WWW.GOURMETPLEASURES.COM
DECEMBER 2018
COVER
The Most Wonderful time of the year
4 FOOD & FITNESS: Fitness for Children
8 MIAMI’S TOP TEN: Nobu
28 GUILTY PLEASURES:
Candy Canes
CEO’S LETTER
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We were overwhelmed by the positive response we got from you, our readers, when we asked for pictures from your holiday dinners. We are still going through all of our emails and we hope to publish some of your fabulous photos that we received in the near future. In this month’s issue of Gourmet Pleasures you will not find some of our regular columns, since we are devoting the entire edition to Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. One column we are not omitting is our Top Ten, which this month is Nobu. This is one of Gourmet Pleasures’ favorite dining destinations. If you have not dined there before, the holiday season is the perfect time to try this amazing restaurant, especially if you have friends or family visiting. We know shopping this time of year can be stressful and we hope we are being helpful in some of our suggestions for holiday gifts for both food lovers on your gift list and fitness gifts for children. If you are unsure about what to do on New Year’s Eve, please read our article on hosting a party. No matter what holiday you celebrate, we hope you had a wonderful December. Again, thank you so much for your support. Looking forward to seeing you in 2019!
Rene Buroz CEO/Founder
Content: 2 CULTURAL CORNER: Holiday Shopping
4 FOOD & FITNESS:
28 GUILTY PLEASURES: Candy canes
Fitness for children
8 MIAMI’S TOP TEN: Nobu
14 COVER STORY:
Celebrating the Holidays
24 CHEERS: Champagne
26 OPINION:
Celebrating the New Year FOUNDER/CEO Gourmet Pleasures Rene Buroz (2018) Editor in Chief/ Creative Design Margie Castro Senior Editor: Ellen Rosenfeld Assosiate editor: Oswaldo Pisfil Editorial@gourmetpleasures.com PHOTOGRAPHY GP Photography @ReneGourmet @DroneProductions
CONTRIBUTORS Gabriela Morales Alex Forster Hillarin Soto Matt Wagner Lili Tique PUBLISHED BY Stage Wynwood LLC 2018 Head Office: 350 S. Miami Ave Ste. A Miami, Fl. 33130
FOR OTHER ENQUIRIES, PLEASE VISIT: www.GourmetPleasures.com © Copyright 2018 Gourmet Pleasures. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. @GourmetPleasures
Email: Contact@gourmetpleasures.com
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 1
Holiday Shopping By Ellen Rosenfeld
T
here is no denying that the December holiday season is a joyous time but the ”job” of purchasing gifts can be stressful. We all set out to find the perfect present for everyone on our list, but this is not always easy. Unless you are certain of the recipients size and taste, clothing, or other personal presents, are usually not a good option. Gourmet Pleasures has many people on their shopping list and since we love to eat, we think food related gifts are the best, and sometimes the easiest, gifts to buy. We’d like to share some of our favorite things to give and also to receive. Restaurant gift certificate - Have you just discovered a new “favorite” dining spot? Why not share the “joy” with a friend or family member by giving them a gift certificate. You can do this without even leaving your living room. 2 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
Gourmet ingredients and food/drinks - For the home chef,
why not purchase some unique ingredients, such as an assortment of exotic salts or artisan olive oils. These are items that most home cooks wouldn’t buy for themselves, but would very much appreciate receiving. If a coffee or tea lover is on your gift list a simple search online is all you need to find the perfect present. Cooking equipment - If you read our November issue, you know that Gourmet Pleasures loves deep fried turkey and we think a turkey fryer kit would makes a great gift. They are available at many different price points. We found one online for only $37.00 making this a very affordable option. We are also very fond of fondue and hope that someone buys us a new fondue set this holiday season. Wine and liquor - For a last minute gift our favorite shopping destination is our local liquor store. Not
Cultural Corner
