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CULINARY EVENTS

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July 30
Share Our Strength will be hosting its annual culinary benefit Taste of the Nation at Miami's The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne. Premier chefs and mixologists will be dedicating their talent to raise funds and awareness to fight childhood hunger in America. The event will also feature wines, and a live and silent auction.  One hundred percent of all ticket sale proceeds benefit Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation grantees. Advanced general admission tickets are $100 and advanced V.I.P. reception and tasting tickets are $200. General admission and V.I.P. tickets can also be purchased at the door for $125 and $225. Visit www.strength.org for more information. The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, 455 Grand Bay Dr., Key Biscayne, FL 33149, 305-365-9575.
 
September 12
Azul at Mandarin Oriental, Miami presents its 2009 interactive cooking class series with chef Clay Conley. The September class will be themed around "Learning the Art of Japanese Cooking." Each class includes a three-course lunch paired with wine, recipe booklet and signature Azul apron. Individual classes are $175 per person plus tax, and are held from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Attendance is limited to 15 students. "Miami Culinary Weekend Experience" packages are also available. For reservations, please call 305-913-8358. Azul, Mandarin Oriental, Miami, 500 Brickell Key Dr., Miami, FL 33131, 305-913-8254.
 
November 21
Azul at Mandarin Oriental, Miami presents its 2009 interactive cooking class series with chef Clay Conley. The November class will be themed around "Festive Ways to Prepare for the Holidays." Each class includes a three-course lunch paired with wine, recipe booklet and signature Azul apron. Individual classes are $175 per person plus tax, and are held from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Attendance is limited to 15 students. "Miami Culinary Weekend Experience" packages are also available. For reservations, please call 305-913-8358. Azul, Mandarin Oriental, Miami, 500 Brickell Key Dr., Miami, FL 33131, 305-913-8254.
 

ONGOING EVENTS

Sundays
Poolside Sunday afternoon recovery parties are a longtime tradition in hard-partying South Beach, but which pool's the most cool changes seasonally. Current favorite: Shore Thing Sundays, presented by Tommy Pooch and Alan Roth, every Sunday from 12 p.m.-2 a.m. at The Shore Club. Outdoor loungers are treated to beats by Ani Phearce and Louis Dee, while those who can't quite face the sun can revive in Sky Bar's Red Room to sounds from DJ Irie. The Shore Club, 1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 786-276-6772.

Sundays
The Forge presents Soul Kitchen, its version of the “urban picnic,” with executive chef Andrew Swersky’s take on deviled eggs, fried chicken and waffles, beer-battered fried snapper with grits, mac ‘n’ cheese and peach cobbler for dessert. The all-soul-food menu begins at 10:15 p.m., a late night dining experience complete with a hip-hop DJ. The Forge, 432 41st St., Miami Beach, 305-538-8533.

Wednesdays through Saturdays
Four Seasons Hotel Miami upholds the tradition of Four Seasons hotels around the world by offering afternoon tea Wed.- Sat., 4 p.m.-6 p.m., in the intimate setting of 14-Thirty-Five lounge and lobby. Service begins with a choice of thirteen tea blends, ranging from aromatics herbal infusions such as lemon verbena and mango rooibos to green teas with high antioxidant content to traditional, fully fermented teas such as Darjeeling, Earl Grey or English Breakfast. Trendy tea-infused cocktails are also available such as the mountain berry-infused martini and the pear green tea vodka. Savory snacks include European cucumber and minted Neufchatel sandwiches, pinwheel of oolong tea-smoked salmon with dill and avocado and Miami-influenced sweets such as tropical fruit mousse cake and dulce de leche religieuse. A choice of blueberry or cranberry orange sconces is served alongside clotted cream and homemade orange marmalade and strawberry jam. $24 per person. For reservations, call 305-381-5590. 1435 Brickell Ave., Miami.

Fridays
Friday evening's Happy Hours (5 p.m.-8 p.m.) at Doraku, a stylish sushi/sake lounge, have long been a locals' insider favorite: The normal price of one specialty cocktail (roughly ten bucks) gets diners two drinks. Doraku, 1104 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach, 305-695-8383.

Saturdays
Two Chefs offers cooking classes at 11 a.m. with themes like Asian Sensation, Caribbean Spice and Traditional Foods from Spain. Two Chefs, 8287 S. Dixie Hwy., South Miami, 305-663-2100.

Saturdays and Sundays
Miami's Upper Eastside (along with other Biscayne/Brickell Corridor neighborhoods, including the Design District and Downtown, the town's hottest emerging destination dining area) is now home to two regular outdoor farmers' markets. Joining Saturday's Upper Eastside Green Market (open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in front of Legion Park, Biscayne Blvd. at 66th Street) is the Vagabond Market. Located at the former Vagabond Motel, a funky MiMo (Miami Modern) landmark, the new market, like the Greenmarket, offers a mix of fresh produce and regionally-made prepared foods, including Vito Volpe's fresh mozzarella and South Indian dishes from Raja's Indian Cuisine. Hours are 9 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Vagabond Market, 7301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138, 305-754-2866.
 

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