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Pizza Volante, the highly-anticipated pizzeria from Pacific Time's Jonathan Eismann, was set to open today, but the opening was pushed to tomorrow after a few products failed to arrive on time. As of tomorrow, the pizzeria will be selling its wood-fired pizzas from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Sundays.

Rack's Is A Hit: The early reports from Rack's Italian Bistro & Market have been very good — Miami Danny even suggested that the restaurant may make the best pizza in South Florida. And Frodnesor scrutinizes the menu and points out that for fans of DeVito's, some of the menu items may seem a bit familiar, in particular a meatball with Marzano gravy.

We've been hearing conflicting reports about the status of Sosta, the new pizzeria from the Quattro Gastronomia Italiana folks. People kept saying it was open, but phone calls to the restaurant proved otherwise. But we just heard it from the mouth of a KNR Restaurant Group spokesperson: the restaurant is opening tonight at 6 p.m. It will be open just for dinner initially, but in a couple of weeks, expect lunch to be introduced.

We just got our hands on the menu, the full version of which is after the jump. Highlights, of course, are the pizzas, which are made in the special Italian-made Morello Forni rotating pizza oven. In addition to pizza, there's a selection of salads and a few pastas and paninis.

Continue reading "Sosta Pizzeria Opening Tonight" »

Because his first attempt at skipping out on the check at Philippe went so well, Dennis Rodman apparently tried to give it another go the next night at the same restaurant with an even bigger tab: $1,500. A drunk Rodman, according to a witness quoted in Page Six, stumbled out of the restaurant followed by his friends. Once again, the bill was paid only after police showed up. Bet the management at the Gansevoort cannot wait until he heads out of town. [Page Six via Riptide]

Go Joey!: Wynwood neighborhood favorite Joey's is mentioned in the June issue of Food & Wine among a group of "new pizza artisans." It's nice to see that the list isn't totally New York-centric — it's getting easier and easier to get great pizza outside of the Big Apple. [Food & Wine via Short Order]

The American Institute of Wine & Food is launching "Recessionista Wine Dinners," a monthly series of reasonably priced meals paired with wines that benefit the institute's culinary scholarship program. The first one is set for Wednesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Wish and is priced at $65 per person or $55 for AIWF members. That includes tax and gratuity. The dinners will be held at a different restaurant each month through September. Check after the jump for the first dinner's menu.

Continue reading "Budget-Friendly Wine Dinners Coming Our Way" »

Oldies But Goodies: Joe's Stone Crab is among the oldest restaurants in America, according to BusinessWeek. Not surprising, of course. What is surprising? The fact that crabs were 75 cents per handful when the restaurant first opened. Oh, how times have changed. [BusinessWeek]

First, we have to talk about this name. Rum Renaissance Festival? Is anyone else imagining ladies in large, corseted gowns swilling flasks of rum? Just us? Of course, this isn't a dress-up-in-period-costume Renaissance festival; it's a let's-make-rum-cool-again festival. To which we say: let's start drinking.

The festival begins tomorrow with a two-day rum tasting competition at the Delano, where judges will blind taste over 100 rums from around the world and award gold, silver and bronze medals to the best of the bunch. The main event is on Saturday, when the public will be allowed to sample rums from all over the Carribbean and beyond. Or you can check out one of the seminars like "Puerto Rico: Rum Capital of the World" and "Rum's Cocktail Revival." Tickets to the grand tasting — which include admission to the seminars — are $45 each. VIP tickets, which will get you into several parties in which the rum will be flowing freely, cost $150. The grand tasting will be held on Saturday from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Shore Club Sky Bar and Red Room at 1901 Collins Ave in Miami Beach. For more information, check out the festival's website.

Is Sosta Open Yet?: The Miami Herald reports that Sosta Pizzeria, the new spot on Lincoln Road from the owners of Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, is open. And tpigeon on Chowhound says "Early reports on Solsta [sic]...are very positive." So, most evidence points to yes, the pizzeria is open. But we just called KNR Restaurant Group and were told that it is most definitely not open and that the menu is still being finalized. And no one's picking up the phone at the restaurant either. So we're going to conclude with no, you cannot get your pizza from a fancy rotating brick oven just yet. Any day now though.

Cafe Prima Pasta is opening up its kitchen to the public for the first time in its 16-year history to teach the secrets behind making excellent fresh pastas. Guests will learn how to make fresh dough by hand and filled pastas like cannelloni and ravioli. Stick around for a three-course dinner (appetizer, the various types of pastas made in the class, and dessert), accompanied by Champagne and Italian wines, for $39 per person. The event is Friday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit the restaurant's website or call to make a reservation.

Photo: tvol/flickr

Solea Update: Looks like Kevin Sbraga, the former Garces Restaurant Group culinary director, won't be in charge of the kitchen at Solea after all. We just learned that he had to turn down the job this past weekend. No word yet on who will actually be cooking there when it opens at the new W Hotel South Beach sometime within the next two months.

Ask A Chef: The James Beard Foundation asks Michelle Bernstein for recommendations in her hometown. She suggests heading to Hiro's Yakko-San, Joe's Stone Crab, Cote Cafe, El Palacio de los Jugos, and Nobu. [JBF]

• The second South Florida location of the California-based Yard House opens this Sunday at Merrick Park in Coral Gables. If you've been to the one in Palm Beach Gardens, you know what you're in for here: standard American fare and one heck of a selection of beers on tap. You can even get a beer float to go with your burger — Young's Chocolate Stout or Lindeman's Framboise with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

• Mezza Mediterranean Grill, a new downtown Miami lunch spot, opens its doors on Monday at 11 a.m. The menu serves typical Middle Eastern fare like hummus, falafel, and shawarma; the express lunch of gyro, kafta, kibbeh or falafel at $8.95 seem like good deals.

• Also opening on Monday: Bar Rosso, a sleek new wine bar in the old Ivy spot in Aventura. The wine list — almost entirely Italian — is the draw, but the bar will also serve tapas-sized portions of Italian fare.

Remember the Mediterranean restaurant we mentioned that's slated for the W Hotel in South Beach? It's got a name now, and an executive chef. Kevin Sbraga, the former culinary director of Philadelphia-based Garces Restaurant Group, will lead the kitchen at Solea. (Chef Jose Garces, the owner of the restaurant group that bears his name, just won this year's James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.)

So what can we expect from Sbraga? Well, we're not sure. As culinary director at the Garces group, Sbraga has presided over kitchens with a decidedly Spanish/Latin bent. Amada and Tinto both serve Spanish tapas, Distrito does upscale Mexican cuisine, and Chifa serves Peruvian-Chinese fusion. Solea's theme is Mediterranean, which has been done to death, but perhaps Sbraga will be able to bring a refreshing take on it.

Union Trust lightens up [The Insider]

To Add To Virtual Recipe File: A reader asked for the recipe for Baked Spinach Marie at Christy's, and the Herald delivers. It's got spinach, Gruyère, parmesan, whole milk, garlic — in other words, it sounds delicious. [Miami Herald]

Another day, another list. Food & Wine is releasing Cocktails '09, a book with more than 150 cocktail and party-food recipes, some of them from well-known bars around the country. Speaking of those bars, the magazine put together a list of the top 100 bars in America; among them is The Florida Room at The Delano on Miami Beach. It's the only South Florida contribution, but as swanky bars with fancy cocktails go, that's certainly a good choice.

Books & Books is hosting Michael Pollan, who just won a Beard Award for In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto. Pollan will be in South Florida on Monday, May 11 at Temple Judea (5500 Granada Boulevard) in Coral Gables at 7:30 p.m. to talk about his book and probably expound on his mantra: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

The pizza options in south Miami-Dade are about to get better: Anthony's Coal-Fired Pizza is opening its second location in the county tomorrow at 10205 S Dixie Highway in Pinecrest. This will be the local chain's 15th restaurant, and there are more on the way; the company is planning statewide expansion and is opening a location in Las Vegas this summer. This all from a company that began in 2002 with a single restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.

The newest location will be open tomorrow from 11:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Sara reports that Zuma, a London-based Japanese restaurants with outposts in Hong Kong, Istanbul and Dubai, is heading our way. The restaurant is scheduled to open at the Epic Hotel in the fall. [All Purpose Dark]

Spicy! Frodnesor gives a great rundown of the Spring Miami Spice menus and lists which restaurants he'll likely visit this month. Among the recommendations: Neomi's Grill, Pacific Time, Pascal's on Ponce, and Talula. [Food for Thought]

It's hot in here!: Chad from the Brickell Life blog loved the chicken wings and baked beans at Bulldog BBQ, but he would've liked some a/c to go with them — he says it was "wipe the sweat from your brow in the middle of August, Miami hot." Great. And the guy in the kitchen is known for, among other things, sweating profusely on Top Chef. Someone fix that a/c, stat! [Brickell Life]

So Kobe Club is closing tomorrow, but just temporarily — Terry Zarikian, China Grill's director of product development, told the Miami New Times that the steakhouse is reopening in August. He had mentioned this to Florence Fabricant, who wrote the initial report of the restaurant's closing for The New York Times, but she had to leave that key little detail out because of space constraints. One would think she could've cut an article here and there to make room for "but reopens in August." [Short Order]

The Food Network Magazine's June/July issue, which hits newsstands on May 5, has a feature on the 50 best burgers across the country, one for each state. Florida's winner is the frita — that wonderfully satisfying fried Cuban burger topped with crispy shredded potatoes — from El Rey de las Fritas. Here's what the magazine says about it:

This spot’s name means “King of the Fried Burger,” a fair claim: The small Miami chain reportedly has family ties to Havana’s first restaurant specializing in the frita, Cuba’s take on a slider. The thin, beef-and-chorizo patties are fried, then topped with shoestring fries and a secret tomato-based sauce.

Like its New York cousin which closed last week, the Kobe Club in Miami Beach is closing on Friday, May 1. Such a loss for the local dining scene. Where else will we go to dine with the threat of death looming overhead in the form of samurai swords? [New York Times]

Mercadito, a popular upscale Mexican restaurant in New York, is coming to Midtown Miami sometime this winter. The company operates Mercadito, Mercadito Grove and Mercadito Cantina in Manhattan, and is planning to open another branch in Chicago this summer. Here's what we know about the Miami location: it will have a 157-seat dining room, a 110-person outdoor dining area, and a separate taqueria for takeout and delivery. Check out the menus on the MenuPages NY site to get an idea of what's heading our way.

The Forge shut its doors yesterday for a major multimillion dollar renovation. The restaurant will be closed until the fall; when it does reopen, it'll feature a new menu and new furniture and decor. Owner Shareef Malnik figures it's a good idea to use the down economy — and what's sure to be a really slow summer — to re-invest in the business. [Miami Herald]

Want free burritos? Head to the new Chipotle at 8000 NW 154th Street in Miami Lakes on April 29 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. — the burritos, burrito bowls and drinks will be free all day long.

At the grand opening, on Friday, May 1, there won't be free food, but you will find t-shirt giveaways and a contest to win free burritos for a year.

Photo: yummiec00kies/flickr

We just got our hands on the new menu at Eos, the recently opened Michael Psilakis/Donatella Arpaia venture at the Viceroy hotel. The two are known for their sophisticated Greek cuisine at New York's Anthos, so we were surprised to see a menu that's certainly Greek inspired but pan-Mediterranean in scope.

The restaurant offers just four entree-sized portions: grilled loup de mere (a Mediterranean sea bass), fried red snapper, roasted rack of lamb and grilled sirloin. Everything else appears to be a tapas portion. And if you've got a big party, they'll actually roast a whole animal for you, whether it's a spring lamb, kid goat, or suckling pig. (With a few days' advance notice, of course.)

The menu will be on the MenuPages site tomorrow. In the meantime, you can see it after the jump. And check out Sara's preview of Eos; she recommends the fonduta, the lobster risotto and the ceviches.

Eos @ Viceroy Miami [All Purpose Dark]

Continue reading "Eos Offers Greek-Inspired Small Plates" »

Frodnesor photographs La Cofradia's new menu through the window (we've done that more times than we care to admit...) and notes that it's a simpler, more pared down menu than the last Cofradia, which closed recently after filing for bankruptcy. But now it's ready to come back as a "ceviche bar" in early May. You can check out the new menu online. [Food For Thought]

Top Burger: The Chowfather sends out a burger alert; the cheeseburger at Red Light is easily in the city's top five burgers. "It was an organic beef burger with caramelized onions and sharp cheddar for $9. Great meat + great seasoning + great bun + great cheese + great tomato = awesome burger." [The Chowfather]

The Clevelander Hotel is re-opening its outside patio bar and inside sports bar tonight at 6 p.m. Miami Beach 411 is hosting a party there with an open bar and appetizers between 8 and 9 p.m.

MB411 Meetup: The Clevelander Bar Grand Opening Party! [Miami Beach 411]
Photo: aforero/flickr

Is it just us, or has Miami Spice become a year-round thing now? The next round of discounts — $23 for lunch, $36 for dinner — begins May 1 and runs through the end of the month. The list of participating restaurants should keep diners busy throughout the month. Particularly good values (i.e. places where you'd normally pay three or four times as much for your meal) include DeVito, The Restaurant At The Setai and Bourbon Steak.

Miami Spice [Official Site]

Missed the South Beach Wine & Food Festival? Check out the smaller-scale Miami Wine & Food Festival, which kicks off tonight with a party at the Village at Merrick Park. Tickets are still available online for $75 for the wine tasting at 7 p.m. featuring wines from over 60 international wineries and hors d'oeuvres from 30 local restaurants. All proceeds benefit Camillus House and United Way of Miami-Dade.

Friday's event — an interactive dinner with Michael Schwartz and Hedy Goldsmith, both of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink — is sold out, but you can still get tickets to Saturday's "Bubbles, Bids and Bites" dinner and live auction. The night begins with a champagne reception, followed by a live auction, and then dinner. It doesn't come cheap though — you'll have to shell out $500 per seat.

Miami Wine & Food Festival [Official Site]

We're suckers for happy hour oyster deals, and here's the best one we've heard of so far: Manny's Steakhouse has free oysters every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Seriously. [Short Order]

Photo: avlxyz/flickr

After months of waiting, it looks like Au Pied de Cochon is finally on the brink of opening. The French restaurant, with branches in Paris, Mexico City and Atlanta, lists menus on its site already, although there's no word yet on when exactly there's going to be a grand opening.

But in the meantime, lax2mia over on Chowhound has begun to compare the menus from the Atlanta restaurant and the new Miami spot, and he's noticed one little thing: the prices in the Miami location are much higher. For example, a plate of 12 escargots in Atlanta run $14, while in Miami it's $17. But that pales in comparison to some of the meat markups: a 14-ounce NY strip steak in Atlanta is $24, while in Miami the steak is $41 and it's two ounces smaller. Same goes for the bone-in ribeye — $28 for 20 ounces versus $46 for 18 ounces. We'll attribute the high prices to the difference in rent between Atlanta's Buckhead and South Beach, but still. Ouch.

Au Pied de Cochon - Miami [Chowhound]

Photo, of oysters at Au Pied de Cochon in Paris: ayustety/flickr

GR Restaurant Management, the folks behind the popular Coal Mine Pizza in Boca Raton, are venturing south to North Miami Beach with Rack's Italian Bistro & Market. While Coal Mine is more of a family-style pizzeria, the company is targeting an older and more upscale clientele with this new spot — it'll have a coal oven and offer pizzas, but there will be much more to the northern Italian menu. The marketplace will sell fresh breads, salamis, and the restaurant's own pasta sauces, among other things. The restaurant, at 3933 NE 163rd Street in North Miami Beach, is scheduled to open on Monday, May 7.

The final new restaurant in the Fontainebleau is open. Hakkasan, a branch of the London restaurant by the same name, held its grand opening party on Saturday and is now officially open for dinner each night. We don't have a preview of the menu yet (we're told it hasn't been finalized), but here's what was served at the opening night bash, according to Lee Klein of Short Order:

A few of the passed snacks snatched: shrimp on garlic toast, duck egg rolls, braised short ribs (amazing), assorted steamed dumplings of astonishing delicacy, and Peking duck carved and rolled into mini-pancakes with celery, scallion, hoisin, and beluga caviar.

Sara at All Purpose Dark also raves about the food, and says she spotted Alfred Portale. Let's hope he uses his time in South Florida to remedy the situation over at Gotham Steak.

Hakkasan Open For Business [Short Order]
Hakkasan Miami Grand Opening [All Purpose Dark]

Photo: Wolfiewolf/flickr

Larry, Fratelli La Bufala's restaurant manager, went on the offensive on Chowhound this past weekend, posting about the restaurant's authentic Neapolitan pizza on every pizza- and Miami-related thread on the Florida board. The posts were all deleted — clearly Larry didn't quite understand how Chowhound works — but they lived on in Google Reader. Aside from the fact that the restaurant serves Neapolitan pizza, we gleaned one interesting fact in a thread on where to buy pizza dough: Fratelli La Bufala sells its pizza dough for $3.

The new Chick-N-Grill branch in Miami Lakes has been given a green certification, the first in Miami to get one, from the Green Restaurant Association. Among the eco-friendly features are cups and utensils made of corn, energy efficient kitchen and bathrooms and eco-friendly cleaning products. The other branches aren't green certified, but restaurant executives plan to implement green measures in other locations soon.

The restaurant's grand opening is on Wednesday, which also happens to be Earth Day.

Chick-N-Grill in Miami Lakes gets green certification [Miami Herald]

Zushi Flirt had a soft opening earlier this week, but tonight it officially opens its doors with an invitation-only party celebrating not just the new restaurant but the new hotel too — the Regent hotel is now the Z Ocean Hotel, a Crowne Plaza. As of tomorrow, the restaurant is open for regular lunch and dinner business.

The name may seem familiar; it's a variation on Flirt Sushi, which opened a little over three years ago at Washington and 12th. That location didn't last long, but owner Marko Radisic (who owns the original Flirt Sushi in Allendale, New Jersey) is hoping that this second stab at South Beach will be more successful.

The menu, which is identical to that of the New Jersey location, features sushi rolls with names like Sexyshimi, Viagra, Foreplay, Passion and Menage a Trois. Oh, and who can forget the classic Mi-so Horny Soup?

We wrote about Driven to Dine earlier this week, but there's more to the Heart of a Chef festival, which benefits the Florida Heart Research Institute.

The marquee event is a celebrity chef cookoff, where two male chefs (Jeff McInnis, of Top Chef season five and DiLido Beach Club, and Sean Bernal of The Oceanaire Seafood Room) and two female chefs (Sandee Birdsong of Top Chef season three and Kira Volz of Creek 28) will pair up against each other in a cookoff judged by, among several other chefs, yet another Top Chef alumnus: Howie Kleinberg. The two victors in the single-sex preliminary round will then battle each other to determine the overall winner.

But that's not the only thing going on — other local chefs will be hosting cooking demos. You can learn about Italian salads and how to make fresh mozzarella from Ken Lyon of Fratelli Lyon and Seth High of da Campo Osteria. Or try stepping into the molecular kitchen with Kurtis Jantz and Chad Galiano of Neomi's Grill. There will also be wine seminars and plenty of local foods to sample.

Tickets for the event are $25 per adult, $10 for children 12 and under. Admission to Jungle Island will be discounted to $12 for anyone with a Heart of a Chef ticket. The event begins at noon on Sunday.

We've got two new restaurants to tell you about today. First up, Calamari Italian Seafood now open in the old Sammy C's spot in Coconut Grove, offering, as one might imagine, lots of seafood Italian-style. There are a few non-fish options, but clearly pesce is the focus here. Like Grouper Acqua Pazza, with clams, mussels and tomato; Snapper Oreganato, Risotto Frutti di Mare. The restaurant opened on Monday and is currently serving lunch and dinner daily.

And over in downtown Miami (at 17 E Flagler St, to be exact), a new Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant called Mezza Miami is slated to open May 1. The restaurant will offer delivery throughout downtown and Brickell and has some express lunch meals on the menu that seem to be a good value — gyro, kafta kabob, kibbeh, falafel, or grilled vegetables, each paired with Moroccan rice and a salad for $8.95.

This year's hot spots in South Florida are Pacific Time and
Sra Martinez, according to Conde Nast Traveler's Hot List 2009, which lists hot new restaurants, hotels and spas all over the world. Nothing we didn't already know, of course. Check out the list to see where else in the US (and the world) the magazine editors think you should be eating.

Conde Nast Traveler: Hot List Tables 2009 [Official Site]

For those of you who have an extra $625 — and seven other friends who do as well — here's a fun idea: Driven to Dine, an extravagant event benefiting the Florida Heart Research Institute on April 25. It's $5,000 per limo, eight people to a limo, and it starts with a cocktail reception at Don and Mary Anne Shula's Indian Creek house. There, you pick an envelope that will tell you to which of the 11 participating restaurants (listed below) the limousine will be taking you for a multi-course meal. It's all included in the cost, except for a way to get to the reception and home from the restaurant. You can get the limo to pick you up and drop you off for an extra fee. Interested? Go here for more details.

Check out the participating chefs and restaurants:
Acqua at the Four Seasons - Chef Patrick Boucher
Casa Casuarina - Chef Dale Ray
Escopazzo - Chef Giancarla Bodoni
Gaia Ristorante - Chef Gaetano Ascione
Gia- Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar at the Eden Roc - Chef Virgil Brandel
Meat Market - Chef Sean Brasel
Neomi's Grill at the Trump International - Chef Kurtis Jantz
The Oceanaire Seafood Room - Chef Sean Bernal
Red the Steakhouse - Chef Peter Vauthy
The Capital Grille - Chef Odel Arencibia
The Restaurant At The Setai - Chef Jonathan Wright

To those of us who don't have that kind of money, Escopazzo has a back room menu available from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. with a selection of wine by the glass, a number of antipasti for $9, and some pastas for $12.

Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point is offering a new $35 tasting menu featuring Dover sole with noisette butter, lemon, parsley potatoes and tartar sauce. Or you can opt for grilled lamb chops with goat cheese, red onion, tomato, ragout, mint vinegar olive oil and grilled lemon, or pan-sauteed lady fingers of salmon with pink grapefruit salsa. The rest of the menu includes a gazpacho or roasted baby beets, spring green asparagus and fingerling baby potato salad, and Swiss chocolate covered vanilla cheesecake lollipops.

