price?  Try the Spanish Quarter 2007 Chardonnay-Albariño.  This Spanish white wine is an aromatic and lively combination of the native Spanish white grape varietal and the relative newcomer to Spain. Albariño is mainly grown in northwest Spain and can also be found in Portugal [...]

Drinking Out of the Box at Michy's

Bored of the basic wine tasting?  Head to Michy’s on Saturday, December 12th for “Drinking Out of the Box.” The modern Mediterranean bistro in Miami’s MiMo District will host an open forum tasting that will pair wines with music, art, film and historical figures. Flight 1 will match 3 white wines to 3 songs. Flight [...]

Food + Art Pairings During Art Basel

Cuisine and culture will collide during Art Basel for a unique gastronomical experience. Penthouse 2 (PH2) is a four day private dining event beginning on Thursday, December 3rd that will bring together art and fine dining.  Each night a chef will be paired with an artist to create an imaginative seven course menu built around [...]

Happy Thanksgiving from the Amateur Gastronomer!

Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving filled with great friends, great food and great wine! Still planning your menu?  Here are some great wine pairing ideas for your holiday meal. Not dining at home?  Here are Miami restaurants that are serving Thanksgiving dinner.

AG Pick Under $15: 2006 Tierra Secreta Malbec

Looking for a bold and spicy wine to warm you up on a cool fall evening?  Try a glass of the 2006 Tierra Secreta Malbec. This red wine comes from the southern end of Argentina’s Mendoza region, an area well-known for producing Malbec.  The secret is the vineyards.  The tierra secreta, or secret earth, refers [...]

Pumpkin Bread

This time of year I can’t get enough pumpkin.  And this pumpkin bread is something I crave all fall. This recipe was created by my great grandmother on my father’s side who was an extremely talented baker.  It was passed down to my grandmother and then on to my mom, who made it a little [...]

Win a Trip to Italy During Simply Italian Restaurant Week

Simply Italian, a festival to celebrate Italian food, wine and culture is bringing an exciting flavor to Miami this week. From November 20th through 29th, diners will get to enjoy a special taste of Italian cuisine at Italian restaurants throughout Miami.  Participating restaurants are offering special prix fixe menus and Italian wines by the glass. [...]

Thanksgiving Wine Pairings

A great Thanksgiving feast deserves a great wine!  Though selecting a bottle for your holiday dinner may seem a little daunting at first, the many flavors mean you can serve a variety of wines. I’ve come up with a list of traditional pairings like Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, less common ones like semi-sweet white wines [...]

Peace, Love and Beaujolais Nouveau

At a celebration filled with flowers, tie-dye and a whole lot of groovyness and love, the 2009 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau was uncorked Thursday in Miami Beach. Au Pied de Cochon was the setting for this year’s 60′s themed uncorking ceremony.  The wine was brought to the restaurant in a VW van, escorted by a [...]

Dining Out on Thanksgiving

Not planning on preparing a lavish turkey dinner for Thanksgiving this year?  Celebrate the holiday at one of the many Miami restaurants serving up a special meal. Here are restaurants that will offer a Thanksgiving menu on November 26th: 94th Aero Squadron Enjoy watching planes land and take off without all the hassle of holiday [...]