Fans of the comfort cuisine at new Brickell restaurant OTC (Over the Counter) can soon enjoy Sunday brunch at the casual eatery—service starts January 13. The new midday menu will complement OTC's rustic roots by offering classic American staples crafted by chef Tara Abrams. Brunch dishes include chicken and waffles with maple butter and syrup; eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon and homemade hollandaise sauce; vanilla French toast with macerated berries; barbecue pork breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs and pico de gallo; and short rib steak and eggs. And guests can spruce up their meals with savory add-ons like Maine lobster chunks, Nueske’s applewood smoked bacon, or paprika red bliss potatoes. Fifteen-dollar bottomless mimosas, bellinis, or Champagne sweeten the deal even further. Brunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1250 S Miami Ave., 305-374-4612

The MGF&D bacon pizza at Harry's tops Food for Thought's list of 2012 best dishes

Local food blog Food for Thought recalls the “Best Dishes of 2012,” in pictures. Restaurants like Eating House, Harry's Pizzeria, and Sushi Deli made the cut. [Food For Thought]

Sofia Vergara and fiancé Nick Loeb made Page Six for their New Year’s Eve squabble at Story. The incident resulted in Loeb being kicked out and Vergara’s dress being torn… [New York Post]

The stars were out in force over the long holiday weekend. Among those spotted were Karina Smirnoff, Drake, model Karolina Kurkova, and more. [The Miami Herald]

Coral Gables literary hub Books & Books is getting national love this month from Travel + Leisure, which named our local gem one of "America's Best Bookstores." [Travel + Leisure]

The long-awaited George's Kitchen & Loft is set to open in Midtown on Monday, January 7. Michelin-starred chef Steven Rojas will run the kitchen. Expect “French comfort food with a modern twist.” [Short Order]

See Mary Poppins before she packs her carpet bag and takes flight

Mary Poppins
Through Sunday, January 6
Catch the critically acclaimed Broadway musical Mary Poppins as it closes its run at the Adrienne Arsht Center this weekend. Tickets to see everyone's favorite nanny begin at $26 and can be purchased online. 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-949-6722; arshtcenter.org

Jerry Seinfeld
Friday and Saturday, January 4-5, 7 p.m.
Steadfast stand-up comic and sitcom genius Jerry Seinfeld will perform his niche brand of jokes about nothing at Hard Rock Live. Tickets to the Emmy winner's weekend stint start at $79. 5747 Seminole Way, Hollywood, 954-797-5531; hardrocklivehollywoodfl.com

Romeo and Juliet
Saturday, January 5, 7:30 p.m.
The State Ballet Theatre of Russia lands at Fort Lauderdale's Parker Playhouse to present its stunning version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Michael Lavrovsky has choreographed and produced this classic tale of star-crossed lovers. Tickets begin at $31.50. 707 N.E. 8th St., Ft. Lauderdale, 954-462-0222; parkerplayhouse.com

Dress by Hoss Intropia, hat by Forever 21, shoes by Steve Madden. 

Annie Vazquez (aka “The Fashion Poet”) is a Miami fashion blogger with a flair for shopping on a budget, discovering new designers, and trend spotting. Follow her on Twitter @anniecvazquez, add her blog to your daily reading list, and look for her weekly outfit posts on Oceandrive.com.

For your closet, the start of a new year means one thing: out with the old garb and in with the new. For guidance on 2013's hottest trends, we chatted with Heidi Hoelzer, vice president and GMM of womenswear at Scoop NYC, whose local haunt is nestled inside the Shore Club Hotel (1901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach). Here, Hoelzer offers four brave new looks to try: 

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Lively Lace: It’s not all about black or white lace anymore. This Zarita Lace Mini Dress ($325) by Diane von Furstenberg manages to be classy and sexy at the same time.

 

Stripes, Florals, and Leather: This jacket Flower Leather Jacket ($795) from Rag & Bone captures all three trends without overdoing it.

 

Cut-outs: They were seen all over the runway! This Mason by Michelle Mason High Low Bandeau Dress ($405) has just the right amount of peek-a-boo to keep things interesting.

 

Something blue: Our own Scoop NYC Electric Blue Leather Jacket ($595) is the perfect color for this spring.

 

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The minds at 50 Eggs Inc., also known for creating the beloved Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, have rolled out an authentic den of northern Thai delights, Khong River, in the former Miss Yip space. The restaurant's namesake references its inspirational origin, the Khong (short for Mekong) River, which bends through the Tibetan Plateau, China's Yunnan province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The flavors of these regions are a favorite of 50 Eggs CEO John Krunkel, who traveled along the Khong as a young adult.