We've been trying to get some more information on Norman's 180, Norman Van Aken's return to Coral Gables. As we reported before, the restaurant will be opening in the Hoja Nueva spot in the Westin Colonnade. Van Aken is apparently keeping a tight lid on any new developments. But we did manage to glean one piece of information: the restaurateur is hoping for an opening sometime this fall.

Grub Street points us to Donatella Arpaia's new blog on iVillage, where she mentions that her newest "baby" at the Viceroy Hotel will be open in just a few days. A call to the Signature Restaurant at the Viceroy confirmed that the new menu will be rolled out by the end of next week. There are no plans to change the name of the restaurant.

Psilakis Miami [Grub Street]

We just got word that there's a gastropub coming to Sunny Isles Beach. Calafate Grill is opening in the old PrimArepa spot at 17100 Collins Avenue. The location has been completely redone, and it should just be about three weeks before the doors open. The menu will feature fish-oriented Continental cuisine. That's all we've got for now, but we'll have more information soon.

Miami-Dade County tax collectors recently released the hotel tax figures for February, and they are not good: tax revenues for the month were down 24 percent, after a 17 percent fall in January. That bodes poorly not just for hotels, but also for restaurants, the Marlins (the new ballpark will be paid for almost exclusively by hotel taxes), and for the South Florida economy in general.

Miami-Dade hotel taxes plunge 24 percent in February [Miami Herald]

A new wine bar is coming to Aventura. Bar Rosso should be opening in the coming weeks with a menu of small plate Italian fare and a list of 40 to 60 different wines by the glass. The wine list will be about 85 percent Italian, although eventually they'd like to include a wider range of wines from other countries. Other features include a mozzarella bar, an exhibition kitchen, and a wood-burning grill. According to general manager Ian Falconi, the fare won't be influenced by any one particular region of Italy.

Falconi said the restaurant is in the last stage of permits and inspections, which means it can get the OK from the county either tomorrow or a few weeks from now. His educated guess is that the restaurant will open its doors in the first week of May.

The menu isn't ready yet, although Falconi offered a few sample items: arancini, burrata salad, wood-grilled ribeye steak, and pastas like carbonara and amatriciana, which will be available in full and half portions.

Beginning with tax day, Chef Allen's is bringing back Wine Down Wednesdays, when every bottle on the regular wine list will be half off. And on the last Wednesday of each month, the restaurant will feature a complimentary wine tasting with finger foods from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The newest location of Segafredo Espresso, on Española Way in Miami Beach, is hosting a grand opening party tonight at 8 p.m. The open bar lasts for two hours, and there will be plenty of hors d'oeuvres and entertainment. Get there early and you might be able to score a Segafredo goody bag. To RSVP, send an e-mail to events@verestaurants.com.

Speaking of Segafredo, the Bal Harbour location is hiring. Specifically, the cafe is looking for young women who speak Russian to serve beverages. Russian? We'd heard that Russians were buying condos in droves, but this is the first we've seen of employers seeking out people who spoke the language.

Frodnesor picks up on a great Twitter mini-conversation between Grant Achatz and Rocco DiSpirito. The former, of Alinea in Chicago of course, was treating his chef de cuisine and his girlfriend to a dinner in Miami and wanted restaurant recommendations. Rocco DiSpirito immediately jumped in with a vote for Casa Tua and suggested the ravioli de plin. A few days later, Achatz relays the chef de cuisine's verdict: Casa Tua's outside patio is great, but the food at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink was better. DiSpirito's response:

roccodispirito: @Gachatz wow cant wait to try m.genuine then. is that a new place in miami?

Check out the whole conversation at Achatz's and DiSpirito's respective Twitters.

I'm not Twittering yet, but... [Food For Thought]

Dim sum is coming to the Gables: Mr. Chu's, which until a few months ago was serving up dumplings, noodles and fried rice on South Beach, is opening in a new spot in Coral Gables: 2728 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Mr. Chu is hiring servers and bartenders, so it shouldn't be too much longer before the restaurant opens.

Mr. Chow, the legendary swanky Chinese restaurant with locations in New York, Beverly Hills and London, is coming to the soon-to-be-opened W Hotel on South Beach. The hotel will also feature a Mediterranean-themed restaurant — someone has been chosen to run it, but the hotel couldn't release those details yet — that'll open on June 2, with the hotel. We'll all have to wait a bit long for Mr. Chow; we're told they're hoping for a July opening, although nothing is definite yet. And we all know those restaurants always open right on schedule.

For a good idea of what we're getting, check out this profile of Michael Chow in New York Magazine:

To eat at a Mr. Chow restaurant is to participate in a roving party, one that has migrated through four decades, three continents, and an awful lot of soup dumplings. It is to acknowledge that the rich and famous will get better tables than the rest of us, and everyone will have a better time for it. In his L.A. restaurant, Mae West got a standing ovation just for finishing her dinner. And it was at Mr. Chow on 57th Street that John Lennon took his last meal before walking home across the park. It was the center of London’s swinging sixties, L.A.’s silky seventies, and the glamorous debauch of the Manhattan art world, circa 1984. Mr. Chow on 57th Street is still a party—now starring Lenny Kravitz or Jay-Z—seven nights a week.

The Sayings of Chairman Chow [NY Magazine]

Photo: Of the inside of Mr. Chow at the W Hotel South Beach

The owners of Quattro Gastronomia Italiana are planning to open a Neapolitan-style pizzeria on Lincoln Road, just across the street from the restaurant. According to a spokesperson for the pizzeria, called Sosta Enoteca, the owners are importing an authentic wood-burning oven from Italy and expect to open May 1.

Good Morning America "visited" Red Light — or so they say:

While in Key Biscane [sic], Fla., Sam Champion visited the Red Light restaurant, which will be a year old in April and the brainchild of South Florida chef Kris Wessel. Wessel is originally from New Orleans, but his grandmother landed in Miami Beach in 1925 and built the restaurant inside of a notorious prostitute- and drug-filled motel on Biscayne Boulevard in the heart of Miami.

The restaurant is also very much NOT on Key Biscayne, although it's pretty clear the segment was shot there, with a beautiful view of the bay in the background. We're assuming GMA was in the area for the Sony Ericsson Open, held on Key Biscayne. (We didn't catch the show, and the video is apparently nowhere to be found on the GMA site.) So it was likely easier, and more picturesque than that Upper East Side stretch of Biscayne Boulevard, to do the segment nearby, although it would seem weird talking about the motel's checkered past and the Little River as an urban haven for manatees while filming Wessel in a neighborhood with a six-figure median family income. (Wessel, by the way, demonstrated how to make Red Light Snapper, with a red lentil salad and tomatoes, conch ceviche with citrus and hot sauce, and a key lime and mulberry parfait on the show.)

In the end, a local guy who's putting out great food is getting national coverage, which is always a good thing.

Sam Visits Florida's Red Light Restaurant [ABC News]

Photo: ABC News

Edgar Leal, head chef and owner of Cacao Restaurant in Coral Gables, is teaching a cooking class at La Cuisine Gourmet on Saturday. Cost is $80 per person, and you'll have to make a reservation.

On the menu: pumpkin foam, ceviche, risotto and chocolate souffle. Assuming that pumpkin foam is the same as the one that's on the menu, then that recipe alone is worth the $80 class fee. It is that good.

Foodies are in luck this weekend, what with the plethora of food festivals going on around here. Here are the details on food events for Saturday and Sunday:

Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show
The South Florida Fairground's Americraft Expo Center hosts the first-ever Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in West Palm Beach, with cooking demonstrations, workshops, food samples and celebrity appearances. Bobby Flay, Paula Deen and the Neelys will be around to sign cookbooks, entertain the crowds, etc. The event runs Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., respectively. Tickets are $20/$10 adults/children in advance and $25/$12 on site, but if you want to see the big celebrities, you'll have to pay $80 ($30 for kids) for that ticket.

Taste of MiMo
This Miami Modern food festival is back this Saturday. From noon to 5 p.m., walk up and down Biscayne Boulevard between 67th and 78th Streets for food samples from 11 different restaurants, like Che Sopranos Pizza & Pasta, Moshi Moshi, Moonchine Asian Bistro and Red Light, among others. The event is free, but the food samples will cost between $2 and $5 each.

Deering Seafood Festival
Head over to the Deering Estate on Sunday for lots of local seafood: lobster, blue crabs, crawfish, conch, shrimp and dolphin. Chefs from Ortanique on the Mile, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Bizcaya Grill and 3030 Ocean will be on hand for cooking demonstrations and to offer samples of seafood dishes. And when you're done eating, there's a rock climbing wall and a pontoon boat tour. (Come to think of it, those activities are probably best done before lunch.) Entrance to the festival is $15 for adults and $5 for kids ages 4-14, although keep in mind that it doesn't include food, drink, pontoon boat or rock climbing wall. All that will cost you extra.

Backstage secrets of the cooking show celebs [Palm Beach Post]
Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show [Official Site]
A Taste of Mimo [Official Site]
Deering Seafood Festival [Official Site]

The much-anticipated BLT Steak, Miami's first Laurent Tourondel restaurant, is officially open at The Betsy Hotel on South Beach. The restaurant held a grand opening party yesterday evening where the entire menu was served buffet-style.

This is the ninth BLT Steak location; the first one opened in New York in 2004. Rather than offer the same menu at each restaurant, Tourondel seems to tailor it to the area. For example, there's a variation on the Cuban sandwich (pressed pork belly and speck with garlic fries) on the Miami Beach menu, while the New York menu doesn't offer sandwiches at all. The same goes for chimichurri, which is one of the sauces available down here. The Miami menu offers fewer meat options — no Kobe steak, for one thing — and more local seafood, like stone crabs and red snapper. And he's hit the nail on the head with the dessert menu: lots of citrus, tropical fruits, sorbets and mousse, which are sweet, light, and refreshing. Exactly what's needed while on the beach.

Sara at All Purpose Dark has photos from the grand opening party — the meat looks great, but it's the cheese table photo, even with the poor lighting and the grainy quality, that is making us swoon.

BLT Steak Grand Opening @ The Betsy Hotel [All Purpose Dark]

So, the Marlins will finally have a stadium. It comes at a cost to the taxpayer, of course, but at this point, we're just happy there's finally an agreement. Today's Miami Herald has a very pie-in-the-sky take on what 2012, the first season in the new park, will look like for the Marlins: a sellout every game (ha!), a payroll right about in the middle range when compared to other teams, and an assurance from management that at least 1,000 tickets will be $15. Which is interesting, because they couldn't sell tickets even when the Fish Tank was still $3 for a seat; now the cheapest seats will be five times as much?

But we hope we're wrong. When it comes to food, team president David Samson said there will be a large plaza inside the ballpark with "Taste of Miami" food courts offering croquetas, sushi and stone crabs. A little upmarket for a ballpark, but OK. And city manager Pete Hernandez suggested that a restaurant like ESPN Zone might be a possibility for the surrounding area, which is currently dominated, at least in terms of dining options, by small Cuban cafeterias and Nicaraguan fritangas.

Maybe it'll work. That wasn't the case with the other big ballpark in Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays' site in St. Petersburg, where restaurant turnover has been incredibly high.

What would you like to see inside and outside the ballpark in terms of food?

Welcome to Marlins Opening Day 2012 [Miami Herald]

Drinks and views of the bay don't come cheap on Miami Beach, unless you've managed to find the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3559 which offers both cheap beer and a spectacular view. It's the definition of a dive, which is why it made Details' Best Dive Bars in America list. There's a juke box, pool table, cheap drinks, and an entertaining cast of characters — what more could one want?

The bar is located at 650 West Avenue, underneath The Floridian condo building. But getting there is a bit more complicated than just finding the address. According to Yelper Maria A.:

You drive up to a condo, park in a private little lot, find a non descript door go up a few stairs, ring a doorbell, get buzzed in, take an elevator one floor up, and when the doors open c'est magic and voila you are at the VFW.

The Best Dive Bars in America [Details]

The new location of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill opens early next month in Midtown Miami at 3201 N Miami Ave. According to chief operating officer Tom Ingersoll, everything is ready to go, and they're just waiting for the final inspections.

The grand opening is set for April 16, where there will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and Dos XX, in addition to a mariachi band. If the free food doesn't entice you enough, perhaps this will: the company is presenting a $2,000 check to the Humane Society of Greater Miami's Adopt-A-Pet program.

Adopt-A-Taco [Short Order]

Couldn't cough up the money for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival? Check out the smaller, much more affordable Coral Gables version organized by Crown Wine & Spirits. The one-day affair on March 26 takes place on Giralda between Ponce de Leon and Galiano; the street is closed off and crowded with tables offering food, wine and other spirits.

A ticket to this street festival is $50; for $100 more, you can get VIP tickets, which allow early access to this street fair, a gift bag, and a VIP lounge experience, where extra-special wines will be poured and served with hors d'oeuvres. Most of the area restaurants are participating — check out the full list here.

Coral Gables Wine & Food Festival [Official Site]

El Gran Inka, which has locations in Key Biscayne and North Miami Beach, is opening up at 947 Brickell Ave in Miami. The 2,800-square-foot space, which will feature a menu similar to the other branches, is scheduled to open in May.

El Gran Inka [MenuPages]
El Gran Inka
El Gran Inka [Official Site]

Add Yogen Früz to the fro-yo craze. The company, which has 1,100 locations in 20 different countries, is opening its first South Florida spot at 100 S Biscayne Blvd in Miami, the beginning of what looks to be an aggressive campaign in the area: 21 stores in the next eight years.

Yogen Früz opens on Tuesday, March 17. To celebrate, the store is offering two-for-one frozen yogurts all day; get a medium or large yogurt, and get your friend's for free.

Yogen Früz [Official Site]

The New York Post reports that Michael Psilakis and partner Donatella Arpaia, who own Anthos in New York City, will be managing the The Restaurant at Viceroy Miami beginning sometime next month. There's no name yet, but the Post claims the focus will be on seafood.

A spokesperson for the Viceroy refused to confirm the information, saying that the deal is not yet finalized and that there's no definite date for the restaurant's revamping. (It's currently serving an "interim menu.") Psilakis is a big name, and he'll likely do well, although we wonder at the timing — add that month mentioned above plus another one or two months for standard opening delays, and this restaurant should be launching its new concept right as the summer low season begins.

George Clooney Is Drinking Away the Recession Like the Rest of Us [Daily Intel]
Miami Bound [New York Post]
Anthos [MenuPages]
Anthos [Official Site]
The Restaurant at Viceroy Miami [MenuPages]
Viceroy [Official Site]

Check out the New Times' restaurant-themed insert this week, called Taste 2009 if you haven't already. It's mostly ads with a few recipes interspersed between them, but it's the interviews with prominent local chefs that are great. The paper talks to Cindy Hutson of Ortanique on the Mile about being self-taught, Allen Susser of Chef Allen's about reinventing his restaurant, Jonathan Eismann of Pacific Time on how the "pizza-munchers and ice-cream lickers" killed Lincoln Road, Clay Conley of Azul on how Miami compares to other cities where he's worked, Michael Schwartz of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink on being local and sustainable (he employs a forager!), and Kris Wessel of Red Light about the state of independent chef-owned and -operated restaurants. It's a really great read that gives a good sense of what is happening in the Miami dining scene now, and it makes us feel really good about its future.

Taste 2009 [Miami New Times]

Cacao Restaurant is offering a four-course wine dinner this Monday featuring the wines of Coturri Winery, a California vineyard that uses organic grapes for its wine. Here's the menu:

• Yellow potato and blue potato chicken causa / 2007 Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain
• Seared Pacific tuna with a mango guacamole and arugula / 2007 Carignane Testa Vineyards Mendocino County
• “Like Water for Chocolate” spicy stuffed quail / 2007 Primitivo Testa Vineyards Mendocino County and a 2007 Zinfandel Testa Vineyards Mendocino County
• “Dark Chocolate Tower” with blueberries and coffee creme anglaise / 2005 Syrah Crane Vineyards Sonoma Valley

At $59, excluding tax and tip, it's not a bad deal, considering the regular tasting menu (seven courses, but still) with a wine pairing at Cacao will set you back $124. The wine dinner begins at 8 p.m. Call the restaurant at 305-445-1001 for a reservation.

Cacao Restaurant [MenuPages]
Cacao Restaurant [Official Site]
Coturri Winery [Official Site]

I Corsini is now offering an early pre-fixe dinner deal every night of the week. Between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., you can get three savory courses and a glass of house wine for $33. Options for first course include soups like ribollita and gran farro or pappa al pomodoro. Second course is a caprese salad, panzanella or crepes filled with asparagus and gorgonzola. And for the main course, there's pasta — tortelloni stuffed with pumpkin and sauteed in butter, sage and pistachios or spaghetti with seafood, garlic and parsley — or a small steak with roasted potatoes and vegetables.

I Corsini [MenuPages]
I Corsini [Official Site]

Sara at All Purpose Dark reports that The Food Gang has shut its doors after a two-year stint. Seems like they made a few bad decisions, starting with letting Howie Kleinberg go.

The Food Gang has closed [All Purpose Dark]
The Food Gang [MenuPages]

We just found Charles Passy's take on last week's Burger Bash, and we could not agree more:

Lesson No. 2: A famous chef can make a really bad burger. At the Rachael Ray-hosted Burger Bash, one of the festival's most popular events, chefs from all over the country vie for the honor of top dog (er, burger).

Among the big names on hand: Bobby Flay, Katie Lee Joel (wife of Billy), Masaharu Morimoto. But it often seemed as if the bigger the name, the bigger disappointment of a burger they served. Take Bobby Flay's over-the-top rendition with a bleu cheese sauce and crumbled potato chips. There was so much going on flavor- and texture-wise that I had to ask, "Where's the beef?"

Lesson No. 3: An unknown chef can make a really great burger. Not that I'd call Miami's Michael Schwartz (of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink) a complete unknown, but he's hardly a household name outside South Florida. And yet, he had the best burger - in my book, at least - among the 20-plus competitors at the Burger Bash. The secret? He kept to the classic bacon cheeseburger formula (why mess with success?), but just upped the quality of the individual ingredients, from heirloom tomatoes to a thickly cut bacon that he prepares himself. Bravo!

Five lessons (culinary and celebrity) from South Beach festival [Palm Beach Post]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [MenuPages]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [Official Site]

Coral Gables is losing a tea room. Théine Tea Salon's owners announced this past weekend that they will be closing the shop at the end of the month to start a truffle farm in West Virginia. Seriously. We're a little sad that the tea shop is closing, but, a truffle farm? That is so awesome. Good luck to them.

Théine Tea Salon [MenuPages]
Théine Tea Salon [Official Site]

We just got word that Norman Van Aken is returning to Coral Gables — he's taking over the old Hoja Nueva spot in the Colonnade Hotel. The restaurant's name, Norman's 180, is a nod to the location's address: 180 Aragon Avenue. We hear he'll be offering a small-plates menu.

Norman Van Aken [Official Site]

We're taking a page from sister site Grub Street's Two For Eight feature to gauge exactly how busy local hot-spot restaurants will be this weekend with the South Beach Wine & Food Festival. Basically, we called and asked about availability for two people this Saturday night at 8 p.m. or as close as possible to it. Here's what we found out:

• Michael's Genuine Food & Drink: Only 5:30 and 9:45 available
• Meat Market: 7:00, 7:45, 9, 9:15, 9:45
• Philippe: 7:00, 7:30, 9:00, 9:30
• Tuscan Steak: 8:30
• Prime 112: 10:30
• Table 8: 6:30 or 9:30
• DeVito South Beach: no answer
• Casa Tua: Fully booked
• Kobe Club: 7:15 or 7:30
• Scarpetta: 11:00
• Gotham Steak: 7:30 or 10
• The Forge: 8 is available!

A Black Book list of off-the-beaten-path restaurants in Miami caught our eye earlier today because we think it's got lots of great suggestions for finding where the locals eat: Dolores, but you can call me Lolita, Ariston Restaurant, and Red Light, among others.

But we were surprised to see Brosia, Sra Martinez, and Fratelli Lyon. How off-the-beaten-path is the Design District these days? Locals flock there, and any tourist who's even remotely interested in food knows about the area, and those restaurants in particular.

So here's our question: at what point should the Design District be removed from the "off-the-beaten-path" lists, at least when it comes to restaurants? Or should anything outside of the 33139 zip code be perpetually lumped into that category? What do you think?

Miami: Top 10 Restaurants Off the Beaten Path [Black Book]

Photo, of the fare at Sra Martinez: kthread/flickr

If you didn't heed our advice and get your two-for-one tickets to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival already, you may be out of luck. The deal expired this past Sunday night, according to this Herald article. Sure enough, a quick check of a few events revealed that prices are back up to normal, although tickets to a number of events are still available.

If you're willing to wait until the last minute, you might be able to get good deals through other means:

The discounts are nice, but Erinn Corrigan is hoping to do even better. Last year, she scored last-minute, half-price tickets for the Grand Tasting Village and Paula Deen's Casino Night, one outside the venue and the other online.

''I'm a clearance girl,'' said Corrigan, 28, who lives on South Beach. ``I want them half off. I got them last year. I'm positive I can do it again.''

Paging Alfred Portale! Get to Miami Beach, and fast. Victoria Pesce Elliott completely pans Gotham Steak in today's Miami Herald. She has few good things to say about the food, but the service is what's really nightmarish:

Large tables of drunken, nametagged guys monopolized the attention of the clueless waiters on one visit. And on both, most of the staff's English was sub-par. Still, it was an arrogant young sommelier who made our last meal there surreal. We flagged him down for help negotiating the 500-bottle list with an eye to finding a good value under 50 bucks. Instead he sneered, stepped back as if we suddenly stank and spat, ''You're on a buh-jet?'' In the end, he steered us to a Sicilian Nero'dAvola $10 above our limit.

