Cooking With Love - Godiva Style

Who doesn't love to eat out of the bowl?

First of all, I want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day! Although it’s a typical “Hallmark” holiday, any chance I get to say “I Love You” is alright with me.

In honor of V-day, JG and I were invited last week to attend a special cooking class hosted by Godiva Spirits and the folks from Prelude by Barton G. We had the privilege of watching chef Ted Mendez of Prelude give us an intimate cooking demonstration and walk us through each dish while a dozen of us watched with our mouths watering…

The meal consisted of three dishes (appetizer, main course and dessert) and each course was paired with a lovely specialty cocktail featuring Godiva Chocolate infused vodka. To say the meal was amazing, is an understatement. Chef Mendez had us all mesmerised with his creative recipes and we even had the chance to taste his dish as he was preparing it right in front of us.

The meal started off with a ‘Godiva Chocolate Vodka Cured Tuna’ which was paired with a Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka drink mixed with Champagne (mouth watering yet?). For the main course we were treated to a ‘Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka Glazed Duck Comfit with Sourdough, Cranberry and Sage Stuffing’ where the duck meat melted right off the bone!

For the icing on the cake, the pastry chef walked us through on how to make a ‘Vodka Infused Tres Leches with Godiva Caramel Liqueur Banana Praline’ which was made with three different types of milk and tasted like heaven on earth.

While the meal was intended to teach JG and I on how to make a romantic at-home meal for two, I doubt my cooking skills could ever replicate the divine meal chef Mendez made for us… It did, however, inspire me to stay home on Valentine’s Day and while I won’t be cooking a full meal, there will be plenty of signature cocktails made by moi!

Here are some of the recipes from our cooking experience in case you feel inspired too!

The Love Note
Paired with first course: Godiva Chocolate Vodka Cured Tuna with Thai Basil Salad

Ingredients:
1 ounce Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka
1/2 ounce Crème de Cassis
Champagne

Preparation:
1. Combine Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka and Crème de Cassis in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake well and strain into a Champagne flute.
3. Top off drink with chilled Champagne.

Chocolate Vodka Cured Tuna with Thai Basil Salad
(Serves 6)
Cure for the Tuna
2 grams Olive Oil
5 ounces Kosher Salt
6 ounces Sugar
1/2 of a Bunch of Dill
1 ounce Cocoa Powder

Sauce
3 ounces Peeled Diced Cucumber
1/2 of one thinly sliced Jalapeno
3 ounces of Godiva Chocolate Vodka
2 ounces Lemon Juice
1 teaspoon of Honey
1/4 teaspoon Cocoa Powder
2 ounces Thai Fish Sauce
2 ounces Scallions
1 ounce Dried Shallots

Salad
1/2 of a Batch of Cilantro
1/4 of a Batch of Mint
24 leaves of Basil
24 pieces of Pea Shoots
2 Heads peeled White Frisee

Directions:
Mix the olive oil, salt sugar, cilantro, dill and cocoa powder in a small bowl to create the cured tuna. Use this mixture to coat the tuna, then seal in a container for 2-5 hours.

Whisk the diced cucumbers, thinly sliced jalapeños, Godiva Chocolate Vodka, lemon juice, honey, cocoa powder, fish sauce, scallions and shallots in a medium bowl to create sauce. Put this to the side.

Toss the cilantro, mint, basil, pea shoots and peeled white frisee to create your Thai salad.

To plate, place the cured tuna with the Thai salad and liberally drizzle with the sauce you have set aside.

La La Vasquez launches mineral makeup line with help from Kim Kardashian and friends

La La (Anthony), Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian celebrated the launch of Lala's new make up line with Loren Ridinger for Motives make-up. The ladies and fellow celeb friends were all in Miami last week for the launch of the brand new line which emphasizes colors and products geared to African American and Latina women. The make-up line contains various product types, including lipsticks, lipshines, eye shadows and blushes.

The event took place at the American Airlines arena and all the local media and bloggers were invited to attend the spectacle. While I didn’t get a chance to personally interview Lala, I was able to try out some of her cool new shades (including her mineral lipstick “beso”) along with my friends @alerocha @TheTinyJEWELBox @SussetCabrera and a few others.

I also had my dose of reality TV sightings as I sat 6 rows behind Kim, Kourtney and Jonathan Cheban. I was definitely checking them out the entire time and tried to get some good shots. Let’s just say Kim looks much smaller in person then on the show! B*tch is tiny in person – ugh! But of course she was looking pretty in a tan dress and platform sandals.

I’ve been a supporter of Lala ever since her MTV days so I’m happy to see her doing well and more importantly, serving as a role model for all us brown skinned ladies out there! ;)

Here’s a quick video I put together from the event… Enjoy!

Relax Like a Star @ Bliss Spa

Ladies, please do yourselves a favor. If you have never experienced a Bliss Spa treatment, please walk run over to your nearest W Hotel and book an appointment ASAP! I can still remember my very first hot cream manicure I received as a gift from a client in NYC… let’s just say I was wowed by the entire experience and have been a loyal fan ever since.

So needless to say, when I received an invite for a “Relax Like a Star” event at the Bliss Spa @ the W hotel on SoBe, I was more than happy to accept their invitation. It was an “ahh-list” event (as the invite stated) with all my local blogger chicas whom I love so much including Mrs. Fab Jewel herself, Carmen of Viva Fashion, Rosa from Accidental Sexiness, Annie of Fashion Poet and many more lovely ladies. The spa has an outdoor patio area overlooking Collins Ave (perfect for a bach party!) where we were invited to walk the YouCeleb.com red carpet and snack on some munchies including pop chips, zico coconut water and bliss brownies – YUM, all while being treated to mini-spa massages and oxygen blasts.

Stop, I know what you’re thinking. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it! :)

The ultimate icing on the cake for me was winning the Bliss gift bag at the end of the night ($250 value!) filled with amazing Bliss products including my personal favorite, the lemon+sage body butter. I know there were a lot of girls who left disappointed they didn’t win it, and I totally understand because I was FREAKING out I had won. HeeHee.

The good news is, now we have two S. Florida locations where we can go and indulge in some spa-tacular treatments. Both W hotels in South Beach and Ft. Lauderdale have Bliss Spas where you can book your next nail, wax or facial appointment.

Here are some photos from the event: