Dragon parade

Chinatown Miami was a fun and well produced event by The Playground Theatre in Miami Shores.  Celebrating the premier of play, The Red Thread directed by Stephanie Ansin.  More here.

Fantastic turnout right from the start! People actually wanted to learn about what you do.

Here's a photo gallery so you can experience even if you didn't make it! 

Gals in cheung sams (traditional Chinese costume with sexy slit)

Herbie Parets, Wok Star Eleanor Hoh, Red Thread director: Stephanie Ansin, Audra & adorable baby.

Sand box where the actors rehearse & hopefully where they'll host my class and then attend the play as a special evening!

CookingWithKidsMiami, flourless black bean brownies and other goodies!

A Place 4 Kids booth with Wok Star.

Maria Cummins explains what A Place 4 Kids, her new space to teach kids cooking is all about.  Hopefully, she'll be hosting me there in the future.

 

I didn't expect so many folks to notice my baby photo! Many signed up for classes, we'll see.

Jefe's Original, one of many food trucks to feed hungry crowd!

Jairo decorated the sand box space above and did a nice job of his booth with this decorative flower arrangement.

Iron Chef contestant, Chef Dena Marino, MC Hospitality Group was our headliner and closing act for Kids Eat Miami's inaugural fundraiser event for Common Threads! I'll be posting the chef's individual posts soon. Also, all the recipes will be posted on Kids Eat Miami site soon.

I can't wait to hear the tally on how much this event raised. For a first, I think everyone did a FANTASTIC job of pulling together for a great cause! 

Thanks to Jungle Island for hosting this event and to all the participating sponsors, auction donors, organizers and especially to the volunteers. The kids love ya! Please visit Common Threads to see how you can get involved in this community project. And let's not forget Chef Michelle Bernstein who started the Miami chapter.

Common Threads Chef instructor and Nutrolution, Rachael Richardson, RD, LN/D made a delicious, very fluffy Tabbouleh using quinoa instead of bulgar wheat.

Kelly Saks, Miss Earth Florida teaches adolescents success through ecology (T.A.S.T.E.). A vegetarian herself, she does a great job promoting healthy eating and the kids related to her.

Wok Star Eleanor Hoh gives monthly cooking classes in Miami. I made a sizzling beef with baby bok choy and bell pepper. I wanted to show a tasty, one-dish dinner for busy weeknights can be simple and easy.

Chef Shawn Fralin, Rakkasan Chef and his teenage kids made Conch Soup from the Overtown CookBook. As he says, can be served hot and sassy or chilled and spicy, umm.

Great turnout for the chef demos even though the other activities were way out in Jungle Island. What I noticed was the minute people smelled food, they were THERE!

I couldn't resist doing the celebrity chef photo op.

Lyons Salon + Spa is a loft-like, beautiful, open space where I'll be giving my Wok Star cooking class!

Just booked 3 dates there, first one Wed. Jan.12 just in time for Chinese New Year and start to a new way to make healthy, simple, fresh weeknight dinners!

For me, it's all about giving people a wonderful experience when they come to my class, it sets the tone, mood and atmosphere for socializing and inspires people to learn.

The owners did a wonderful job making the space tranquil and serene with Asian motifs and accents, love it. 

An incredible PLUS is free and secure parking all round the building! One of the reasons why I've never succeeded in nailing down a South Beach venue.

Friendly wave from staff in the lobby area.

Buddha, bamboo, vintage wood table and rug with exotic Asian accents.

Rocky, the owner/hairstylist is quite the renaissance man!  He designed the bench in the lobby. Notice GORGEOUS vintage wood Spa door.

Asian ceramic pot, I think it's called 'thousand flower' design or something like it. Sorry it's a bit dark contrast.