Gotham's service, food fail to meet expectations [Miami Herald]
Gotham Steak [MenuPages]
Gotham Steak [Official Site]

We wondered how the tanking economy — coupled with steep ticket prices — would affect this year's South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Well, it appears the purchase page has provided the answer; just one week out, there are still plenty of tickets available for wine seminars and even a handful of big-ticket items. The best part: most of the wine seminars are half off.

Here's what's available in terms of big-ticket items. These aren't half-off, but the fact that there are tickets available a week out is pretty amazing:

• ¡Viva España! The Wines and Food of Spain
This is a surprising one, given the star quality of the chefs involved — José Andrés is heading a crew of some of Spain's best chefs — and the fact that the king and queen of Spain will be attending. Perhaps it's the $1,000 per head price tag that's putting people off.

• Perrier-Jouët BubbleQ hosted by Tom Colicchio & Friends and Wine Spectator’s “Best of the Best"
These are the kinds of really big-ticket items that should be sold out but aren't. There are no VIP spots left for the BubbleQ, but you can still get general admission tickets. Check out the list of chefs participating in the "Best of the Best" event — it's pretty impressive.

• Oscar Night® America Sobe Style hosted by Bobby Flay and Stephanie March
Half off! Seriously! At $200 per couple, this is actually looking reasonable.As Paula pointed out in the comments, this one is not half off; the price is still $200 per person for the event. And proceeds benefit the Miami Beach Film Society and Cinematheque.

• Barilla Interactive Cooking Lunch hosted by Ilan Hall & Hung Huynh and Cocktail Time with Sandra Lee!
We are shocked to see that events hosted by two of the most unpopular Top Chef contestants and the woman who makes the worst food on television are not sold out. What are you waiting for? Get your tickets already!

South Beach Wine and Food Festival [Official Site]

Yep, they've got all-you-can-eat pizza at Che Sopranos Pizza & Pasta for $10 every Monday night. The bad news: all but one of the personal-sized pizzas are regularly $8-10, so it's only worth it if you've got a really large appetite. The good news: the all-you-can-eat deal applies to every pizza on the menu, so it might be a good time to load up that pizza with toppings like prosciutto and hearts of palm.

Thinking of heading there tonight? All bottles of wine are half off every Wednesday. Now that might yield some significant savings.

Che Sopranos Pizza & Pasta [MenuPages]
Che Sopranos Pizza & Pasta [Official Site]

Need ideas for Valentine's Day? We're here to help. Check out these prix fixe deals offered by local Miami restaurants on that special night. Reservations are required for all of them, so make sure you call beforehand. On Monday we'll list dining specials for Broward and Palm Beach.

• Chef Allen's is offering a five-course $75 dinner that features stone crab; tomato bisque or lobster mac and cheese; caesar or hearts of palm salad; oxtail, grouper or roasted duck breast; and a dark chocolate trio for dessert.

• Nikki Beach Club's four-course prix fixe menu is filled with the usual aphrodisiac suspects: oysters, asparagus, figs, chili peppers and chocolate. Prices are $80 per person or $65 for Nikki Beach Club VIP cardholders.

• Vita Restaurant & Lounge is hosting a fashion show and offering a five-course dinner for $150, including a bottle of champagne. And 10 percent of all proceeds from the restaurant that night go to Care Resource, a local HIV/AIDS charity.

Continue reading "Valentine's Day Guide: Miami" »

Remember way back in November 2007 we wrote that former Top Chef contestant Howie Kleinberg's Bulldog BBQ would be open in two or three months? Three months turned into 15 months; the restaurant finally opens its doors, after a year of renovations and delays, on Monday at 11 a.m. Kleinberg expects the place will be swarmed:

We’ve had such an overwhelming — and exciting — response. Over the last couple of weeks, my staff and I have been in here daily prepping for the opening. We must have a dozen people stop in each day to ask if we’re open yet. I’ve had to reorder To Go menus twice!

Ask The Chef: Howie Kleinberg [MP: South Florida]
Howie Embraces Bulldog Status, Plans BBQ Restaurant [MP: South Florida]
Bulldog BBQ [MenuPages]
Bulldog BBQ [Official Site]

Maybe I should make this a regular feature, don't you think? Here's some information on steakhouse that just showed up on my radar and an update on another one:

• Stephen Starr, owner of several restaurants in Philadelphia, New York and Atlantic City including Buddakan and Morimoto, is opening his first South Florida venture in Fort Lauderdale called Steak 954, a "modern boutique steakhouse." A spokesperson for the restaurant said that it's a new concept and won't be modeled after any of the other restaurants in the Starr empire. There's no confirmed opening date, but it should be open by early spring. Oh, and they're currently hiring for every position.

• BLT Steak, which I've written about before, is finally opening in the Betsy Hotel on March 5.

Stop by Cupcakes Nouveau's grand opening party on Miracle Mile tonight for a free cupcake. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. I imagine they'll have their signature cake-filling-frosting combinations available, like Chocolate Chic (chocolate cupcake with a chocolate filling and a vanilla buttercream frosting) and Caramel Bonbon (vanilla cupcake filled with dulce de leche and topped with vanilla Swiss meringue buttercream frosting).

Cupcakes Nouveau [MenuPages]
Cupcakes Nouveau [Official Site]

Photo: cupcakesnouveau/flickr

The North Miami Royal Castle that was destroyed in an August 2005 fire is back and open for business, serving up sliders the same way it has been for decades:

The burgers are served just as they were a half-century ago: a pound of beef divided into 12 patties, topped with onions and grilled then sandwiched between soft white buns.

''Just one pickle chip,'' said owner Wayne Arnold, who credits the grilled onions with keeping the patties moist and giving the burgers their distinctive flavor.

''It's simple, but good,'' said Arnold, who acknowledges he wears his two-burger-a-day habit on his waistline.

''I need to make sure they're good,'' he said.

Landmark North Miami Royal Castle Reopens [Miami Herald]

Photo: eclectica miami/flickr

I have eaten on Ocean Drive exactly three times in the past dozen years. The first time was at a restaurant I cannot remember with some friends in high school. We didn't eat much. Second time: lunch and drinks with a friend at Wet Willie's while home from college. Third time: dinner last year at the ill-fated Smoking Rabbit. So I really don't know what goes on at those restaurants that cater almost exclusively to tourists. Here's one piece of advice from a firsthand account of dinner at Rendezvous on the Beach:

1. Read the signs, ignore the waitress.

This is common sense, right? But when you’re being led to a table and a waiter is using words like “half off everything” and you confirm “half off everything?” you assume that means “half off everything”. In reality, “half off everything” usually means “sit down, eat, we’ll worry about the bill later”.

The actual sale, along with the terms and conditions, are printed on large signs on the sidewalk. Usually what you’ll find is that only drinks and select menu items are on sale. Every restaurant is offering something different, so be sure to read the sign at the cafe you finally sit down at.

Yes. I know. This should be common sense.

South Beach Restaurants: Avoid Getting Ripped Off [Uptake Vacations Blog]
Wet Willie's [Official Site]
Rendezvous on the Beach [MenuPages]

Photo: festivalos/flickr

Employees who showed up to work at Rancho Luna early this morning got a pretty awful surprise: smoke from an electrical fire. Here's what the Herald article about the fire had to say:

When firefighters arrived at the restaurant, 45 NW 22nd Ave., they discovered a small fire inside the attic that hangs over the restaurant's old-style Cuban ventana, takeout window.

After putting out the fire, they used a heavy, hand-held K-12 saw to cut a three-foot-by-three-foot hole in the roof.

''It was a very good way to stop it from spreading to the attic,'' Carroll said.

Cutting out a section of the roof prevented the fire from destroying several antique paintings and wood carvings from Cuba, Carroll said.

''A lot of stuff in there is definitely priceless and irreplaceable,'' he added.

The restaurant will probably remain closed for the next few days because of the heavy smoke that spread through the restaurant. Rancho Luna's owners will need to clear out all of their food to gain approval from a health department inspector who will visit the restaurant within the next few days.

Electrical fire closes Miami's Rancho Luna Restaurant [Miami Herald]
Rancho Luna [MenuPages]

Downtown Miami will soon be home to a new pizzeria, although not quite as soon as we all thought. This Herald brief said that Ecco Pizzateca & Lounge would be opening today, but a phone call to the restaurant revealed that a) they don't have a set menu yet, and b) they still don't know when they're going to open. It's sure not going to be anytime this weekend.

A quality pizza place is always welcome, and this one features award-winning pizza maker Massimo Fabio Bruni in the kitchen. And there'll be free Wi-Fi too!

Upscale pizza in downtown Miami [Miami Herald]
Ecco Pizzateca & Lounge [Official Site]

Things I learned from today's tribute to Versailles in the Herald (picked up from the U/Miami News Service):

• The restaurant is "a focal point of Cuban-American dissent, protest or celebration."
• Multiple presidents have eaten there.
• Cuban comfort food is served there.

Groundbreaking stuff, isn't it?

Little Havana's Versailles is more than a restaurant [Miami Herald]
Versailles [MenuPages]

Photo: JimNice/flickr

• A cousin recently had his wedding reception at Heidi's Gasthaus, and it was pretty awesome. The food was good, and the beer was great.

• In Fort Lauderdale, Old Heidelberg's menu is very extensive and in addition to the usual items (bratwurst, knockwurst, schnitzel), it also has a few interesting Bavarian dishes like roast goose and roast suckling pig with dumplings.

• Pair your bratwurst with a cup of goulash and one of the fresh-baked strudels at Old Vienna Bierhaus in Coral Springs, which according to a MP reviewer, has a great selection of beer.

• You've got one option on Miami Beach: Hofbrau Beerhall, which happens to have a pretty great happy hour deal on Wednesdays. Buy one half-liter beer and get another one free. I'll drink to that!

Winter Spice starts today and runs for the next month, so start making reservations! It seems that this time around, few restaurants have put their Spice menus on the website, so I'm having a hard time making up a comprehensive guide like last time. But I'll do my best. Keep in mind that the [lunch] and [dinner] links below go to a .pdf file.

• Chef Allen is offering a $25 wine pairing to go with your $36 dinner, which includes Maine lobster (not bad!), seared diver scallops, or grilled hanger steak. [dinner]

• Ago's lunch menu is pretty lackluster, but the dinner menu sounds pleasant enough: gnocchi a la Sorrentina or half free-range chicken with rosemary potatoes. [dinner]

• The Forge is offering a seafood-heavy menu, with escargot, crab cakes and Scottish salmon. Most intriguing dish: a filet topped with crab meat, asparagus and a black truffle hollandaise. [dinner]

• China Grill Sobe is doing the family-style thing again, which works great for large parties. Take a big group and try everything on the menu! [lunch] [dinner]

• Blue Door's Spice lunch menu? Meh. Dinner, however, sounds more interesting. That red snapper — with fennel and tomato confit, kalamata olives, and lemon preserve vinaigrette — certainly sounds tasty. [dinner]

• Kobe Club is usually a good bet with these prix-fixe deals; even if you add the pricey supplements, it's still a pretty good value when you consider the restaurant's regular prices. [dinner]

• This is all obviously very subjective, and your tastes may differ from mine, but everything on La Marea's lunch and dinner menus sound appetizing. [lunch] [dinner]

• The same can be said of Table 8's Winter Spice dinner menu. Yum. [dinner]

• Oh! Four courses alert! You get a salad, pasta, entree and dessert at Tuscan Steak. There's also an appealing option to upgrade to a grilled Florentine t-bone steak for an extra $8. [dinner]

• There's nothing particularly groundbreaking about the menus at Two Sisters, but it could make for a pretty great lunch. [lunch]

• I'd put Acqua on my list of "must-visit" for this month. The menu is appropriately wintery without being heavy, and it looks like a very good value. Interestingly, two of the starters are marked as vegetarian, but no vegetarian entrees are offered, although I'm assuming they'd accommodate a diner and make a meat-free one. [dinner]

• Andu Restaurant & Lounge's lunch menu doesn't offer many options and seems pretty lackluster, but the dinner menu looks like a good value. [dinner]

• You get lots of choices for both lunch and dinner at Prime Blue Grille, and each meal comes with a glass of wine! [lunch] [dinner]

If you still haven't gotten tickets to this year's South Beach Wine & Food Festival, you've got one more chance; this Monday a second block of tickets will go on sale to the general public. You can even get tickets to some of the sold-out events. But there aren't too many of those — there are still quite a few tickets available for most events.

South Beach Wine & Food Festival [Official Site]

It's sad to think how few strawberry fields are left these days. I remember annual (sometimes more often, depending on how quickly we ate the berries) trips south to spend a day picking strawberries every winter. We'd leave suburban Miami and be surrounded by fields and nurseries. Now, you pick strawberries at Knaus in the shadow of an enormous house that's been built next door; suburbia just never seems to end. According to this Herald article, fewer than 50 acres of strawberries remain in Miami-Dade County. As for Broward, the last U-Pick stand closed last year.

The berries are ready, so check out the article for places you can still pick your own perfectly ripe red strawberries.

Handful of strawberry growers keeps a South Florida tradition alive [Miami Herald]

Photo: jayzwelling/flickr

A Miami restaurateur is causing a bit of a stink in the New York restaurant scene. Let's start last year, when chef Marc Forgione decided to open a restaurant called Forge. It's his nickname, after all. Those of you in South Florida are likely familiar with The Forge; you might not know that the latter restaurant's owner, Shareef Malnick, had the name trademarked in 1996. So last September, Malnick sued Forgione for trademark infringement. And now, Forgione has to change the restaurant's name by February 1, despite the fact that the two restaurants are nothing alike. Here's a great excerpt from The New York Observer's article:

Mr. Malnik’s case was largely predicated on a pile of press describing his restaurant’s long history of catering to the rich and famous: Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Richard Nixon, to name-drop a few. “We submitted, I think, 400 pages of documents and we could get more,” Mr. Malnik said. “I’m sure there are some people, but I would exaggerate to say that there isn’t a person in New York who doesn’t know the Forge.”

Talk about street cred: The New York Times in 2000 described the restaurant as “sort of like Sparks Steak House South,” in reference to “the New York mob landmark” where Gambino boss Paul Castellano was killed in 1986. The article noted that Mr. Malnik’s father, Al Malnik, the restaurant’s prior owner, was also the lawyer for the late mobster Meyer Lansky.

“If one didn’t know that we existed and that I had this trademark, then they would have to be somewhat naïve,” Mr. Malnik told The Observer. “You can’t help but bump into our name anytime you search ‘Forge.’”

Mr. Forgione admitted that he was aware of the Florida eatery prior to opening his own place in New York. “I Googled ‘Forge’ three years ago,” he said. “But I never in a million years thought that a restaurant in Miami would give a shit.”

Forging an Identity [New York Observer]
The Forge [MenuPages]
The Forge [Official Site]
Forge [MenuPages]
Forge [Official Site]

The chain invasion of Miracle Mile is continuing; Fatburger is set to take over the location of former furniture store Amalio Russo. The only other Fatburger in the area is the Queen Latifah-owned franchise on South Beach. We're going to assume that it's done well there, given the company's interest in expanding in the area. OneBurger's already established dominance in downtown Coral Gables in the fast quality burger category, so we'll see if Fatburger can make a dent in that. Get ready for the burger showdown!

Sick Of The South Beach Diet? Queen Latifah To The Rescue! [MP: South Florida]
Fatburger [MenuPages]
Fatburger [Official Site]
OneBurger [MenuPages]
OneBurger [Official Site]

We're a little confused by this Miami Herald story. Not quite sure what to make of it. Here's the first few paragraphs:

Long gone are the days in South Florida when the term ''dinner party'' meant a cheap bottle of Pinot and a few prepared dishes from Whole Foods, all in hopes of impressing friends with your new IKEA table in that nifty loft rental.

Now, everyone from sophisticated socialites to young hipsters are showing up at top restaurants and resto-lounges in hopes of turning dinner into an all-night party.

''Dinner parties are fun, especially when you mix in Miami's hip and sexy crowd,'' says Lance Tinkler, owner of B.E.D. in Miami Beach. ``People love to socialize and eat with others. It will always be that way. Who likes to eat alone? No one.''

Then again, we might be clinging to our apparently antiquated notion of a dinner party, in which the host prepares a meal and invites people to share conversation, etc. over said meal. What this article describes as a dinner party is a meeting of friends for a meal followed by drinking/dancing/debauchery in the same restaurant/club. Is there a "host" who pays for all of his or her friends' meals and drinks? (Not likely — that would get very expensive very quickly.) Or is everyone just meeting together and paying his or her own way? If that's the case, we're not sure how this is new; our friends have been doing that for years. Clearly, we're trendsetters.

Eats and beats: South Florida's dinner party trend mixes food and nightlife [Miami Herald]

The only Ethiopian restaurant in Miami, Sheba, is closed, according to the Miami Herald:

Sheba, Miami's only Ethiopian restaurant, served its last injera last weekend. The owners cited the down economy and family obligations in Nigeria as their reasons for closing.

UPDATE: According to commenter Edwin, the owner is looking to move the restaurant to Hollywood. So the situation isn't quite as sad as we'd thought originally.

SoBe Wine Fest discounts, Sublime specials, Sheba closing and more [Miami Herald]
Sheba [MenuPages]
Sheba [Official Site]

Photo: elisabethp/flickr

We got a tip from a commenter that Miami will soon be home to a restaurant from Brazil by way of Germany, of all places. Botequim Carioca is scheduled to open sometime in early 2008 (likely February, although that's unconfirmed) in the 900 Biscayne Boulevard building. The only Botequim Carioca with an internet presence is this one in Berlin. A call to the 900 Biscayne building confirmed that the restaurant is definitely coming, and the lady on the other end said "I do know that Germany is involved somehow." So chances are good that it's the same restaurant.

Our tipster called it a Brazilian steakhouse, but nothing we've read on the German restaurant's site (which is written in both German and Portuguese, thankfully, as we cannot read the former) makes us think that steak is the focus. And the Miami branch's website doesn't say much, but it does mention that it will be an "upscale brazilian appetizer restaurant." So Brazilian tapas. Could be good.

Botequim Carioca - Germany [Official Site]
Botequim Carioca - Miami [Official Site]

A couple months back, local foodies rejoiced at the news that Michelle Bernstein (of Michy's, of course) would be taking over the old Domo Japones spot in the Design District. The new, revamped tapas restaurant, Sra Martinez opened this past Monday. The menu features a number of Spanish tapas standards — think tortilla espanola, roasted piquillo peppers, patatas bravas — but also adds a few Asian touches, like crispy pork belly and galbi pinchos. (Galbi = Korean short ribs, which happen to be a favorite of ours.) And that white bean stew with duck and foie gras sausage and a port wine reduction sounds heavenly.

If you want to give it a try, you may have to wait for a few days; with Art Basel starting this week, the place will likely be swamped. But if the food is as good as it sounds, there's a good chance it'll be around for quite a while.

Michy's [MenuPages]
Sra Martinez [MenuPages]

The Fontainebleau Hotel has re-opened in all of its renovated glory with seven restaurants for your dining pleasure. Only five — Gotham Steak, Scarpetta, Vida, Solo and Fresh — are currently open; the first two officially open tonight, while the other three have been serving customers since Friday. La Cote, a French Mediterranean restaurant, is due December 20, and Hakkasan, with an upscale Chinese theme, won't be open until the new year.

The fact that Alfred Portale — who's a great chef and has done wonderful things with Gotham Bar & Grill — has opened a restaurant in South Florida is exciting, except it'd be nice if the theme weren't so steak-focused. Seriously, how many more steakhouses can this area support? Especially in a recession. Anyway, the food, mostly steakhouse standards, will likely be great.

Scarpetta is the product of another New York City chef, Scott Conant, who is known for his seasonally-inspired and elegant Italian food. The restaurant has yet to send over a menu, but we're told it will look a lot like that of the original Scarpetta in Manhattan. If the food in the new location is as good as New York MenuPages reviewers say it is, then we're in for a treat.

Fontainebleau Hotel [Official Site]
Gotham Steak [MenuPages]
Fresh [MenuPages]

Surely you've read about the opening of Canyon Ranch on 69th Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. There was even a handy Herald article about how the luxury resort's opening comes at such a perfect time, given the robust state of the economy. Even so, only about 10 percent of buyers have backed out of their crazy-expensive condos, which is a pretty good rate around these parts.

As far as food goes, Canyon Ranch has five different dining venues, although only Canyon Ranch Grill is open to the public. According to the site, there will be plenty of outdoor seating, a tapas area (?) and an exhibition kitchen. The food will, of course, have a decidedly healthy bent. The menu is on its way, and as soon as we find out more, we will fill you in.

Canyon Ranch Miami Beach [Official Site]
Tough times will test luxury MIami Beach hotel spa [Miami Herald]

This is ridiculous. Angelo and Maxie's, a New York steakhouse, is opening its second location at the Mayfair Hotel & Spa, according to the Coconut Grove Grapevine.

You can check out the menu at the New York location; MP users seem to really like the place. Great steaks, etc. Yippee.

New steakhouse opening in the Grove next weekend [Coconut Grove Grapevine]
Mayfair Hotel & Spa [Official Site]
Angelo and Maxie's [MenuPages New York]
Angelo and Maxie's [Official Site]

Cita's Italian Chophouse is now offering lunch on weekdays and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. On the menu: green eggs and ham. (Don't worry; they make it green with pesto.) Or you can go a less-Seussian route with blueberry pancakes, buttermilk waffles, croissant French toast or grilled steak and eggs.

Lunch will be served Monday through Friday from noon until 3 p.m., and brunch will be Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cita's Italian Chophouse [MenuPages]
Cita's Italian Chophouse [Official Site]

Meat Market, the new venture from the folks from Touch, is having a soft opening this weekend before its official opening sometime later next week. Sean Brasel, the former executive chef at Touch, will be manning the kitchen, which will, naturally, focus on the meat. The menu, which is available sans prices on the restaurant's website (we've called for one a few times, but each time have been told that the final menu isn't set yet) seems more interesting than the average steakhouse, thankfully. Check out the house specialties:

• Tropical braised fatty brisket with coconut, mango, Cuban sweet potatoes and wild mushrooms
• Kobe skirt steak with lemongrass, ginger, and roasted local chili
• Buffalo tenderloin steak with chili, espresso and bittersweet chocolate mole butter
• Wild African pheasant with tamari and braised chicory

Sounds tasty. Check it out this weekend; the restaurant is open for dinner only.

