Miami Style Map: The AC Hotel Miami Beach- SOBEWFF's Best Kept Secret

The South Beach Wine and Food Festival has descended upon South Florida, which means, foodies everywhere are ready to chomp down on some delicious cuisine and refreshing drinks from some of the most renowned chefs in the nation. The only downside? Scoring a ticket can often prove unsuccessful (unless you are willing to dish the big bucks) and that bad beach traffic and nonexistent parking is enough for any festival goer to lose their appetite. Fret not, my fellow food lovers! I have a stylish and yummy alternative that is quite savory and chic, without the hassle of reservations and scalped tickets. And the best part? It's located right in Mid-Beach- in the center of all the SOBEWFF action. 

A few days ago, I was invited to experience the European-inspired AC Hotel Miami Beach (http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/miaac-ac-hotel-miami-beach/), a boutique hotel offering top notch amenities in a more intimate and sophisticated setting in the heart of Miami Beach. When I walked into the sleek lobby of the hotel, with its muted grey and white palette, I immediately felt a cool-like energy that was both vibrant and relaxing. One of my favorite spaces within the hotel, was the laid back yet sultry lounge space available to both guests and locals. It's the perfect spot for a pre-game cocktail before heading off to your next glamorous adventure! 

Have a SOBEWFF event but want a grab a drink with friends beforehand? Not a problem. The AC Lounge has you covered. No reservations or tickets required! In fact, anyone who visits the AC Lounge during the festival and checks in and/or posts a picture tagging the property (with the handles @AChotelmiamibeach and #achotelmiamibeach,) on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter is eligible to win a $50 bar tab. 

I was very excited to sample the lounge's tapas drink and appetizer menu on my visit and I'm excited to share with you some of my most memorable tastes! First up, this filling Antipasto salad with prosciutto, salami, mozzarella, and roasted vegetables-  which was a home run in the salad department. Conjuring both the spicy and rich of a starter salad, this was the ideal starter to kick off the rest of the dishes. It was paired with a gin and tonic- which unfortunately, was a little too strong for my taste- but hey, it could easily be someone else's bag.

Let's introduce the second presentation with this fun newsflash: drinks at the AC Lounge are affordable- yes, you heard me- affordable, which is pretty much a myth in Miami Beach. Cocktails range anywhere from $9-$11. Not a bad way to start your night! Taking my first bite into the Tomato Braised Eggplant and Ricotta Toast was absolutely heavenly. The addition of the parmesan gave a nice kick to the bite's finish. If you're big on bourbon, then you'll love the  Biscayne Boulevardier, which is made with Cyrus Noble Bourbon, Fruitlab Hibiscus Liqueur, and Aperol. It'll give your body a surprising jolt! 

If you're coming a with a group of friends, set up shop at one of the lounge's tufted spaces. They're comfortable and great for flowing conversation! If you rather a more private and 'up-close-and-personal' vibe, head to the streamlined mirrored bar and get lost amidst the allure of bar dining and decadent drums. 

I think I speak for most foodies when I say, bring on the dessert! AC Lounge won me over with their delicious goat cheese and honey cheesecake. The glaze was mouthwatering combined with the creaminess of the cheesecake. It was proportionately sized so I didn't feel engorged or like a beached whale after consuming such wonderfully rich and appetizing dishes! This particular dessert dish was paired with a berry-anise liqueur from Spain- tangy and evenly sweet when enjoyed with the goat cheese. 

You won this girl over! 

I have to give a special mention to this preferred cocktail because it was actually one of my favorites. It's called The Flagler- made with Titos Vodka, Macchu Pisco, Simple Syrup, Key Lime, and Amargo Vallet Angostura. I'm usually not a vodka drinker, but this libation was off the charts refreshing and tasty. 

Coming by the AC Lounge felt like I was getting the full SOBEWFF experience within my own hidden gem! If you need a place to escape the beach madness, come to the AC Hotel. If you're a guest of the hotel, grab a drink and head to the rooftop, which offers the most stunning views of the ocean and the picturesque Miami Beach street scape. 

We finished off our day with a glass of bubbly, specifically, the Stiltsville - an effervescent delight made from Cocchi Americano, Sparkling Wine, St. George Absinthe, and lemon Juice. Pair it with some scrumptious and crunchy macaroons, and you've got yourself a winning combo! 

Now that I've consumed a tapas meal fit for a king, I'm ready to spread the good word about the AC Hotel Miami Beach. If these pictures taken by the talented and creative Chris Carter of Ra-Haus Fotografie (www.ra-haus.com) haven't convinced you yet, then you need to check out the lounge for yourself! Be a trendsetter, or a food setter, and start the night right at the AC Lounge. Did I mention how affordable your tab would be?! You'll find me there Saturday evening with some champagne in my hand! 

On Me: 

Dress- Erin Fetherston for Rent The Runway

Hat- Goorin Bros Lincoln Road 

Sunnies- Forever 21

Heels- Christian Siriano for Payless Shoes 

In Style, 

Kat 

It's All About Pulpo (Octopus) and Estrella Damm Beer for this week's Chef's Choice Experience

Estrella Damm, the beer of Barcelona 

This past week, I was invited to indulge in the Estrella Damm Chef's Choice experience, a specially crafted three course culinary tasting featuring Estrella Damm beer and a pulpo (octopus) dish as the main course. 

The menus, available from June 20th to July 5th, range in price from $30-$52 and will allow chefs from participating restaurants  to showcase their talents when it comes to creating a savory pulpo entree. The three course menu also pairs perfectly with Estrella Damm, the beer of Barcelona. 

"We selected pulpo because it is representative of Mediterranean cuisine and because we think it is an intriguing ingredient Miami foodies will love and who better to prepare these dishes than Miami's most inventive chefs," said Floris van Neerrijnen, Estrella Damm Brand Manager. 

Sangria Drunken Fig Brûlée 

Coincidentally, the tasting happened to land on our eight year anniversary and we decided to make it a celebratory affair! We picked participating venue and neighborhood eatery, Bin 18 Bistro and Beer Loft, located across from our apartment building. We also happen to like their pulpo presentation the best. 

Bin 18 chef, Alfredo Palino, put together a decadent yet tasty presentation that had us enjoying each and every bite. Kudos to him for his meticulous attention to detail and for creating dishes that fused together different flavors and textures that were never overpowering and just the right amount of spice. 

Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about the service. There was one lonesome waiter handling the whole restaurant. It was several minutes before he came to take our order and when I did let him know we were here for the tasting, he was very apologetic. The inadequate service wasn't a reflection of him per se, but because he was spread thin, we were left waiting for our food and drink order (we never even got bread for the table) for lengthy periods of time because he was all over the place. 

My husband, Coco, was a big fan of the Estrella Damm beer. I'm not a beer drinker but I did have a few sips and I found it refreshing and light. He said it was smooth enough where he never felt it was too heavy when had with each of the selections. Our appetizer was a delicious Sangria Drunken Fig Brûlée stuffed with toasted walnuts and Gorgonzola cheese. It was out of this world! The fig paired with the Gorgonzola cheese was mouth-watering. It was the perfect combination of sweet and salty. 

Portuguese Pulpo a la Plancha 

Portugues Pulpo a la Plancha

Our main dish, or as I like to call it, the piece de resistance, was a Portuguese Pulpo a la Plancha. It was really one of the best octopus dishes I've had in a long time. It was succulent, tender, and very balanced in flavor. Octopus can be a hard dish to master, due to the long cooking progress and can run the risk of being too rubbery. That was not the case with Chef Alfredo's masterpiece. The pulpo's taste was elevated by the chorizo, zucchini, roasted garlic, herbs, candied orange that it sat alongside. The fig reduction gave it another layer of flavor that made it extra scrumptious. 

Key lime pie 

No meal is complete without dessert and we feasted on a tradition key lime pie with an almond and graham crust topped off with whipped cream. Each bite was creamier than the last and I devoured the whole thing in seconds! It was delicious. 

I give the food portion of the experience two very thumbs up because you instantly knew it was cooked with passion, detail, and love. The service needs major improvement. But overall, the chef's choice experience is not one to pass up this week! Make those rezzies, Miami foodies! 

Exterior of Bin 18 Bistro and Beer Loft. 

Participating restaurants include: Barceloneta, Bin 18, Bulla Gatrobar, Cena by Michy, Dolores but you can Call Me Lolita, Fooq's, Jimmy'z Kitchen Wynwood, Joey's Italian Cafe, Klima Restaurant and Bar, La Mar by Gaston Acurio, Morgans Restaurant, Novecento, Ortanique on the Mile, Perfecto, Segafredo Brickell, Sugarcane Raw Bar and Grill, Tapas y Tintos, The Embassy, Tongue and Cheek, Wynwood Kitchen and Bar, Xixon. 

Visit www.chefschoicemiami.com for more info and make your reservations through your restaurant of choice! 

To learn more about Estrella Damm Beer, visit www.estrelladamm.com.

Bin 18 is located at: 
1800 Biscayne Blvd. 
Miami, FL 33132
786-235-7575
www.bin18miami.com