Kat's 9 Lives

La Gelateria Parmalat was an amazing find in Miami. My whole trip in Miami was packed full of private dinners, events, and parties. It was so hard to find time to get away and stroll down Lincoln Blvd to get a better feel of Miami/South Beach. Even though it had been raining earlier in the day and it was a bit chilly at night, Ms. Lin and I ventured out for a stroll before the private dinner. There was so much to see and so many places to try! Sadly our food schedule was so packed and I wasn't able to try experience more on this popular street that was reminiscent of Europe where you can just sit and people watch. Trying to find a place to try, the beaming neon light of the La Gelateria Parmalat called to me. We had done no research and went in on a whim. Boy am I glad we did! I only wished we had enough time for me to savor this place a few more times before I had to go.
The case display was great. I loved the ingredients in the cup. One that especially caught my eye was the "Flavor of the Day". We couldn't really identify the fruit because it was so unique. I had only discovered Mamey/Sapote earlier that week and another exotic fruit came to view. We just had to try it. Apparently the gelato here is made with Parmalat milk, which is an Italian dairy. **I only just discovered this reading through other reviews while trying to find the fruit's name.** Not sure if this milk makes it creamier but what I had was amazing! I had such great Mangoes on the yacht trip with the wonderful Melissa d'Arabian, so I was on a desperate hunt to find myself some more delicious mangoes! Alas, I really didn't even know where I could pick some up. So imagine how elated I was to find that they had a Mango Gelato here made with real mangoes! I really lucked out because the batch that day was ripe and divine. If you look at the picture closely you can see the fibers from the mango embedded in this heavenly treat. I really regret getting a smaller size with Ms. Lin! Darn my ungreediness that day! I must remember that I should always get the biggest size! lol Live every day like it is my last! lol With that motto it just might be. I really should have walked back after the dinner to pick up some more!
Can anyone correctly identify this fruit? I am not sure what the lady told us. At first I thought it was Guanaba, then I saw in other reviews that looked familiar like Guayaba or Lucuma. After looking at the pictures I want to say it looked more like lucuma, but the display they had out had more grooves poking out. Nevertheless, we liked the taste. It was sweet and had a unique texture. I am glad we got to try it, but the mango was definitely the winner. If I could, I would bring tubs of that home to store and slowly devour at home! I have traveled all over Europe and tried different gelatos from different cities as well as all over the U.S. and I must say this one is definitely near the top. I will say they have an unfair advantage in my heart because they have such wonderful mangoes to use around this area. So jealous! I only wish they would allow me to carry fruits back to California! Darn that rule! >_<#

La Gelateria Parmalat
670 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(786) 276-9475

Thanks to our gracious hosts, Food Network, we had plans to board a Yacht in the afternoon with Melissa d'Arabian. She was the winner of Season 5 of The Next Food Network Star and now hosts her own show, Ten Dollar Dinners. Her promise is that all you have to spend is $10 to feed a party of 4.
It was a beautiful afternoon in Miami. We set sail on a private yacht with a breath-taking view. The waters were a gorgeous blue that was brilliantly enhanced by the sun. Slowly we left port and began sailing away from the city. We left all our worries behind that afternoon.
Who needs a post card when I had the chance to snap picture perfect shots of the city and islands. There was a small box available at the deck where everyone convened. They had a table/station set up near the stern. Ms. Lin and I knew that there must be a demo later. It was very interesting to see Fennel up-close. I've probably only seen it thinly sliced in my food and have never seen the whole vegetable 'till that day.
Before the demonstration we were introduced to Melissa d'Arabian. She is such a wonderful and amazing person. After meeting her you can feel her genuine sweet personality and as soon as you meet her you could tell that she has tons of star potential! Who wouldn't be enamored by her delightful character after speaking with her. We had a wonderful discussion with her of how she entered this new profession. She started out in marketing and different parts of life has ultimately led her to enter the contest of The Next Food Network Star. With the support of her wonderful husband and children, all this would be possible.
Here, I have a little teaser/preview for my followers to see Melissa d'Arabian in action. She is able to draw the crowd in with her knowledge and personality. Her little tips and secrets are very helpful. I'll definitely never look at fennel the same way after this. She makes sure that no part of the ingredient goes to waste. Watching her work and watching her show is not only a learning experience but an exploration and inspiration.



