Returning to Miami will always remain one of the highlights of my travel lifestyle.  This town, South Beach specifically is still the town where I’ve clocked in the most of my adult life years, so each time I roll into town, it’s a mix of a party or partying until the late hours at any of the chic nightlife spots, a reunion with my numerous friends who still reside there and a treasure hunt of the great new restaurants that pop up each time I visit, while never knowing how long they’ll stick around.

One thing is for sure that when I return to Miami, at least once a year, it is always around the Miami Spice “Restaurant Week” festival that has graciously turned into a two month long extravaganza of cuisine.  This was an event that I knew and loved for many years as a local and having tried Restaurant Weeks in nearly every major city in the US, it’s one of the premiere events in my opinion.

This time around, after dedicating every night to a different locale, I decided that I’d share my favorites, as these three absolutely blew away the competition in every way.

First comes first, right?  So, what restaurant wears the crown for Miami Spice 2012 in the kingdom of Jetsetter Gypsy?, that would be Michy’s.  Absolutely phenomenal in every way is how I’d describe my experience here.  Having dined here previously during regular restaurant season a few years back, I knew what to expect in terms of quality, inventiveness and service, but those three factors can often be forgotten in the theme of a restaurant week.

Michy’s did not forget one detail.  The cuisine of Michelle Bernstein did not disappoint, as it never has in the past.  She cut no corners in her pre fixe 3 course menu selection and did as most chefs should do, highlighted the best of her restaurant in order to motivate less frequent diners to return on a normal basis.

The combination of flavors used in each sauce was out of this world, my favorites being the curry mussels appetizer, the yellow fin carpaccio and the swordfish clam bake.

But wait, Michelle’s feel good homestyle gourmet deserts were truly the icing on the cake, no pun intended.  The chocolate chip bread pudding was absolutely to die for and the banana crème pie with tres leches was the most inventive Cuban / American fusion desert that I’ve ever tried, and loved it.

The best thing of all is that the service did not skip a beat.   Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about everything on the menu and even suggested some great wine to accompany our Miami Spice selections.

All in all, Michy’s has made one new fan that night, my friend accompanying me to the meal and a lifetime loyal follower in myself!

Keeping things classic and dependable across the board is Smith and Wollensky.  You may ask why I recommend such a place as you can dine here at a number of cities across the US and try nearly the same menu items, but it’s quality, quality, quality that never gets sacrificed.

Smith and Wollensky was a monthly staple when I lived in Miami Beach just because of it’s amazing views and great Thursday Happy Hours outside, where the bay opens up to the ocean.  It was always a must do for Miami Spice and the menu and service has not failed or changed in quality of offerings since.

Known for their ample portions of filet mignon cooked to perfection as well as fantastic fresh fish offerings, you’re never going to go wrong at Smith and Wollensky and the fact that they offer their top selling classics for Miami Spice, even better, as this is just as rare as I like my meat.

Also, greatly appreciated is the special wine pairing menu and wines by the glass offered at the special rate for Miami Spice.  These are not inferior wines, but are straight off of their wine list, just offered at a better price to sweeten this deal.

If ever you’ve wanted to go to Smith and Wollensky and feel like it would be a strain on your budget, then go during Miami Spice, you’ll fall in love with the food, the view, the service and you’ll surely return again.

So, are you wondering who my third restaurant pick for Miami Spice Champions would be?  Well, if there ever is a restaurant that defines chic fine dining, it would be STK.

Sometimes I think that they should rename themselves OMG, as the food is amazing and the ambience even better, which rarely comes hand in hand.   Furthermore, I was absolutely against participating in their Miami Spice menu due to previous experiences of the ultra chic / trendy fine dining restaurants just disappointing when it comes to what they offer menu wise.

STK was a far cry from the random pasta and free range chicken “delicacies” that most of their competitors would offer in a restaurant week type pre fixe menu.  For that, they’ve gained my respect.

The highlights of the night, which I’m still daydreaming about the next day were the foie gras and porcini mushroom ravioli and the pork shank combined with pulled pork and arugula.  Their simple combinations of complimenting favors, one not overpowering the other, were perfect.

Above all of the amazing food was one of the most lively and fun DJ’s, Danny Sterin, spinning all night long.  He totally set the scene for the chic environment that we were in, just beckoning us to stay around for more after dinner drinks, and making up for any lack in server / table service that came earlier throughout the meal…Oh, did I say that?, Yes, I Did!.

I guess that’s what happens when fine dining does automatic 18% Gratuity, the service goes down the tubes.  Regardless, it was a phenomenal night, the amazing bar staff totally made up for the earlier lack in service and I’d highly recommend STK, Miami Spice or not!  I will I be back…for sure, just sitting in a different waiter’s section.

