Photo by Riki Altman

Chefs Philippe Ruiz and Bernard Guillas yuk it up in Punta Cana.

We briefly introduced you to Chef Bernard Guillas last year in our travel log about the Club Med Wine & Food Festival, and now you can meet (and flirt with) the man himself at the Biltmore's interactive lunch Saturday afternoon.

Based in California, the Brittany-born chef will teach more than 100 of us to prepare a tasty scallop appetizer, then a branzino dish, followed by a fruit-forward dessert. Last night, he and Biltmore's chef de cuisine, Philippe Ruiz, wowed diners at Palme d'Or with expertly executed dishes like a plum and togarashi-spiced Kobe beef carpaccio appetizer and wattleseed-coated elk entree accompanied by a sundried pear-cherry chutney-stuffed charred eggplant.

If you've never done an interactive event at the Biltmore, you're in for a treat. Typically the chef instructs from a stage (but knowing Guillas' bubbly personality, it's pretty much a sure bet that he'll be working the room, instead) as diners at tables set for eight to 10 cook on the tabletop with the help of a burner and an eager culinary student assistant.
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Miami Book Fair

The Miami Book Fair: eat and read at the same time.

​The Miami Book Fair International is once again taking over the streets of downtown Miami. Every fall, voracious readers look forward to perusing both new and antique books in the hope of finding a treasure or a bargain at the street fair, or listening to a book reading by a celebrity author.

The fair also hosts some great cocktail parties, book signing events, and an international village (this year's featured country is China). We've put together a list of the food-related events at the Book Fair, by date, so you can have a handy, dandy guide.

Events start Sunday, November 13th and the street fair runs November 18-20. Admission to the fair is free, Friday, November 18th. Saturday and Sunday, November 19th and 20th, admission is $8 for adults. Admission for teens 13 to 18 and seniors over 62 is $5. Children 12 and under are free.

Admission to the Twilight Tastings are free. Most events are included with event admission, but some events (as noted), require additional tickets. See miamibookfair.com for details and to purchase advance tickets.
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​If you're a fan of growing (legal) herbs in your backyard or you want to start, check out Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's Edible Garden Festival this weekend.

The garden will open its gates on Saturday and Sunday to amateur gardeners with ongoing lectures and cooking and gardening demonstrations.

Don't think that the weekend's one big lesson in mulch -- a fall beer garden will allow you to sample about a dozen fall beers and ales including Abita Pecan Harvest, Sierra Nevada Tumbler, Florida Beer Company's Conchtoberfest, and Brooklyn Brewery's Post Road Pumpkin Ale.
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Courtesy of SDCI

Dotting his I's and crossing his T's.

​You don't have to be a genius to know that Miami is a cultural and culinary Mecca. Just close your eyes and throw a rock and you'll hit 3 to 50 eateries glorifying international cuisines. And let's face it, one thing we know how to do well in Miami is eat.

Some cuisiniers have degrees from elite culinary academies, years of restaurant experience and their own prestigious food establishments. Others simply don't need the razzle dazzle of it all to love to cook. So whether you're on a righteous path to becoming the Next Food Network Star, starting a trend to conquer the food truck, or just want to make some tasty treats in your own kitchen, it doesn't hurt to brush up on your basics.
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All photos by Anais Alexandre

So many tasty picks to choose from

​Down by Homestead, off the beaten road, you'll find the beginnings of an "All-Green" community called Verdes Gardens. Amidst this blossoming development stands a gigantic open-air building, with locals and travelers shopping for farm fresh eggs, as well as freshly picked produce. This is the Homestead Harvest Farmers Market, open every Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

This brand new farmer's market was created with the help of the Urban Oasis Project, a group of sustainably motivated individuals who help create local farmer's markets (among other projects) in communities all over Miami.

We found an array of quality farm-picked vegetables, plants, herbs, fruit, honey, eggs, and even a Guarapo (Sugar Cane) juice bar! We tried the ice cold guarapo, and it was refreshing and sweet.
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The Forge's Dewey LoSasso

​Miami Spice is pulling out all the stops for its tenth anniversary this year. You've been using our guide to the two-month-long event, right? Quick, you can catch up here.

Here's a look at something different to do during the promotion. Spice is heading to Bloomingdale's in Aventura for weekly culinary demonstrations and food samples by Miami's hottest chefs. Plus it's all complimentary.

Consider your next four Saturday afternoons booked.
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Drag diva Noel Leon to "help" Chef Victor Cardenas Pasos with cooking demo at Bloomingdale's this Saturday.

​In conjunction with LGBT Pride month, Bloomingdale's Aventura this Saturday will host Cooking with Pride, a demonstration featuring Victor Cardenas Pasos, executive chef at the Palace in South Beach.

Victor will be sporting a fabulous accessory -- a tall, fully made up, six-inch heel wearing accessory. Noel Leon, the Palace's Sunday Brunch Drag Diva will assist Pasos.

Attendees will be privy to two of the Palace's most popular recipes, get to sample some of the goodies, and receive a copy of the recipes to take home. The best part? This fabulous food fest is all free.

Pasos studied culinary arts in Yucatan, Mexico specializing in Italian cuisine and seafood. Before taking over the Palace's kitchen two years ago, he worked at the Hyatt Resort in Cancun, and Quattro in Miami Beach.

We were curious about Ms. Leon's culinary prowess and had the pleasure of speaking with the drag diva. Follow the jump for our Q&A with Ms. Thang.
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​You might know her as the executive chef at 1500 Degrees, the farm-to-table steakhouse at the Eden Roc Renaissance, but you'll definitely recognize her from her stint on Hell's Kitchen with Gordon Ramsay -- she almost won season 5, but came in a close second.

Either way, you have the chance to get schooled (for free) by Chef Paula DaSilva Saturday when she conducts a cooking demonstration and tasting at 1 p.m. at the Bloomingdale's in Aventura Mall.The event is part of the Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival, which already has foodies salivating in expectation.

Follow the jump for some words from the wise Miss DaSilva from an interview with NBCMiami.com:More >>

​Who doesn't love pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith's chocolate cremoso? The creamy, rich chocolate topped with sea salt and olive oil has conquered many palates at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, and Thursday is our chance to learn how to prepare it.

Goldsmith will make her signature dessert at the Coral Gables Whole Foods at 7 p.m. as part of a series of cooking demos to promote the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. To make the deal sweeter, those who attend will be entered to win a pair of tickets to the festival's Whole Foods Grand Tasting Village on February 27.
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Want to cook up a five star meal with some bubbly? Sounds like a lot of work? Not if you let Chef Gonzalo Rivera from La Marea at the Tides and his team of sous chefs help you out. At this Saturday's Biltmore interactive lunch. they'll help you chop, dice and saute your way into your date's heart. To push you over the plate they'll keep the champagne flowing. And even if you are not a connoisseur, you'll appreciate the richness and full body flavors of Champagne Gosset. This small producer dates back to 1584 and is considered one of the premier luxury champagnes. Do dress and don't stress because you'll be sure to impress your date with this one.

Tickets are $65 a person and prep work starts at noon. Call 305-913-3203 or visit thecellarclub.com.