* * *Chef Kris Wessel, last summer at the Slow Food “Palo! and Pie” Picnic./ David Samayoa * * * Chef Kris Wessel will donate 25% of sales from special “Help Haiti” dishes on his menu Saturday and Sunday.  Five of his employees were directly affected by the earthquake, according to his Facebook page.  [...] » Read more..

Menu for Hope is an annual fundraiser for the United Nations World Food Programme.  Food bloggers from around the world donate fabulous food prizes, including cookbooks, appliances, rare treats and delicacies, food tours and restaurant certificates. You bid $10 for each virtual raffle ticket and designate which prize(s) you want your ticket(s) to go towards.  The [...] » Read more..

* * * Radishes and herbs from Redland Organics. * * * Sunday was the first day of the new farmers market at Pinecrest Gardens. The market will be held each Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm until April. This market is a larger version of the South Florida Farmers Market formerly held at Gardner’s [...] » Read more..

* * * Ruth Reichl, food writer and former editor of Gourmet magazine. * * * The annual Miami Book Fair International started yesterday.  This year the Book Fair is lean, but still strong.  For example, the International Pavilions, which showcase the literature, arts and food of different countries are on hiatus, as well as the [...] » Read more..

/ David Samayoa Getting me to go to a lecture about wine is pretty tough, unless you tell me that I’m going to be sitting next to Chuck Ferrin and he’ll be explaining everything in his usual knowledgeable, but irreverant way.  I may be the only one, but there’s the truth.  Once I start drinking the [...] » Read more..

* * * Chef-instructor Michael Moran and students/ Photographs in this post courtesy of Mitchell Zachs-FIU School of Hospitality Management* * * My,  Lunch Week sure is long!  I suppose when you write your own blog you can take some liberties… FIU Hospitality School reopened its dining room last week.  On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, student chefs [...] » Read more..

Monday’s lunch at Miami Dade schools. /Michelle Gutierrez I’m a member of Slow Food Miami.  Slow Food is an international organization which advocates for the celebration and preservation of local and sustainable food traditions, community and culture.  The group fosters the sustainable agriculture of diverse foods, including heirloom seeds or rare livestock breeds around the [...] » Read more..

I attended Taste of the Nation at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne for the first time last Thursday, courtesy of Foodbuzz.com and the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. Taste of the Nation is an annual charity event which raises money for the national organization Share our Strength.  One of Share our Strength’s main campaigns is ending child hunger [...] » Read more..

This week, a dozen or so restaurants offer $25 prix-fixe three-course menus as part of Yelp Eats! Restaurant Week.  The deal lasts through Saturday, July 26.  The price does not include tip and tax.  There are several appealing options on the list of participating restaurants, which includes 660 at the Angler’s Resort, Alta Mar, Au [...] » Read more..

This Thursday, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida presents African Diaspora Culinary Delights as part of its ongoing exhibition on “Black Crossroads:  The African Diaspora in Miami.”  Three local cooks will present sample dishes and savory food history.  Brenda L. Jackson will discuss soul food.  She will showcase her cornbread casserole, collard greens with tomatoes [...] » Read more..