Her recipe of Fennel and Cabbage Slaw was amazingly refreshing. I've never tried cole slaw made with fennel as the main ingredient and stay under a budget! The crisp texture and flavor of the fennel brought the slaw to a whole new level. After the entertaining demo, for which I filmed the entire time, we were seated to start lunch where we would be able to taste her creation.
Lunch was buffet-style and served below deck. Even though the sun was out and beating down there was quite a chilly wind in the air. Still, we sat in the shade because I rather not get tanned. I save our seats and sent Ms. Lin to grab the food. O=9 They served Seafood Salad, Fennel & Cabbage Slaw, Herbed Chicken, Guacamole, Cold Cuts, Fresh Fruits, and more. The seafood salad was a bit on the bland side but that could be overlooked for the sheer quantity of seafood that was in the salad... Until I found a huge/long hair embedded in my salad... BLECH! That was it for me.
For the most part the food was just okay. I was already getting pretty hungry as the demo was 30-45 mins long and it was getting closer to 2 o'clock. Still, I was not willing to eat my plate after finding hair in my food. I told the servers and they took away my plate. There were not the most friendly but they did offer to bring me a new plate at east. Since I wouldn't want more of the seafood salad since it probably came from the same batch. I asked for more chicken and just mango. Little did I know how wonderful the mango was! My previous plate was taken away before Ms. Lin was able to warn me that she put most of the mangoes on my plate.
Woe as me! The mango was fabulous and I only got a little bit on my second plate. The worst part was there were no more mangoes left. =*( At least the new batch of chicken they gave me was moist and tender. The ones they served in the buffet were super dry. I don't know why but I always hit the jackpot and find stray hairs inside. Guess I need to go out and buy a lottery ticket, huh? lol
For dessert they served Strawberry Shortcake and Chocolate Chip Cookies served on the deck. Ms. Lin and I had a nice long chat with Alice. At the end when we were docking, I got Melissa d'Arabian to sign our recipe cards. She even remembered my name and gave both of us a hug before parting ways. I really cannot describe how great splendid she is. An example to show how sincere she is in her actions would be when I was walking around the Grand Tasting Village the next day, someone grabbed my arm to stop me. To my surprise it was Melissa d'Arabian. She told me that she saw me and wanted to say hello as well as give me a hug! Now that is one genuine fantastic person. She had no obligation to acknowledge or greet me, but she went out of her way to talk to me. I will sing praises of her to everyone and it is quite clear that she is a star. Watch her show! O=9

burgers, Burgers, BURGERS! As you can see from the previous posts that Ms. Lin and I were being stuffed to the brink! If we were wearing buttoned pants, they would have burst a long time ago! ^_^ Nearing the end I just ran around and grabbed a few more burgers as we were heading out of the tent. One name that caught my attention was the Love Shack located in Fort Worth, TX. They offered a Dirty Love Burger, but it differed a lot from the description on our menu. The burger they served had Shredded Lettuce, Tomato, American Cheese, Love Sauce, and supposedly Applewood Smoked Wild Boar Bacon. I don't remember seeing such a delicious bacon on their sign, because it would have stood out and I would have eaten a bunch of these. O=9 There were suppose to be a lot of great sides listed, but I didn't see any of that either. It could be that it was getting close to the end of the night and a lot of items were already gone. So the lesson here is you got to hit up all these stations early and fast before the goodies run out. After the event, I saw on the local news that by the end of the night there were barely any burgers left. The reported could only scrounge up 4 burgers to try. Tip, if you plan to go then buy the VIP tickets. Sure, it is not cheap but the price difference will be well worth it. I wish I used my VIP tickets to the fullest, but I was out exploring and didn't get back until late. =*(
Last but not least is Bill's Bar Burger from NYC serving Bill's Classic with American Cheddar. The components are very simple and that piece of bacon sticking out was just too tempting. They spice and season their meat. The burger looked nice and juicy. Even if I am stuffed to the brim, I can always make a little more room for that bacon and juicy meat. ^_^ Again, since it was towards the end there was no sides left.
Finally we made our way out of the tent where the desserts are right before the exit. We noticed Jean Georges Restaurant from NYC was there and we thought it would be a burger but it is the Pastry Chef again. They were serving the Crunchy Chocolate Peanut Butter and Jelly Pop again. We saw him at the Sweet event in NYC a few months ago. I wished they served a savory dish but it is always good to just have them there. It reminds me a little of Elvis' favorite PB&J with Banana when I eat this, but of course with a couture touch. Only I ate it because Ms. Lin is not a big fan of peanut butter. Don't worry she went to line up for some cookies at Levain Bakery also from NYC. I guess it was a walk down memory lane since we saw them both at the Sweet event in NYC and we also have been to both locations. The cookies were as big as we remember and just as tasty. They were rich and chocolatey. O=9 This time I had it fresh so it was just the right balance of chewy on the outside and soft in the center.
To finish the evening off, we lined up for Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams that came all the way from Columbus, Ohio. The line was long and a bit unruly coming from every angle but that was the theme of the night. I stepped out of the box and asked for more. Most people seemed to be asking for one flavor but I asked if I could have 2 flavors and the guy said sure... hey it never hurts to ask. O=9 The worst thing he could do is say no and maybe ... give me a smaller scoop? eek lol I decided to get the Salty Caramel and Brown Butter Almond Brittle. Ms. Lin could not pass up a chance at Salty Caramel and she followed my lead by asking for Cocoa Zin as well. The ice cream was sweet, thick, and creamy. I had a few bites and was sweeted out. If only I had a blender and milk to make a yummy shake.
As you can see it was an awesome night of food and fun. The band was really great that night and you could feel the vibes flowing through the tent. Everyone was getting down and having fun and enjoying great food. I had a great time meeting all the chefs as they were all friendly and made us delicious burgers. After this night's event, I can totally see why everyone thinks the Burger Bash is the best event. It is a lot of fun and burgers. The tickets are usually sell out first, so be sure to get on it and buy them fast when you see any Wine and Food Festival event! ^_^

