A Wedding in Vizcaya

Location: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Date: April 2008

A Joy Wallace Catering Production

Zo's Summer Groove Charity Auction

Location: Seminole Hard Rock Live (Hollywood, FL)
Date: July 17, 2010

The Summer Groove is a five-day weekend fundraising event. Now in its 14th year, The Groove has raised more than $7 million for local South Florida programs and initiatives supported by Alonzo Mourning Charities and Wade's World Foundation (Dwyane Wade's Charity).

BELOW: ION Events & The Seminole Hard Rock Live Crew setting up @ 7am

BELOW: That's me! Helping to build the chandelier :)

BELOW: The models getting hair/make-up on. Almost showtime!

Models/Dancers/Make-up/Hair provided by: ION Events

BELOW: The Red Carpet

BELOW: Red carpet interview with Miami Heat's Alonzo Mourning

BELOW: Stilt Ice Bar
(Provided by: ION Events)

BELOW: Miami Heat's Alonzo Mourning & Dwyane Wade presenting scholarhip awards

Annual BACARDI Porthole Event

Location: The W Hotel (Miami Beach, FL)
Date: March 16, 2010

Stage/Models/Dancers/Hair/Make-up provided by: ION Events

5th Annual BACARDI Cruise Competition

Location: Fisher Island, FL
Date: March 15, 2010

Floral/Decor/Entertainment provided by: ION Events

The Fifth BACARDI Cruise Competition awarded its Bacardi Bartender of the Year and BACARDI Chef of the Year from five culinary and 5 cocktail finalists. This awards ceremony was an exclusive and private event held on Fisher Island, Florida. Christopher Chudley of Royal Caribbean International was named the BACARDI Bartender of the Year and Elderphire Emerlito Lago of Cunard Line was named the BACARDI Chef of the Year. Congrats!!

ABOVE: Table centerpieces arranged by Melissa Palazzolo

BELOW: Floral centerpieces arranged by Melissa Palazzolo 

Cafe Martorano's Grand Opening

Location: Cafe Martorano's inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Date: March 25, 2010

BELOW: Stilt Ice Bar & Stilt Walkers

Provided by: ION Events

BELOW: In the kitchen with Steve Martorano.

BELOW: "Human" table (Costume made by: Melissa Palazzolo)

BELOW:

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from MTV's Jersey Shore

LEFT: Joseph R. Gannascoli (Vito Spatafore from The Sopranos)                        

                                    RIGHT: Frank Vincent (Phil Leotardo from The Sopranos)

Food Network's South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Location: Miami Beach, FL
Date: February 2008, 2009 & 2010

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival is hosted by Florida International University's (FIU) School of Hospitality Tourism & Management. It is an annual wine and spirits event showcasing some of the world's top chefs, spirit producers and culinary personalities. The festival started in 1997 at FIU's Biscayne Bay Campus. It was then known as the "Florida Extravaganza" and was only a one day event. In 2001, it was moved to South Beach and was renamed The South Beach Wine & Food Festival, it is now a 4 day/night event. Without the FIU student staff and their professors, this festival could not be possible. GO FIU!

BELOW: Top Chef's Fabio Viviani at the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village (Photo by: Jacquelynn D. Powers. 2010)

BELOW: Inside the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village 2010

BELOW: (Left): Myself with Chef Guy Fieri  (Right): Guy Fieri & Rachael Ray (2009)

BELOW: (Left): Chef Paula Dean  (Right): Chef Tyler Florence  (2009)

BELOW: (Left): Myself with Chef Giada De Laurentiis  (Upper Right): Myself with Chef Emeril Lagasse
               (Lower Right): Myself with Chef Rachael Ray  (2008)