Sweet Somethings For V-Day

There’s just something about Valentine’s Day that gets us at Gab all lovey-dovey. It’s not the sappy movies, frilly Hallmark cards, or cellophane-wrapped chocolate assortments that get us going, but the thought of a luxe night out (or in!) with a sweetie or with friends.

That being said, there are some Valentine’s Day classics we can’t get enough of. For example, chocolate, chocolate and chocolate.

Artisan gourmet chocolates are all the rage…right here in the Gab office. It could be because we receive the monthly Godiva catalogue (the pages of which we promptly tear out and lustfully display), but we do our fair share of chatting about chocolate. We love chocolate so much, we covered trainers from Life Time Athletic Club Boca Raton in Kama Sutra Chocolate Body Paint at last week’s Chocolate Decadence event!

Some of our local faves:

Hand-rolled gourmet truffles from Romanicos Chocolate in Miami. Are healthy truffles too good to be true? At 38 calories each, we think not. http://www.romanicoschocolate.com/

Godiva champagne truffles. Totally indulgent, these glamorous truffles are rich and slightly effervescent. Godiva also makes a luscious chocolate liqueur – try it poured over ice cream or add a dash to coffee. http://www.godiva.com/beyond_chocolate/entry.aspx

Truffle Mac ‘n Cheese from Il Bacio Restaurant & Lounge http://www.ilbacioofdelray.com/

Truffle Pizza from Table 42 Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar or RACKS Italian Market http://www.grrestaurant.com/

OK, we admit that truffle mac ‘n cheese and truffle pizza aren’t truffles in the traditional sense, but we promise these dishes are just as decadent! Join Table 42 for rustic Valentine’s Day specials prepared by Executive Chef Matthew Danaher, enjoy the stunning waterfront view at RACKS Italian Market in North Miami, or swing by Il Bacio Restaurant & Lounge for their pheromone-infused ambiance and aphrodisiac-inspired Valentine’s menu.

Bored of the same old tired Valentine’s routine? Greet the Year of the Tiger. This year, the Chinese New Year falls on February 14th. Practice your chopstick technique at home with your sweetie, and finish off your low-key takeout meal with chocolate-dipped fortune cookies.

For those of you trying to seduce a certain someone, mix him or her an Orange Crush. This simple recipe will ensure the feelings are mutual:

http://4orangevodka.com/sips.php?id=8

What are your Valentine’s Day plans?

VIP Launch of "Sunset Sundays" at Il Bacio Restaurant & Lounge brings the Jamaican vibe to Delray's Atlantic Avenue

Anyone who couldn’t escape to Jamaica for a beach vacation this summer found what they were missing during the launch of Sunset Sundays at the ultra-chic Il Bacio Restaurant and Lounge in Delray Beach. The VIP launch party and exclusive Beach Bunny Swimwear fashion show, coordinated by extraordinary event specialists The Gab Group, offered guests a taste of what is to come every Sunday at Il Bacio – live reggae and island music by “The Reggae Boys” and an overall super chill tropical dining atmosphere guaranteed to unwind. 

At the Sunset Sundays launch party on July 26, guests walked through the palm tree-lined entrance into Il Bacio’s massive exterior courtyard and were transported to a tropical island getaway. Rastafarian stiltwalkers towered over delighted visitors as the relaxing beats of live island music by The Reggae Boys washed over the crowd.

Partygoers sipped refreshing complimentary Appleton Rum and Ketel One cocktails, and enjoyed grilled hors d’oeuvres courtesy of Il Bacio, served by the appropriately bikini-clad Il Bacio Girls.

The night heated up with a hypnotic swimsuit fashion show featuring Beach Bunny Swimwear, a fashion forward L.A.-based swimwear line. Bronzed runway models with perfectly tousled, beachy waves expertly styled by Bond Street Salon worked the catwalk in fun, funky beachwear inspired looks in nautical themes as well as the vibrant sunset hues of the tropics. Strutting their stuff to a pulsing playlist of today’s highest-energy beats, models tossed oversized beach balls into the audience, inviting them to join the fun.

The remainder of the evening was packed with sizzling entertainment, from comedian Guy Richards to a Jamaican cruise giveaway finale and exotic fire performers that danced and blazed in the night. To immerse themselves even more into the island vibe, guests could enjoy their cocktails from a freshly cut coconut shell, or puff a hand-cut Cuban cigar.

Proceeds from the night benefited The Connie J. Goodale Breast Cancer Foundation, the only 501 c3 organization in South Florida that provides direct financial assistance to help local women with breast cancer cover the costs of medical bills associated with the disease.

Uncle Brian

My uncle Brian came to visit my mom for a few weeks to fix up my house to sell and I was able to get a chance to sit him down for a quick portrait. I didn't have my light stands with me so I problem solved. These were shot with a SB-800 hot shoe mounted onto a tripod and shot through the inside diffuser from my 5 in 1 reflector. The diffuser was clamped on to a tall room light. I added fill from the opposite side with the white reflector from my 5 in 1 draped over a chair. I don't usually use the TTL mode on my flash off camera, but it worked quite well for his situation. Problem solved.