only can you find wines and spirits at many different price points, they also sell beautiful bottle gift bags making your life a lot easier. Most stores also sell pre wrapped gourmet food baskets and unique cocktail and wine glasses. For the person for has everything - Since the holiday season is one of giving, what could be more appropriate than a charitable contribution in the recipient’s name. There are dozens of trustworthy organizations that are feeding and giving shelter to people in need, especially after the devastating hurricanes and fires that have occured in the last year. Gourmet Pleasures believes that this year it is especially important to realize how lucky we are and give back to those that are less fortunate. Many of these organizations will send a card of acknowledgement to the person you are “gifting�. Happy shopping!! DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 3
Fitness for
By Ellen Rosenfeld
E
ach month Gourmet Pleasures Magazine has an article on Food and Fitness. This month, we will be keeping the food portion out of the article and concentrate on fitness for children. As the holiday season approaches, our children and young relatives are busy creating their “wish” lists. Many of these lists contain video games, and apple devices, as well as the newest and “hottest” toys. This year, why not think about giving them a present that gets them out of the house and active. This is a gift that will start them on a path to a healthy future. There are hundreds of gifts that are appropriate to this category and we would like to share some of our favorites with you. 1. Tricycles and Bicycles - Every child should have a tricycle or bicycle. Many manufacturers now make tricycles for babies as young as 9 months. They have a handle that the parent can push like a stroller and they convert as the toddler grows and is able 4| www.GourmetPleasures.com
to reach the wheels. Most children learn to ride a bicycle between the ages of 3-8 with the median age being about 5 years old. Not only do tricycles and bicycles promote healthy exercise, but riding together with your child is a wonderful family activity. 2. Bouncy Houses and Trampolines - What child doesn’t love bouncing on the bed? A bouncy house or trampoline in the backyard is a much safer and healthier alternative and it promotes physical fitness. 3. Pogo sticks, bouncy balls and inflatable bouncing animals. - If you don’t have a backyard or are looking for an indoor physical activity for your child, these may be the answer. There are pogo sticks that are now made of foam and are safe to use in the house. Pogo sticks, bouncy balls and inflatable bouncy animals can be safety used by toddlers as young as 3 years old. These toys help strengthen core muscles and help with hand and eye coordination.
r Children
Food & Fitness
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES |5
6 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
4. Roller Skates - What better way to get your child away from the tv or ipad screen and outdoors than buying them roller skates. These are available for all age groups beginning about 3 years old and are a good way to teach and promote balance. 5. Scooters - Scooters have become very popular in the last couple of years. You can find them for children as young as 2 years old and for older children there are even electric shooters. Shooters are known to help with coordination 6. Jump rope - Yes, children do still jump rope and it is an excellent activity to keep your child fit, in addition to being an extremely affordable gift of “stocking stuffer� Your child should be able to master jumping rope by the ages of 3-5 years old. You can even watch an online instructional video on how to teach this skill to children. 7. Helmet, Water Bottle and elbow and knee pads.These items are essential accessories if you purchase any of the above toys. Our number one priority is to keep our children safe. The above are only a few of the many toys and sports equipment that are available to keep your children active and promote good healthy habits. A healthy child is a happy child.
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 7
MIAMI’S TOP TEN:
NOBU By @ReneGourmet
Under the leadership of celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the Miami Beach location has excellent food and fabulous service and ambiance.
