My stomach is growling as I write this post. Last week, I had the pleasure of dining with a good friend and fellow travel writer at one of my favorite Miami restaurants – the elegant Azul, located at the Mandarin Oriental Miami. It was one of the best meals I've had all year!

And today and tomorrow are your last days to take advantage of the Miami Spice prix-fixe dining menus ($35 for three courses) when you book a table at Azul (and even if you miss the window with Miami Spice, I urge you not to miss this restaurant next time you're in Miami – it's that good).

Since I'm not in Miami every day (maybe I should really just move there, I love this city), I asked the chef to create a sampling menu of some of Azul's highlights. I'm a big fan of seafood, which I mentioned to our server, and I was thrilled when the amuse bouche was a simple shucked cold water oyster, topped with a cucumber carpaccio and artfully rendered dollop of Ossetra caviar.

Here's what followed (I've also noted the wine pairings suggested by our expert sommelier of the evening, Kimberly):

• Japanese hamachi – served sashimi style with Peruvian chilies, ginger and a crispy lotus leaf salad. Wine Pairing: 2004 Fritz Haag Riesling from Mosel, Germany
• Parmesan risotto with heirloom tomatoes. Wine Pairing: 2006 Verget Bougros Chardonnay from Chablis, France
• Yogurt-marinated local swordfish with spiced chickpea stew and Maine lobster. Wine Pairing: 2007 R. Stewart "Autograph" Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Grilled veal chop Oscar-style with Alaskan King Crab, asparagus, confit potatoes and garlic Hollandaise. Wine Pairing: 2004 Red Car "Box Car" Syrah from Santa Maria Valley, California

And then came a cheese course (I LOVE cheese courses, and in my opinion, not enough restaurants offer them). We sampled a spread of cow, sheep and goat cheese from Piedmont, Italy, paired with a 2003 Bodegas Castano from Spain.

And finally, dessert – a to-die-for banana yogurt sorbet alongside sea salt meringue filled with the most decadent dulce de leche filling (cue lovely Argentinean dessert wine, the perfect match). By the end of the meal, I was pretty blissed out...and so happy to retreat to the comfort of my beautiful suite at the hotel – but that's a whole 'nother story that I'll get back to you with soon!

Bon Appetit!

Mandarin Oriental Miami
500 Brickell Key Dr., Miami
305-913-8288