Meat Market [Official Site]

South Florida is getting a new Brazilian steakhouse: Fogo de Chão, which opens tonight for dinner on Miami Beach. This is the Brazil-based chain's 12th location in the US. Given South Floridians' affinity for rodizio, it's surprising that it took the company so long to open a Miami location. Then again, perhaps they were worried about entering an already-saturated market. Do not fear, Fogo de Chão; our appetite for red meat down here never ends.

The restaurant is open for dinner only at the moment; lunch service will begin on Monday, November 3. Lunch and dinner cost $26.50 and $46.50 respectively, and that includes the usual: endless meat and as much as you like from the large salad bar. Those who want just the salad bar pay $19.50.

Fogo de Chao [MenuPages]
Fogo de Chao [Official Site]

Photo: Haroldo Kennedy/flickr

At Hops Grillhouse & Brewery, kids eat free all day every Tuesday with a paying adult. The kids have to order from the kids' menu, and the adult must order an entree. At two kids for every paying adult, that's not a bad deal.

Hops Grillhouse & Brewery [MenuPages]

Andu Restaurant & Lounge [MenuPages]
Andu Restaurant & Lounge [Official Site]

The Original Pancake House [MenuPages]
The Original Pancake House [Official Site]

Photo: Debora Ayoub

Just got word that Meat Market, the new steakhouse from the people who were in charge of Touch, will be opening in the old Pacific Time spot on November 3. No news yet on the menu, which hasn't been finalized yet, but expect lots of red meat. Chef Sean Brasel will be heading up the kitchen, just as he did at Touch.

Touch [Official Site]

The New York Times ventured around the country to check out how restaurateurs are coping with the economic downturn in a few big cities. South Florida and Southern California, which both have taken hard hits in the housing market, are, not surprisingly, faring the worst of the bunch. Here's what the paper had to say about Miami:

Restaurateurs here say that in the past few weeks, conversations have turned from beaches to budgets.

Ms. Bernstein, 38, the chef and a partner at Michy's, said her business is down about 20 percent from the same time last year.

Diners, she said, now buy one bottle of wine instead of two, and often order fewer items from her menu, which includes full and half portions. Rising prices have added to the squeeze.

“Flour is up 85 to 100 percent,” she said. “We can’t raise our prices because we can’t lose you.”

On Lincoln Road, the main restaurant row of South Beach, owners and managers described wild swings from night to night.

“Some days we’re off by $100,” said Vinny Cartiglia, a manager at Balans, where the most popular item is the sea bass ($22.95). “Some days it’s by $2,000 or $3,000.”

Restaurants with predictable food at decent prices seem to be doing better. Bars with football fare (burgers, wings, quesadillas) report that business has stayed roughly even since last year, as do the South American cafeterias that dot most Miami neighborhoods.

Some restaurants with more sophisticated offerings have tried to adjust.

Icebox Cafe in Miami Beach, which offers New American fare with a focus on seafood, wine and layer cakes, now offers a “recession cruncher” menu that includes a stuffed red pepper with a beef and rice filling for $12. The owners have also had some success with new, affordable family take-out: a loaf pan of meatloaf, with nine servings, goes for $18.

But perhaps no one understands the city’s stomachs — and wallets — better than Myles Chefetz. He owns four restaurants here.

In an interview at the sleek steakhouse Prime One Twelve, he rattled off his sales numbers. The Big Pink diner was flat. Nemo, an American bistro that has been open for 14 years: down 10 percent. Shoji Sushi: down 13 percent.

And Prime One Twelve, where the average check is $105? Up 6 percent over last year.

To explain why, Mr. Chefetz walked into the restaurant’s softly lighted, crowded dining room. He pointed to a powerful developer who could still afford expensive wine. Mr. Chefetz walked outside. A $200,000 Bentley was parked near the curb. He said he planned to open a high-end Italian restaurant across the street later this year.

“The people here with a lot of money,” he said. “They’re still going out.”

Across the Country, Restaurants Feel the Pinch [New York Times]

Looks like Denny's is spreading the wealth in the neighborhood:

On Friday, Oct. 10, Denny’s Corp., and the historically black university, unveiled the Denny’s Single Parent Resource Center at a luncheon held at the school’s Miami Gardens campus.

...

Denny’s invested $70,000 in the center as part of its focus on diversity. The restaurant chain has partnered with the Tom Joyner Foundation to provide $1,500 scholarships to single parents attending historically black colleges and universities. The recipients are selected on a weekly basis.

Sybil Wilkes, the intellect among the Tom Joyner Morning Show cast, attended the center’s grand opening. Wilkes understands the demands of single parenthood, firsthand.

“I was raised by a single parent, and I understand how important that is. My mom always encouraged me to read and to excel academically,” she said.

Barbara Edwards, executive assistant to Florida Memorial University President Karl Wright, will serve as a liaison to the resource center.

“[Denny’s] asked if we would be interested, and we were thrilled to be … the first HBCU (which stands for historically black colleges and universities) selected. Through the center, [students] will have the opportunity to get additional supportive services, counseling, computer access, to get them what they need, to get them to persist,” Edwards said.

Restaurant chain helps parents in college [South Florida Times]
Denny's [Official Site]

Moises Bakery, the Venezuelan spot at 73rd and Collins Avenue, took top honors at a recent empanada contest at the North Beach Hispanic Heritage Festival. The winning ingredients, according to the Herald story, are brown sugar in the dough and a carne mechada filling. Another winner was the Argentine offering from Juice and Bites, which came in third place.

But the surprise second-place winning empanada came from Tamarind Thai Restaurant, which filled its dough with chicken curry, potatoes, onions and green tea. See? I wasn't so far off when I advocated Cuban-Thai fusion.

Who has the best empanada? Eateries square off in North Beach [Miami Herald]
Cuban-Thai Restaurant Fails To Make Arroz Con Mango Connection [MP: South Florida]
Tamarind Thai Restaurant [MenuPages]
Tamarind Thai Restaurant [Official Site]

Despite the tanking economy, quite a few restaurateurs are taking their chances and opening new spots in the next couple of months. Here's the roundup:

• The really big news came earlier this week, when Lee Klein learned that Michelle Bernstein had taken over the Domo Japones spot in the Design District. Bernstein and her husband are planning a tapas restaurant for the space. [Short Order]

• Au Pied de Cochon, a French 24-hour brasserie, is opening on South Beach. This will be the third location on this side of the Atlantic; the other two are in Mexico City and Atlanta. [Miami Herald]

• Todd English is expanding his Boston restaurant empire south with a Northern Italian restaurant called Da Campo Osteria at the Il Lugano hotel in Fort Lauderdale. [Miami Herald]

• A La Folie Cafe has a new location at 1701 Purdy Ave in Miami Beach. According to Chowhound, it has the benefit of being mosquito-free. [Chowhound]

• The Cheese Course is planning a Miami location for sometime early next year. [Miami Herald]

•Sage French Cafe is also opening a second location in the old Michael's Kitchen spot in Hollywood. It should be open around mid-November. [Chowhound]

• Coral Springs is getting a new Benihana in the old Macaroni Grill location. [Short Order]

First the New York Times ranked Michael's Genuine Food & Drink among the top 10 restaurants in the country, and now Esquire Magazine gives a nod to another Design District eatery. We just heard from our friends at Pacific Time that Jonathan Eismann's popular Pan Asian spot has been named on of the Best New Restaurants in the USA by John Mariani. It is the only restaurant cited in the Southeast. The list will appear in the November issue of Esquire.

Pacific Time [MenuPages]
Esquire Magazine [Official Site]
Michael's Genuine Makes #4 on Bruni's List [MP: South Florida]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [MenuPages]

As of yesterday, Bourbon Steak introduced a new cocktail menu. While sipping on signature drinks like the Bramble and Key Lime Pie Martini, guests can enjoy the new “Ice-Cold Shellfish” selection that includes daily oysters, middle-neck clams and spiced-poached prawns ($3-4); “Small Bites” like the crab ‘Louie’ lettuce cups, ahi tartare with Asian pear and ancho chile, cumin-dusted tempura gulf shrimp, American kobe beef sliders and mini-BBQ pulled-pork sandwich ($4-7 per piece); the larger “Shared Bites," like Serrano ham or foie gras mousse ($12-13); and the world’s most prized “Caviar by the Ounce” — Iranian golden osetra and Russian osetra ($250-395).

Over in the Gables, Christy's is celebrating its milestone 30th birthday this month with a 30/30 Anniversary Menu, in which a $30 "Christy’s Classics Menu" is paired it with a list of $30 Cellar Finds. Menu and wine list after the jump.

Continue reading "October Offerings" »

Here's a new one to add to the long list of South Florida mixed cuisines: Izzy's Cubi Thai, which offers both Cuban and Thai food in one spot. I have to admit, I was a little excited when I learned of the restaurant, because to be honest, that's kind of how I cook at home: lots of Latin and Asian ingredients all mixed up. A restaurant that would play with flavors from both cuisines? Awesome.

Then I saw the menu. Huge disappointment. It's divided right down the middle; there's a Cuban section and a Thai section, and the two do not intersect. And it's encyclopedic too: all of the Cuban and Thai standards are well represented. I guarantee that the same kitchen cannot put out good versions of both a lechón asado and a panang curry.

Why not have fun with it and mix the two cuisines? Think empanadas filled with chicken that's cooked with lemongrass, ginger, and chiles. Or maybe black beans cooked with coconut milk. A pan con lechón could be Cuban bread with minced pork laced with garlic, onions, and chiles. Vaca frita could be re-styled as a northern Thai meat salad. And arroz con mango! A dessert of sticky rice and mango should absolutely be on the menu, but it must be labeled as arroz con mango.*

Sure it sounds bizarre, but the two cuisines share many tropical flavors; mix the two together and you might end up with something pretty interesting.

Izzy's Cubi Thai [MenuPages]
Izzy's Cubi Thai [Official Site]

* A note for those of you unfamiliar with the expression: Cubans use the phrase "arroz con mango," literally "rice with mango," to describe something that's a mess. The idea is that rice and mangoes don't belong together. The Thai disagree; sticky rice and mango is a popular (and might I say tasty) dessert.

Despite the ever-more-depressing news about the economy that we all seem to be bombarded with daily, the Herald managed to find a bit of good news down in Homestead. The Main Street Cafe, which closed two years ago, will be re-opened by a new owner and will hopefully help revitalize the dying downtown Homestead business area:

While in its heyday, the café thrived as a hot spot for primarily folk and jazz thanks to former owner Laurie Oudin. But she could not always fill the 100-seat eatery and she wondered if the music was too limited a diet for Homestead.

Now [new owner William] Lora thinks he has the solution: He plans to host a variety of themed nights -- including comedy nights on Wednesdays, country and folk music on Thursdays, pop and rock nights on Fridays and Latin night on Saturday. The restaurant, he said, will open for breakfast, and stay open as late as possibly 3 a.m. -- if the city allows it.

''We would like to bring back the same quality of performers, but give them a little something different than before,'' said Lora, who said he has already spoken to several artists who used to perform at the café and are interested in coming back.

Lora is aiming for a mid-October soft opening of the restaurant only, to be followed by a grand opening in November. He has applied to the city for a license to operate, and also must gain City Council approval to sell beer, wine and liquor. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.

Old downtown Homestead hangout to return [Miami Herald]

Atrio at Level 25 announced today that its executive chef, Michael Gilligan, will be recognized for his culinary contributions to South Florida's gastronomic scene at this year’s Americas Food and Beverage Show (Sept. 24-26). In some related culinary trivia, Gilligan spent his beginning years honing his trade as an apprentice chef at Michelin-starred restaurants in France and England, where he cooked for Princess Diana and other members of the British Royal Family.

Atrio [MenuPages]
Atrio [Official Site]

I'm never more rested than on a Sunday morning, and I invariably wake up with the desire to do one of two things: go for a bike ride alongside my silky terrier Jack ... or go to brunch. This weekend, we left Jack at home and opted for brunch at 1 Bleu, which recently incorporated a live jazz band into the weekly event.

A few days later and I'm still full, and I think I only sampled a tenth of the offerings (though my husband probably experienced about 50 percent). Previously, I would've argued that the Four Seasons has the best brunch in Miami (they have a chocolate bar, so they had me at hello), but the selection at 1 Bleu was just as generous: cheese, vegetables, fruit, crepe stations, shrimp, oysters, omelet stations, mimosas, Bloody Marys, Bellinis, carving stations where even lamb was on the menu, and the most drool-inducing dessert table I've ever seen. (The only thing missing was a sushi station).

At $67 a person, the brunch is priced well below that at most comparable hotels in Miami (if you're looking to spend more, however, you can always add an a la carte order of caviar for $185), and the service is impeccable. The staff is attentive but does not rush you, and most parties lingered for several hours. And the beautiful ocean views set just the right tone for a tranquil Sunday.

1 Bleu [MenuPages]

Miami Beach is getting two new Segafredos next month, according to this item in BizBash Florida: one in South Beach on Collins Avenue and the other in Bal Harbour. As soon as I can find out exact addresses, I'll post them here.

Segafredos to Open New Locations [BizBash]
Segafredo Brickell
Segafredo Brickell [Official Site]

Remember how we said you should eat more lobster? Here's one way to do it: the Bistro Lobster Menu at Chef Allen's. For $36 you get three courses: Caesar salad; steamed Maine lobster with corn on the cob, littleneck clams and chorizo, and roasted fingerling potatoes and other root vegetables; and a dessert of brown sugar and spiced fruit cobbler with rum raisin ice cream. Sounds like a deal to me! One catch — the special menu is only available on Tuesdays.

Why Is Lobster So Cheap? Why Do You Care? [MP:South Florida]
Chef Allen's [MenuPages]
Chef Allen's [Official Site]

Yes, you read that right. Tobacco Road is still celebrating its 96th year, this time around with 96-cent drinks. But you have only 96 minutes to get them. Today. Starting at 6 p.m. Live music, free giveaways and free wings are also promised.

Burgers For Under A Buck [MP: South Florida]
Tobacco Road [MenuPages]
Tobacco Road [Official Site]

Last night, I was fortunate enough to be allowed into the Paradigm test kitchen — a lesson in food, science, novelty and just how cool Miami's culinary scene is getting. I should have done some serious note-taking to retain all the thinking and processes that went into the making of each dish (the chefs talk you through each course), but we attended on the night that the folks from Southern Wine & Spirits were doing a wine pairing. They kept refilling my wine glass (by the way, Seven Daughters' red and white blends, coming soon to a Publix near you, were absolute crowd pleasers), so I don't think I absorbed everything properly. However, Chef de Cuisine Chad Galiano chronicles everything much better than I ever could on his blog. While my terrible iPhone pictures are an insult to the beautiful presentation of the food, when accompanying the text from the menu, I hope they serve to at least guide you through a sample evening at Paradigm. The chefs are very passionate, happy to answer questions and eager for feedback, so you walk away having had a complete experience.

Photos and descriptions of each dish are after the jump.

Continue reading "The Coolest Science Class I've Ever Had" »

Chocolate chocolate chocolate. That's the theme this month at Rosa Mexicano, which is offering a special chocolate menu additions until October 5. Here's what's cooking this month:

• Empanaditas de mole (appetizer): mini chicken empanadas with mole
• Camarones empapelado con salsa del diablo (appetizer): baked shrimp with fall veggies in a chocolate sauce
• Ensalada de hojas verdes (appetizer): mixed greens with kohlrabi, apples and almonds and a vanilla, chocolate and orange dressing
• Filete con salsa de chocolate y vino tinto (entree): beef filet sauteed with porcinis, chocolate and cabernet sauvignon
• Guisado de pato (entree): roasted duck breast with an achiote chocolate sauce
• Estallido del sol chocolate (dessert): chocolate hazelnut bombe over a chocolate sunburst cookie on a warm chocolate chipotle brownie

You can go all out and order the special chocolate tasting menu for $65, which comes with the shrimp and salad appetizers, a choice of one of the entrees, and the dessert. Or order a la carte. And if you want to learn how to make some of this stuff, check out the chocolate cooking class on Saturday, September 20 at 10 a.m. in the Miami location. Reservations for the class are required, so e-mail comments@rosamexicano.com to request a spot.

6th Annual Chocolate Festival [Official Site]
Rosa Mexicano (Palm Beach Gardens) [MenuPages]
Rosa Mexicano (Miami) [MenuPages]
Rosa Mexicano [Official Site]

Linda Bladholm over at Miami.com tipped us off to Shing Wang Taiwanese Vegetarian, Ice & Bubble Tea, a veggie spot in North Miami Beach. Shing Wang used to be located at 348 NE 167th St. — which, by the way, is now the site of a tattoo parlor. When we first got there, we thought we were in for some NY-style affair where you have to go through back doors and make calls from phone booths and stuff just to find the restaurant.

Turns out we just had the wrong address, but even without any back-room mystery, it is a fun spot, particularly if you go on a Sunday night like we did and end up having the whole place to yourself. My dining companions said the food isn't bad as far as faux beef and pork goes. (I was having a Nicole Richie moment and only ordered a Japanese seaweed salad, so you'll have to check out LB's review for more details on the grub. Though, for what it's worth, the salad was huge and delicious, and I left feeling satisfied but not weighed down.) The owner was also really sweet, and my favorite part had to be when she warned us about the $3 corkage fee. Check out how she chilled the bottle of wine that I brought in my purse. So fun.

Shing Wang Taiwanese Vegetarian, Ice & Bubble Tea [MenuPages]
Shing Wang Taiwanese Vegetarian, Ice & Bubble Tea [Official Site]

Lately it seems that Miracle Mile and the surrounding area has been engulfed by one chain restaurant after another. It makes lunchtime very predictable. So instead of the same-old at California Pizza Kitchen or Baja Fresh, here are a few other ideas, all under $10:

• Lotus Garden is a personal favorite, and it's the ideal lunch spot. Great food, plentiful portions and fast service. This is not a place for a leisurely lunch. You might want to avoid the height of the lunch rush (12:30-1:30), although because of the rapid turnaround, you likely won't have to wait long even if go when it's full.

• They don't just make bread at La Provence Bakery (although they do that very, very well). Stop by for lunch and they'll stuff some charcuterie and cheese into one of their delicious baguettes, loaves or rolls. Not up for a sandwich? Try some quiche and a salad.

• Izakaya has some great lunch specials, all for $8.50. Go the sushi route, and you'll get a bit less food; pick chicken or beef, and you get meat, rice, tempura, a California roll, a salad and miso soup. That should be more than enough to get you through the rest of the day. Or try the donburi, a bowl of rice topped with an omelet made with your choice of veggies or meat.

• Alhambra Station Cafe names all of its sandwiches after different streets in Coral Gables, which is kind of endearing. (The salads, for some reason, have U.S. city names.) Try the Miracle Mile Station (ham, brie and apricot cream) or the Minorca Station wrap (feta with assorted veggies, including artichoke hearts and sun-dried tomatoes).

On a recent evening, a group of friends and I sampled the Spice menu at La Marea. I was looking forward to introducing friends to the spot, which ranks as perhaps my favorite restaurant on South Beach, but Miami Spice is not the time to try it (or if you go, opt for the regular menu). Here's a course-by-course breakdown of our experience:

We started with limoncello martinis at the bar. They're must-tries, though at $20, they're pricey (as we cashed out separately, this wasn't part of our final bill). Half of our party ordered the octopus carpaccio for the appetizer course, and even though the slices were so thin as to be practically transparent, the octopus was tender and satisfying.

I find chef Pietro Rota is at his best making pasta, and the asparagus gnocchi was the best dish of the night. I wish it were on the entree menu so I could've had a bigger portion. Two of the three braised lamb dishes we ordered as a main course were well-received, but one person in our party found theirs too fatty. I ordered the crispy cobia, but I found myself with food envy for the risotto that accompanied the lamb.

For dinner, neither the strawberry tiramisu nor the profiterole was anything to write home about. Once we factored in a glass of wine each for three of us, as well as a Peroni for the fourth person at the table, the bill exceeded $300. And though I love this place, $300 was too much for the Spice menu, which was, overall, unexciting.

La Marea [MenuPages]
La Marea [Official Site]

I've been following the evolution of Neomi's Grill's new menu on Chadzilla, but now, this whole restaurant-within-a-restaurant concept has blown us away. Well, not the concept itself, but the food produced for this mini-restaurant, called Paradigm. Here's how Chef Chad explains it on the blog:

The Paradigm concept is our 'restaurant within a restaurant' or 'chef table' manifestation. It will feature one 10 to 12 course tasting menu each week highlighting our flavor compositions, technical endeavors, experimental successes, and momentary flights of whimsy. The menu will roll at a set time every Thursday for no more than 12 persons. We will set the dinner separate from the main dining floor of Neomi's. The menu will be a week to week rotation of things that work vs. things we like vs. things that we can improve upon and make better.

Paradigm: the test kitchen [Chadzilla]
First run [Chadzilla]
Neomi's Grill [MenuPages]

Photo, of "block lobster," from Chadzilla

Not sure how I didn't see Victoria Pesce Elliott's review of RA Sushi earlier (I swear it wasn't on the Herald's site), but I just couldn't let it slide by after reading the first paragraph:

The name is RA, as in rah, rah, sis, boom, bah -- not R.A., as I made the mistake of saying to a server who quietly corrected me: ``They get really upset if you say that. It's supposed to be like raw, you know, like raw fish.''

Anyway, the sushi is OK; Victoria Pesce Elliott gives it two stars, and her reaction is lukewarm to most of what's on the menu. But hey, the happy hour is a good deal.

Splashy RA Sushi strives for mass appeal [Miami Herald]
RA Sushi [MenuPages]
RA Sushi [Official Site]

Geoffrey Zakarian might be headed to Miami. The New York restaurateur is slated to oversee restaurant operations at a new hotel called Dream South Beach, which will combine the Tudor and the Palmer House at 11th and Collins. Here's what South Beach USA has to say about it:

Dream South Beach will be a high-end, luxury boutique hotel and will contain two food and beverage establishments including a ground-floor restaurant and a glass-enclosed roof-top lounge offering a sophisticated and relaxing environment.

