Bubbly Goodness

Could there be any more promising combination than fine food, sparkling wine and the beach? New York chef Tom Colicchio clearly doesn't think so. As the presider of tonight's Perrier-Jouët Bubble-Q, the man who brought the world the Craft brand of restaurants helped throw one of South Beach Wine & Food's most popular events. In a tent on the beach due east of the the famed pool of the Delano Hotel, guests tossed back Champagne and canapés as they mingled among some of the food world's biggest names. Title sponsor Perrier Jouët made certain that glasses stayed full throughout the evening and chefs such as Marcus Samuelsson, John Tesar, Clay Conley, Rick Bayless and Paul Bartolotta helped ensure that patron's plates were always full as well. If the night's partygoers minded getting sand in their shoes as they walked from stand to stand, their faces surely didn't show it.

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Happy B-Day, Byblos!

The New York air was chilly last night, but thoughts inside Chelsea hot-spot Pink Elephant were of a place far warmer. St. Tropez, to be exact, headqauarters of the legendary Hôtel Byblos, which has hosted everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Mick Jagger. The south of France home away from home for the world's glitterati turned forty years young in 2007 and is just getting around to celebrating. The hotelier chose Manhattan to kick off a four-month fête that will bring the allure and sex appeal of the iconic resort to the world's great cities. Perrier-Jouët champagne kept lips well-lubricated as a birthday cake topped with sparklers made the rounds. Celebrity DJ Jack E (whose mixes can be found on the compilation CD Hotel Byblos Saint Tropez, kept the atmosphere wild and festive, spinning tunes till the wee hours of the morning. Next stop on the Byblos bus tour is Los Angeles, where this weekend lucky revelers will party at the Playboy Mansion. The music continues in Moscow (March 4); London (March 6); Paris (March 18); Milan (March 20) and finally, in Cannes, just in time for the film festival, on May 21. %%showphotos [setid=72157603947118408]%%