White fish Nobu Style Tiradito 8| www.GourmetPleasures.com
Baby Corn, truffle honey, curry salt
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 9
Spicy seafood soup
M
r. Matsuhisa was born in Saitama, Japan and after graduating from high school he began working in a restaurant in Tokyo. After several years at the restaurant he was approached by a regular customer who invited him to join him in opening a restaurant in Lima, Peru. In Peru Mr. Matsuhisa found it difficult to obtain some of the Japanese ingredients he was used to cooking with and he was forced to improvise by adding some Peruvian ingredients. This was the beginning of the fusion cuisine and signature dishes he is now known 10 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
for. Today, he has over 30 restaurants across 5 continents of the world. Gourmet Pleasures has long been a fan of Nobu and we have had the privilege of visiting several locations across the United States, and several months ago their location in Ibiza. Nobu in Miami Beach is located in the Eden Roc Hotel, which recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation. It is an elegant location with attractive and modern decor. We have never had a dish that we didn’t enjoy, but we would like to mention some of our favorites. One of their classic dishes is the White Fish
Tiradito, which is thin slices of white fish with a vegetable hash and spices that highlight the freshness of the fish. Nobu offers 6 different tacos options on their menu. Yes, you read correctly, tacos! Our favorite is the Wagyu which has a subtle touch of truffles, creating the perfect combination of flavors. The King Crab Ama-zu has exquisite pieces of tempura king crab with purple onions, cilantro and a slightly acidic sauce. It is a quite unique dish. If you are in the mood for a lighter meal, the Lobster Shiitake Salad with a spicy lemon dressing is an excellent choice. For
meat lovers we recommend the Hot Stone Wagyu. Not only is it a delicious dish but we also enjoy preparing the thin slices of this spectacular meat on the hot stones and pairing them with the variety of accompanying sauces. Our favorite dessert is the Bento Box. This is a valrhona dark chocolate fondant cake with matcha gelato. We have only one word for this, amazing! We have one final recommendation. If you have the opportunity, ask for Maria to serve you. She is a true professional who is extremely educated about the menu and will guide you in the right direction. Everything about Nobu is first class and because of this we believe this restaurant is deserving of our “Gourmet Pleasures� award.
Nobu Malibu
Shrimp and Lobster with Spicy Lemon dressing
FIND THEM AT
11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 (305) 673-0365
Mango passion Martini DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 11
Lobster Shiitake Salad with spicy lemon
King Crab Ama-zu
Tiradito
Wagyu Tacos sauce Edamame
12 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
This Month’s Award We had the pleasure of presenting Nobu with the Gourmet Pleasures Award for being one of the top ten restaurants in Miami. Congrats from our team!!
Follow Us!
@GourmetPleasures GourmetPleasuresMagazine @GourmetPMag
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 13
The Most Wonderf
14 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
ful time of the year
By Ellen Rosenfeld
As we get ready to celebrate the holidays, our Gourmet Pleasures team decided to give our readers a little background on two of the most important celebrations of this season. During this month we gather with friends and family to enjoy this wonderful time of the year. DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 15
HANUKKAH J
udaism celebrates more than 15 holidays per year. Ten of these are major holidays, with the rest considered either minor or modern holidays. Although not the most important or holiest, Hanukkah is probably the best known and most fun The Jewish religion follows the Hebrew calendar, rather than Gregorian calendar which is the most widely used calendar in the world. Since these two calendars do not coincide, the dates of Jewish holidays appear to change each year if you are looking at a “civil” calendar. Some years Hanukkah begins in late November and some years from early to late December. This year Hanukkah begins on the evening of December 2 and lasts for 8 days. You can read much about the history of Hanukkah, often called the Festival of Lights, in books or online, but basically the holiday is linked to the Jew’s victory over their Syrian-Greek oppressors during the second century B.C. The story goes that when it was time for the cleansing and rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem and the lightning of it’s menorah, there was only enough untainted olive oil to last for one day. The menorah was a golden candleabrum which had seven branches and was meant to be kept burning. Miraculously the oil lasted for eight nights allowing the Jewish warriors time to find a fresh supply. Every year, Jews around the world celebrate this miracle of the oil and light the candles of their own menorahs each night for eight days. (Please note: there are other alternative interpretations of Hanukkah)
16| www.GourmetPleasures.com
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 17
U
nlike many holidays, both Christian and Jewish, there is normally not one huge celebratory dinner. But this does not mean that there are no customary foods dishes that we associate with this holiday. Since oil had an important role in the history of Hanukkah, many of these dishes are fried. Probably the most traditional is potato pancakes, also referred to as latkes. These are made with shredded potatoes usually mixed with onions, egg, flour and seasoning and formed into small pancakes and fried. They come out crispy, if prepared correctly, and are served with sour cream or applesauce on the side. You can buy them frozen, in easy to prepare premix boxes, or you can make them from “scratch� There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of recipes online, but most Jewish families have there own recipes which have been handed down from one generations to the next.