Did you think I was done talking about the burgers we had at the Burger Bash at the SoBe Fest? lol How little you know about us! O=9 After Chef Rocco DiSpirito's Station we headed on over to Chef David Burke's station. This is the first time I have seen the man even though I have been to his restaurant in Vegas a few times. David Burke's Primehouse is in Chicago, IL. He seemed very funny and chill. On the menu is a 40 Day Dry Aged Burger with Cheddar, Crispy Shrimp, Pickle, Chipotle Mayo, Maple Pepper Bacon, and Pickled Watermelon Skewer. For the side, he served a Pommes Souffles with BBQ Bacon Wax. Chef Burke is known for eccentric style and design, now I know why. He goes outside the bounds of normalcy to create new works of art. I thought he was funny when he was chatting with other people and gave them the "finger" with his pommes frittes, all in good fun of course. Ms. Lin and I were extremely intrigued by his creation. It was a lot of fun to bite into the pommes frite, very unique. The maple pepper bacon gave an extra kick and was flavorful. I've always liked his place in Vegas, so if I am ever in Chicago I will be sure to visit his place.
Immediately we moved onto the next station, which was Marc Burger also from Chicago. Chef Marcus Samuelsson was a pleasure to meet and down to earth. Ms. Lin and I were both just taking pictures and when we went up for our burger he shook our hands with a smile. Definitely a gentleman and a nice guy. His station was a Crunchy BBQ Kobe Burger served with 3.2.1. Pickles. How can you turn down a Kobe burger? The meat was very tender. Chef Samuelsson is most well known for his Scandinavian cuisine at Aquavit in NYC.
Where to next? Why not check out the loudest booth?! lol Chef Spike Mendelsohn was trying his best to rack in votes to win for best burger. There were many people working diligently to gather votes and guests for Good Stuff Eatery. They were really drawing in a crowd and nobody can say he didn't try to work it. Chef Mendelsohn was decked out in boxing clothes working the crowd. Of course to earn the coveted voting chip isn't that easy. It was very hard to get a picture of him because he was bouncing off the walls, but I didn't see him behind his station cooking. I wonder if he did any of the grilling or just worked the front. He was serving a Farmhouse Bacon Cheeseburger with Ruby Red Tomato, Applewood Smoked Bacon, American Cheese, Lettuce, and Red Onion all on a Potato Bun. For his side he served a Pink Cotton Candy Milkshake. The drink looked really cute and might have had a lot of potential... I ate the cotton candy but I didn't quite like the shake. It is probably because I am not a big fan of cotton candy "flavored" items. The burger was good and I always love hearing that there is applewood smoked bacon inside.
Next up was one of my faves from the NYC Wine and Food Festival, the Shake Shack. The main reason I really liked them last time was because they served yummy rootbeer floats. I know they are simple to make but I really like them and I get these big cravings. It must be fate that they would be here in SoBe, but alas... fate is so cruel and unkind! NO float! =*( The good news is they are planning to opening up a Shake Shack in Miami soon and they were giving out free T-Shirts, which I guess made up for the lack of float... somewhat. Still I wished they had the float, because I would drink a ton of it. O=9 This time around they served the Shack Burger. It is their signature burger with Lettuce, Tomato, and Homemade Shack Sauce. For their side they served South Beach Concrete. I didn't care for this healthy ice cream concoction. Nothing can replace the love I have in my heart for some yummy float. =*( I guess I will have to make it a goal next time to check out their NYC location for some more of their burgers and to get my fill of their shakes. After all... they are called the "Shake" Shack.
Right next to the Shake Shack was the Meat Market station located in SoBe. What caught my eye was the ingredients they were using. They were serving a Wood Grilled South Beach Market Slider with Truffle Horseradish Aioli and Arugula on a Brioche Kaiser Roll. The side sounded really good too, Gouda Tater Tots! I just wished that they came out piping hot with melted goodness. Since Ms. Lin and I were sharing the burgers, I almost didn't want to give her half of the tater tot. Having truffle inside also makes us both happy. Truffles just make everything smell and taste better. Any normal burger will be kicked up a notch just by adding a drop of just truffle oil. Yup, it is just that powerful! ^_^
Another installment done and one more to go. Just when you think we are done... well you are right... we are pretty stuffed but we still persist to go on for a little more. What you might ask? Well you will just have to wait to find out. O=)