Manning the kitchen at Khong is executive chef Piyarat Potha Arreeratn, aka chef Bee. He is a native of the Chiang Rai region and leads a culinary team with similar heritages. Dishes include marinated pork in banana leaves, boat noodles, and char-grilled Issan sausage. The cocktails also keep with tradition, focusing primarily on gins infused with notes of lemongrass, papaya, coconut water, and coriander. Khong's interior is modeled after a riverside farmhouse, donning hardwood slates and steel accents. Khong currently serves dinner nightly, with lunch and brunch launching in the coming weeks. 1661 Meridian Ave., Miami Beach, 305-763-8147

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2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Photographs Courtesy Lamborghini

 

2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Photographs Courtesy Lamborghini

 

2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Photographs Courtesy Lamborghini

 

2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Photographs Courtesy Lamborghini

 

2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Photographs Courtesy Lamborghini

 

2013 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Photographs Courtesy Lamborghini

 

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Lamborghini adds another roadster to its stellar line-up, dropping just in time for summer 2013 sunshine. The new Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster will very likely become the most sought-after production vehicle from the Raging Bull, while simultaneously raising the bar for the world standard of luxury, open-air supercars. The Italian exotic, which is not a limited-production model, is currently available for ordering.

Molded from Lamborghini’s successful coupe, which was presented during the summer of 2011 and has enjoyed a sales run of 1,300 units, the Aventador convertible emblematically commingles sophistication and motoring technology with pure driving gratification. New geometric lines and a removable top will distinguish the two body types.

With New Year’s Eve upon us, Krug Champagne master sommelier Ian Cauble shares his expertise on serving and pairing a fine bottle of bubbly.

How does one determine which glass to use—a coupe, a flute, a regular wine glass?
IAN CAUBLE: Ignore the classic stereotypes. Contrary to popular belief, Champagne is best when served in an all purpose wine glass, rather than a flute. A flute tends to mask flavors. Its design is more focused on showcasing the bubbles, thus hindering the wine from breathing. A wine glass lets the wine fully come to life and breathe.

Should Champagne be served chilled on ice or kept in the fridge?
IC: Colder doesn’t always mean better. One of the worst possible things to do is serve Champagne super cold. When frosty, Champagnes become shy and the personality is lost. An inside tip is to take the Champagne out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before drinking it.

What are some foods that pair well with Champagne?
IC: Champagne is one of the most versatile wine pairings in the world due to the perfect contrast between the richness of texture and freshness of acidity. Krug, in particular, has the outstanding ability to stand up to complex and rich flavors like truffle, curries, and cheese plates, while simultaneously allowing the taster to accent delicate flavors like those found in seafood and nuts. Serve an entire meal paired with Champagne: blancs de blancs like Krug Clos du Mesnil with oysters, Krug Rosé with spicy food such as Thai, or Krug Grande Cuvée with meats. Get creative!

A cheese board at The Cheese Course

Denyse Gervasoni is the head cheesemonger of South Florida-based artisan cheese retailer The Cheese Course. Gervasoni has been with the company for more than ten years and became a Certified Cheese Professional through the American Cheese Society this year, joining an elite group of national cheese educators and service providers. With holiday hosting festivities in full swing, we asked Gervasoni to curate the perfect cheese board.

What is the standard serving size for a cheese platter?
DENYSE GERVASONI: If you are serving a cheese plate as an appetizer, allow one ounce of cheese per person. If it is to be served as the focus of a meal, allow two ounces of cheese per person.

How many varieties of cheese should be on the board, and what are the best accoutrement?
DG: It's most important to have flavors you enjoy because every palate is different, but if you are looking for balance, have one from each category: fresh, soft with washed rind and bloomy rind, hard, and blue. Then complement with items that are savory, sweet, spicy, etc. Honeycomb with Bonne Bouche or Rogue River Blue is great for a classic salty and sweet combination.

At The Cheese Course, which items are prime for holiday entertaining?
DG: The pesto and walnuts are prepared in-house and sold fresh by the pound or in small, medium, and large quantities. The olives can be bought in the same quantities. The boards and biscuits are also available. We are also serving this year's American Cheese Society Best in Show winner, Beecher's Handmade Cheese Flagsheep. Only 25 wheels were made and we're lucky to have one.

The Cheese Course has locations in Midtown Miami, Pinecrest, Aventura Mall, Downtown Miami (opening in 2013), Weston, Coral Springs, Plantation, and Mizner Park.