Cinco de Mayo celebration at The Ritz-Carlton's Oceanfront Mexican Restaurant, Cantina Beach!

Sazoneros! Cinco de Mayo revealed a whole new level of culinary delights in my mind. Last week I attended a fiesta hosted by The Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne to celebrate the infamous "Batalla de Puebla" and I fell in love with their breathtaking oceanfront Mexican restaurant called Cantina Beach. I decided to skip the usual hang out spots in Downtown Miami or South Beach to discover a new venue in my city. On Thursday, guests who attended the festivities at Cantina Beach were greeted with complimentary Guacamole and Mar Azul tequila samplings featuring exotic flavors like almond, coffee, coconut and chocolate. We also had the pleasure of meeting Chiapas-native, Chef Andres Parlange, who prepared authentic appetizers for the fiesta. For those of you who enjoy tequila, did you know that Cantina Beach offers visitors 85 premium tequila selections? It's actually the largest 100 percent Agave tequila collection in Miami. This sophisticated treasure is right in our backyard so visit their website for restaurant hours and start planning your next get together with friends. Enjoy!

World's Top Players support the All-Star Charity Tennis Event at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne

The Sony Ericsson Open has once again attracted the world's top tennis players to South Florida as they battle their way through tough opponents and our hot weather to win the #1 spot! Last week I had the pleasure of checking out these top tennis stars as they gathered at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne for an evening of fun. On Tuesday, March 22nd, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki and Ryan Harrison came out to raise money for the Greater Miami Tennis & Education Foundation [GMTEF] at the resort's Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center to co-host the 2nd annual All-Star Charity Tennis Event. It was definitely a unique and intimate event where fans and tennis players had the chance to play against each other for a great cause! About 150 lucky spectators and VIP guests attended this event while enjoying champagne, specialty cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Here are some great pictures for you to see and don't forget to visit the GMTEF's website to help our city's youth pursue their dreams in the tennis world! Above: The man we all like to call "The King of Serve" a.k.a. Andy Roddick. During this year's All Star Charity Event at The Ritz-Carlton, Andy showed the crowd how hard he could really serve as he played against local opponents. The event featured an exhibition match called the "King & Queen of the Court" challenge where the pros played against the amateur Round Robin winners (two local players who qualified for a spot to play during the event). My personal favorite and most exciting match to watch was the "Battle of the Sexes" because [of course] the ladies won!!! Make sure you congratulate Kim and Caroline if you run into them at the Sony Ericsson this week! It was an incredible experience to watch these women in action! Above: Belgian-native Kim Clijsters enjoying her time at the All Star Charity Tennis Event. During the matches, the audience was able to hear the players taking to each other because they each wore a small mic to add a flare of fun to the event. Trust me...these players are talented and have a great sense of humor! Did I mention Clijsters was the Sony Ericsson's 2010 women's champion? Go Kim! Above: Ryan Harrison returning a shot during the All Star Charity Tennis Event at the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne. Harrison began his tennis career at the age of two and became the first American teenager to beat a Top 20 opponent in a Grand Slam since Roddick at the 2001 US Open. Above: Caroline Wozniaki [who arrived straight from her Indian Wells win] is a Danish pro tennis player and the number one singles player in the world. All of the proceeds from this event benefited the Greater Miami Tennis & Education Foundation (GMTEF) who were presented with a check for $13,000. GMTEF's mission is to develop, organize and conduct tennis, education and life skills development programs for youth from socially and economically challenged communities in Miami-Dade County. For more information on GMTEF or to learn about their upcoming events, visit their website. Cheers to a spectacular tennis event at the Ritz-Carlton in Key Biscayne [Miami's only AAA Five Diamond Resort] and remember to always give back to your community!

Lounge by this Tropical Pool during the Full Moon Party at The Ritz-Carlton Ft. Lauderdale

Are you ready for a new type of sazon? Here's an event I've been looking forward to attending: the glamorous Full Moon Party at The Ritz-Carlton in Ft. Lauderdale. I couldn't wait to share this one-of-a-kind soiree on my blog! On Tuesday, December 21st, join The Ritz-Carlton Ft. Lauderdale as they host the third Full Moon Party which takes place on the 7th floor Tropical Pool Deck [pictured above] from 7 to 10 p.m. Prepare for a casual, chic and stylish gathering of locals [like Alice Battern and Tina Torrey pictured on the right] who don't have to worry about the velvet rope, cover charge or expensive valet parking [rates will be reduced for the event]. This month's party features Ketel One Oranje with $7 cocktails including Full Moon Fizz, South Florida Sunset, Man on the Moon Mojito and more! Do you need any more convincing? Okay, here's another perk: guests receive a complimentary cocktail when they donate one unwrapped toy [for children ages 2-18] benefiting SOS Children's Village of Florida, an organization that supports the foster children of Broward County. There is no RSVP required so get ready to gaze at the moon while you listen to the city's best DJ!

Samantha Ocampo and Kyle Jones attended the last party and watched the full moon rise out of the Atlantic Ocean through an enormous telescope.

FOOD ALERT: The Great Taste of The Grove

The 20th annual "Great Taste of the Grove" is presented by the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce at Peacock Park (2820 McFarlane Road). This two-day food and music extravaganza takes place this Saturday, January 9th (11 a.m. - 9 p.m) and Sunday, January 10th (11 a.m. - 7 p.m.). The Great Taste of the Grove offers live entertainment and an opportunity to sample dishes from some of the Grove's best known restaurants. Visitors can taste main courses and desserts from restaurants including Monty's, Bizcaya at the Ritz-Carlton, Chart House, Crepe Maker, Smoothie King and others. Last year's event drew 30,000 people so expect a crowd this weekend! The event is FREE. But, if you're planning on sampling the food, tickets range from $1 to $8. A portion of the proceeds from food ticket sales will benefit charitable community organizations. For more information, please visit http://www.thegreattasteofthegrove.com/.