All photos courtesy of Jamie DeRosa

When we heard Tudor House was making its own Peeps for Easter brunch, we were intrigued. We didn't think Peeps could actually be created by hand. We thought those adorable little marshmallow chicks were just hatched from giant candy chickens housed somewhere in a large farm in the Nevada desert.

So when we asked executive chef Jamie DeRosa to explain the process, he gladly gave us a step-by-step tutorial in the art of Peep-making. Who would have thought Peeps were made and not born?
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All photos by Laine Doss

Digital photo by Beau Tudzarov

​The 49th annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival has taken over the streets of the grove, turning Bayshore Drive and Peacock Park into one of the country's largest juried art festivals in the country.

Art in all forms is displayed at the festival. From giant outdoor sculptures made from horseshoes to wearable art fashioned from South Pacific pearls, there's not a medium of expression that can't be found here. Inspiration also comes from every source imaginable -- from portraits of people to wildlife photographs, artists find beauty in just about everything under the planet.

We took a tour of the festival to find some of the best food-related art. From lobster dinners to introspective renditions of restaurants, we discovered some beautiful works.

The Coconut Grove Arts Festival continues today at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, children 12 and under are free, and Coconut Grove residents in the 33133 zip code are $5 with proof of residency.
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On the Way to Castlehood

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All photos by Laine Doss

Warhol's Soup Can

​The 10th edition of Art Basel Miami Beach runs through December 4. With more than 260 leading galleries from North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa coming to showcase works by more than 2,000 artists, it's a pretty big deal. In fact, Art Basel itself says it's "the most prestigious art show in the Americas".

The best place to start seeing it is at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the headquarters and epicenter of Art Basel.

Food-related art? From the classic (Warhol's Campbell's Soup) to the crazed, we noticed a few things -- bananas are in season and even some gallery owners are a little amused by what they're representing as art.
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2003, John Miller , Galerie Praz-Delavallade Paris

Everything is You

​When thinking of food and Art Basel, one's mind usually wanders to hot-spot eateries and restaurants likely to be crammed to capacity. But food art? Well, we found one artist whose medium is just that: food. Take a look at John Miller's works below and tell us what you think!
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Aleloop

Food trucks will follow the Aleloop Minis around town for Art Basel.

​Art Basel is coming to town, turning the entire city into a roving band of art connoisseurs. Each year, we travel to pop-up art galleries and tents filled with shards of broken glass, painted bananas, interactive tunnels, and sometimes even the occasional paint-on-canvas.

Pondering all this art gets us hungry. After stopping at 37 galleries (with another 50 more on the list), we need to stop for some refreshment. Unfortunately, sitting down at a restaurant can infringe on our gallery time. Which is why food trucks come in handy.

Food trucks will be out and about -- at galleries, roundups, and as part of an art installation. We've put together a list of roundups and where to find individual trucks at Art Basel events. The list will be updated as we get more locations. As always, it's a good idea to follow your favorite trucks on Twitter and Facebook and check Short Order daily.
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​The guys who've been filling you to the brim with pork at Pubbellly have birthed a sibling to their winning concept with Pubbelly Sushi.  Opening tonight right next door, look for mouthwatering rolls briming with  porkbelly and clams ($12), softshell crab BLT ($13), and heirloom tomatoes($11). For those not in a sushi kinda mood, there's a robatta grill with hot and sexy pieces like pinchos the pollo ($7), bbq short ribs ($11), and wagyu skirt steak ($21).

As hard as it may be to take your eyes off the feast on your plate you'll be hard pressed to miss the Pubbelly mural above.  Designed and painted by local artist, Erni Vales pictured here, the Japanese anime-inspired images are bright and with a definite playful edge.
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Photo by Riki Altman

Artist Jason Hedges and his smokin' work

We were so busy gnawing on tender, smoky duck legs slathered in guava sauce at an Art Basel event last year that we neglected to realize that the smoker they emerged from was actually "the art." Hard to believe we overlooked the tall, painted steel sculpture, what with its unusual shape and all.

And it wasn't until the hosts walked us back outside to meet "chef" Jason Hedges that we learned he wasn't just the caterer -- he was one of the artists we originally came out to meet. "A lot of my work is performative," Hedges explains. "I end up serving food."
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Orange you glad to see me?

​In Florida, we have a higher appreciation for the orange. It's been a long time since Chris Columbus brought our country the first citrus, and since then it's become a $9 billion dollar industry, employing 76,000 Floridians. Thus, we owe it to the great orange to not only eat its delicious, nutritious flesh, but also to take full advantage of its bright exterior. The possibilities are limited only by your creativity, so check out these examples of orange art and then grab one and see what you come up with.
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​Who can forget Cher as the flamboyant Mrs. Flax in the '90s classic Mermaids. Her favorite dinner is finger food followed by marshmallow kebabs. She says, "Anything more represents too much of a commitment." Mrs. Flax, it seems, was a bit ahead of her time. From Asian tapas at Little Lotus, meze at Mandolin to small plates at Sugarcane the sample-portion style dining is in full swing in Miami.

At Lizarran in Coral Gables, pinchos -- translated to thorn or spike -- are the featured item.  The Spanish pincho usually refers to a tapa that has been "spiked" with a toothpick and displayed on a piece of Spanish pistola bread. Mrs. Flax would definitely approve.

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