2 weeks and counting

It's exactly two weeks before we head to Miami for a weekend over culinary indulgence. We feel like kids waiting for Christmas to arrive! Here is a brief rundown of our weekend (you can see why we're so excited!):

Friday:
Fly to Miami and upon retreiving our luggage, head straight to Azul at the Mandarin Hotel for lunch with our culinary cohorts!
After lunch, head to the Standard Hotel in Miami Beach and check in. After getting ready, sip Champagne poolside over looking Biscayne Bay, then get car service to the Best-of-the-Best event where we officially kick-off the festivities.

Who and what is the Best-of-the Best??? Here's what/who we'll be tasting:

Alfred Portale (Gotham Bar and Grill, New York)
Andrew Carmellini (A Voce, New York)
Andrew Swersky (The Forge, Miami Beach)
Anita Lo (Annisa, New York)
Cindy Hutson (Ortanique on the Mile, Coral Gables)
David Chang (Momofuku, New York)
Douglas Rodriguez (Ola on Ocean, Miami Beach)
Edgar Leal (Cacao Restaurant, Coral Gables)
Fabio Trabocchi (Maestro, McLean)
Floyd Cardoz (Tabla, New York)
Gabrielle Hamilton (Prune, New York)
Govind Armstrong (Table 8, Miami Beach)
Hedy Goldsmith and Michael Sabin (Nemo, Prime 112, Miami Beach)
Howard Kleinberg (The Food Gang: Surfside, FL)
Jean Paul Desmaison (La Cofradia, Coral Gables)
John McLean and John Nicely (Levy Restaurants at American Airlines Arena)
Johnny Vinczencz (Johnny V’s, Ft. Lauderdale)
Jonathan Eismann (Pacific Time, Miami Beach)
Marc Vetri (Vetri, Philadelphia)
Marcus Samuelsson (Aquavit, New York)
Maria Frumkin (Duo Restaurant & Bar, Miami)
Mark Militello (Mark’s, Las Olas, Cityplace, Mizner Park, South Beach)
Michael Mina
Michelle Bernstein (Michy’s, Miami)
Nobu Matsuhisa (Matsuhisa international)
Scott Conant (L'Impero, Alto, New York)
Stefan Kauth (ENVY The Steakhouse at the Renaissance, Las Vegas)
Thomas Valenti (Ouest Restaurant, New York)
Todd English (Todd English's Tuscany at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville)
Participating Champagne Houses:
Champagne Gosset
Champagne Lanson
Champagne Laurent Perrier
Champagne Louis Roederer
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte
Champagne Perrier Jouët
Champagne Pommery
Dom Pérignon
Participating Wineries:
Altesino
Andrew Geoffrey Vineyards
AP Vin
Au Bon Climat
Beaulieu Vineyard
Beringer Vineyards
Bodegas Caro
Charles Krug Winery
Chateau Coufran
Chateau de la Gardine
Chateau Haut-Brion
Chiarello Family Vineyards
Col Solare
Daedalus Cellars
Diamond Creek Vineyards
Domaine de la Vougeraie
Far Niente
Gypsy Dancer Estates
Hanzell Vineyards
Hitching Post
IL Borro
Jordan Vineyard and Winery
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
La Misión Aut.-Brion
Lancaster Estates
Landmark Vineyards
Loring Wine Company
Maison Louis Latour
Marchesi Antinori
Markham Vineyards
Marques de Riscal
Newton
Nickel & Nickel
Pali Wine Co.
Prunotto
Qupe Wine Cellars
Robert Mondavi Winery
Roessler Cellars
Schrader Cellars
Silver Pines Vineyard
Tandem Winery
Tor Kenward Family Wines, LLC
Trinchero Winery
Vine Cliff Winery
Wines from the Wagner Family

Saturday:
Morning massages, lunch at Tides Hotel, the a Wine Spectator professional tasting seminar, followed by a black-tie tribute dinner honoring Eric Ripert - Le Bernadin. Here's what we'll be tasting at the Spectator afternoon tasting:

Evolution in Oakville: 15 Years of Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage after vintage, Oakville has proven itself to be the epicenter of the most exciting Cabernets being produced today. Far Niente President and CEO Larry Maguire will lead a rare tasting of the Oakville winery's Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon spanning 15 years from the 1990s into the 2000s. Showcasing hallmark vintages over two decades, the tasting will illustrate how Oakville fruit, estate vineyards, meticulous farming and intuitive winemaking combine to create Cabernets in the legendary, luxurious Far Niente "house style."

“Wines of the Wagner Family”
Family, farming and fine wines are the foundation for everything the Wagners have created during their more than 100-year history in the Napa Valley. Best known for the Cabernet Sauvignons he makes at Caymus Vineyards, Chuck Wagner will not only prepare a tasting of the 1994 and 2004 Special Selection Cabernets, he’ll also proudly pour wines made by his sons Charlie (Mer Soleil Chardonnay from Monterey County) and Joseph (Belle Glos single-vineyard Pinot Noirs.) Having started Caymus with his mother Lorna, and father Charlie, Chuck knows the family is onto something: Wine Spectator recently recognized Caymus Vineyards for producing the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley since 1990.

“The Best Italian Wines You’ve Never Heard Of”
Most wine lovers have heard of Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany and Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont; however, Italy produces outstanding wines in all twenty regions. Join us to discover delicious wines from Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Basilicata, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia selected by Southern Wine & Spirits Italian Wine Specialist Cesar Basurto. The tasting will be conducted by Master Sommeliers Laura DePasquale, John Blazon and Eric Hemer. All the wines to be poured won the top award “Tre Bicchieri” (three glass) awarded by the prestigious Italian publication Gambero Rosso.

Château Cheval Blanc & Château d’Yquem
Needs no explanation!!!

Tribute dinner for Eric Ripert:
New York Magazine’s Insatiable Critic Gael Greene hosts the Festival’s Tribute Dinner paying honor to the team Eric Ripert and Maguy Le Coze of New York’s legendary four-star restaurant Le Bernardin. The pair will be feted with an unforgettable meal prepared by some of their friends, among them Daniel Boulud (Daniel, New York), Laurent Gras (formerly of Fifth Floor, San Francisco), Elena Arzak (Restaurante Arzak), Marc Ehrler (Loews Miami Beach), Tony Esnault (Alain Ducasse at the Essex House), Norman Van Aken (Norman's, Coral Gables) and Le Bernardin’s own pastry chef Michael Laiskonis. Yum!!!

Sunday:
Up and at 'em and head to Daniel Boulud's latest restaurant: Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach

That evening - head home to DC!