Potato Pancakes
Brisket
rugelach
Menorah
Challah Bread 18 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
A
nother deep fried dish enjoyed during Hanukkah is “sufganiyot” which are round jelly filled donuts They are especially popular in Israel. Chocolate “gelt” are foiled wrapped pieces of delicious chocolate made to look like coins and are a favorite of children around the world. There are also many dishes that Jews not only enjoy on Hanukkah but all year round. Matzo ball soup, although not a favorite of some, is a crucial part of the Passover meal but many enjoy it all year round. Challah is a delicious egg bread that is “braided” before baking. It is usually a staple of the weekly Shabbat dinner. Gefilte fish is a dish prepared from a mixture of boneless poached fish, such as carp, whitefish and/or pike. It is served with beet horseradish. Rugelach are small flaky pastries with different fillings including chocolate, raisins, walnuts or fruit preserves. They are somewhat complicated to make but are readily available in most grocery stores and gourmet food shops. They are delicious. If there is any one beef dish that is most recognizable as the centerpiece of a Jewish feast it is Brisket. This a cut of meat from the chest of the cow which is roasted for several hours until it is fork tender. This is only a very abbreviated list of delicious food that are associated with Jewish culture and tradition. Every family has their own favorites. Please let us know about yours. To all our Jewish friends we want to wish you a very Happy Hanukkah.
Chestnust Blintzes
Potato Pancakes
Chestnust Fritters
Gelt Coints
Jelly donuts DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 19
Christmas
C
hristmas is a day of joy and celebration. It is the date that Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In the area of gastronomy, Christmas is celebrated with a large family meal which varies based on family traditions and country of origin. For example. Italian-Americans start their food celebration on Christmas Eve and this meal is known as the “Feast of the Seven Fishes” featuring seafood rather than meat. In the United States many people eat turkey for their Christmas meal. Other popular main courses are baked ham or roast prime rib of beef. Common side dishes are mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and green bean casserole. Pumpkin pie, apple pie, christmas cookies and the often joked about fruit cake are often served for dessert. When it comes to making a “toast” the drink of choice is usually eggnog.
20 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 21
O
ther countries have different traditional meals and dishes. In Mexico, the main ingredient for Christmas dinner is cod, which is prepared shredded in a casserole with garlic, onions, tomatoes, red peppers, capers, olive and bay leaf. A companion dish is Romeritos, “Mexican Greens” consisting of sprigs of a wild plant known as seepweed (romeritos). The name in English translates to “little rosemary”. It is commonly used in a mole sauce. A favorite Mexican Christmas salad consists of apples with grapes, walnuts, pineapple in syrup, sugar and cream. El Ponche is the traditional Christmas drink which calls for fresh tejocotes, which can be found during the holidays in Latin markets. Sweet and soft fruits such as guava, apple, pears, raisins and orange slices are then added with sugarcane and other ingredients. If you are interested in making this, you can find many recipes online.
