Do you remember the joy of getting a full-sized candy bar in your trick-or-treat bag?
It offset all those folks who handed out healthy treats like apples, oranges, and string cheese! We had a kid on our block whose dad was a driver for Affy Tapple, and every year we hit his house up for the treat. In case they didn’t have those where you grew up, it was a small apple covered with tons of caramel, then rolled in peanuts (this was before every kid in the world was allergic to peanuts). We’d eat all the caramel and nuts and throw the apple away. I just found out ALDI sells Affy Tapples in three packs. Bye… I’m back after buying out ALDI. Now, on to Halloween and other fall dining events.
Celebrate spooky season at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila with festive drink specials. Sip on the Diabliata ($15), made with Dobel Diamante, blackberry puree, lime juice, ginger agave, and blackberry garnish, or stir up some magic with Witches Brew ($12), crafted from Jose Cuervo Devils Reserve, Midori, lime juice, agave, and a Tajin rim. Bodega will have costume competitions and themed parties at all its locations, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Grove, and South Beach locations, on Oct. 30 and 31. For more info, go to bodegataqueria.com.
Leave it to West Palm to do Halloween swanky. Pink Steak sets the backdrop for a Halloween masquerade. Dress to thrill, mask to impress. Reservations are highly recommended. For more info, go to pinksteak.com.
Celebrate Halloween beachside at Lona Cocina & Tequileria and get ready to trick or tequila at the restaurant’s ultimate Halloween Bash. Starting at 7 p.m., get into the spooky spirit with themed cocktails and specials, live DJ entertainment, and more. Come back the next day for the Día de los Muertos brunch. For more info, check it out at lonarestaurant.com.
Internationally renowned chef Richard Sandoval is once again bringing his immersive Día de los Muertos culinary celebration to Toro Toro, running through Monday, Nov. 3. Celebrating the rich traditions of Sandoval’s Mexican heritage through an unforgettable, multi-sensory experience that blurs the lines between the spirit world and physical realms, emphasizing the duality of life and death. As part of the campaign, Toro Toro is featuring an exclusive a la carte menu of culinary and cocktail selections, each with cultural significance to the celebration. For more information, visit torotoromiami.com.
It’s not all costumes and frights. Sometimes it’s about celebrating culture and the harvest. Arc Culinary invites guests to indulge in a pair of globally inspired dining experiences this fall with “The Far East” and “Fall’s Harvest” on Friday, both at the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen in Sunrise. “The Far East” on Thursday, Nov. 13, will be a four-course menu, featuring ramen with a simmering miso broth, temaki, a refined twist on the classic hand roll with crisp nori sheets filled with warm sushi rice and premium sashimi-grade fish, wagyu and potatoes, and dessert to complete the experience. The four-course menu for “Fall’s Harvest” on Friday, Nov. 21, will feature a curried butternut squash soup, cauliflower steak, a bone-in heritage pork chop, and dessert to close out the evening. Tickets for “The Far East” and “Fall’s Harvest” experience dinners are $102 for the chef’s table or $92 for communal seating, including gratuity and alcoholic beverages. Ticket sales from every Chef Experience Dinner support Arc Broward’s mission of providing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to realize their full potential.
For tickets and more info, go to arcculinary.com.
