Category Archives: Food Philanthropy

Pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith serving up goat’s milk yogurt panna cotta with date leather and pickled dried fruit at Best of the Best on Friday night at the Fontainebleau on South Beach.

It was quite the eventful weekend with South Beach Wine & Food Festival making its annual splash drawing talent and visitors from across the globe, but the fun doesn’t stop there.  For us, it’s all about the local events over the next month, celebrating our farmers close to home in the field and on the plate.

You already know about our March pop-up with Bill Telepan (for the kids, baby!) and we’ll have that menu posted here tomorrow, but today is all about sharing some of the other happenings that may have snuck up without you knowing. See you out there!

Slow & Steady Wins the Race: When Michael was awarded Miami’s first Slow Food Snail of Approval in 2010, he was honored to be recognized for stewardship of all things local, but more exciting was the notion that in bringing the brilliant Snail program launched in New York to South Florida we had tipped a domino and set in motion a movement in which more and more awards would go each year to new chefs and restaurants that saw the bright future and value in a fresh, simple and pure approach to food and drink.  Further sustaining the support of slow foods and the farmers that make them possible for years to come was the hope. Fast forward to Friday, March 15 and the wish has been realized. Under the thoughtful watch of convivum leader Renee Frigo Graeff, the era of Snail is alive and well with its second annual Tasting Party honoring 2014 nominees Chef Kris Wessel of Florida Cookery and Chef Matt Hinckley of Boxpark from 7 – 10:00 p.m. at The James Royal Palm Hotel, South Beach.  After the event, the party continues from 9:30 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. hosted by Florida Cookery honoring our white chocolate slow-roasting, 2013 James Beard semifinalist, Hedy Goldsmith. Click here for tickets!

Genuinely Swank: We source their amazing baby veggies and greens for Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink and Harry’s Pizzeria in Miami, as well as 150 Central Park’s farm-to-ship menus aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas (and soon to be its sister ship Allure!) As if it didn’t make it quick enough to your plate already in our restaurants, their freshly-harvested product will hit tables in the field on their turf when Michael joins pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith visit for one of their “Swank Table” luncheons on April 7 from 12 – 4:00 p.m. at Swank Farms Specialty Produce in Loxahatchee. A short hour drive from Miami, this hydro-natural farm is in full production mode right now. Calling on the best of our state’s farmers, ranchers, artisanal producers, micro-brewers, and organic wine makers, we’ll roll out a memorable, multi-course meal with what’s fresh and in season on the menu. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the James Beard Scholarship Foundation.  Get them now!