The Burger Bash continues on... so many burgers but so little stomach room! lol Actually these were the first few burgers we started out with. As you enter the big tent you see the massive amounts of people and get a wonderful whiff of what is in store for you. We didn't really look at the menu they gave us and just went in blindly without a strategy. Note to self - Map out your conquests! ^_^ First to bat was Bobby Flay. Since NYC we have been a fan of his burger as his burger at the NY Wine and Food Festival he should have won the best burger award. Ms. Lin and I both love that the chefs are there behind the scenes cooking and serving the burgers. This time he presented the Dallas Burger Crunchified. It is a Spice Crusted Burger with Coleslaw, Monterey Jack, Pickles, Potato Chips, and BBQ Sauce. I love that the burger is never fully cooked and juicy in the center. The potato chips add so much texture and crunch to each bite. It was a solid burger, but I still think the one he served in NYC was the best. Still, I will make it a goal to try out Bobby's Burger Palace in CT after all these great burgers from him. The man does know how to make one delicious burger. Can't wait to see what other creations he has.
We moved right down the line. Since we are Burger Bash veterans, we know how to pace ourselves a bit. Luckily there is 2 of us so we usually share except certain chefs or burgers that are really good. Yes, we each had our own burger from Bobby Flay. The next few we shared. O=9 Got to save stomach room for the rest of the burgers! lol Ms. Lin stood in line for Bourbon Steak in Miami, Michael Mina's Signature Beef Burger. It's a burger with Aged Cheddar, Balsamic Grilled Onions, Shredded Baby Romaine Lettuce, Secret Sauce and served with Duck Fat Fries! Need I say more? How can fries fried in duck fat not be awesome? It was delicious and extremely aromatic. At first the burger looked weird with all those strips hanging out but in a good way. Everything was succulent and delectable on that tray. I really wanted to go back for another serving, mainly for the duck fat fries. O=9 Ms. Lin stopped me in my tracks because we still had many burgers to go. =*( So controlling! lol I really liked the spicy ketchup served with the fries. It tasted a lost like mild cocktail sauce but the fries were nicely crisp and wonderfully flavored.
While Ms. Lin was waiting in the other line, I went off to the next station. China Grill Management, a restaurant right here in Miami, was serving Jeff & Zach's Bacon Beach Burger. Their station was funny and trying really hard to use sex appeal to drive burger lovers in. There was a man and woman in skimpy bathing suits passing out the drink that goes with the burger. It was kind of an adverse effect for me, but I still went and grabbed a burger. Their burger has Bacon, American Cheese, McClure's Spicy Pickles, Red Onion, and Special Sauce served in Martin's Potato Roll. I was interested in the drink because it was made with Watermelon and it was refreshing. The bacon was fabulously crunchy and smoky. I liked how tender the burger was as you can see it is medium rare, just the way I like it. All the flavors came together well and it was a tasty burger.
After that we moved onto Chef Morimoto's line, but it was a long long line so I ran off for a quick fix to bring back. O=9 I'm telling you it is all about strategy! lol What caught my eye was Bistro One LR at The Ritz Carlton. They had no line, so perfect! I'm putting in a special picture of their station because they had a mobile assembly line. You can't really tell in the picture but the white bar-like table is actually a moving assembly line, which I thought was funny and brilliant. That is a very efficient idea. They served a Gougère Burger with Tarragon Pickle, Shaved Red Onion, and Frizèe served with Shiitake Pommes Frites. The burger tasted better if you added the small pommes frites to add more texture.
More burgers to come and more food... stay tuned! ^_^

Starting the trip off with a bang. My flight was delayed and the whole days schedule was pushed back. Ms. Lin and I were sad that we missed the VIP entrance time to the Burger Bash at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. The freeways and roads were packed to the brim! Luckily we were staying at the Ritz Carlton near the event so we could actually get parking! Although Ms. Lin told me about the attitude she had to face while trying to get parking and the even funnier attitude change when she tells them she is staying at the hotel. Eventually we made it through the crowds and were let in immediately since we had VIP passes. There were still lines to get in and you can hear the crowd from far away! Couldn't wait to get in.