Turkey
Risotto Chivo
Eggnog Roasted pork
Japanese waiting for fried chicken 22 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
Fruit cake
I
n Venezuela a typical Christmas meal is Hallaca. It is a type of tamale filled with a stew of pork and beef (other ingredients are also used based on region) that is placed in a corn flour dough and then decorated with red paprika, raisins, onions, capers and in some regions include eggs. All of these ingredients are wrapped in a banana leaf which is tied and then boiled to cook. Another common dish is a pork leg that has been baked until it has a smooth and juicy texture. One dish that can not be missing at a Venezuelan Christmas dinner is Ham Bread, bread stuffed with ham, raisins and olives which is baked and sliced. There are some religions that do not celebrate the birth of Christ, but still have a “Christmas” dinner. In Japan an estimated 3.6 million people feast on Kentucky Fried Chicken during the Christmas holidays, The meal has become so popular that people wait hours in long lines or pre order their dinner months in advance. In the United States, Chinese restaurants across the country are filled to capacity with Jewish people. This tradition started decades ago, when these were the only restaurants open during the holiday. It is now well known as the “Jewish Christmas Dinner”. No matter what you eat or how you celebrate, Gourmet Pleasures wishes you and yours a Very Merry Christmas.
Hallaca
Buñuelos Colombianos
Natilla Colombiana
Pan de Jamon Tamalaes Colombianos
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 23
Champagne By Ellen Rosenfeld
24| www.GourmetPleasures.com
R
ecently Gourmet Pleasures dined at one of our top ten restaurant, Joe’s Stone Crabs and we must add that we had a wonderful meal. When the waiter came to take our drink order we selected a bottle of champagne. The friendly waiter smiled and asked “What are you celebrating?” to which one of our guests replied “Wednesday”. Champagne has become known as a celebratory drink but to us it is simply our drink of choice. We love the taste and we find that we can drink more and remain “somewhat” sober. We also like the fact that we are consuming less calories than a typical cocktail or glass of wine. While a average glass of champagne (approximately 4 ounces) has about 90 calories you standard martini has 125 and a mojito contains 143 calories. Champagne has been around for centuries. Its association with celebrations originated in the royal courts of Europe prior to the 1800s. where its high cost was viewed as a status symbol. Champagne, simply speaking, is a “sparkling” wine, but with some major distinctions. Champagne production is strictly controlled by the “Appellation d’Origine Controlee” First of all, to be considered champagne it must be produced in the Champagne region of France. It is made from a limited variety of grapes; mainly pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay. There is also a two step fermentation process thar creates its carbonation. Many people believe that champagne, besides being served for a “toast”, is simply an aperitif, an alcoholic drink taken before a meal and thought to stimulate your appetite. It is not thought of as a drink to be paired with a meal such as wine is. However, lately some chefs think that it “pairs” better with beef than a red wines do that it can be far more versatile than wine. All we really know it that we love champagnebefore dinner, during dinner and after dinner!
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES |25
Celebrating
By Ellen R
G
ourmet Pleasures loves to go out and have a good time and enjoy a fabulous meal but New Year’s Eve is one evening that we prefer to stay at home, especially if we can can spend the evening with friends and family. Going out on New Year’s Eve can be extremely frustrating due to the crowds and the traffic and also very expensive. Hosting a New Year’s Eve party sounds like a lot of hard work and stress but, in actuality, it is very easy to plan a great party in a short period of time and not spend too much money. All you need is a plan. First is your guest list. Who do you really want to spend the evening with? Your party really depends on who you invite. Several months ago we published an article title “Good Food vs Bad Company” which addressed this topic. Your guests are probably the most important element of a successful party. Invite the people who make you happy and with online website such as evite the process of notification is easy. Next, if money is a concern, especially after holiday shopping, set a budget. There is no worse way to welcome in the New Year then being in debt. You can still have a great party without spending a lot of money. If friends rsvp and ask what they can bring don’t be shy and say nothing. They offered, why not take them up on their offer. They probably really want to bring something and if they are just offering to be polite, that is their problem. If you love to cook that’s great, but realize that sometimes the cost of the ingredients is far more than a store bought option. And in today’s world there are so many easier alternative than slaving away in the kitchen. Your guests aren’t expecting an eight course sit down dinner, but rather small bites to absorb the alcohol they are consuming. If money is not a concern think about using a caterer. Ask your friends if they have any recommendations and read reviews online. Gourmet Pleasures recently had a home party and had an 26 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
