Miami's most anticipated event of the year has arrived for South Florida's bargain-hunting foodies.  From August through the end of September, Miami Spice presents a bounty of Dade County's best restaurants offering specially priced prix-fixe dinners at usually a fraction of what it usually costs to dine at some of these restaurants. I'm sure that most of you already have your Miami Spice to-do lists.  Beginning this evening, however, a handful of the chefs participating in Miami Spice will be offering free cooking demonstrations of their creations to aid you in making your final selections.  After all, seeing a chef in the process of creating a dish is a much better deciding factor than a mere menu description when it comes to choosing a restaurant to visit this August and September.  If you're Miami Spice itinerary is already fixed, then the cooking demonstrations will be an excellent opportunity to meet some of your favorite local chefs and perhaps get some tips on how to create your favorite dishes at home.  Culinary demonstrations will be taking place throughout August and September at Whole Foods Market in Coral Gables and Bloomingdale's and Macy's in Aventura Mall and will occur on the following dates and times:

Whole Foods Market – Lifestyle Cooking Classes at 7:00 p.m. (cooking demo is free to the public)

Whole Foods Market - Coral Gables
6701 Red Road, Coral Gables, FL 33143
To register for this FREE event, please call: (305) 421-9435

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Jordan Torres, Morton’s The Steakhouse Coral Gables
Wednesday, August 8, 2012 Gaston Sanchez, Larios on the Beach/Bongo’s Cuban Café
Tuesday, August 14, 2012 Kareem Anguin, The Oceanaire Seafood Room
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Brett Hessler, Shula’s 347
Tuesday, August 21, 2012 Josh Eckstadt, Deco Blue Restaurant & Lounge
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 Jordan Hoffman, Bianca
Thursday, August 23, 2012 Julie Frans, Essensia at The Palms Hotel & Spa
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 Jonathan McCann, Atrio Restaurant and Wine Room

Macy’s - Aventura Mall at 1:00 p.m. (cooking demo is free to the public)

Macy’s Aventura Mall Home Store
The Kitchen at The Cellar, 2nd Floor
19535 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, FL 33180
For information, please call Ceci Seitz: (305) 905-8341

Saturday, August 11, 2012 Miguel Aguilar, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar
Saturday, August 18, 2012 Gaston Sanchez, Larios on the Beach/Bongo’s Cuban Cafe
Saturday, August 25, 2012 Tony Velazquez, 1500° at Eden Roc
Saturday, September 8, 2012 Jonathan McCann, Atrio Restaurant and Wine Room
Saturday, September 22, 2012 Jordan Hoffman, Bianca

Bloomingdale’s - Aventura Mall at 1:00 p.m. (cooking demo is free to the public)

Bloomingdale's – The Main Course Kitchen on level three
19555 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura, FL 33180
For information, please call: (305) 792-1288

Saturday, August 4, 2012 Laird Boles, Mister Collins
Saturday, August 11, 2012 Pablo Guarella, Morton’s The Steakhouse North Miami
Saturday, August 25, 2012 Julie Frans, Essensia at The Palms Hotel & Spa
Saturday, September 1, 2012 Brian Diaz, Il Mulino NY - Miami
Saturday, September 8, 2012 Gaston Sanchez, Larios on the Beach/Bongo’s Cuban Cafe
Saturday, September 22, 2012 Fabrizo Carro, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana