Throw a ladies only #HappyHour at home with #SXchachacha #tequila @SXLiquors #yourdrinksexier

October 5, 2016SobeSavvy 4 Comments

DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post, however 100% of the opinions are my own.
When I hear the term ” Cha Cha Cha” , I think of dancing to a Cuban Mambo beat. Not anymore. Sx Liquors have teamed up with R&B sensation Trey Songz in promoting a line of their spirits. Check out his interview with Forbes Magazine as he explains why he wanted to partner with this brand

Their SX Cha Cha Cha is a premium reposado Tequila. They blended it with touches of honey and lime. Last Friday I decided to throw a happy hour for some of my girlfriends at my house and serve some crafted cocktails to see what they thought about it. My guests also commented on how beautiful and sexy the bottle was !

Makeup Artist @neelyglamstudios_mua ready for her closeup with SX ChaChaCha

One of my hubby’s many talents includes bartending. He loves to take fresh ingredients and play around with recipes that make sure the base liquor remains the star. I cannot tell you the number of times I have ordered a cocktail, only to have my favorite liquor lost in some bizarre high fructose syrup concocotion.

Throwing a happy hour can be simple as long as you stay on course. Happy hour does not equal dinner party. One or two appetizers in a casual stand up atmosphere with a signature spirit, beer or wine. Friday’s spirit was Sx Cha Cha Cha. I had some sweet & spicy wing bites and meatballs marinara sitting on our bar counter for guests to help themselves. Some billboard top twenty R&B streaming on my soundboard and voila ! Happy hour is all set.

We started with a simple shot. Shots may be a frat or sorority favorite way to drink, but honestly a shot is where a liquor either sinks or swims. There is simply nowhere for it to hide. As Trey Songz hit song says, it was “Bottoms Up” time. The ladies agreed it was smooth and a touch sweet. ” Wow” ! was the most common reaction
“Who wants a cocktail” ?, said our own personal happy hour “bartender”

First up was a Paloma cocktail. A classic recipe of tequila, red grapefruit juice with fresh squeezed lime juice. It was a magical drink. So simple and pure. The Cha Cha Cha really mixed effortlessly with the grapefruit juice.

Next up was what he called ” Strawberry Smash”. He muddled fresh strawberries with a little simple syrup. Put in the shaker with Cha Cha Cha, fresh lime juice , fresh squeezed juice from one orange and a teaspoon of grenadine. It was delish beyond description.
I looked up and it was time for our guests to depart. A great time at happy hour. A great time with SX Cha Cha Cha .

You can purchase SX ChaChaCha online at https://www.reservrbar.com/buysx and get ready to drink sexier!

#TastyThursday spotlight on @PhillipsSeafood #HappyHour + #BloodyMaryMeals = OMG ,so good!

August 18, 2016SobeSavvy 5 Comments

Summer for Baltimoreans means two things. Humidity and steamed crabs. Both were in abundance last week when we visited Phillips at the world famous Inner Harbor. We dined alfresco on their pier “Crab” deck adjacent with their regular restaurant.

We started off by enjoying a few of their happy hour specially prices drinks, like white Sangria! We also enjoyed a half dozen of oysters that they harvest themselves. Their Happy Hour $4 cocktails and specially priced apps run Mon-Fri between 4pm and7pm.

Some friends and family joined us for what can only be described as the worlds most incredible Bloody Mary. It was delicious and came in a HUGE Quart sized glass container.

While that by itself was amazing, it was what the bloody mary was topped with. Steamed crabs, steamed shrimp, chicken wings and potatoes !! You read that correctly. Phillips calls this their “Crab Feast Bloody” !! Enough for the whole table !!

It is quite a production and comes balanced like a tightrope walker in fish netting and all !! The waiter assured me it would not fall over , just be careful taking it all apart ! All heads on the deck turned once folk saw this gargantuan meal of a bloody mary making it’s way to our paper topped picnic table !!

My 5 year old didn’t know what in the world to make of this “meal”.

It was amazing. The crabs, shrimp and chicken soon began to dissappear as did the perfectly boiled potatoes. Slowly the bloody mary level starting to drop also !! My mom simply LOVES Bloody Mary’s and she was a big part in assisting in it’s demise !!

Hot weather, Hot Crabs and Ice cold Bloody Mary. THAT ,my friends is what summer is all about.

Next trip to Phillips, try something new, something big, something HUGE . Try the Crab Feast Bloody !

