Best Bets: Wine and spirits at Cafe Margaux; chocolate classes in Satellite Beach
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Looking for something to do this weekend and beyond? From wine dinners and cooking classes to concerts, theater and fundraising galas, here's what's happening on the Space Coast.
Upcoming highlights include a cocktail event at Cafe Margaux in Cocoa Village, a gala to support affordable housing in Viera, chocolate-making classes in Satellite Beach and the return of the Harmony Farms Buckaroo Ball.
Also, the Brevard Zoo is getting ready for Boo at the Zoo in October, and poetry gets spooky at Florida Institute of Technology.
Cafe Margaux hosts bar events, wine dinners
Eating, drinking and merriment are definitely on the calendar for the end of September and all of October at Café Margaux, with Bar Events from 5 to 7 p.m. on select Wednesdays and two special wine dinners.
On Wednesday, Sept. 28, the Margaux bar will feature libations focusing on Mezcal de Leyendas, the company that introduced the mysterious Mexican spirits to the world. Mezcal is a vast universe of distinctive distillates produced in the agave regions of Mexico.
Prescribed Spirits is the focus of the next Margaux bar event, slated for Wednesday, Oct. 12. The craft distillery, launched in 2015 by A.J. Fazendin, focuses on premier-quality American gin from pot-distilled spirits and hand-blended botanicals.
“Prescribed Spirits American Gin is produced using five hand-blended botanicals,” said company representative Kevin Zanetti, who will be on hand at the event.
“This gin features well in traditional gin and vodka cocktails, as well as drinking fantastically on the rocks.”
Rum aficionados should be thrilled with the Wednesday, Oct. 28, bar event on the highly unusual Plantation Rum from the Cognac region of France.
Rum in France? Plantation Rum expert Shayna Donough said.
“Every Plantation Rum is double-aged, which means that it is put in bourbon casks in the islands and then shipped to France,” she said.
“As the rum sways in the ship during transit, it is pulling a lot of flavors from the casks. When it gets to Cognac, it is placed in cognac casks, which takes out the heat and calms it down, making it very cool.”
The rum is sourced not just from the Caribbean, but also from Fiji and even Australia.
Now on to the dinners.
At 6:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 6 and 7, Café Margaux will present a six-course Napa Valley dinner showcasing Girard wines.
Girard winemaker Glenn Hugo is known for his passion for selecting the right barrel for the right wine. What may work for a cab from Howell Mountain will not do for a malbec from Yountville.
“He refers to them(the casks) as his spice rack,” said Donough, who also represents the brand. “The barrel offers the final component of taste.”
The menu pairs Girard wines with chilled lemon verbena soup, escarole and kohlrabi salad, pan-roasted wild salmon, duck breast en croute stuffed with herbed Montrachet, a cheese course from Sequatchie Cove Creamery and crisp layers of puffed pastry layered with pastry cream for dessert. Cost is $135.
Café Margaux staff is seeing all-red for the month’s star event, the one-night Tuscany wine dinner of Biondi-Santi wines at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20.
This all-red dinner is not your average dinner.
“These wines are extremely limited in production,” said Raffaele Benassi, director of European business development for Aspect Fine Wine.
Founder of Brunello di Montalcino, Biondi-Santi produces extremely limited legacy wines. Its 1983 Vintage Reserva is listed among the 100 Best Wines of the Century by “Decanter” magazine. These are the wines to try before you die.
“They are iconic wines,” said Benassi.
The impeccable quality, plus limited production, makes the wines dear in price, and an unforgettable treat for the red wine aficionado. Paired with the wines is a six-course menu that includes Tandoori lamb and crimson lentil soup, harissa-grilled shrimp, Szechuan peppercorn-seared duck breast, veal shank estouffade, seared duck foie gras and tiramisu with lady fingers soaked in espresso. Cost is $195. Visit Margaux.com or call 321-639-8343.
Return of the Harmony Farms Buckaroo Ball
Hey, y’all, saddle up and get to Space Coast Convention Center in Cocoa at 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, when Harmony Farms brings back its famous “Buckaroo Ball, which is very special this year, since it celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Cocoa-based equine assisted therapy facility that helps individuals with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and autism. Tickets are $65, which includes barbecue buffet dinner, live and silent auctions and a Wild West Race with guest race announcer, Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Visit harmonyfarmsinc.com/buckaroo-ball or call 321-631-9433.
Spyro Gyra
Jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra will perform at the King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne, on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will include cover songs from their earlier pop and rock influences, including Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love,” Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home,” and more. Tickets start at $80. Call 321-242-2219 or visit kingcenter.com.
Blessing of the animals
In remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi's love for all creatures, animals from dogs and cats to hamsters and even horses are welcome to this event at Myrt Tharpe Square gazebo in Cocoa Village on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. Reverend Sara Oxley will officiate this special blessing of the animals. For a $5 donation, pet photos with Rev. Oxley will be taken immediately following the group blessings. Donations will benefit the Florida Wildlife Hospital. All pets are welcome on a leash or in appropriate carriers. Call 321-305-5484 or visit tailsatthebarkery.com.
Children’s Business Fair
At the Brevard Children's Business Fair, kids are the boss. The event will be at the Avenue Viera, 2261 Town Center Ave., Melbourne, on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 10 a.m .to 1 p.m. All products and services are created by kid bosses. This event inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur for one day, where they will have the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses. Admission is free. Call 321-634-5390 or visit avenueviera.com.