Michelin Star chef Geoffrey Zakarian, formerly of “44″ in the Royalton Hotel in New York and currently chef of “Town” at the Chambers Hotel in Midtown and “Country” in the Carlton Hotel near Madison Square Park will be overseeing restaurant operations at Dream South Beach.

The roof-top lounge will be administered by David Rabin, a principle of 360 Hospitality which operates lounges, bar and restaurants in New York.

Dream South Beach Hotel Coming to Miami Beach [South Beach USA]
Town [MenuPages]
Town [Official Site]
Country [MenuPages]
Country [Official Site]
Blue Door [MenuPages]

A favorite Brickell lunch spot is trying to lure dinner patrons as well. We just spotted this sign, which touts $12 entrees Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., hanging on Perricone's front porch. Though we've yet to check out which 12 entrees made the the $12 list, the majority of the restaurant's grilled dishes ring in at more than $20, so they're offering a substantial discount.

Perricone's Marketplace & Cafe [MenuPages]
Perricone's Marketplace & Cafe [Official Site]

Despite the slew of restaurant closings sweeping SoBe, all is apparently well with the dining scene in Brickell, and nowhere better than at Segafredo Brickell. The always-packed bistro, which first opened its doors in mid-January, has already experienced growing pains, and this week brought an expansion of both the space and the menu.

The new munchies include pastas such as the Lasagna Tradizionale, Gnocchetti Sardi and Ravioli D’Argosta; Carpaccio and Capricciosa pizzas; main dishes including a Branzino All Isolana; and our personal fave, a Risotto Pescatora. All of the new items ring in at under $20.

(The tiramisu was already on the menu, but it had to be mentioned anyway).

Segafredo Brickell [MenuPages]
Segafredo Brickell [Official Site]

If you like your Cuban coffee with an extra dose of trendiness, you have one new reason to celebrate: Cafe Bustelo opens its doors today at the Gansevoort South. The coffee shop is the first of a planned 100 for the company, whose espresso is the top-selling Cuban coffee brand in the country, and which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

The space is minimalist and chic - a wall made of coffee cans anchors the room - and we're curious to see the execution of the menu, which is classic Cuban all the way: Cuban sandwiches, mojo chicken sandwiches, croquetas (chorizo, chicken, rice and beans, and plantano and cheese), pastries (guava, chocolate and mojo chicken), rice pudding and flan.

They're also open late and have swapped the traditional Starbucks soundtrack for more SoBe-worhty lounge music. Cool beans!

Cafe Bustelo [Official Site]
Gansevoort South [Official Site]

A Design District office dweller told us she mourns Domo Japones’ closing during lunchtime (although sources tell us it will reopen for lunch in the fall), but in truth, those in the Design District have little to complain about concerning lunch options. For an indulgent meal, the risottos (pictured), particularly those on the daily special menu, at Fratelli Lyon are rich, but well worth the subsequent sleepiness you’ll experience during the rest of the afternoon. Speaking of indulgent, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink is arguably the neighborhood’s most popular spot, and just last week we spotted someone consuming the to-die-for burrata appetizer special—intended for at least three very hungry people to share—all by herself! (We pretended to be shocked but were secretly very jealous, even though the warm eggplant salad we enjoyed left little to be desired.) Over at Pacific Time, the lunch portions are pitch perfect, and it’s even possible to order a “lunch-sized” dessert: the hot chocolate fudge cake is so small that you'll almost certainly have room for it, and it's almost guilt-free. Another option for those with a sweet tooth is to swing by Orange Cafe + Art after a meal for one of their addictive chocolate-chip cookies. Finally, Grass Restaurant & Lounge is also open for lunch again, though we’ve yet to meet anyone who goes there for the food. Come happy hour time, though, that’s where you'll find us!

Fratelli Lyon [MenuPages]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [MenuPages]
Pacific Time [MenuPages]
Orange Cafe + Art [MenuPages]
Grass Restaurant & Lounge [MenuPages]

After our friends at Miami.com cited Kobe Club's menu among the most generous offered during Miami Spice, we checked it out for ourselves on Saturday night, and generous it was: there were six appetizer and three side options, five entree choices (eight, if you count the optional Kobe upgrades), and a bonus chef's sampler dessert plate that came for the table to share.

To start, the members of our four-person party ordered the Kobe Club beef tartare, iced hamachi and two American "Kobe" beef cheek ravioli dishes. While no one was complaining, the ravioli took the prize. For the main course, the mustard-rubbed organic chicken was the largest of the dishes we ordered (think rotisserie size), and though perhaps not what one should order at a steak house, the wild mushroom pasta was impeccable. Both of the men in our party ordered the "black" pork chop, which, though of considerable size, were surprisingly lean. We also sampled all of the sides (a request for regular steamed spinach in the place of creamed spinach went unfulfilled), and the creamed corn was by far the tastiest of the three. On the dessert platter, the chocolate cake went quickly, while the cheesecake was good but not to-die-for. Overall, including tax and a bottle of wine, the bill per person totaled $50 - not at all bad for a restaurant with $375 entrees on its regularly priced menu! Tip: The space is tiny and fills up quickly, and we were unable to get same-day reservations on two separate occasions, so do reserve your table in advance. And if Kobe Club doesn't sound appetizing, do check out some of the other Miami Spice offerings. August is nearly over, and the specials only run through September, and there really are great deals to be had.

Dine-o-mite: tips for Miami Spice Month [Miami.com]
Kobe Club [MenuPages]
Kobe Club [Official Site]

After two restaurant-food-deprived days during Tropical Storm Fay, we stopped by Acqua at the Four Seasons last night to make up for lost time. If you haven't been in a while, do go back. It will be clear from the tantalizing menu that a new (and very skilled) toque is in town. Chef Patrick Boucher was previously at the helm of Four Seasons kitchens in Dubai and Bali, and the menu he created upon his arrival in Miami draws upon our multicultural influences. The results are nothing short of mouth-watering.

Tuna lovers that we are, our favorite new appetizer is the Ahi tuna three ways: it's served as a tiradito, Vietnamese roll and Asian tartar. You'll be tempted to share it (and given the main-course portions, this might be wise), but we suggest deciding who gets what beforehand to avoid any arm wrestling.

Those with a sweet tooth won't be disappointed with what we're tempted to deem the Best Main Course Ever: a hazelnut and dulce de leche-crusted Colorado lamb chop, served with broccolini, warm goat cheese and fingerling potato salad. Yes, the combo is unexpected, but it's also brilliant (and not just because we're in favor of putting dulce de leche on almost anything). The milky consistency of the dulce de leche provides a nice balance to the meat, and we suspect even vegetarians would go crazy over this dish.

You might find yourselves so satisfied that you find the willpower to skip dessert. But if you can't (we couldn't), we recommend ending the evening with the Cortadito Creme Brulee for a truly Miami-influenced culinary experience.

Acqua [MenuPages]
Acqua [Official Site]

As of last week, Elevated Fridays at The Bar at Level 25 added one more attraction to its happy hour: the live sounds of DJ Induce, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. In addition to the hip grooves, Brickell's newest Friday celebration also features $6 cocktail specials and complimentary hors d'oeuvres from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., courtesy of Executive Chef Michael Gilligan.

The Bar at Level 25 [MenuPages]
The Bar at Level 25 [Official Site]

A tipster told us rising star chef Gerdy Rodriguez was no longer at the helm of 1 Bleu, and a phone call to the restaurant confirmed the fact. Carlos Villa is in charge of the kitchen as the restaurant searches for a new leadership.

While working on a story about the emergence of raw food in Miami, we went to The Art of Food to check out its ‘live’ offerings, only to find that the space appeared closed. The number to the restaurant has also been disconnected.

And although many continue to report that Maison D'Azur is closed, owner Stephen Fortier hinted to The Herald yesterday that the acclaimed French restaurant is moving to ''a really high profile location.” We’d previously reported on Barton G’s talks with The Sagamore to take over Social’s space, but that deal fell through. We now have confirmation from multiple sources that Maison is taking over the space and planning for a fall opening. Ooh la la!

The Art of Food [MenuPages]
Maison D'Azur closes [Miami Herald]
Barton Bumps Social [MP: South Florida]
Maison D'Azur [MenuPages]
Maison D'Azur [Official Site]

Steakhouse fever has hit Miami: The end of summer/early fall will bring three new steakhouses to town.

Aventura, which is already home to the succulent Bourbon Steak (as well as chains like Houston's and Morton's) will be home to two of these new steak spots. The first, restaurateur Cameron Mitchell's Ocean Prime, opened its doors this past Saturday. See if these menu highlights make your mouth water: Chilean Sea Bass with Glazed Carrots in a Champagne Truffle Sauce, White Truffle Caviar Deviled Eggs, “Surf and Turf” with Diver Scallops and Slow-Braised Short Ribs, and Ginger Salmon with Stir-Fried Snap Peas and Soy Butter Sauce.

Aventura will also be the newest site of Beverly Hills' famous power lunch spot The Grill on the Alley (pictured), which will open up in early fall at the Aventura Mall. What to expect? USDA Prime steaks and chops, fresh seafood delivered daily and the day’s soups and desserts to be made from scratch. Menu items include the Lobster Martini appetizer, New York Pepper Steak, John Dory with lemon butter sauce, Chicken Pot Pie, Fresh Crab Louie and Braised Short Ribs.

Finally, the owners of the recently closed Touch are opening a carnivorous venture called Meat Market this month, in the original Pacific Time space on Lincoln Road. SoBe is already home to the wildly successful Prime One Twelve and the much slower Texas de Brazil, so the management of Meat Market is looking to shake things up by serving steaks in a three-tiered format: "Tier One will feature simple, a la carte steak selections cooked in a variety of ways, from wood grilled to broiled in a state-of-the-art, infrared oven at 1200 degrees. Tier Two will offer reserve cuts from name brand, ultra-premium resources....Tier Three will feature house specialties representing Brasel’s unique culinary style."

Break out your carving knives!

Ocean Prime [Official Site]
The Grill on the Alley [Official Site]

Bored of making your famous chicken cacciatore every time you have a dinner party? Pick up some new recipes from Miami's top chefs during any of these three (coincidentally Asian-themed) cooking classes taking place this week. Looks like school is back in session!

Sushi Samba Dromo Sushi & Sake 101
They're back! After a one-year hiatus, SUSHISAMBA dromo's Sushi & Sake 101 classes will re-launch this week with the introduction of the new SUSHISAMBA dromo Sake Sommelier, Midori Roth. The two-hour class will be conducted with the help of SUSHISAMBA dromo’s Executive Sushi Chef Shoyo Lida and includes five flights of sake, a selection of SUSHISAMBA’s signature dishes, variety of sushi rolls, edamame, tempura and sashimi. August 13, 7pm-9pm, $75.

Eleanor Hoh's "Wok Star" Class
Learn to cook like a Wok Star at Eleanor Hoh's sizzling stir-fry session, which includes four dishes paired with Prosecco and Tiger Beer. In addition to the healthy, tasty recipes, Hoh is a charming hostess, and the kitchen showroom is any would-be chef's dream. At Mia Cucina, 20385 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura. August 16, 12pm-3pm, $65.

Interactive Culinary Demonstration & Mumm Champagne Luncheon at The Biltmore
The Biltmore's interactive luncheons are a favorite among Coral Gables foodies — probably due in equal measure (no pun intended) to the speed at which the Champagne flutes are refilled and the fool-proof nature of the recipes. This Saturday, Chef José Mendín of Sushi Samba Dromo shares tri-cultural culinary traditions. August 16, 12pm, Cellar Club members $48, non-members $60. RSVP at 305.913.3203 or at the website.

Sushi Samba Dromo [MenuPages]
Sushi Samba Dromo [Official Site]
Eleanor Hoh's Cooking Classes [Official Site]
The Cellar Club at The Biltmore [Official Site]

The internets were abuzz yesterday after WPLG's Dirty Dining blog took a stroll down Giralda in the Gables and found plenty of health code violations.

There's the usual stuff, like grease accumulation on the floor of Randazzo's (which is probably more of a hazard to the cooks than to diners), a few dead roaches at Archie's Gourmet Pizza, which might make us think twice about eating at these places but probably won't compel us to avoid it altogether. But here's what really angered us, from the entry for Las Vegas:

“Identity of food product misrepresented. selling SWAI for GROUPER”

A stroll down Giralda. Part 1 [Dirty Dining]
The Cooler [South Florida Daily Blog]
Dirty Dining Series Takes on Giralda Ave. [Coral Gables]

Photo: Dirty Dining

There will, of course, be sushi and cocktails for those who aren't quite so flexible, and all of the bar proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. The party starts at 7 p.m. and is RSVP only; today's your last chance to call 305-864-3434 x105 to reserve a spot.

RA Sushi Grand Opening [All Purpose Dark]
RA Sushi [MenuPages]
RA Sushi [Official Site]

Photo, of the Viva Las Vegas roll at RA Sushi: jellybeanjill13/flickr

Quick. Glance at the new menu at Chef Allen's. What's the first thing that comes to mind? For us, we thought of Michael's Genuine Food & Drink — maybe it's just that the first word on the menu is "snacks," but the structure is similar. Once you get past the snacks section, you realize of course that the menus are completely different. But that's just the first thing that came to mind.

The most obvious difference between the old and new menus is the lack of a regular tasting menu. Perhaps the tasting menu had fallen out of favor with diners, or maybe it's a result of the economic slowdown; diners are less likely to splurge on a tasting menu. As far as prices go, Chef Allen has kept them very reasonable; the new streamlined menu likely helps to keep costs down.

The self-professed new focus is local, sustainable seafood, of which there's plenty on the menu. That said, there's also some non-local options like swordfish, Maine lobster and yellowfin tuna.

What do you think of the new menu?

New Chef Allen's Menu
Chef Allen's [MenuPages]
Chef Allen's [Official Site]

La Marea is one of our favorite South Beach spots, so we'll definitely be checking out this Happy Hour, which includes $8 limoncello popsicle martinis, $5 beer & wine and a complimentary tapas sampler with the first round of drinks. TGIF!

La Marea [MenuPages]
La Marea [Official Site]

We were just going through some Herald stories and found one we'd missed from earlier this week about the murder of one of the Che Sopranos Pizza & Pasta owners. Maximiliano DeVita, who founded the Italian-Argentine restaurants with his brother Leandro, was killed after a dispute with an 80-year-old neighbor.

DeVita owned a unit at 7625 Harding Ave. in North Beach, and recently rented it to a new tenant.

[Orlando] Alonso, who neighbors said had a history of harassing residents, refused to allow the tenant to move in, DeVita's friends and family said.

The new tenant called DeVita to complain. His wife, Valeria DeVita, dropped her husband off at the apartment while delivering food to clients Friday night.

''DeVita knocked on [Alonso's] door in order to talk to him about harassing his tenant,'' according to a Miami Beach police report.

Alonso, a retiree with no criminal past in Florida, grabbed his .38 caliber revolver and answered the door.

He later told police that DeVita ``began insulting him verbally.''

According to police, Alonso walked away, tossed the gun on the sofa and put on a pair of shorts.

But DeVita continued insulting him, Alonso said, making him so angry he picked the gun back up.

He squeezed off one round, according to police. ``He observed Mr. DeVita dropped to the walkway and [Alonso] shut the front door and purposely did not call 911.''

All three Che Sopranos locations are staying open despite the tragedy.

Condo clash ends in killing [Miami Herald]
Che Sopranos Pizza & Pasta [MenuPages]
Che Sopranos Pizza & Pasta [Official Site]

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink isn't participating in Miami Spice, but that doesn't mean the restaurant isn't joining in the prix-fixe fun. From Sunday, August 3 until Tuesday, September 30, the restaurant will offer prix-fixe lunch and dinner specials of $22 and $35, respectively. The catch — it's not available on Fridays and Saturdays. We've included the menu after the jump.

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [MenuPages]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [Official Site]

Continue reading "Michael's Genuine Joins In the Prix-Fixe Fun" »

Looks like Palm Restaurant, one of the original Merrick Park tenants, has closed up, according to an article in today's Herald:

The Palm, the swanky steak house that adorned its walls with caricatures of celebrities like tennis star Pete Sampras, singer Jewel and Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle (pictured), has called it quits in Coral Gables.

One of the original Village at Merrick Park restaurants, The Palm served its last meal on Sunday, the company's Washington, D.C., headquarters confirmed.

Since The Palm opened in October 2002, Fleming's and Morton's had joined it on the Gables steak-house scene along with veterans Ruth's Chris and Christy's. Service continues at The Palm's longtime Bay Harbor Islands restaurant, according to a manager there. The chain has more than two dozen locations nationwide.

Gables Palm is gone [Miami Herald]
Palm Restaurant [MenuPages]
Palm Restaurant [Official Site]

Photo: mag3737/flickr

Abokado in Mary Brickell Village has gotten a reputation for being a bit too pricey, and we’re guessing that’s behind the restaurant’s initiative to offer prix-fixe deals, such as the three-course business lunch and the three-hour Abokado Social happy hour (from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.). We popped in after work on Friday to give the lower-priced happy hour menu a sampling. Select cocktails and house wine were $6 (yes, that’s first on the list—it was happy hour after all), rolls were $7, and hand rolls were $5 or $6. Also on the menu is a single Abokado Nacho—a delicious concoction of spicy tuna, avocado and cucumber served atop a deep-fried tempura shiso leaf. While this is one of the most popular dishes at the restaurant, consuming more than one Nacho tends to make people reach for the Rolaids, so we were pleased to see that a single leaf was available for ordering. In total, we had three rolls (the spicy tuna roll is amazing but hot, hot, hot!) and two drinks, and our bill came out to roughly $40. The amount is comparable to what we spend at some of our other fave sushi spots, so color us sold on Abokado Social.

A photo of the menu after the jump...

Abokado [Official Site]
Abokado [MenuPages]

Continue reading "Abokado Gets Social" »

Tobacco Road is celebrating 96 years on Monday, and in honor of the birthday, the restaurant is offering 96-cent burgers. Stop by on Monday between 11:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. for your cheap burger. You can't just show up empty-handed though; print out this page and show it to them when you get there. Keep in mind that you also have to eat it there; no cheap burger take-outs.

Tobacco Road [MenuPages]
Tobacco Road [Official Site]

Photo: RetoTo/flickr

Looks like Chef Allen's will be undergoing some renovations this week; the restaurant is closed for the rest of the month and won't re-open until August 1. According to the press release, it'll sport "a sleeker, modernized interior, including a larger bar area, a private wine room, and two party rooms." A new menu is in the works as well that will focus on locally caught sustainable fish and regional produce. All this in a week and a half? Seems ambitious.

Chef Allen's [MenuPages]
Chef Allen's [Official Site]

The Herald's got a good roundup of barbecue spots in Miami that venture away from the usual spots. (Except for Texas de Brazil. The couldn't find a better Latin-influenced barbecue joint than a humungous chain?)

We're craving the 'cue from Mama Lucy's in particular:

On Friday and Saturday evenings you'll find Lexuses, SUVs, antique convertibles and rundown pick-ups squished together in the tiny lot where people stand in line for the full slab ($21), half slab ($13) or for the regular rib sandwich ($6.50). The barbecue is a smoky, sweet, supple pork flesh doused in a rich crimson sauce bejeweled with fine black pepper dots. There's a cinnamon-y finish that leaves your fingertips smelling like a world where cholesterol is myth and caloric obsession, an abomination. The barbecue is served with a couple of slices of white bread -- a naked sponge cake for those who love the sauce just as much, (if not more than), the meat. Owner Jack Homes opened the venue 14 years ago as a tribute to the recipes of his late grandmother Lucy Palmer -- a native of Brunswick, Ga., who worked as a Miami-Dade metro bus driver for 25 years.

BBQ scene in Miami is smoking hot [Miami Herald]

Cita’s Italian Chophouse opens today in Coconut Grove. We can’t wait to try it, particularly since owner Ed Benitez is also bringing on board pastry chef Antonio Bachour (ex- of Nobu, Talula and DeVito). The Grove can pose difficulties for even the best of restaurateurs (the fabulous Christabelle’s Quarter was pitifully empty for brunch this weekend), but Benitez’s heart appears to be fully invested in the endeavor. “I wanted to create the kind of restaurant that I would visit regularly and welcome as a part of my community. I was emphatic about creating a concept where the food quality and service were absolute top-of-the-line, with an atmosphere as down-to-earth as the Grove itself,” he says. The 1,475 square foot restaurant was built out and designed by Benitez himself, who is also an avid fisherman. Cita’s will be serving premium cuts of beef, day boat fish selections and pastas made in-house daily.

These are the restaurant hours:
Dinner, Sunday – Thursday, 5 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. - midnight.
Brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

If you beat us to sampling it, don’t forget to report back!

Cita's Italian Chophouse [Official Site]

We reported just yesterday that the folks behind Joley are temporarily running the restaurant at The Sagamore. But today we learned that rumor has it that its replacement will be an outpost of event empresario Barton G's restaurant. What a perfect fit — his artistic culinary creations (check out his Sashimi Snow Cones and Crispy Popcorn Shrimp) are perfectly paired to SoBe's "Art Hotel"...

The Sagamore [Official Site]
Joley Running The Restaurant At The Sagamore [MP: South Florida]
Barton G [MenuPages]
Barton G [Official Site]

We've got three new steakhouses coming our way, because clearly we have not yet had our fill of red meat. These really seem like the wrong types of places to be opening during a recession, right? Anyway, here they are:

• Morton's hasn't quite saturated the market enough, despite the recent opening of the branch in Coral Gables. A new Morton's will open up in The Crown apartment building on 40th Street and Collins Avenue on Miami Beach sometime either late this year or early next year. We imagine it'll likely be the latter. The company is also planning to open its first branch in Broward County later this year in the Broward Financial Center in Fort Lauderdale.

• BLT Steak, Laurent Tourondel's take on the American steakhouse, has chosen Miami Beach as its fifth location. It'll be located inside the Betsy Hotel. We made a couple of phone calls, but no one could give any specific information about the progress of the restaurant, except that it will be opening in the fall.