Follow this link and you can buy a small can of their famous seafood seasoning at a great price https://www.amazon.com/Phillips-Natural-Famous-Seafood-Seasoning/dp/B00H3TE19W/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1473261349&sr=8-2&keywords=phillips+seafood

#FoodieFriday spotlight on @KamadoGrille ‘s New #HappyHour in #Raleigh ! #Cocktails #Appetizers

May 27, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Clay vessels have been used by humans to cook food for many thousands of years. Clay cooking pots have been found in every part of the world and some of the earliest dated by Archaeologists to be over 3000 years old have been found in China. It is believed that in these circular clay cooking vessels are the origins of the modern Kamado albeit the clay finally being superseded by ceramic materials

Now that the history lesson is over, I can tell you where you can go dine by food prepared using the above ancient method. That place is Kamado Grille in North Raleigh.

They already have a devout following for their dinner scene but now they want to do the same for their new Happy Hour.

Between the hours of 4-6pm, Monday thru Thursday, you can get specially priced drinks and half-off mouth watering appetizers. My family and I went there on Tuesday to enjoy their signature Backyard Cocktails, their great food, and their lawn games that sit out front of the restaurant. Since it was a gorgeous late afternoon we opted to sit at one of their attractive patio tables.

We started with two cocktails from their backyard cocktails menu. A Spiked Blueberry Lemonade and a Dirty Shirley( think Shirley Temple but the adult version). On such a warm afternoon they both were cold and refreshing.
*complete list of backyard cocktails as seen on their electronic menu

A Sips & Selfie moment =)

The appetizers menu offers a delicious variety of tasty options. Oysters Kamadofeller were first up. 4 Oysters on the half shell topped with Andouille Sausage and Spinach cream sauce. AWESOME !!

My little one (did I mention Kamado Grille is family friendly?!) was getting restless so we played a few rounds of bean bag throw on their lawn before our second appetizer arrived.

Grilled Shrimp Scampi arrived and promptly disappeared ! The garlic foccacia bread that accompanied it was mouth watering as well.

Tip: Order the Crab Cakes and Lamb Chops(which come with cheese grits) together, both offered on the appetizers menu, and have yourself a surf & turf meal at deal. The portion size is great and the taste even greater! All for 50% off during happy hour.

It was time for another backyard game (this time table tennis ) and a cocktail break. I ordered the KG Spiked Palmer at the suggestion of our server, who advised it was his favorite out of all the cocktails. It became my personal fave as well and I think helped me win the game !

We worked up a bit of an appetite after playing these games and ordered two entrees: Ribs {Which are slow cooked for 18 hrs} & Miso Salmon.

Needless to say this duo left us full and satisfied. No room for dessert, but plenty of memories of our early evening of foodie fun!

Sip,Sip Hooray …
Cheers to Kamado Grille, their new Happy Hour and always delicious food !
https://www.instagram.com/p/BF66kZJCXJP/

Looking for a #HappyHour to celebrate #FoodieFriday ?! @YardHouse has new #cocktails !

April 22, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Yard House recently announced FIVE NEW HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS to their drink menu, so I knew I had to make plans to stop in and try one or two. During a recent trip to South Beach, I caught up with a good friend over cocktails. Located off Lincoln Road, the Yard House Miami Beach location was the perfect place to meet over good food, good conversation and innovative libations. One of the NEW handcrafted cocktails that caught my eye was The Refresher. Its made with house-made citrus agave blend and fresh-pressed watermelon juice and like it’s name is truly refreshing!

Quality drinks deserve to be paired with quality food. One of the reasons I enjoy dining at Yard House is because of the variety of choices at a great price. Whether you are ordering appetizers at the bar, enjoying happy hour /late night happy hour, or having a full meal Yard House has something for everyone. Here are just some of the deliciousness I enjoyed during my recent visit:

If you ever wanted to elevate your macaroni and cheese experience, try the house favorite and my personal go to: Mac & Cheese made with chicken, bacon, wild mushrooms, cheddar, parmesan, truffle oil. Our waiter suggested to try it with some buffalo sauce for a customized treat.

Blue Crab Cakes made with fresh mango & papaya, passion fruit beurre blanc, tomato oil satisfied my seafood cravings.

Vampire Taco comes with a cheese crusted tortilla, carnitas, bacon chorizo, chipotle salsa, roasted garlic, cumin crema, and more. It’s a force to be reckoned with.

Cheers!
Be sure to sign up for the Yard House e-club to stay updated on news and specials!

@TheBetsyHotel presents #SOBEWFF VIP Happy Hour w/ @Lee_Schrager & #Sobewff2015 Cigars & Spirits @CigarAficMAG #theBetsyHotel~Recap by #SobeSavvy.com

February 23, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

The rooftop of The Betsy Hotel is a great place to enjoy the magnificent views of South Beach and served as a magnificent backdrop for two of the SOBEWFF events attended by Barry Heigh of SobeSavvy.com!