The Burger Bash is usually the hottest event of the festival and I dare to say that the rumors are true. This event was sponsored by Food Network, Amstel Light, Allen Brothers Steak, and hosted by Rachel Ray. Many distinguished chefs had booths there. The best part of the event is they are actually there cooking and serving you their master creations. There were so many delectable choices. At the entrance you are given a list of restaurants, chefs, and what is on the menu for the night. You can vote for your favorite burger with the button given. I loved the fact that they gave a plastic try to hold your burger and drinks for the night to use. As they were passing them out they said, "Be sure not to throw it away." Great advice for the night and if I knew, I wished I kept that plate for the other nights! lol
Since there were so many great burgers and great chefs, I am going to break the review into parts. The station that had the longest line was Iron Chef Morimoto. Why not? He is a great man with a great talent. Chef Morimoto has worked at Nobu in NYC, was an Iron Chef for the original Japanese show, is an Iron Chef on Iron Chef America, and he has restaurants both in Philadelphia and NYC. Even though his line was the longest, people were all willing to wait for a chance to meet him. We were no exception as we snapped a few photos with him. Chef Morimoto was friendly and kind even though he was swamped with people wanting food and time from him. He always maintained a genuine smile as he was working diligently to crank those hamburgers out while posing for photos.
On the menu for the night was Morimoto's Pork "Kakuni" Burger. It's a Beef Hamburger topped with Glazed Pork Belly. The pork belly was tender and flavorful. It enhanced the flavor and texture of the hamburger meat below. The strong flavors were nicely balance out with the shredded cabbage and dressing. There was also a sweet homemade pickle on the side. This burger stood out to me because it had a different component that was cooked to perfection. Who doesn't love a slow braised pork belly the emanates flavor. Mmmm good. After meeting Chef Morimoto and getting a taste of culinary skills, I will definitely make it a goal to visit his restaurants. He definitely has moved up on my list after this experience.
The surprise of the night for me was Rocco DiSpirito. Many people know of him as being a chef, a guest judge, and a dancer. Personally I was never a big fan or that interested. In fact, that night I wasn't even going to wait in the line because I didn't really care... Ms. Lin wanted to and I just went with the flow. I am glad that I waited in the line to meet him and try his hamburger. He was serving Pork and Chow Chow Sliders. It was Pork with Walnuts that was wrapped in Bacon on a soft bun with Chow Chow and Pickled Beets. The nuts added a crunchy bite to the texture of the tender pork. Bacon is always great in my book too and having it wrapped around the meat helps add a smoky flavor to it. Choosing to use pork was smart because it stood out from the rest of the beef hamburgers and it was a refreshing change after eating all that beef. What really changed my mind about him though was that he is actually a really nice guy! Don't know why I always had a negative image of him before, but now I am turned anew. The picture of him originally had me in it, but for anonymity I cut myself off. He was actually really close to my head, to my surprise. As we were taking the pictures, he was actually joking with me and carrying on a conversation. I could tell that he was actually a very down to earth guy and a great person to know. Even when Ms. Lin went up for her photo he was still chatting and joking with us. After this nice experience, I am starting to think he is cute... he's definitely got charm. Ironically I just saw him on Good Morning America today, it is just fate! ^_^ He definitely has moved up on my list as well and I will have to add his restaurant to my list as well.
These chefs are definitely a star not only for their cooking but also for their great personalities. After all, many people can cook but not everyone can draw in a crowd like these chefs. They won me over. I have been praising them to everyone that asks me about my experience at the Burger Bash this year.

Come one, come all! It is this time of year again. Well, this will be my first time out in Miami and to attend the South Beach Wine and Food Festival from Feb. 25th - Feb. 28th. I have had an awesome time these past few months hitting up Wine and Food Festivals all around. Thanks to the wonderful sponsorship of Food Network for the Sobe Food Fest! There are many wondrous events set in motion. Although a lot of tickets are sold out, if you are around and want to check out any open events then go to http://www.sobefest.com/ or even just to browse. A lot of the events are on the beautiful beaches of Miami.