With the 2011 South Beach Wine and Food Festival now underway, we are looking forward to tonight’s signature Perrier-Jouet BubbleQ, presented by Allen Brothers hosted by celebrity chef and grill master Bobby Flay. The event will be held on the sandy white beach behind the Delano Hotel starting at 7 p.m. and likely running well into the evening.

This legendary event, which pairs the elegant bubbly drink with some good old fashioned barbeque, has made a name for itself in the South Beach Wine and Food Festival over the years as one of the most talked about segments thanks to its creative twist on a familiar concept. This year, it will play host to some favorite celebrity chefs, including Todd English, and two of Flay’s fellow Iron Chefs, Cat Cora and Michael Symon (who is just coming off of his win at last night Amstel Light Burger Bash) as they fire up the grill and prepare everything from spicy pulled pork to decadent chocolate-dipped grilled fruit that will have attendees salivating as the sweet and smoky aromas waft through the tent.

BubbleQ is set to be bigger than ever this year, as its tenth year celebrating with the South Beach Wine and Food Festival will also be its last. As the end of this era approaches to make room for what will undoubtedly be yet another new and exciting event to replace it in the coming years, the chefs will be turning tricks and providing those who were lucky enough to score a ticket to it the best and most unconventional barbequed masterpieces around; mouthwatering recipes that are sure to send BubbleQ into its retirement with a bang.

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One of Downtown L.A.’s best fashion boutiques, Skingraft specializes in artistic design ranging from spiked leather jackets to silk-chiffon drapery. With a birth in 2005 and a flagship opening in 2009, designer Jonny Cota is on the fast track to fashion royalty. Although Skingraft originated as a trial run for the performance-based costume design brand Cota, the company now produces full ready-to-wear collections for both men and women in addition to the occasional stage novelty.

Cota’s designs are also sold all around Los Angeles; from Melrose (Forgotten Saints) to Sunset (E.P.I.C.) to Santa Monica (Church); and of coarse other mega-cities like New York (Oak), San Francisco (Five and Diamond), and Philadelphia (Delicious Boutique).

I visited Jonny at his store to find out more about the thought process behind the fantastical madness from which he has built his reputation…

Haute Living: I’ve read music and imagery fuels the inspiration for your collections; is there a common thread behind the catalysts?

Jonny Cota: I call it animal magic…a witchy-ness, a haunted animal spirit thing that happens in every collection; lots of leather, sometimes we use furs and distressed fabric- trying to make it very city and young and modern- it’s a beautiful darkness. Musicians who tap into something similar is who we resonate with like Fever Ray and Bjork.

HL: What message are you trying to communicate through your garments?

JC: It’s a blurring of lines of day to night; conservative and outlandish; of gender-appropriate clothes – to play with things both dressy and night-time wear. Maybe not so much of a message as a goal in a way of living in a way of styling yourself.

HL: Who do you see as your target market?

JC: Of coarse I always want to push the envelope and appeal to new groups of people but I think our target market is people who love fashion, who love all types of art, who can appreciate our attempt to put art into all of our pieces.  I’ve been seeing the clientele expand; we’ve done work with Britney Spears…Brandon Boyd … Marilyn Manson…I definitely like the expansion.

HL: Is your target market a main focus from the beginning or at what point do you start to consider their needs and wants?

JC: Every collection has a muse, it can be someone close to me or someone I’ve never met who inspires the collection and I constantly think would that person wear this? I think of it very stylistically from the beginning.

HL: In 5 years from now, where do you see your brand?

JC: What I really want to do is allow Skingraft to maybe go into the high-end market with higher quality materials and tailoring, then create a fusion line with a more accessible budget and target people who are interested in modest spending. I really want to find a greater sense of our identity and push that envelope…maybe open up a store in New York.

HL: What’s next for Skingraft; any L.A. Fashion Week plans?

JC: This season we are actually going to do a film and an event, in order to switch up the platform in which we show the collection…I love runway, but this gives us a chance to be more artistic, to push the boundaries a little bit more and force us to think differently about the collection.

Skingraft Flagship Store is located at 125 West 4th Street, Suite #102, Los Angeles, 213.626.2662
Store Hours: Monday – Friday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday – Sunday: noon – 6 p.m.

