I hope you all enjoyed my post last week on my successful Sawgrass Mills Mall shopping spree and don’t forget to comment on Facebook and Instagram about which Summer Travel Essential item of mine you liked best for a chance to win a $100 gift card!  (Remember: Winner must physically pick up the gift card in Sunrise, FL.)  Today I wanted to share with you an event I attended put on by the awesome possum folks at Sawgrass Mills and Zinburger, which just recently opened at the mall.

Zinburger is a wine & burger bar, with locations in FL, GA, NY, NJ, NC, and VA.  They hosted a Summer Fashion show for some SoFla fashion bloggers (including moi) and offered us a tour of the kitchen, followed by a ridiculous tasting of some of their best selling items. Food and fashion??  Obviously I was ecstatic to attend.  As soon as I arrived (at 10:30, mind you) I was greeted with one of their original cocktails, the Girl Next Door (Smirnoff Vodka, Veev Acai Liqeur, Strawberry).  I was a tad hesitant because I was afraid it would be too sweet for me (that and the fact I felt like I had brushed my teeth 15 minutes prior to drinking vodka), but it was dee-lish!!  Definitely not too sweet and definitely woke me up, hellooo Leah!

Next was the tour.  I don’t typically tour kitchens of restaurants (shocker), but I was beyond surprised about the cleanliness!  I wish my kitchen looked like that and we only cook for 2 people.  We were getting told all of these interesting facts about how high the quality of meat is, how it’s so fresh it’s kept in a freezing cold room and only in the restaurant for x days, yada yada.  I’m sorry I didn’t remember any of them, I was too busy thinking to myself if now was a good time to inform the chef that I don’t eat red meat and have never once tried a hamburger.

After the tour we sat down for a feast.  Seriously, I should been wearing sweatpants.  Now despite the fact that I was at a burger bar and don’t eat burgers, there was so much for me to eat and the food was exceptional!  I truly didn’t feel like at a national chain restaurant, and one that was reasonably priced at that.  The salads were insane!  We tried the BLT (sans the B for me, which the other bloggers couldn’t stop gushing over), the Farm, and the Seared Ahi.  I couldn’t choose which I liked more, seriously.

Everyone else tried three different type of burgers and I believe the general consensus was that the Zinburger was their fav (Manchego Cheese, Zinfandel Braised Onions, Mayo).  I personally loved my Hava Chicken Sandwich (Havarti Cheese, Avocado, Tomato, Mayo).  And then came the fries, holy incredible fries.  We tried Double Truffle Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, and Zucchini Fries.  I was in french fry heaven.  This is typically out of character for me (especially when truffle fries are up for grabs, and they were insane!), but I couldn’t stop eating the Zucchini fries.  They were served with a delicious homemade ranch dressing and none of us could get enough.  The chef admitted they’re a bitch to make, but clearly worth it!

And just when I thought I couldn’t have another bite, the dessert came rolling in, including Chocolate Cream and Banana Cream pies (normally I would shiver just thinking of a banana cream pie but the chef said it was a must try so I went for it and it was so so good!) and shakes.  I love a restaurant that serves yummy shakes and floats and they did just that.  We tried the Bars of Zin (Chocolate Ice Cream, Hazelnut Spread, Kit Kat Pieces) and the Creme Brulee (Vanilla Ice Cream, Madagascar Vanilla Bean, Fresh Cream, Crushed Caramel), and there are many more on the menu including a shake of the month!  This was all washed down with both a glass of Riesling and an amazing Pinot Noir.  Best part about their wine menu?  On Wednesdays, all bottles are 1/2 off!  They also offer a great happy hour, Mon-Fri from 3p-6p.

Oh and as a I sat there shoving all of this food in my face, there was a fashion show to display various items from the mall for us to drool over (in addition to the drool that was probably already running down my face), because isn’t that what you love to do; practically have a Thanksgiving feast while looking at models?  Yea, me too.  (Pass the sarcasm in addition to that ranch dressing.)  I loved seeing what brands were paired together, including some that I would never think to go into like Diesel (I hadn’t been in for ages until post show), and even Tommy Bahama! I was especially loving all of the items from J.Crew (duh), Kate Spade New York, BCBGMaxazria, and it was during the show that I first laid eyes on my ultra luxe and ultra cheap tan travel bag from the Bloomingdale’s Outlet.  (I would have included pics of the ensembles, but I was too busy still eating.)

So I’m officially starving while writing this and counting down the days until I eat there again.  Be sure to see if there’s a location near you!  Good news SoFla readers, a Boca Raton location is opening up at the Towncenter Mall shortly, woop woop!

Good luck winning the gift card!!

Xo,

Leah