Still playing
‘Ain’t Misbehavin’: The show is playing at Titusville Playhouse, 301 Julia Street, through Oct. 2. The musical revue is a sassy, sultry celebration of legendary jazz great, Fats Waller. The songs will delight and energize audiences as well as provide great insight into a vibrant time in American history and music. Tickets start at $275. Call 321-268-1125 or visit titusvilleplayhouse.com.
‘Glorious! The True Story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the Worst Singer in the World’: The comedy is at Surfside Playhouse, 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach, through Oct. 2. In 1940s New York, tone-deaf soprano Florence Foster Jenkins was the performer who everyone wanted to see. Tickets are $25-$28. Call 321-783-3127 or visit surfsideplayers.com.
‘Grease’: The musical is on stage at Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., through Oct. 9. The show celebrates Rydell High’s class of 1959 in all their duck-tailed, bobby-soxed, gum-snapping glory. Tickets start at $35 for adults, $23 for children, and $33 for seniors, students and active military. Call 321-636-5050 or visit cocoavillageplayhouse.com.
Get in on the act
Auditions for the play “Miracle on 34th Street” will be at The Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, on Sunday and Monday, Oct. 2-3 from 5 to 7 p.m. Ages 13 and younger will audition from 5 to 7 p.m., and those 14 and older will audition from 7 to 9 p.m. Acting sides will be emailed prior to audition appointment. Performance dates are Nov. 25 – Dec. 11. To schedule an audition, email auditions@henegar.org with your age and preferred date and time. Visit henegarcenter.com.
Auditions for the musical “Peter Pan” will be at Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa, on Sunday and Monday, Oct. 2-3 at 6:30 p.m. Children ages 12 and younger can audition on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. The performance dates are Nov. 18 through Dec. 4. Call 321-636-5050 or visit cocoavillageplayhouse.com.
Viera gala planned to support affordable housing development
Housing for Homeless will hold Orchid Gala, a major fundraising event from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Indian River Colony Club in Viera. The event celebrates the imminent start of construction of a 90-apartment affordable housing development, Orchid Lake, in Cocoa.
As Brevard thrives, affordable housing becomes more scarce. Orchid Lake will help significantly in filling the need.
The new development is targeted toward Brevard’s working veterans, individuals and families struggling to find affordable housing, or worse, are facing homelessness. Rents will be well below market rate.
Tickets are $80 per guest or $150 a couple. Sponsorships and donations to the silent auction are welcome. For more information, call 321-639-0166, extension 102. Orchid Gala will feature dinner, dancing, silent auction, raffles and music by DJ Titan.
For more than 30 years, Housing for Homeless has provided safe refuge to those struggling to find affordable housing or facing homelessness. More information on this nonprofit can be found at housingforhomeless.org.
Baking academy offers classes
What could be better than a day full of chocolate? Two days, of course.
Florida Academy of Baking, 1370 State Road. A1A, Suite E, Satellite Beach, will present a Chocolate Indulgence two-day experience from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2.
Fans of the book and film “Chocolat,” or anyone who just loves the stuff, should be in chocolatey heaven with the extravaganza led by academy owner Angela McEllin and local chocolatier Mary Storey.
Students will create include chocolate, pistachio and orange nougat, Joséphine’s Chocolate Almond Cake, Capezzoli di Venere (Spiced Nipples of Venus Truffles), Nussecken (German Nut Corners), moulded chocolates and chocolate Croissant de Lune. Cost for the two-day class is $399, which includes lunch both days.
Also happening in October, the academy will present an Adult Wizarding Workshop from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Thursdays, October 6, 13, 20 and 27. Join in the magical fun of recreating from scratch some of the Wizarding World's favorite treats including: Drunken Chocolate Frogs, Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Wands, Bedazzled Giggle Water, Boozy Butterbeer, Pumpkin Pasties with a spiked spiced caramel sauce and Tipsy Treacle Tarts. Individual classes are $139 or take all four classes for $450.
Florida Academy of Baking offers a variety of individual classes, private events and Chef Nights. Register at fabbaker.com or 321-622-6185.
Boo at the Zoo celebrates Halloween with the animals
Join Brevard Zoo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October for “Boo at the Zoo,” when the animals and their keepers go wild for Halloween.
Guests will enjoy fun themes each weekend, with trick-or-treat stations, Halloween décor, photo ops, spooktacular music, special performances, costumed characters and show times at 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Costumes are encouraged.
All activities are included with Zoo admission. For more details, see brevardzoo.org.
Florida Tech poetry workshop focuses on Halloween
Scary poetry is the theme for “Seriously Scary Stanzas,” a free interactive poetry workshop at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Florida Tech’s Alumni Center, 2600 Country Club Rd., Melbourne. With a focus on Halloween and all things ominous and creepy, the workshop invites participants to express their spookiest thoughts via scary stanzas. Dust off your costume, bring your favorite candy, and get your Poe on! Come ready to listen, write, and terrify your neighbors. Free parking is available next to the center. Call 321-604-1294.
Military vehicles and equipment wanted for Titusville event
American Legion Post 1 in Titusville is searching for military vehicles and equipment that can be used during a Veterans’ Day event Saturday, Nov. 12. Contact 321-604-2900 for more details.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Wine and spirits at Cafe Margaux; chocolate classes in Satellite Beach
