The closest fans could get to Paula Deen and some advice

After catching her chat, I noticed fans started taking pictures with Paula Deen's carboard cut-out. Feeling goofy, I posed for one and then headed to the Barilla tent for some delicious pasta and a much desired spot on a chair to munch on it.

Feeling tired, I decided maybe it was best to end things at the Grand Tasting Village. Having spent four hours there, I realized I had enjoyed myself but was still famished and could not stomach another ounce of wine. Good times, but it was time to close the weekend.

To bad I had to end it by getting a fever of 100 degrees...but hey, I had fun! And these events only come once a year.

Paula Deen chats with fans

Southern-food chef Paula Deen spoke with the crowd at the Wine and Food Festival during the Grand Tasting Village Sunday.

--Aurora Rodriguez

--Photo by Sebastian Dominguez 

Look, it's my old professor!

Walking towards the other tents, my husband and I were parched and seeking some water. Grabbing some Evian, we kept looking for food. People pay around $200 for tickets to come in here, and the food to wine and spirits ratio is slim to few. It took us awhile to just grab some bites from Lola's in Harrison (delicious BBQ/Coca-Cola smothered meat on a potato chip) and China Grill.

I listened to some loud salsa and merenge music and noticed there was a Puerto Rico tent in "da' house". Say what? Being born and raised in the island I thought this was super cool. I walked inside the jam-packed area where people were dining on shrimp and local native bites and bumped into my old professor from Sacred Heart University, Edaliz Ferrer. She graduated me, peeps...it was odd to bump into her as I pulled my hair frantically into a ponytail to avoid the humity in the tents located on 13th and Ocean Drive.

Wine collection

Some stand-out sips from the Wine and Food Grand Tasting Village.

--Aurora Rodriguez

Photo by Sebastian Dominguez 

Wine from Spain

Seeking some refreshment and a ceiling to avoid the sun for awhile, my husband and I headed to the "Wines from Spain" tent. This year, Spain was a big part of the festival and we were eager to try out some wines and munch on some cheese.

As we walked in and I was served some Rioja, a random festival atendee laughed and jumped next to me, requesting a picture. Already? It's only 1:30!

Cheers! 

P.S. Check me out...I'm wearing Miami.com blue. And, the bag even matches! Awesome.

--Aurora Rodriguez

Photo by Sebastian Dominguez 

Miami.com flyer

A Miami.com flyers rests on a magazine rack inside the 2009 Grand Tasting Village.

--Aurora Rodriguez

Photo by Sebastian Dominguez 

FIU student sips

After my hubby and I picked up some snazzy wine glasses, we headed inside the tent under the sun. Let's just say getting ourselves cheked in was a mission, for we had to walk back and forth between two check-in points only to have organizers tell us we were in the wrong one. Sigh.

As we strolled in, we stopped by for some cabernet sauvignon made by FIU students in the School of Hospitality, which hosts the events for the weekend. It was delish and a professor posed for a pic. Cheers!

--Aurora Dominguez

Photo by Sebastian Dominguez 

The Grand Tasting, Sunday

Nothing sucks more than getting home with a fever, and waking up with one. Though the Wine and Food Festival can be tons of fun, I think my body is telling me I need a rest.

But, before resting up, I made sure to hit up the Grand Tasting Village on Sunday. After my husband and I parked all the way at the 17th street parking garage we made our way to the village through the beach under the hot Miami sun.

Like a mirage in the desert, this is what we saw as we approached it. Looks like fun...here I come, wine and food! 

--Aurora Rodriguez

Photo by Sebastian Dominguez 

Happy B-day Miami.com: Week 4 (Updated!)

The hangover still isn't completely shaken from our one-year anniversary party at Liv, but we've got a week left of our month-long birthday celebration, and by golly, we're going to keep the party going. Here's what's on tap:

Tuesday, Feb 24: It's Level 25's b-day too, and so we've decided to throw a co-party from 6-9 p.m. Atrio chef Michael Gilligan will be doing a Spanish Pintxos cooking demo, and $5 glasses of Spanish wine will be flowing. RSVP here.

"Patron on ice, you can have whatever you like"- T.I.

Pop culture lovers know that Patron has reached a certain amount of fame in the hip-hop/pop music world with the hit T.I. song, "Whatever you Like". With lyrics which croon at a lover that she can have all the fancy things in the world she desires such as "Patron on Ice", it's definitely quite the romantic slow jam. Yeah, yeah.

Of course the D.J. was going to play it! What are you kidding me? This is the Patron party, people! Things happen! Such as ice sculptures bearing the Patron name from which you could get yourself an icy shot. Patron on ice? Nah, try Patron sub-zeroed, baby!