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Rapper/actress/producer Queen Latifah (born as Dana Owens) has taken up temporary residence in the legendary Hollywood actress Jane Fonda’s Atlanta loft. You may remember reading about this 4,700 square foot condo when it first went on the market for $4.5 million (10k/month). Sad to see Jane Fonda leave our city, we were excited to get a glimpse of the downtown condo she purchased after her split from Ted Turner in 2000. The interior is a perfect reflection of Jane Fonda’s iconic style.  Her design even goes as far as including her Andy Warhol portraits on the wall, and according to the Fonda’s blog, she was inspired to create its mauve, womb-like entrance when she appeared in “The Vagina Monologues.”

The penthouse has three bedrooms, three baths, tall ceilings and a restaurant grade kitchen among its other amenities. And we can’t help but laugh thinking about Queen Latifah lying on the one-of-a-kind bed which rests under a canopy complete with mirror and wooden tassels. Oh, and we can’t forget the glass fireplace. Queen Latifah is a perfect fit for Jane’s old pad.

(A picture of the master bedroom with the one-of-a-kind bed and glass fireplace- Nathan Martin photography)

Queen Latifah is currently in town to film “Joyous Noise” with co-star Dolly Parton.  Word is that Dolly Parton is staying in a Midtown home and has been spotted checking out some of our city’s best shopping. And according to the AJC, Queen Latifah has been around our city as well, grabbing food from local spots and perusing the West Side Provisions District on Howell Mill.  We are not sure how long the stars will be staying, but perhaps Queen Latifah will make Atlanta a second home.

To find out more about Jane Fonda’s gorgeous Atlanta loft, click here.

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Last night, hundreds of Miami’s finest gathered at the W South Beach on 22nd and Collins Ave. in South Beach to celebrate the very best in Southern Hospitality. The sold out event hosted by Chef Adam Perry Lang and Chuck Miller of Stillhouse Distillery and Moonshine® was a true homage to Southern flavors and style.

The party set in the pool lounge of the chic W South Beach was transformed into an upscale plantation playground. Guests enjoyed pork-centric hors d’oeuvres like pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, and caja china while sipping inspired cocktails created by acclaimed mixologists from around the country like Camille Austin, Michael Parrish, and Tony Abou-Ganim.

Favorite cocktails of the night were the Peach Mint Julep and Shine Blossom, but the true conversation starter was created by Naren Young of New York, which mixed the 80 proof clear corn whisky with milk. Chef Adam Perry Lang was also joined by celebrity friends Lee Schrager, Jamie Oliver, Vincent De Paul and Jason Binn.

All in all, a true can’t miss event for next year as it’s the Festival’s most laid back party with the best entertainment. Follow @HauteLivingFl on Twitter and stay on top of all Festival news.

A mini-sized hamburger that fits graciously into the palm of your hand, the Slider satisfies your hamburger craving using just a little less food. Perfect for a snack, accompaniment at dinner or even for your morning breakfast ritual, find out here the top 5 places to get your sliders in Dubai.

Ask any English person what a slider is and expect blank stares. Ask for mini-burgers and you might be on to something. Still, while the name is new in London, the concept is great. Tiny little burgers to nibble as you drink. We might know them as starters, nibbles, canapés, tapas or simply mini-burgers but whatever, we just want to know where to get them. Now that she knows what they are, Marie Teather searches out the top five sliders in London.

The slider. It does the job of a full-sized burger, but it fits perfectly in one hand and often packs a flavorful punch. This is a culinary treat that is practically perfect at anytime, (yes, I have known of breakfast sliders) when you have a craving for one it seems that you will go to great lengths to seek out the mini treat that tastes best in bunches. There are many ways to prepare a slider, just about any ingredients you like can be applied and that’s a big part of the fun. Do you like yours subtle? Or overflowing with toppings? Do you like fries on the side or some other equally delicious side dish? Whatever is on your slider menu, you first have to know what Atlanta hotspots have the best ones and I have you covered. Here is the list of the best sliders in Atlanta…bet you can’t eat just one!

The slider has become one of the staples on any restaurant’s menu. The delicious little nuggets of beef between two slabs of bread have gone high end though, with varieties served that will knock your socks off. Here’s a look at the best sliders in Las Vegas.

Sharing is caring, and the perfect dish to share when you’re out is a plate of sliders. These little bites are great whether you’re in the mood to split or if you’re in the mood to indulge. The perfect appetizer or a great plate on their own, sliders are always a crowd pleaser. Visit any of these top 5 spots and you’ll get the greatest OC has to offer.

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You know the saying the best things come in small packages? In this case, we mean food too. Here are some great spots to fulfill that naughty craving with a bite of goodness minus the overindulging food coma.