• Cita's Italian Chophouse definitely has an opening date: July 22. It's opening at 3176 Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove. The focus, we're told, will be premium cuts of beef, fresh fish and homemade pastas. We're still working on getting a menu, but here are a few sample dishes: veal-pork-beef meatballs topped with whipped ricotta, fried basil and tomato sauce; papardelle with beef tenderloin, porcini mushrooms and wild herbs in a Cognac sauce; short ribs marinated in Barolo for 24 hours before being braised topped with whipped ricotta; and for dessert, something called chocolate sabotage, a sampling of five chocolate desserts.

A tipster who chatted up Chef John Suley of at the mango festival last weekend let us know that Grand Crew Restaurant Group, the company behind Cafe Joley and Joley Restaurant is currently running the restaurant in the old Social spot. So we called up the hotel and got confirmation; Grand Crew is in there temporarily, until the hotel can find a more permanent tenant. In the meantime, it's going by the name of the Sagamore Restaurant.

UPDATE: We just received a copy of the menu. Looks like it's just a $38 three-course prix fixe. Entree options are: grilled chicken breast with garlic potato puree, sauteed spinach and honey shallot sauce; steak frites, hangar steak and bearnaise sauce; seared halibut, forbidden rice mushrooms with sake sesame sauce; and pappardelle with goat cheese, peas, lemon olive oil and basil. We'll have the rest of the menu online tomorrow.

Cafe Joley [MenuPages]
Cafe Joley [Official Site]
Joley Restaurant [MenuPages]
Sagamore Hotel [Official Site]

Didn't get your fill of Fourth of July celebrations? Move on to French national festivities.

In honor of France’s fête nationale, Bastille Day, the Biltmore’s French restaurant Palme D'Or will host a succulent feast tonight led by native French Chef Philippe Ruiz, who has created a five-course menu accompanied by wine pairings.

The evening’s festivities will also include a complimentary glass of Perrrier-Jouet Champagne upon arrival, live entertainment by French Canadian singer Manon Robert, and a commemorative gift courtesy of the hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef Olivier Rodriguez. Call 305-913-3203. Dinner is $69 per person; with wine pairing $119.00 per person plus tax and gratuity.

Palme D'Or [MenuPages]
Palme D'Or [Official Site]

This China Grill Management restaurant has been scaling down operations for the past month, but this week was the former hot spot's last. Even the bar at Social Miami at Sagamore, which remained open as the dining section was slowly dismantled, is officially closed now (although you can still get a drink at the Sagamore Hotel-operated bar near the lobby area). We wonder what new venture will take its place?

Social Miami at Sagamore [MenuPages]
Social Miami at Sagamore [Official Site]

You all know that the Mango Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is happening this weekend, right? We went last year and had a lovely time, although unfortunately this year we won't be able to make it. It's worth the entrance fee just to see the vast collection of mangos on display, despite the fact that it was difficult fighting the temptation to grab one, peel it and dig right in.

This year's festival theme is "Mangos of Africa," and among the curator's choice selections are two cultivars from South Africa and one from Egypt. There will be different varieties of mango to sample, mango trees to buy for your own backyard, and all sorts of dishes made with mangos by local chefs.

And in honor of the mango festival, we present Chef Allen Susser demonstrating how to best cut a mango:

Mango Festival at Fairchild [Official Site]
Mangos Mangos Everywhere! [MP: South Florida]
Chef Allen's [MenuPages]
Chef Allen's [Official Site]

Aromas del Peru [MenuPages]
Aromas del Peru [Official Site]

Photo: Masala Cha/flickr

Gail Shepherd over at the New Times brought our attention to the regional locavore guide in the latest issue of Food & Wine. The magazine tapped local expert Allen Susser of Chef Allen's for information. He has some excellent suggestions, although what most interested us was the part about how he trades free meals with his customers in exchange for mangoes from their backyards. You've probably got to bring a whole bunch of mangoes, but we've seen how many fruits these local trees produce — that shouldn't be a problem.

Food & Wine's Guide for Florida Locavores [Short Order]
Locavore Resources: Southeast [Food & Wine]
Chef Allen's [MenuPages]
Chef Allen's [Official Site]

Photo: Nancy Galdo/flickr

Can’t wait until Miami Spice for the opportunity to experience the city’s best dining without denting your wallet? The eating extravaganza is still a month away, but 1 Bleu at The Regent is offering a Miami Spice Preview menu Mondays through Thursdays through the month of July. The promotion invites diners to experience a three-course meal at the Cordon Bleu-affiliated destination for $23 for lunch and $36 for dinner.

Dinner appetizers include choices such as Hawaiian yellowfin tuna carpaccio, Serrano ham with melon, and a salad of organic greens, wild berries, toasted almonds and crumbled feta cheese. Second course selections include Florida grouper served in a salsa verde, alongside clams, sweet peas and a potato confit; and a fragrant civet of duck served with lentils and citrus scented salmon with carnaroli. For dessert, choose from a Bleu Chocolate Bar served with chocolate mousse or coconut almond ice cream and Greek yogurt panna cotta, complemented by a wild berry consommé and honey tuile.

1 Bleu [MenuPages]
1 Bleu [Official Site]

Forgive my enthusiasm, but nothing brings out my inner cheerleader like sushi that thrills both my palate and my wallet. The new RA Sushi outpost in South Miami, which opened last week, satisfies both of those requirements. I've been to Ra Sushi before, at the chain's Palm Beach Gardens location, but my memories of that visit consist of a room that was cavernous but largely empty, and rolls that weren't bad, but weren't memorable either. Either the menu's changed, or this location is spicing things up, because my Saturday afternoon dining experience was excellent.

For a brand new spot, I was surprised at how many people were there at 3:30 pm. I was also pleasantly surprised at the attentive staff, who didn't let a water glass remain unfilled or an empty dish sit on the table for more than a few seconds. Upon introducing herself, the waitress immediately explained to us that the restaurant has two different kitchens, and that items from the hot and cold menus will come out at different times and independently of each other, so that we could plan our meal accordingly.

I wasn't terribly hungry on my visit, so I've yet to try several of the dishes that were calling out to me (Pineapple Cheese Wontons and Scallop Tempura, I'll be back for you!). But my Tunacado — slices of barely-seared Ahi tuna paired with just-ripe avocado — was light, healthy and tasted heaven-sent, particularly since I've been mourning the disappearance of a similar dish from Domo Japones' salad list). My husband's Viva Las Vegas roll was a mouthful (steer clear of it on a first date), but its spicy kick was well worth the disdainful look I received from fellow diners after trying to eat a piece in a single bite.

It was too early for cocktails on my visit, but the drink prices almost tempted me into indulging in a midday happy hour. The martinis were almost all $8, and the signature drinks were $7. Bottoms up!

RA Sushi [MenuPages]
RA Sushi [Official Site]

Kitchen 305 recently opened up at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort, in the space previously occupied by Chef Michael Blum's Michael's Kitchen. The 3,200-square-foot eatery is outfitted with an open kitchen, eight-person chef’s table, 100-inch flat screen and a 40-foot bar. Check it out for yourself during this cooking demo, summer prix-fixe menu launch and book signing by celeb chef Marc Cummings.

Celebrity chef Marc Cummings, a trained and certified Master Chef at the prestigious Cordon Bleu in Paris and author of Tastes of the World: 50 Original Recipes for World Class Entertaining, will make a special guest appearance on July 11 and July 12 to launch the Kitchen 305 summer prix-fixe menu, which will be available through the end of August.

The four-course, $24 menu ($36 with wine-pairings) includes the signature Blue Medal Caesar Salad, which has been awarded five Blue Medals by the Master Instructors at the Cordon Bleu; a 22-Minute Parmesan Shrimp Risotto, a dish that won top in its competition against rivals of the Cordon Bleu, the Escoffier of Paris, and a So, So Juicy Rosemary Chicken in Brown Butter. Save room for dessert, a homemade Not Your Grandma’s Strawberry Shortcake topped with a Grand Marnier Cream.

Chef Marc Cummings will demo the menu to the public on Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30 pm. Added entertainment includes chef trade secrets — like how to cut an onion without letting your eyes water — followed by a cookbook signing. Tastes of the World will be available for purchase for $15.

Cooking demos begin at 7:30 pm Friday, July 11, 2008 and Saturday, July 12, 2008. For reservations, please call 305.749.2110.

Kitchen 305 [MenuPages]
Kitchen 305 [Official Site]

Chocoholics can't quite complain about Peterbrooke Chocolatier's modus operandi. The Jacksonville, FL-born chocolate company dips everything from Oreos and pretzels to potato chips and s'mores in mouth-watering European chocolate. According to the company, they're even the people who invented chocolate-covered popcorn. Now, Peterbrooke is posing a threat to waistlines across Coral Gables, with the opening this week of its sweet shop at 227 Aragon Avenue (305-446-3131). On top of all the diet damage it already poses, the chocolatier plans to remain open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, just in case any of us should suffer from a late-night case of the munchies. Somebody please get me a bigger pair of pants!

Peterbrooke Chocolatier [Official Site]

As much as you hate to waste a perfect-for-a-getaway three-day weekend, astronomical airfares and gas prices have you grounded this 4th of July. But just because you’re staying in town doesn’t mean you’re doomed to trying to figure out the mechanics of that long-forgotten grill that’s lurking somewhere in your garage (let’s face it: fireworks are much more fun when they’re intentional). There are plenty of local festivities that offer barbecue and picnic opportunities—but we’ve rounded up the ones with grub so good you’ll be seeing stars:

Acqualina’s Annual 4th of July Barbeque: The celebration takes place at Costa Grill (pictured below), the resort’s Hamptons-style beachfront dining option, and will feature a full barbeque from the restaurant, as well as pasta selections from Acqualina’s other to-die-for dining spot, Il Mulino. 12pm-4pm. Tickets are $55 for adults and $27.50 for children. 305.534.0081 ext 14. 17875 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach.

Coconut Grove July 4th Celebration: The idyllic Grove streets will be packed with people this Friday, as well as the usual suspects: food stands, music and fireworks. The part that packs a punch? The neighborhood tradition includes a hot dog eating contest. 4pm-10pm. Free. 305.221.9395. Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Rd., Coconut Grove.

4th of July Family Fest: If hot dog consumption isn’t where you excel, show off your grill skills at this fest’s Rib Cook-Off contest. There will also be a live reggae concert with Inner Circle, and fireworks after dark. 4pm-9pm. Free. 305.634.5791. Charles Hadley Park, 1350 N.W. 50th St., Miami.

Upper Eastside Miami’s 11th Annual 4th of July Celebration: This family-friendly gathering features children’s rides, music, fireworks—and, if you’re seeking to inspire your tots to pick up some domestic traits, lunch prepared by the Boy Scouts. At 7pm, Taste Catering will deliver dinner. Event is free, dinner is $15. 6445 N.E. 7th Ave. at Biscayne Boulevard.

Regent Bal Harbour 4th of July Celebration: Beat the heat at Aqua Soleil, the ultraluxe Regent Bal Harbour’s poolside eatery, with a “casual” buffet menu consisting of Kobe burgers, grilled skirt steak and other delectable bites. 12pm-10pm. Tickets are $65 per person. 305.445.5400. 10295 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour.

Gigi and Liza Meoli, the owners of Ouzo's Mediterranean Bistro, likely need a shot of the Greek liqueur after which their Mediterranean dining spot is named. Last September, the couple traded a locale on 71st Street on Miami Beach for a new space in Sunset Harbour—a piece of prime real estate that came with a hefty $30,000 lease. But this spring, Florida Power & Light erected construction fences that virtually block access to the restaurant, as the company works on the electrical transmission lines between Overtown and West Avenue.

Liza Meoli told the Miami SunPost that restaurant activity dropped from an average Friday-night revenue of $8,000 from 150 customers, to a meager $2,000 from 40 customers. Meoli also told the paper that they had to borrow money from friends to make rent one month, and that they were late on their lease payment the following month.

But who better than restaurateurs to make lemonade (or rather, a lemonade stand) out of lemons? In order to boost business, the Meolis created Mystery Mondays: an undisclosed five-course menu served on that day and which will change every week. With executive chef Pablo Cittadini at the helm and signature dishes that range from grilled octopus to a whole Mediterranean dorada, we can’t wait to be surprised.

Collateral Damage [Miami SunPost]
Ouzo's Mediterranean Bistro [MenuPages]
Ouzo's Mediterranean Bistro [Official Site]

You know you’ve found real Cuban comfort food when your plate is piled high with greasy goodness and the only green comes from a wedge of lime. In Westchester, Rio Cristal has been serving up platters of mariquitas and mojo, bacalao a la vizcaina, masas de puerco, and palomilla steak for over 25 years. The unassuming place offers down home cooking and a relaxed family atmosphere. When I have out of town guests, Rio Cristal always makes the itinerary for its authentic criollo cooking and more than generous portions.

One of my family’s favorite moments at Rio Cristal comes when our unsuspecting guest is served the house specialty — a Rio Cristal palomilla steak and French fries (pictured). You can barely see the steak under all the golden hand-cut fries. Their eyes usually bug out of their heads and hands anxiously pat the paunch, as if checking capacity. After a good laugh, the waiter brings over an extra plate for the fries and everyone tucks in.

Other family favorites include the pollo a la plancha, a butterflied chicken breast flattened even further on the grill, the bacalao, salted codfish in a tomato-based sauce, and, of course, the black beans and rice. Despite our bulging bellies, we always find room for dessert and rarely miss out on Rio Cristal’s creamy flan de leche.

Rio Cristal [Official Site]

El Novillo has long been one of my family's favorite restaurants to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or special event. The decor of the restaurant instantly transports you to another time and place, where you feel as though you have been invited dine at a Nicaraguan hacienda.

A special occasion dinner always starts with a pitcher of sangria and a plate of assorted appetizers. The sangria is not too sweet, just how we like it and the variety of the appetizers ensures that everyone will find something that they like, whether it is the kielbasa, spare ribs, beans and tortilla, taquitos, fried cheese, or my favorite: vigoron, Nicaraguan cole slaw with yuca and chicharron. Most main courses provide a protein served with a trio of tasty sides, plantain chips, sweet plantains, and gallo pinto (red beans and rice), as well as a side salad. The restaurant's signature dish is the churrasco steak which comes in three sizes: the 8 oz. "Baby," 12 oz. "El Novillo," and the 16 oz. "Big Daddy". My family also likes the chicken churrasco and the Nicaraguan fajitas, but we recommend avoiding the Medallions Marchand de Vin as the sauce masks the flavor of the meat. When we have room, we also order the tres leches, which is, without exception, one of the best tres leches commercially available in Miami.

El Novillo [MenuPages]
El Novillo [Official Site]

Yesterday we had lunch at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink. Michael's is always a pleasure from the service down to the dollop of whip cream on your dessert, and yesterday was no exception. At 12:30, the restaurant was bustling and we were seated at the at the adjacent art gallery that serves as a second dining room. Trying to be virtuous, we ordered the spicy beef salad and were pleasantly surprised to find that it contained an equal ratio of roughage to beef. The perfectly cooked beef sat on a bed of tender napa cabbage curls marinated in spicy kimchee. Micro-greens cooled the palate adding a sophisticated crunch. Bites from our significant other's caprese sandwich, made with heirloom tomatos and a piece of baguette good enough to eat on its own, also soothed the burn. A side order of broccoli rabe seemed well cooked, but less flavorful, although this may just have been the result of comparing it to the heightened flavor of the beef salad.

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [MenuPages]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [Official Site]

Looks like Artfish on the Mile is gone, according to some very observant chowhounds. It's a shame, because we heard that it was really quite good. But it's not surprising, given this exceptionally slow summer and the insanely high rents on the Mile. It didn't even last a year.

Coral Gables 6/24/08 Dinner $25-35 p/p (w/o alcohol). What's a hot spot for that kind of money? [Chowhound]
Artfish on the Mile [MenuPages]

Conventional supermarkets may provide convenient and reliable shopping, but they lack personality and charm. However, there are a few hold-outs from the old days that forgo air-conditioning for local flavor. These markets may not have menus, but they do serve up some signature dishes.

El Palacio de los Jugos: Located on the northwest corner of Flagler and 57th Avenue, this market has all the criollo goodies you can ask for. Watch a man hack open a coconut with a machete, buy freshly made cheese and guava sandwiches, or chew on the best chicharrónes in Miami. 5721 W Flagler St, 305-264-4557

Pinecrest Wayside Market (pictured): Order fresh juices and yogurt muffins to go or sit underneath the oak trees to pass the time. 10070 SW 57th Ave, 305-661-6717

Robert is Here: A Redland classic, Robert is Here has been around for over 45 years selling the finest Redland tropical fruit. The Redland revitalization program now makes this place easier to find; just follow the signs. 19200 SW 344th St in Homestead, 305-246-1592

Knaus Berry Farm: Run by the Mennonites, this bakery/farmer’s market makes a mean cinnamon bun and an even better strawberry shake. A South Florida favorite, the farm is only open through the winter growing season, but it is certainly something to put on your radar. 15980 SW 248th Street, 305-247-0668

It's weird to see how little is left of the Orange Bowl. Sad too. We accidentally drove past it recently and were surprised to see how much had been taken down. We knew it was coming down, but it didn't register until we turned onto NW 6th Street and were up close and personal with the crumbling stadium.

But, enough about the past. We're writing today about the future of the site, which will soon be the Marlins' new home. It's not the best site for a baseball stadium (no public transit!), but, well, Orange Bowl it is! Of course, team ownership is expecting that the stadium will usher in some sort of renewal of the neighborhood:

The vision is to create growth and development with shops and restaurants surrounding the new Marlins home, which is scheduled to open in 2011.

"The stadium is going to spur baseball-related development, and it's going to change Little Havana," [team president David] Samson said. "It's Little Havana's turn. That whole area is going to become like a redesign area."

One reader from Ireland caught Samson's attention with a request to include an Irish pub in the ballpark.

Considering that the stadium is being built in the heart of Little Havana, Samson replied: "Do Irish pubs serve Cuban coffee?"

"I didn't get a response back," Samson said.

Another reader suggested the building of a restaurant in the ballpark, similar to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, where people can enter from the street.

"I can picture a restaurant where you can enter both inside and outside the stadium," Samson said. "I don't know if that is going to happen yet. That is something that has been suggested."

Here's what we'd love to see inside the ballpark: a concourse with outposts of local restaurants similar to that of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. We're thinking Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, arepas and mariquitas would make excellent ballpark food. A good fish fry place would be great too; we remember enjoying some excellent fried fish at PNC Park while taking in a Pirates game. And we bet an inside-the-park Pollo Tropical would do very well.

Marlins working on new stadium visuals [MLB]

We've failed to mention the Miami Spice preview until now, mainly because we've been poring over the menus, comparing them to regular menus, trying to find the best deals. We did find lots of variations on pan-seared red snapper and grilled mahi-mahi, in addition to a number of versions of panna cotta. We were also pleased to note quite a few chilled dessert fruit soups, of which we're fond. Also common: an entree of organic/free-range roasted chicken. We'd probably steer away from it, since we've found it's very easy and inexpensive to roast a chicken at home.

For highlights from this year's Spice preview, click on the jump. Keep in mind that the [lunch] and [dinner] links at the end of each item are .pdf files of the restaurant's Miami Spice tasting menu.

Continue reading "Your Unofficial Guide To The Miami Spice Preview" »

If the thought of Miami’s punishing summer heat gives you hives, here are a few places to cool off and indulge in some frosty treats. These ice cream shops are independently owned and have their own unique personalities.

Whip n’ Dip Ice Cream Shoppe: Serving happy customers since 1985, this family-owned ice cream shop hand makes all of its ice creams, cookies, cakes, and novelties. Flavors change frequently as fresh batches run out. Whip n' Dip also serves light creams for the calorie conscious.

Wall’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream: Keeps it retro with a 1950s theme and thick, creamy ice cream hand scooped into crunchy waffle cones. Any ice cream can also be blended into a shake with your choice of toppings. With a large parking lot and ample seating, Wall's is a great place to go with a group of kids or grown-ups acting that way. (8075 SW 67th Ave in South Miami, 305-740-9830)

Soli Organic: For guilt-free ice cream indulgence, Soli Organic provides all the flavor and creaminess without added pesticides and sugar. By using agave nectar as a sweetener, instead of sugar, owner and ice cream designer Jorge Garcia reduces the number of calories in the ice cream without sacrificing taste. A commitment to organic ingredients also makes Soli one of the greenest ice cream shops in town.

Whip n’ Dip Ice Cream Shoppe [Official Site]
Soli Organic [Official Site]

We've got two openings of note today. First, the much-anticipated Philippe is now serving food at the new South Beach hotel Gansevoort South. It's fitting that the southern outpost of this posh Manhattan hotel would also feature a New York restaurant. The menu will most likely very closely resemble that of the original restaurant in New York, which specializes in peking duck.

The Capital Grille also opens today in Palm Beach Gardens. The steakhouse chain already has locations in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, so with this new opening, it's saturated the South Florida market.

Menus for both restaurants should be online tomorrow.

Philippe, 2305 Collins Ave in Miami Beach, 305-674-0250
The Capital Grille, 11365 Legacy Ave in Palm Beach Gardens, 561-630-4994

Gansevoort South [Official Site]
Philippe Chow [Official Site]
The Capital Grille [Official Site]

We had a craving for Asian food for lunch and decided to check out RA Sushi in South Miami only to find that it won't open until June 27. Disappointed, but still hankering for some soy sauce, we pulled out the umbrellas and hiked over to Origin Asian Bistro & Sushi. This turned out to be an excellent decision. Friendly service and reasonable prices always make us happy, especially when the establishment offers many flavors for the price of one. All lunch specials include soup or salad, rice, and crispy dumplings. The lunch combos take flavor and value up a notch by adding crispy chicken wings, fried rice, and a four piece California roll to your choice of one of four entrees for under $15. We tried the curry chicken and found it to be very flavorful and just a little bit spicy. For more heat, try chicken or beef in basil sauce. We were especially impressed by the quality of the greens served with the side salad. Most sushi restaurants offer iceberg lettuce, shredded carrot, and tomato wedges, but Origin's salads carry anti-oxidant rich dark greens like baby spinach and crispy bean sprouts for a much appreciated change. Even though the atmosphere is sophisticated enough for a date night, families can also enjoy Origin as they are quite kid-friendly and have an isolated side room perfect for containing the newly mobile.