the New Year
Rosenfeld
Arepa Bar. This was a huge hit with our guests, who not only enjoyed the different options, but also liked the interaction with the “chefs”. If you are a member of a wholesale club such as Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s you can get all of your party needs at one time. There you can get party platters. You can also buy disposable serving dishes, plates, cutlery and wine, champagne and cocktail “glasses” These are not the paper plates and cups of the past, but rather beautiful pieces that are hard to distinguish between the real thing. You can also purchase your sodas, beers, wines and liquor at a “discount” price. However, don’t leave your shopping trip to one of these clubs until the afternoon of December 31 as they become extremely crowded. You can also order wonderful platters of food from your local grocery store or gourmet marker. Many times this can be done online and all you have to do is go and pick up your prepared order. If your friends like to drink on New Year’s Eve, as many do, why not consider adding BYOB (bring your own bottle ) to your invitation. In today’s world this is very acceptable. If you feel uncomfortable doing this, be aware of the sales on alcohol in the weeks preceding the holidays. Most liquor stores will match an advertised price from a competing store, so do your homework. Want to serve champagne but have a “beer budget” why not make a champagne punch. There are numerous recipes that you can find online. Trader Joe’s has quite acceptable bottles of wine priced as little as $2.99 a bottle. If you go there, be sure to buy their frozen Parmesan Pastry Pups, mini beef franks, wrapped in puff pastry and sprinkled with parmesan cheese. A box of 12 costs only $4.49 and trust us they are delicious. Finally, if your party is truly last minute, websites such as postmates, grubhub and ubereats can help you get everything you need with only a few clicks on your mobile device. Gourmet Pleasures wants to wish you and yours a very happy and healthy New Years. DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES |27
Candy Canes By Ellen Rosenfeld
28 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
Guilty Pleasures
N
o sweet signifies the beginning of the Christmas season more than the appearance of candy canes in the candy section of all our local stores. This confectionary has been around for hundreds of years. We can’t be sure of the exact history of this “treat”, but many believe it was first given out in 1670 by a choirmaster in a church in Germany in order to keep his young singers quiet during the religious ceremonies. Supposedly, it was shaped with it’s curved top as to resemble a shepherd’s crook, which was a long stick the workers used to catch and control their herds of sheep. The first candy canes were white and, or course, make by hand. Now there is sophisticated
machinery that has been built just for the task of making these holiday sweets. There is a very interesting video on the manufacturing process that you can watch online on the web series “How It’s Made”. When we think of candy canes we automatically think of the traditional red and white peppermint flavored variety, but like everything else, we now have a multitude of choices. A simple search on Amazon for candy canes will surprise you. If you are not a fan of peppermint, but still want to enjoy this holiday candy you might want to order lifesaver candy canes. This assorted box features cherry, watermelon, orange, pineapple and raspberry. Do you like soda flavors? You can purchase a 12 piece assorted box of candy DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 29
canes tasting like Dr. Pepper, A&W Root Beer and Orange Crush sodas. For the cookie lover, there are Oreo flavored candy canes. All of these choices seem somewhat appealing to us. However, when we continued our online search for unique flavors, we found some flavors that did not seem appealing at all. Can you image a bacon flavored candy cane? Yes, we like bacon, but we prefer it with eggs. And then there are the pickle flavored candy canes. Honestly, we found these on Amazon. We also found gravy flavored candy canes which might pair well with the rotisserie chicken flavored candy canes that we also found. Perhaps the weirdest flavor that we found was clam flavored candy canes. Yes, you read correctly, clams. We also found these on Amazon. Since there were no product reviews we have no idea how they taste and being curious we then visited the manufacturer’s website which warned us that because of “their extreme popularity they are limiting your order to five boxes”. So if you’re interested, order soon! And if you do try these, please write us and let us know what you think. Merry Christmas!
30 | www.GourmetPleasures.com
DEC 2018 GOURMET PLEASURES | 31