Balloo is getting ready for the challenge.

​The 4th Annual Iron Fork event takes place Thursday, October 20th, from 7 to 10 pm at Ice Palace Film Studios in Downtown Miami (make sure to bring earmuffs -- I've heard it said that ice palaces can be cold). Lots of restaurants will be participating -- too many to list here, but a few highlights are AltaMare, Hakkasan, db Bistro Moderne, Chef Adrienne's Vineyard Restaurant & Wine Bar, Makoto, Barton G, Rosa Mexicano, Latin Burger and Taco, Fifi's Place Restaurant...More >>

Miami New Times presents Iron Fork: a duel with knives and fire.

​If you're like us, your favorite competitive sport consists of two chefs engaged in kitchen combat. We're talking sharp knives, open flames, and meat -- this is one dangerous battle to the finish.

The best part: You get to eat the spoils of this particular warfare, along with delicious bites from dozens of Miami's best restaurants, at the New Times fourth annual Iron Fork.

This year's big event will be held Thursday, October 20, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Ice Palace Film Studios, with VIPs receiving an extra hour of tasting and partying at 6 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the United Way of Miami-Dade.
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Paula Niño

Chef Jose Luis Flores

​View photos from Iron Fork 2010 at Grand Central here.

De Rodriguez Cuba's Jose Luis Flores won the 2010 Iron Fork title last night in a battle against defending champ John Critchley of Area 31. The chefs were given 45 minutes to prepare one appetizer and one entree using stone crab for a panel of four judges that included chef Dewey LoSasso and Adrianne Calvo.

Flores won with a "fire and ice" appetizer that paired lime juice granita with a ceviche of snapper, stone crab and shrimp. His entree, a "surf and turf" was made up of a tuna causa with stone crab and a steak tartare.

But Flores wasn't the only winner last night. New Times editor Chuck Strouse announced the winners of the first Short Order Awards to a thinning crowd near the end of the night.
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Calle 8 Old Fashion

​The Booze Hound yesterday featured mixologist David Ortiz from the Viceroy's Club 50. He has been nominated as one of the city's top mixologists in tonight's Iron Fork Awards and after tasting through a myriad of his Miami-inspired cocktails, we know why.

These were the three that stood out.

The Calle 8 Old Fashioned

• 5 dashes homemade cigar bitters
• 1 dash Fee Brothers 1864 Aztec Chocolate Bitters
• 2 oz Atlantico Rum
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• 1 cinnamon stick

Directions: Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Grate a touch of cinnamon on top and garnish with the cinnamon stick.

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In preparation for tomorrow night's Iron Fork, Booze Hound has been stalking the nominated mixologists. The first one we were able to track down was David Ortiz from Club 50 at the Viceroy. A long-time South Florida resident, David makes cocktails with a deeply native feel. Blessed with  a Miami accent and an ebullient personality, David made us feel right at home as we tasted a slew of cocktails at 10 a.m. With names like Tranquilo y Tropical, El Cortadito and the Calle 8 Old Fashioned, the drinks are part of a liquid locavore train.

The Booze Hound clearly tasted why David Ortiz was nominated for the Iron Fork. We wish him the best of luck this Thursday. If making it to the Iron Fork is an impossibility, catch him Club 50 at the Viceroy. It will surely become your new Brickell watering hole.

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Iron Fork is less than a week away, and we have a sweet deal for those who've been slacking on getting their tickets.

Until midnight today, Short Order readers can buy general admission tickets for $20 (that means you save $15 off the regular price). Before we give you the details on how to buy, here's what you can expect next Thursday, October 21.

Sample food from local restaurants while you sip drinks courtesy of Famosa Beer, Bombay Sapphire, and Barefoot Wine from our open bar. Yes, open bar.

This year's Iron Fork, our third, will be held at downtown club Grand Central. Doors open at 7 p.m. But with fall upon us, why keep it all indoors? To make it all more fun, we're having a block party. The street will be closed off, and many of the participating restaurants will grill while you listen to saxophonist Jon Saxx and local band Barefoot & Brendon.
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If you are still being indecisive about whether or not your attending New Times' Iron Fork event October 21 at Grand Central, you better make a decision soon if you want to take advantage of the today-only discount for VIP tickets -- on sale for $50.

Let us break it down for you why you might want to attend: There is a sweet cooking battle that's taking place live between last year's champion Chef John Critchley (Area 31) and his challenger Chef Jose Luis Flores (D. Rodriguez Cuba). There is also food samplings from local restaurants with more to be added to the already announced list (interested in participating call 305-571-7525). Also, libations courtesy of Famosa Beer, Bombay Sapphire, and Barefoot Wine. Yes, this is all included in the ticket price.
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Now that voting for the Short Order Awards is done (winners will be announced on October 21), it's time to move on to the main event: Iron Fork! This year's event is taking place at Grand Central in downtown Miami. Tickets are already on sale: $35 for general admission, $65 for VIP. There is one other way to get in --  through our ticket giveaway!

We are giving out four prize packages. Three packages are for two general admission tickets to Iron Fork. Want 'em? Go to Short Order's Facebook page and click the "Like" button. We'll be giving the tickets out at random until October 15.
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​Last month, we revealed that at this year's Iron Fork event on October 21 we'd be handing out our first ever Short Order awards. While Best of Miami is picked by an ominous "editorial board," the blog awards work a little differently. We asked a group of local chefs, food bloggers, and our own Short Order writers to send in nominees in six categories: Besf Chef, Best Up & Coming Chef, Best Pastry Chef, Best Restaurant, Best Mixologist, and Best Plate.

Now that the nominees are in, it's time for you, the reader, to help us pick the winner. All you have to do is visit newtimesshortorder.com to cast your vote. Simple as that!

Winners will be announced October 21 at Iron Fork -- tickets on sale now. Also, check back because we might start feeling generous and hand out a few Iron Fork prize packages.

Want to know who made the cut before voting? Check the full list of nominees after the jump.
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Jacob Katel

​Another year, another Iron Fork. Were you there, did you have fun, what would you like to see there next time that would make it better. We think there should have been more water. Rum and Presidente are not always the answer.

Here are some pictures representing for the restaurants that cooked it up and hooked it up for the hungry masses.
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