Origin Asian Bistro & Sushi [MenuPages]
Origin Asian Bistro & Sushi [Official Site]

We've spent much of the past few days processing new menus, which, as you might imagine, can get a little monotonous. But every once in a while, a menu comes along that makes us laugh. Enter Madrono, a Nicaraguan restaurant on 107th and Flagler which is listed on the site as of this morning. First, the menu is 11 pages long, and one page is devoted to listing the house rules, which appear in both English and Spanish. Because this is the kind of stuff that is generally not included on the online menu, we thought we'd list it here (just the English version) for your enjoyment:

• ID is required in order to process your credit card
• $10 minimum per credit card
• No personal checks accepted
• We do not seat incomplete parties
• No smoking
• No substitutions
• Soliciting is prohibited
• No pets allowed
• We are not responsible for lost or stolen items
• No outside food or drinks allowed
• A gratuity of 15% is automatically added to all checks*
• Only two seperate [sic] checks per table. Please advise your waiter before ordering
• We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone
• Proper attire required
• Alcoholic beverages will only be served with your food
• Cake cutting service $1.00 per person
• Restrooms are only for our customers
• Corkage fee $15.00

They range from the perfectly reasonable ($10 credit card minimum, no soliciting, no personal checks) to the annoying (automatic tip included in the check, cake cutting fee per person). Personally, we think it's a bit of a turnoff to be greeted by such a long set of rules while ordering dinner. Then again, we appreciate the owners' desire to set everyone straight from the beginning, so that there's no confusion when the check comes. We just wonder what kinds of scenarios have made them feel the need to dedicate an entire page of the menu to this long list of rules.

Madrono [MenuPages]

* This rule is in large text and written in English, Spanish and what appears to be Creole.

Miami’s pizzas may not be as famous as Chicago or New York style pizzas, nor do they have one signature element that ties them all together, but they do reflect Miami’s multicultural and Latin American influences. Here are a few of southwest Miami-Dade's signature pizza shops.

Frankie's Pizza: Owned by the Pasquarella family, this one location pizzeria has been in business for over 50 years. There signature 1950s-style sign has been an icon on Bird Road for years. Their pizza has a thick chewy crust which complements the hearty sauce and toppings. Frankie’s famous pizza is also available “half-baked” for shipping cross country or just the short drive to your home for the ultimate in freshness.

Casola's Pizzeria & Sub Shop: First started by Ramon Casola and Agustin Bunuel, both from Massachusetts, the pizzeria has been open for over 25 years. They serve a truly enormous slice of pizza loaded with toppings. Casola’s is also open late making it a popular spot with the after hours crowd. Unlike Frankie’s, Casola’s offers ample seating at long picnic tables in their dining room.

Graziano's Pizzeria: A more upscale pizza parlor that doubles as a fully stocked wine store, although right now the many delicious bottles of wine only taunt you from the shelves as you eat your pizza; Graziano’s is currently reapplying for its liquor license. Once they complete the process, servers will happily uncork your choice of red or white tableside. If you aren’t in the mood for pizza, Graziano’s also serves excellent salads, paninis and gelato. Graziano's Alla Romana Pizza is pictured to the right.

Montes de Oca Original Pizza Cubana: Pizza gets a Cuban-style makeover at this family-owned restaurant. The sauce is distinctly criollo, but the cheese and bread are true to traditional pizza. Another purveyor of Cuban style pizza is Rey’s Pizza with nine locations in Miami. While Cuban pizza may be an acquired taste, the price makes training your taste buds easy.

Frankie's Pizza [MenuPages]
Casola's Pizzeria & Sub Shop [MenuPages]
Graziano's Pizzeria [MenuPages]

There aren’t too many restaurants in Miami that serve upscale Mexican food, but Poblano Cocina Mexicana fills that niche in South Miami. Bottle blue and terracotta dominate the décor and lend a sophisticated Mexican flair to the dining room, while a wall mounted candelabra burns next to the bar. The meal begins with a complimentary dish of home-fried tortilla chips, refried bean dip, and pico de gallo. We also ordered an appetizer of guacamole, which came topped with three fried pork rind spears. Although the richness of the pork rinds paired nicely with the citrusy guacamole, the portion served by Poblano is a bit stingy for the price. We tried the green enchiladas, very tasty chicken wrapped in a classic poblano sauce and topped with a cheese sauce. The enchiladas come with a side of rice, which reminded us of Uncle Ben’s with butter. We suggest stirring in some of the green sauce to heighten the taste. The steak tacos (pictured) keep it simple with charred beef, red onions, cilantro, cotija cheese, and two dipping sauces. Although we didn’t try dessert, we would have loved to taste the Mexican coffee, a version of Irish coffee with tequila instead of whiskey.

Poblano Cocina Mexicana [MenuPages]
Poblano Cocina Mexicana [Official Site]

The early bird gets the crispiest croissant at Morning Call Bakery. Located on Sunset Drive between US-1 and 57th avenue, this retail bakery store offers a wide variety of classic baked goods like croissants, blueberry scones, and artisanal breads as well as local goodies like Mischa’s cupcakes. The bakery does not make any of the goods on premises, but serves as a nexus for area chefs to bring their products to consumers. We visited Morning Call for dessert just this week and found the service to be friendly and efficient. The barista also gave us the scoop on deliveries: breads and croissants are delivered at 5 a.m. still warm from the baker; Mischa's cupcakes arrive after 10 a.m. in all flavors; scones are devoured by 11 a.m., but you can call and reserve your favorite flavor ahead of time. A red velvet Mischa cupcake paired nicely with a steaming soy latte, and we also tasted the grilled chicken sandwich with mayo, balsamic vinaigrette, Swiss cheese, fresh greens and tomato on focaccia bread. The robust sandwich more than exceeded our expectations and was certainly worth the price. The hearty portions are almost enough for two people.

Morning Call Bakery [MenuPages]
Mischa’s Cupcakes [Official Site]

When three of the James Beard Award nominees in the Best Chef: South category were from South Florida, one of them was bound to bring home the prize. And last night, that's exactly what Michelle Bernstein of Michy's did. She beat out Zach Bell of Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach, Douglas Rodriguez of Ola in Miami Beach, John Currence of City Grocery in Oxford, Miss., and Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club in Birmingham, Ala.

Congratulations Chef Bernstein!

James Beard Award nominees and winners [Official Site]
Michy's [MenuPages]
Cafe Boulud [Official Site]
Ola [Official Site]
City Grocery[Official Site]
Hot and Hot Fish Club [Official Site]

Photo, of Bernstein on Check Please!: Channel 2

Karu & Y is officially closed, for good this time. Despite the talk of re-opening the restaurant with a new menu, we had a feeling that wasn't going to happen, especially in this market. The Miami Herald reports today that the club/lounge is joining the restaurant's shuttered status:

Celeb not-so-hot spot Karu & Y is way done.

The $25 million downtown Miami restaurant closed in February and now Y Ultralounge, the other glitzy half of the complex, has shuttered its doors, too.

Opened in September 2006, Karu never could seem to shake the fact that it was on the edge of an impoverished section of Overtown. High-end patrons often had to be escorted to their cars by bodyguards, and kids on bikes peddled around the entrance asking for money.

Attempts to contact the restaurant/lounge owners were unsuccessful.

Karu's former publicist, Susan Brustman, had high hopes when the restaurant opened, saying then: ''In other cities, restaurants have turned neighborhoods around,'' she said.

Karu & Y: Stick a fork in it [Miami Herald]
More News On The Karu & Y Closing [MP: South Florida]
Closed: Karu Restaurant & Y [MP: South Florida]

Our satisfying lunch at The Fish House the other day got us to thinking about some of the other elbows-on-the-table seafood spots which don't often land on the radar of tourists or even long-time residents of Miami. These fish houses are safe, affordable and reliable. A great fish lunch or dinner is never too far away or too expensive.
Here are some of our favorites:

Disco Fish: Don't let the name fool you this isn't a cheesy eighties-style night club. Disco Fish serves super fresh seafood and reasonable prices. They even have their own fish market inside. Some of our favorites are the seafood soup, the fried majuas (bite-sized sardines fried whole), and the whole fried snapper. Come ready to practice your Spanish skills and enjoy the casual atmosphere.

La Camaronera: Offers fresh fish and reasonably priced meals. After some fried fish or camarones enchilados, you can head to Lucerne Bakery for a cortadito and some sweets to finish your meal. One caveat, the restaurant just changed hands and we haven't had a chance to try the new cook's handiwork. Comments about recent visits would be greatly appreciated.

Cayo Esquivel : A chain version of the criollo mom-and-pop fish house, you can try their fried conch and bacalao (codfish) fritters for a few small bills as well as the fresh fried fish. The dining room in Cayo Esquivel is also significantly larger than either Disco Fish's or La Camaronera's, which makes it a better choice for large groups.

Jimbo's Place: Tucked away in Virginia Key, Jimbo's has been selling smoked fish to its hungry customers for years. Although Jimbo's has a pretty limited menu (smoked fish, soda, and beer), visiting this place is more about a little known piece of South Florida history and the atmosphere. Bocce ball and frequent celebrity photo shoots make this a unique place to visit.

If you don't see your favorite fish house on this list, we would love to hear about it. Leave us a comment!

Fish House Opens In Dadeland [MP: South Florida]
The Fish House [Official Site]
Disco Fish [MenuPages]
La Camaronera Fish Market, 1952 W Flager St in Miami, 305-642-3322
Cayo Esquivel [MenuPages]
Jimbo's Place [Official Site]

Titanic Brewery & Restaurant shares little with its eponymous and ill-fated seafarer. Good food and award-winning micro-brewed beer, crafted on premise, keep this University of Miami favorite afloat. Although in our opinion the beer is better than the food, there are a few dishes worth coming back for even if you don't indulge in the potent potables. For starters, try the crawfish and andouille bisque in a cup or bowl. There are chunks of crawfish and sausage in a savory broth. If you are in the mood to be healthy, you can't go wrong with the classic Greek salad. Titanic uses a creamy feta and doesn't skimp on the olives or the spicy peppers. If you are looking for something a bit more substantial, try one of the po' boys, shrimp or soft shell crab, with a sweet remoulade. Beside food and great beer, Titanic also offers nightly entertainment featuring rock, blues and even karaoke. Titanic's proximity to the University of Miami, right across the street from Mark Light Field makes it a handy stop before any Canes baseball or basketball game. Limited parking is available in the rear.

Titanic Brewery & Restaurant [MenuPages]
Titanic Brewery & Restaurant [Official Site]

South Miami has its own little French Quarter under the blue roof just south of Sunset Place on 57th avenue. You can culinarily channel Paris for a day and have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in French style.

Start your morning off with brioche and coffee at Le Royal French Bakery, or if you are feeling indulgent, have a fruit tart (these are best in the morning when the shortbread crust is still crispy). Take a baguette and croissant for an afternoon snack.

After shopping at Country French and the boutiques across the street, come back to La Crepe Bistro for lunch. Their sweet and savory crepes are individually made to order and their hot chocolate is made the old-fashioned way by melting chocolate morsels down into slowly simmered milk. We recommend the vegetarian crepe, loads of creamy goat cheese with savory portobella mushrooms and tomatos.

Savor your baguette and croissant as an afternoon snack and take a long walk to build up an appetite for Cafe Pastis. We recommend the steamed mussels in white wine sauce. Bon apetit!

Le Royal French Bakery [MenuPages]
La Crepe Bistro [MenuPages]
Cafe Pastis [MenuPages]
Cafe Pastis [Official Site]

The Coral Gables Restaurant Week is almost upon us, so now is a good time to peruse menus and start making dinner reservations. There are quite a few restaurants participating, so in order to save you a little time, we went through each and every one of the menus and picked out the ones we found most interesting and provided the best bang for your buck. (Note: The menu links following each entry are .pdf files.)

• Caramelo: This, in our opinion, is one of the better deals. The $20 lunch menu only offers one option for each of the three courses, but it's $20 and it comes with a glass of wine. That's especially good considering the entree includes Florida grouper. Dinner, which is $35, also comes with wine included. [menu]

• California Pizza Kitchen: Lots of choices here. For $25, you get a half-portion of your choice of three salads, plus any of the pizzas on the menu and any of the desserts. [menu]

• Caffe Abbracci: The restaurant week menus don't give you too many choices, but at $24 (lunch) and $35 (dinner), they're good deals, considering the prices on the regular menu. Still, we weren't terribly excited about the offerings. [menu]

• Fleming's Prime Steakhouse: Three courses, $33.95. The first and third courses don't sound all that exciting, but those mains look good: tempura shrimp in chile aioli and pineapple mango salsa; bleu cheese-glazed filet mignon with cabernet butter sauce; and beef short ribs with herbs, spices and pan juices. [menu]

• Fritz & Franz Bierhaus is offering the same options for lunch and dinner, both for $25. Our choices would be goulash for appetizer, sausage sampler for the main, and definitely the sacher torte for dessert. [menu]

• Le Provencal definitely wins in the "most choices for entree" category. Eight entrees for lunch, ranging from the traditional Caesar salad ($9.50) to the couscous with lamb shank, lamb sausage and vegetables ($15.95). No competition there — we'll have the lamb. Appetizer options are soup of the day, salad with homemade dressing, or salmon terrine, and the dessert is whatever the kitchen has decided to make that day. [menu]

• Given the regular prices at Ortanique on the Mile, the $35 restaurant week dinner menu is a steal. Appetizer options are soup, mango salad (yes please!), or curried crab cake. For entrees, choose from jerked chicken penne pasta, butterflied spiced pork chop, or curried shrimp and diver scallops. As for dessert, there's rum cake, mango sorbet or guava cheese cake. [menu]

• When it came to the Por Fin menu, all we wanted to know was whether or not the "eggs at Por Fin" were on it. They are: only on Mondays on the lunch menu, but always on the dinner menu. That short ribs entree sounds good too. The dinner menu is $38. [menu]

• You can get mango risotto (arroz con mango!) at Two Sisters as a lunch appetizer. Entree options are skirt steak, with chimichurri of course, seared mahi mahi and roast chicken, all for $24. [menu]

Coral Gables Restaurant Week [Official Site]

The girls and I stopped in at Abokado for a late night bite of sushi while enjoying a night out at Mary Brickell village. When we first walked down the stairs and over into the quieter interior pavilion, we were confused by the merging outdoor seating of Blu and Abokado. Italian sushi, anyone? Both restaurants had no tables left outside, but the insides were relatively empty. We decided on sushi instead of pizza and were soon seated inside Abokado's posh dining room. The menu is innovative and extensive, but a bit pricey for the amount of food you receive. We opted for the chilled soba noodle salad. The buckwheat noodles soaked up the tasty poblano-miso viniagrette and julienne vegetables and sprouts added a nice crunch. At $8.00, this item doesn't break the bank and leaves you with room for an entree or a roll. The girls all ordered rolls from Abokado's list of signature rolls named playfully in the Asian Pan-Latin style of the restaurant — Amaya, Revolucion, Malinche and Bossa Nova. The Temptation roll was particularly tasty bringing together to of our sushi house favorites, shrimp tempura topped with spicy tuna.

Abokado [MenuPages]
Abokado [Official Site]

Remember when Paula at Mango & Lime provided us with a sneak peek of Fratelli Lyon back in February? Well, it's finally opening today for lunch and dinner. Check out Paula's post for descriptions of the food; here, we're just going to give you a sampling of a few items from the menu which we think are interesting. The entire menu will be available on MenuPages South Florida tomorrow.

• We're salivating just reading the "antipasti - salumi" section: mortadella, coppa, sopressata, bresaola, prosciutto di parma, finocchiona and speck. The "antipasti - formaggi" features cheeses that hail from Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany, Parma and Val D'Aosta. We're intrigued by "la tur," a slightly-aged triple milk cheese (cow, goat and sheep) from Piedmont.

• Where there is good cheese, we expect there is good pizza. The menu offers four pizzas: margherita, quatro formaggi, ligure and amatriciana.

• And we haven't even hit the primi yet; this menu takes a while to peruse. Looking for something filling? We'd opt for the tagliatelle with braised beef and veal ragu. On the lighter side, there's spaghetti with breadcrumbs, zucchini and olive oil.

• Secondi options include roasted young chicken, calf liver, grilled hangar steak, grilled duck breast, sea bass and a seafood casserole.

The wine list is extensive too, featuring only Italian wines (of course); many are offered not only by the bottle, but in 100 mL or 250 mL portions.

Fratelli Lyon, 4141 NE 2nd Ave in Miami; 305-572-2901

Sneak peek: Fratelli Lyon [Mango & Lime]

Chef Jonathan Eismann recently re-opened Pacific Time, a longtime South Beach landmark, in the heart of the Design District. We had a chance to catch up with him between the lunch and dinner rush to ask a few questions about his new restaurant, its new home, and his favorite places to eat in Miami.

MP: How does it feel to be opening again in Miami?

JE: It feels like it did when I opened on Lincoln Road. It’s very similar. In 1993, Lincoln Road was kind of desolate; the design district is kind of desolate. You know, the best thing to happen to the Design District is Michael's. It really opened the doors. The Design District is becoming a great place for dining. There are a lot of good restaurants there.

MP: What do you consider a must try item on your menu? If we were to eat there, what couldn’t we pass up?

JE: I would say the butter-grilled asparagus or the roast leg of lamb with green herbs and goat’s milk yogurt.

MP: I know that you use a lot of local produce in your menus like Florida tomatoes or Key West pink shrimp. Have you been able to find any local beef or chicken?

JE: Not yet, I know there is some Florida beef, but I haven’t checked the quality of it and quality is very important to me.

Continue reading "Ask The Chef: Jonathan Eismann" »

Friday night is date night for many couples and this week my fiancée and I set off for The River Oyster Bar in search of some much needed private time. The restaurant space is open and airy and the bar features prominently when you walk in through the South Miami Avenue entrance. It was happy hour, so the space was loud, but the waiter seated us at a cozy corner table without too many distractions besides the menu. We did notice, and love, an oversized signed poster announcing Johnny Cash’s performance at the Jackie Gleason, hanging just beyond the curtain behind our table.

But enough about the décor, and on to the food. We ordered a variety of small plates and dessert rather than choosing an entrée. For starters, we opted for something heavy, the charcuterie plate with jamón serrano, olive salad, and cubes of manchego cheese, and something lighter, the tomato and Napa Valley goat cheese salad with arugula, walnut-basil pesto and balsalmic syrup. Both of these plates were winners, but the tomato and goat cheese salad was a knock-out. It won points for both presentation and an elegant balance of flavors. Round two of dinner was something of a disappointment. We ordered the grilled flatbread with pepperoni, fontina cheese and tomato, which seemed promising, but turned out to be greasy and bland. The second small plate, steamed mussels with coconut milk, chile, cilantro and lime, had the opposite problem: too much flavor for the delicate mussels. The heat from the chiles and the acidity of the lime just didn’t seem to complement the natural sweetness of the mussels. The River nevertheless redeemed itself with an excellent warm berry tart with strawberry ice cream and great service. I regret that we didn’t try any of the oyster dishes, but we will just have to come back.

The River Oyster Bar [MenuPages]
The River Oyster Bar [Official Site]

We had heard rave reviews about Lime Fresh Mexican Grill on Alton Road in South Beach for years, but could never spot the place on trips to South Beach. The tiny storefront and unobtrusive sign never seemed to catch our eye. This week, we swore we would find it, and thanks to a little lunch time traffic, we did! When we got there, the line stretched out the door, which isn't a huge indicator, since the actual restaurant space is quite small, but it gave us a chance to scope out the clientele. People of all walks of life happily munched away at burritos, tacos and salads, while listening to Y100. Feeling guilty for a week of indulgent eating, we opted for the South Beach burrito — a low-carb wrap, lower-fat jack and cheddar cheeses, pico de gallo and fresh lettuce. Our friend Catherine ordered the same and we were handed gigantic plastic lime slices (order numbers) to place on our table. While we waited, we soaked up the ambiance of Lime's airy and cozy outdoor patio. White and pink oleander lines the Chicago brick patio and an absolutely enormous lime green umbrella blocks the South Florida sun. Catherine summed up the laid-back atmosphere best, saying “I feel like I'm in Mexico." The burritos promptly arrived on cast-iron skillets with a side of "hot" chips, which were actually a bit soggy and lukewarm, but they served the purpose of transporting the excellent guacamole to our mouths. The South Beach burrito tasted a bit bland, but that may have been a result of our ordering choice rather than the cook's skills. In the future, we'll opt for a higher-fat entree and skip the chips.

Lime Fresh Mexican Grill [MenuPages]
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill [Official Site]

We just recently got the menu at Pacific Time, which opened its doors in its new location in the Design District yesterday. Here's a sampling of the menu:

• grilled sardines panzanella style with Tuscan gallo negro and Florida tomatoes
• pan-broiled sweetbreads with pancetta, wood-aged sherry vinegar and arugula
• ginger scallion pancake with Key West pink shrimp, shiitake and champagne
• grilled local swordfish with red onion puree and young organic arugula
• panko organic chicken paillard with arugula and Florida tomatoes

Pacific Time [MenuPages]

Photo, of herb and truffle roasted chicken at the old Pacific Time: wrestlingentropy/flickr

I had always liked the sight of Portuguese on the gigantic sign that loomed over the Palmetto. Fogovivo Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse. Just across from Tropical Park, the sign was some how comforting, friendly, and just a little bit dangerous. Fogo! Fire! This was a sign to stand up to the garish lights of Santa’s Enchanted Forest. Imagine my surprise as I pondered the sign over lunchtime traffic yesterday. Fuegovivo. I rubbed my eyes and checked again. Something was just not right. Then I noticed that the letters “ue” looked just a bit brighter than their consonant compatriots and, like looking at a magic eye poster, it hit me! Fogo had turned into Fuego. A call to the restaurant yielded no substantive reason for the change and it seems like Portuguese has given way to Spanish in the Saguesera. The menu and ownership remains the same; only the name (and the website) have changed.