On February 19, 2015, invited guests and media joined Founder and Director of SOBEWFF Lee Brian Schrager at the Director’s VIP Welcome Happy Hour during the 2015 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE. This kick off event included hors d’oeuvres by BLT Steak at The Betsy, Rose wine and cocktails provided by Botran Rum.

On February 20, 2015 , Barry returned to The Betsy Hotel for a sophisticated evening with Cigar Aficionado and Whisky Advocate. Tickets to this event called Cigars & Spirits was won by me via Yelp Miami Contest but awarded to him for the Ultimate Guys Night Out ! Guests lounged on the rooftop and sipped exclusive, rich and lustrous bourbons, whiskies, scotches, and tequilas from the Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida portfolio. Attendees also got to experience the aroma and flavor of some of the finest selections of premium cigars while also learning from the specialists on hand about what makes each spirit distinctive and flavorful and each cigar exceptional and superior. Appetizers and desserts were served (by BLT Steak at The Betsy).

Photo Credit: Barry Heigh

#SobeSavvy Presents #ThePowerofHappyHour Vol 8 Let’s Cicchetti @SienaMiami #FromScratch #SienaTavern DAILY #HappyHour #SouthBeach

February 14, 2015SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Seeking: a grown up happy hour happily devoid of frat boys and full of quality food and hand crafted cocktails. The Answer: Siena Tavern’s new happy hour.

This new powerhouse of a new restaurant has already proven itself to be the spot for those who want a top notch italian dinner with inventive and classic dishes by executive chef Fabio Viviani. Hubby and I visited last week to see what all the fuss was about. The cocktails are curated by the crew at the renowned Broken Shaker Bar. Moscow Mule, house sangria and take on a Limoncello called…Cocello was delicious. What are you washing down with these cocktails ? How about a new East Coast vs West Coast feud ? OF OYSTERS ! Siena Tavern has a plethora of bi coastal oyster choices..they vary depending on the time of year but be assured they are as fresh as oysters can be. Time to get your food and drink on.

Available daily ( Saturday and Sunday included) between 6 to 8 p.m. Appetizers like Hamachi and Tuna Crudo for $7. Frito Misto,Salami or cheese boards are also listed. We had the Prosciutto Pear pizza for $9. Our waiter went into detail to explain how they had to revamp their dough recipe from what they use in their Chicago restaurant. Miami humidity is no friend of dough. Having managed a famous pizzeria in Baltimore, Md , I judge pizza by it’s dough. Siena Tavern gets an A+. Combine that with the $2 oysters, $7 house cocktails, glass of wine of the day and drafts for $4 and you have a really happy happy hour.

We finished our happy hour with a flight of gelato and of course their infamous Bombolini donut like pastry.

Happy hour can be enjoyed at or around the bar and also on their beautiful terrace.

http://instagram.com/p/zLx9DTiXFL/

Happiness is Daily Happy Hour.

#SobeSavvy Presents #thePowerofHappyHour! Vol 3 @dorakusushi #southbeach #miami #happyhour #review#sushi #dorakusushi #theroadtohappiness

May 23, 2014SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Today, I was feeling happy hour-ish, but also Sushi-ish. Hmm I thought, where can I go with the pefect combination ? DORAKU on Lincoln Road of course ! http://dorakusushi.com/ Doraku has been a staple on “the road” for over a decade. It’s location on the far western end has endeared it to us locals. We yearn for a place on the beach where people don’t have cameras around their necks or have on neon T-Shirts. Their happy hour runs 7 days a week. That’s right..Saturdays & Sundays too between 5 and 7pm. They have a special happy hour food and drink menu that is priced perfectly for LOCALS, NOT TOURISTS. I sampled some delicious shrimp & basil tempura, salmon carpaccio and also the philly roll which has salmon and cream cheese. I was pleasantly surprised at how yummy their bok choy w/garlic turned out. All were uber fresh and uber good. Service was excellent. We ended our happy hour with some sake. Although a busy spot no one hurries you and there is no chaos. After work or play, this is the spot.Their dark yet fun asian inspired interior decor went well with the cuisine. Buddha heads abound everywhere. Besides having a formal restaurant table area, they also have a outstanding sushi bar in the rear of the restaurant where you can witness their top notch sushi masters create some creative dishes. As we sipped on our delicious glasses of white Sangria and a watermelon lychee martini cocktail we spoke with one of their managers named JC, who told us of their new venture in the extension of Dadeland mall. It’s called Aoki Teppanyaki. http://www.simon.com/mall/dadeland-mall/stores/aoki-teppanyaki I will be sure to check it out. If I were you, I would check out Doraku happy hour. Now.