TODAY SHOW TRANSCRIPT

ANNOUNCER:  From NBC News, this is Today with Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira, live from Studio 1A in Rockefeller Plaza.

MATT: All right Natalie, thanks very much.  What do you say we head down to Miami right now, Al’s been there all morning long - enjoying the moderate temperatures along the pool.

AL: That’s right

NATALIE: Yes

AL: I got za horse right here, his name is Pierre. [laughing] Anyway, we are deep down here, and I’m getting sunstroke.  It’s all so beautiful here.  We’re here at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.  Joining us, Art Smith, who’s going to be taking part in the eighth annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival.  Art, good to see you again.

ART: Great to see you at such a tropical locale, Al.

AL: I tell you, and it’s a romantic locale.  Not as romantic as your restaurant – Table 52 in Chicago, you hosted the Obama’s for their Valentine’s day dinner.

ART:  That was really truly, having the first couple there.  It was incredible, it was like breathtaking, everyone really truly loved it.  It was just an evening to be remembered.

AL:  Well tonight’s an evening to be remembered, we got the barbecue. 

ART:  We got the barbecue.

AL:  What are you making for the barbecue?

ART:  Well I have some delicious Allen Brothers Meadow Reserve veal, which is a wonderful, it was raised on the meadow with its mother’s milk.  What we did is, we seared it.  And then what’s we’re going to do, I’m going to do a little change here.   I like to sear it until it’s about medium rare.  And, then I have some hoe-cakes.  You remember the hoe-cakes, Al?

AL:  Yeah, who doesn’t remember the hoe-cake.  Gonna warm those up

ART:  All that is, is a little cornmeal flour, a little egg, and we’re just going to put those on our platter, like that.  Beautiful, Al.  And then what I’m going to do is I’m going to throw in some lump crab meat.

AL: And, there it is.  Chef Art Smith, thank you so much. 

ART:  You’re very welcome.