One of my absolute favorite ways to Get Out Of Town when having guests visit me in Barcelona is heading down to the Penedes Wine Region.

Not only is Penedes rich in many varietals of reds and whites, it’s the home to over 90% of Spain’s cava (sparkling wine of the champagne method of production), so any day that I can go wine tasting is going to be a great day, but adding cava to the mix makes it even better, and a more interesting wintery cellar experience for visitors.

Allow for three days in Penedes so you can truly savor the fruit of the region at the pace that it was meant to be enjoyed.  Take the train early from the Barcelona city center, Paseo de Gracia station and in 40 minutes, you’re there at Villafranca de Penedes.

For your first day, you’ll want to get accommodated and perhaps do a wine tour, via El Moli Tours, which is hands down the best wine tour company in the area.  Your guide and owner of El Moli, Paddy Mannion will take you to three wineries as well as an amazing country tavern style lunch, which is a fantastic introduction into Catalan cuisine and serves as a much needed sobering up point although the meal does include plenty of wine.  Afterwards, as things wind down, he can drop you at the charming country inn, Cal Ruget Biohotel, to relax and take in the beautiful panoramic views of Alt Penedes while sitting poolside with a glass of wine then later enjoying a fantastic garden side dinner at their Ecogastronomy restaurant.

Day two should begin with a hearty breakfast included in your stay at Cal Ruget, then taking the train to Sant Sarduni, one stop down and touring the Freixenet factory.  Yes, I’m typically not a big fan of mass production, but this factory’s museum like qualities on the history of cava making secure it as a very worthwhile stop, and you will be pleasantly surprised with some of their higher end reserve cavas that you can taste afterwards.  When finished up take a short walk into town to the cellers of Gramona, one of my personal favorites.  Here, you can do a tour of their cellars or cavas (caves in Spanish), tiny in comparison to the multi million bottle operation of Freixenet, but much more intimate, then do a tasting in their upstairs tasting room with beautiful rooftop terrace.  Gramona features a variety of fantastic cavas as well as wine and desert wines.

Later, returning to Villafranca de Penedes for your afternoon, it’s the perfect timing for lunch at Masia Aran, a rustic style restaurant, characterized by exposed brick walls and full of locals dining and chatting for hours.  The typical Catalan, “a la brasa” or grilled cuisine is a perfect match with the many local wines they serve.  Make like a local and linger over your multi course meal, and perhaps strike up a conversation with your neighboring table while trying the local dessert wine straight from the “porro” style bottle.

At this point, or whatever point you finish up with your lingering meal, you’re probably feeling like you’re ready to pass out, so take in a little R&R at Cal Ruget for a few hours.

Keeping with the cava theme of day two in Penedes, revive yourself in enough time to get to the nearby cellers of Josep Maria Ferret Guasch.   This small family operation will welcome you into their home while sharing with you their high end and ever so precisely measured cavas.  Located at one of the highest points of Alt Penedes, Font Rubi, you’ll bask in their expansive views of the countryside and then be dazzled by the sunset.

Day three, get out there and explore on your own.  I love being a guide, but I don’t really love being guided too strictly, so set out early on one of the “Burricleta E-Bikes” (easy riding electronic bikes with side containers, great for storage of picnic items) available at the resort, stock up on picnic items and find some more wineries, or return to ones you’ve loved from previous days.   If you’re feeling a little lost without me and need a few suggestions of additional wineries to see, I won’t let you down.

I always love Mas Comptal, one of the oldest family owned wineries in the land that has a history dating back to the days when the region was owned by counts and nobility, and they are happy to guide you through their vineyards share with you their history.  Pares Balta, who focuses heavily on single vineyard and organic wines, with an acute eye for quality and has a casual but elegant setting that matches their wines.   Last, but not least, the larger operation of Vallformosa, who boast an expansive selection of wines and cavas in a wide range of prices, in addition to this, their garden / poolside setting for tastings (weather & small group size permitting) will make you feel like you’re a guest in a beautiful Mediterranean wine country villa.  Adding to this ambience is the feeling when you leave that you’ve just become friends with Angels, Vallformosa’s gracious hostess.

In many ways, I consider the Penedes Wine Region as a secret gem.  It’s wines and cavas come from a long history of established growers and producers, yet it’s really just starting to make it’s mark in the enotourism industry, so you’ve got the best of both worlds and only 40 minutes from Barcelona.  Get there now, explore and hope you experience Penedes before the rest of the world!