The Best of the Best - SOBE Wine and Food Festival

Luckily enough I was one of the Wine Spectator's Best of the Best event during the SOBE Wine and Food Festival in Miami. Held at the awesome Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel, the event was challenging enough for the sponsors: will the selected chefs (and their respecting restaurants) as well as the selected wineries win over each of the attendees?

I accepted the challenge and tasted almost all the dishes. It wasn't easy but I made it and here are my results:

Most innovative dish in terms of presentation was the Eleven Madison Park Smoked Sturgeon Sabayon with Chives, served in a real eggshell! It was mouss-y and tasty and rather light.

Kris Wessel's Crawfish Pie and Bisque from the Red Light Little River restaurant in Miami was the most "Southern" dish  with a twist- it deserves my vote because it was almost unique in taste and well balanced.

Patrick O' Connell's Black Truffle Popcorn was the best snack food, purely pleasure! When it comes to desserts, I would vote for the Salty Tart's Moustache Cookies, advanced looks and delightful in the mouth.

I stayed behind in my alcohol intake (which is rather good news). I only tasted champagne and I particularly liked the Palmes d' Or Nicolas Feuillatte. To be honest, I liked them all but this one was distinguished.

The worst of all? The Chocolate Braised Lamb - it's rather unnecessary to combine those two opposing flavors. Don't do it again!

Don't do it again please -lamb with chocolate?

It is said than one picture is 1,000 words so just look! My words are redundant now.