Fuegovivo [Official Site]

Jaguar [MenuPages]
Jaguar [Official Site]

Photo: Masala Cha/Flickr

We spotted this charming sign while walking around downtown Dadeland the other day and had to stop in to check it out. Sgt Pepper's Cafe is an excellent addition to the up-and-coming dining scene in the area, which is dominated by chain restaurants, like Cheesecake Factory and Chili's. The spacious dining room features high exposed ceilings, several plasma TVs, and an urban chic decor. Customers can order sandwiches, made with Boar's Head deli meats, burgers, fries, and wings among other savory things. The cafe also offers a full service coffee bar making your basic cup of joe as well as specialty drinks. But Sgt. Pepper Cafe offers more than just convenient dining; it also serves as a pop-culture mecca for adults who like to play. On the day we stopped in, Sgt. Pepper hosted a Guitar Hero tournament. These kinds of events regularly bring adults together over wine, beer and video games for Madden Mondays and karaoke nights. You can check out a video of one of these nights here. The nights for different events vary so you may want to call ahead to find out. Sports celebrities have also been known to frequent this eatery; you can see their pictures by the register.

Sgt Pepper's Cafe [MenuPages]
Sgt Pepper's Cafe [Official Site]

The Smoking Rabbit is closed, according to a commenter over at consumable Joy. That sure didn't take long. Given how empty the place was when we visited, we're not surprised that they couldn't survive an economic downturn. Still, we'll miss those shoestring fries.

The same commenter also noted that it's been replaced by Bellini Italian Bistro. No details yet, but we should have them shortly.

Poof Goes the Restaurant: More Every Day [consumable Joy]
Can The Smoking Rabbit Survive On Ocean Drive? [MP: South Florida]
The Smoking Rabbit [MenuPages]
The Smoking Rabbit [Official Site]

Cafe Tu Tu Tango in Coconut Grove, a fun spot for tapas and drinks, always offers something a bit unusual to complement your dining experience. This weekend we headed out for drinks and a light dinner to celebrate graduation, and were treated to a samba show as well. The feathers and tight white pants weren't the only things shaking. Tu Tu Tango is also promoting a Domain de Canton's new Ginger flavored liqueur as a margarita, a mojito, or a martini. We tried the Canton Ginger Mojito and found it to be just as refreshing as a regular mojito with a warm finish that tickles the back of the throat.

Cafe Tu Tu Tango [MenuPages]
Cafe Tu Tu Tango [Official Site]

With the spring semester finally over, it is time to get out and try a few things out of our Coral Gables/South Miami comfort zone. This week, Jen the Carnivore, a fellow grad student, joined us for a leisurely bite at the Lost & Found Saloon on NW 36th street in Wynwood. We were looking for a little culinary adventure and decided to heed the sage advice of Paula from Mango & Lime who first tried Lost and Found Saloon in December. She raved about the saloon’s fresh Southwestern cuisine and Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat Beer, which is delicious by the way — a nice blueberry nose with a clean wheat finish, really a tasty beer to complement the smokiness of the chipotle — but I digress. Not only is it a fantastic place to eat, but the décor is a feast for the eyes. As you first walk into the saloon, you feel caressed by an array of textures and colors each carefully selected to complement the quirky and casual atmosphere. A long bar stretches the length of one room of the restaurant and features blonde wood and leather upholstered accents that contrast with the terracotta walls. Behind the bar, a full size cowhide, carved cacti, and longhorn beer taps finish off the eclectic look. The tables, bar stools, and chairs are crafted from rough-hewn wood and are not only aesthetically pleasing, but surprisingly comfortable. We sat in the long back room next to a nearly life-size poster of John Wayne marveling at the sliding bathroom doors (a stroke of genius in the tight space) and jamming to the Cherry-Poppin’ Daddies as we waited for our food. The feast for the eyes turns into a party for your mouth when the dishes arrive. Jen opted for tacos with chipotle-seared chicken and steak add-ons. I started with the Baja Chicken Enchilada soup, a hearty tomato-based soup which sparkles with the saloon’s signature cheese mixture (shredded manchego, monterey jack, and cheddar cheeses), as well as the crabmeat-stuffed endive: a savory mix of crab meat, chipotle mayonnaise, corn and tomatoes. The portions are just the right size and left us both feeling pleasantly full. The saloon offers quite a few vegetarian options and a variety of egg dishes, making the saloon a good choice for a morning brunch. Take-out and delivery are available as are a variety of micro-brews, wines and homemade desserts.

Happy I found Lost and Found Saloon [mango&lime]
Lost & Found Saloon [MenuPages]
Lost & Found Saloon [Official Site]

Although West Kendall is most well known as a morass of strip malls and mega-marts, surprisingly it offers some excellent and hidden dining gems at discount-store prices. Take Off the Grille Bistro, for one. This storefront café is wedged in an unassuming strip-mall between a Christian bookstore and a Peruvian food market, just spittin’ distance from a CVS. However, behind those sheet glass windows, an unsurpassed culinary experience awaits. Founded by two brothers with culinary school training, the café offers made to order gourmet meals at fast-food prices. Inconceivable, you say? This food has flavor and flair. The presentation never disappoints. The steak fajita wrap (pictured), a generous portion of beef, peppers, onions, and cheese, is grilled perfectly and served with artfully cut plantain chips and a side salad. Our personal favorite (so far!) is the Mediterranean salad with grilled shrimp. One of the rare times that you will find shellfish and dairy paired, the salad perfectly contrasts the saltiness of the feta cheese with perfectly grilled succulent shrimp, hot off the barbie. If you just can’t get enough of Off-the-Grille, the café also offers a catering menu.

Off the Grille Bistro [MenuPages]
Off the Grille Bistro [Official Site]

This Friday, Bruce Springsteen and the world-famous E Street Band finally returned to Fort Lauderdale for their tragically deferred, but well-worth-the-wait concert. Getting another chance at a tail-gate, we decided to upgrade our fare with soup, salad, and sandwiches from 1909 Café. The savory chicken bayou sandwich on crusty French bread paired nicely with the soups of the day: lobster bisque and creamy carrot. The carrot was our favorite, nice and buttery with lots of beta-carotene, essential for belting out vibes at the concert. We also enjoyed a lovely pasta salad with artichoke and sun-dried tomatoes, perfect with the lemony-ness of our Blue Moon beer. The culinary adventure didn’t stop at the parking lot, but continued at the Bank Atlantic Center (background). It was our first visit to the BAC, and we were sufficiently awed by the posh-setting. Its array of concert/arena fare well exceeds the usual pretzels, pizza, and popcorn found at other venues. These favorites are there to, but the BAC boasts a dessert bar with chocolate cake, cheesecake and key lime pie, as well as several swanky bars featuring premium drinks. The leather seats are just the place to enjoy your concert goodies as you sit back to enjoy the show.

1909 Cafe [MenuPages]
1909 Cafe [Official Site]
Bank Atlantic Center [Official Site]

It's Cinco de Mayo. We hear it's not a huge holiday in Mexico, but on this side of the border, you're pretty much obligated to consume Mexican fare and drink as much beer as possible on this day. It's a Monday this year, so it's probably best to not overdo it on the beer front, since the office is not the best place to nurse a hangover. Here, we offer a few good places to get your fill of Mexican food tonight:

• Don Burrito in Kendall serves up some great taquitos and fajitas, and tonight they've got mariachis after 8:30 p.m. and a special on the Coronas: six for $15.

• Rosa Mexicano in Palm Beach Gardens is doing a special Cinco de Mayo menu that will have eight choices of appetizers, 10 entrees and a handful of desserts, all a la carte. The regular margaritas will be available, but tonight you can get them prepared tableside, just like the guacamole.

• The party starts at 5 p.m. at Cantina Laredo in Plantation. There will be a tent, a deejay, lots of food and plenty of drinks: $7 margaritas and $2 beers.

• Cheen Huaye is also hosting a party outside with a mariachi band after 8 p.m. and plenty of beer. They're also featuring a special menu with tuna shrimp ceviche, homemade chicken tamales and carne asada, among other things.

Photo, of the pomegranate margarita at Rosa Mexicano: yummyinthetummyblog [Flickr]

Buttercream Cupcakes and Coffee [Official Site]

Not only is the food at Miss Saigon Bistro consistently good — the caramelized short ribs (pictured) are phenomenal, but the staff treat their customers like family. It’s rare these days to find yourself moved by a restaurant experience because it is so GOOD! We came in early on a Sunday night and avoided the evening rush. Our table was attended by almost all of the waiters who seemed to be providing a different role at each table. We’ve seen this style of service once before at a comparable restaurant and the results were disastrous. Appetizers were delivered promptly and after an appropriate interval our dinner was served with a smile. The manager also took time to attend to each table and oversee the staff in a collegial and welcoming manner. Now we realize that this kind of service should be the rule and not the exception, but the staff at Miss Saigon executed this with such charm and grace that they merit a little extra attention. This is definitely a place to come with a large group or a number of children.

Miss Saigon Bistro [MenuPages]
Miss Saigon Bistro [Official Site]

We were first introduced to lomo saltado by a Peruvian-Japanese woman who gave us a wonderful recipe for it. The dish, popular all over Peru, is a stir fry of beef, garlic, onions and peppers topped with French fries. The particular version of the dish featured above is from Aromas del Peru. Here are a few other places where you can try it:

• Chalan on the Beach comes well-recommended by MenuPages users. The menu is very seafood-heavy, but the restaurant features a $10 lomo saltado entree. Pair that with a ceviche, and that could be a pretty satisfying meal.

• Las Totoritas on NW 36th St serves a $8.85 lomo saltado. They also have an appetizer of "leche de tigre," which is described as a glass of ceviche juice. We're intrigued.

• At La Granja Parrilla in Hollywood, you can get a single portion of lomo saltado for $11.95 or a family-sized portion for $29.

Aromas del Peru [Official Site]
Chalan on the Beach [MenuPages]
Las Totoritas [MenuPages]
La Granja Parrilla [MenuPages]

Photo: Masala Cha [Flickr]

With the scorching Miami summer just around the corner, now is the time to take advantage of the fine Miami establishments that offer outdoor seating. The evening lows are still in the high-60s to mid-70s, and a fresh breeze keeps the mosquitoes at bay. Here’s a quick round-up of some downtown South Miami establishments where you can grab a drink or dinner

Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern: strictly a watering hole, the bar encourages patrons to B.Y.O.F. (bring your own food) and enjoy the shade of their towering oak trees.

Town Kitchen & Bar: Lounge-style seating and cozy tables on a lower-traffic corner of South Miami’s downtown make this a comfortable place for pizza and bellinis after work.

Casa Larios: Their outside terrace can comfortably seat large groups and the ceiling fans ensure there is always a breeze over your bistec de palomilla.

Martini Bar: Not just a hoppin’ night club, Martini Bar is perfectly located inside Sunset Place for people watching.

Some others to keep in mind: Dan Marino's, Deli Lane Cafe & Tavern

Bougainvillea's Old Florida Tavern [Official Site]
Town Kitchen & Bar [MenuPages]
Town Kitchen & Bar [Official Site]
Casa Larios [MenuPages]
Martini Bar [MenuPages]
Martini Bar [Official Site]

The Business Improvement District of Coral Gables is launching a restaurant week beginning Monday, June 2. We don't have too many details yet, but we do know that the following restaurants are participating: Cacao Restaurant, Caffe Abbracci, California Pizza Kitchen, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, La Cofradia, La Dorada, Ortanique on the Mile, Caramelo, Tarpon Bend, Sushi Maki, Benihana, Artfish on the Mile, Two Sisters, Fritz & Franz Bierhaus, Hoja Nueva, John Martin's and Por Fin Restaurant.

We also learned that the Morton's that's coming to Miracle Mile will be opening sometime during restaurant week, although the restaurant won't be participating.

Business Improvement District of Coral Gables [Official Site]
Morton's [Official Site]

Lan Pan-Asian Cafe [MenuPages]
Lan Pan-Asian Cafe [Official Site]

This kind of stuff just strikes us as so silly:

Troubled by restaurants that don't disclose the price of their specials, Aventura Commissioner Bob Diamond is pushing the county to adopt a law requiring eateries to, at the very least, tell diners how much each special costs.

That'll end the nasty billing surprises for consumers who are too embarrassed to ask for a price, Diamond said.

''Many people, particularly seniors, are often hesitant to ask,'' he said. ``I've continued to receive complaints.''

At a Thursday workshop, the city commission agreed to draft a resolution asking the county's Consumer Services Department, which enforces consumer protection laws and business regulations and investigates complaints, to come up with a law.

Diamond said he has received complaints from many Aventura residents. In fact, he has had some personal experience -- like the time a server recommended a bottle of wine to him and some friends, he said. Someone in the group asked for the price: $280.

''I've been fooled a couple of times, I don't want to be fooled again,'' said Diamond.

If the county was to adopt such a regulation, it would be effective in every restaurant countywide, he said.

We've never really had a problem asking for prices of specials — no embarrassment, and waiters have always readily offered them up sans sneer. But we can see how it might get embarrassing if you're, say, treating a large group of people to dinner in a nice restaurant. A good rule is to assume that any specials are about the same price as the most expensive entrees on the menu.

On the menu: Disclosure of daily restaurant specials [Miami Herald]
Fla Legislators Wasting Time On Toilet Paper [MP: South Florida]

Photo of the specials board at the now-departed Rascal House: ponceypix [Flickr]

Ah the Jersey Shore, a seaside escapade that offers more than just sand and sun, bringing together piers of entertainment and a boardwalk lined with tasty treats. In the past, Miamians needed a plane ticket and a beach pass to savor these delights, but with the opening of the Boardwalk Tavern & Pizzeria in Coconut Grove, an authentic slice of Jersey pizza is just a short drive away. The pizzeria/bar recently opened up across the street from Le Bouchon du Grove, the former home of Cozzoli's. While the ovens are still the same, the pizza is a huge upgrade. Owner Paul imports the dough daily from NYC, for that true up-state flavor. The Boardwalk Tavern offers traditional bar snacks, like chicken wings and nachos, as well as salads and pasta. The decor is true to the Shore with pictures of Seaside and Belmar lining the walls and arcade games for entertainment and atmosphere.

My advice: Come hungry and bring friends; you will want to order a fresh pie rather than having just one slice.

Boardwalk Tavern & Pizzeria [MenuPages]

It's hard to improve on the American classic, burgers and fries, without losing the meal's ease and simplicity, but at OneBurger in Coral Gables, this Americana staple gets all gussied up. OneBurger, a hip and trendy eatery, spices up the traditional sandwich by offering a plethora of toppings including goat cheese, roasted peppers, pesto, bacon, cheddar, and mozzarella on your choice of beef, chicken, turkey or veggie burger. Sides aren't limited to plain potatoes, as diners can choose from sweet potato fries, yuca fries, onion rings, soup, or salad. We went for the double decker bacon cheddar burger with onion rings, and the goat cheese and roasted pepper burger with sweet potato fries. The double-decker proved yet again that you can never have too much bacon and cheese, and the neatly stacked onion rings were crispy and light. We weren't quite sure how goat cheese would pair with the smoky burger, but it couldn't have been more delicious. The sweet potato fries were some of the best we have eaten, succulent and salty. OneBurger also makes an Italian inspired burger with buffalo mozzarella, tomato, and pesto. Delicious! Seating is limited at OneBurger, but during lunch hours outdoor seating is available next door at the Globe.

OneBurger [MenuPages]
OneBurger [Official Site]

Adding wine to your meal is the easiest way to run up the tab quickly. So these Monday and Tuesday deals at Cacao are sure to please the penny-pinchers. On Mondays, or "Loco Lunes," the restaurant offers a list of wines by the bottle that are 50 percent off. On "Tuesdays Uncorked," you can bring your own wine — up to two bottles per tables — and there's no corkage fee.

Cacao Restaurant [MenuPages]
Cacao Restaurant [Official Site]

Photo: c00lmarie [Flickr]

Hummus Sandwich: n. a delightful combination of the Middle Eastern chickpea and tahini paste conveniently enveloped by two slices of multi-grain bread. With the addition of crisp cucumber and tomato slices and slivers of roasted red pepper, the hummus sandwich provides the flavorful nutrition of its predecessor, hummus dip, without the risk of “dipper’s wrist” — a rare, but lamentable condition caused by repeatedly engaging in a scooping motion, usually with a chip or pita slice in hand. Served daily at The Cafe at Books & Books in Coral Gables, the hummus sandwich can usually be found in the company of a mesclun salad with the café’s signature Dijon vinaigrette.

The Cafe at Books & Books [MenuPages]
The Cafe at Books & Books [Official Site]

Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q [MenuPages]
Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q [Official Site]

Jerry Greenfield, one of the founders of Ben & Jerry's, will be at the Coral Gables ice cream shop (80 Aragon Ave, 305-442-1800) for just one hour on Sunday, April 13, from 3 to 4 p.m., for photos with fans. Kids get free toppings on their ice cream.

Also, don't forget free cone day is coming up! Stop by from noon to 8 p.m. on April 29 for a free cup or cone of ice cream. The chain will also be unveiling its new flavors on that day.

Ben & Jerry's [Official Site]

Photo: Dodger Chick [Flickr]

We're big fans of bringing restaurants to Miracle Mile. We like the idea of the street being a dining destination. But lately we've been questioning the types of restaurants moving. And today, we learned that The Cereal Bowl will be opening its second location at some point this summer, right on the Mile. We just don't get the appeal. Anyway, we tried making some phone calls, but no one seemed to know when or where exactly the chain would be moving in. But it's definitely coming.

The Cereal Bowl [MenuPages]
The Cereal Bowl [Official Site]
Opening: Cereal Connection [MP: South Florida]

Photo: cerealfan25 [Flickr]

Sunday mornings seem made for brunch, like milk was made for Oreos and kids were made for...well you know. The trouble is Sunday only comes around once a week. At Deli Lane Cafe & Tavern, it can be Sunday everyday with their brunch specials served hot and fresh all week. We recommend sitting outside while the mosquitoes are still in hiding to soak up the South Miami atmosphere. We also recommend anything made with pancake batter; our finely-chiseled waiter told us the batter is mixed daily according to the restaurant's own special recipe and turned into Belgian waffles, pancakes, and French toast. Not in the mood for sweet? Try a savory four-egg omelet. That's right — four whole eggs, or egg whites if you prefer. After perusing the extensive, but not overwhelming menu, we settled on the Deli Lane omelet, a sophisticated brunch treat made with artichoke hearts, leeks, mushrooms and brie cheese and the Belgian waffles with fresh strawberries. If you are in calorie-counting mode, don't despair! Deli Lane also serves up "power" breakfasts, which are high in protein but low on calories.

Deli Lane Cafe & Tavern [MenuPages]
Deli Lane Cafe & Tavern [Official Site]

• Tonight's the last night for Chef Mark Militello on South Beach; his restaurant in the Nash Hotel is closing its doors. Is this a case of a chef spreading himself too thin? (Militello has three other restaurants in Boca, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm.) The restaurant has a great reputation, but as one chowhound put it, people often forget about it when making reservations or giving recommendations.

• How do you pronounce RA Sushi? We always thought it was "R-A," but when we called today to ask about new locations, we were corrected. It's "rah." At any rate, South Florida is getting two more "Rah" Sushis in the coming months: one in Pembroke Pines, which is already hiring and should be open by early May, and another in South Miami. The latter is taking a bit longer, and we were told the company is hoping for a July opening.

Mark's South Beach [MenuPages]
Mark's South Beach [Official Site]
RA is set to open our 2nd Florida location!! (Pembroke Pines) [Craigslist]
RA Sushi [MenuPages]
RA Sushi [Official Site]

Photo of the lobster pasta at Mark's South Beach: The Blissful Glutton [Flickr]

Good morning and welcome! If you are new to MenuPages, we have something in common. My name is Carmen Ruiz-Castaneda and I'll be joining the hungry and literate MenuPages bloggers. As a graduate student and artist, I'm always on the lookout for delicious bargains and creative culinary surprises. My home turf currently encompasses the Coral Gables/ South Miami circuit, but my roots are in Westchester, home of Santa's Enchanted Forest and some of the most amazing Cuban food available in the Greater Miami area. Suggestions, feedback, and comments are greatly appreciated as I'm always up for testing my palate. I may be a newbie to the blogosphere, but I love eating, talking, and writing about food, so cheers to you, to me, and to MenuPages. Salud!

We drove by the old 5JJJJJ location on Bird Road recently and noticed a large sign advertising the upcoming opening of "El Pimiento Spanish Deli & Wine Shop." We peeked inside — the interior looks about ready for business, but it was still very much closed. So we tried calling the old numbers we had on hand for 5JJJJJ, but those were dead ends. (Oddly enough, those numbers now belong to former employees of the restaurant; we're not quite sure how that worked out.) Finally, we put two and two together: this is the second location of the popular El Pimiento in Miami Lakes. That, but not much else, was confirmed by someone at the Miami Lakes location. No opening date yet, but we'll keep you posted.

El Pimiento [Miami.com]

Good magazine just came out with a list of "America's Tastiest Streets," and Miami's very own Calle Ocho made the cut. Here's what they had to say about it:

Little Havana’s main drag, Southwest 8th Street—Calle Ocho to locals—is renowned for its authentic Cuban cuisine and its robust hatred of Fidel Castro. The boulevard’s quaint and walkable blocks run from 14th Street to 18th Street. Disregard the “Viva Bush” stickers at Los Pinareños Frutería and focus on the guarapo (sugarcane juice), fresh-squeezed orange juice, and the recession-proof $3 lunch special. Also, if you time it right (the last Friday of every month), Calle Ocho between 14th and 17th becomes a street fair for Viernes Culturales. Go gallery hopping, catch a show and pause for tapas at Casa Panza, which also features Flamenco dancing three nights a week.

Immigration from Cuba and other Latin American countries has expanded Little Havana from downtown to the edge of the Everglades. As in most of Southern Florida, you’ll need a car to get around. Grab a pair of 75-cent Colombian empanadas at San Pocho Restaurant and continue a few blocks down to Taqueria El Mexicano for bistec a la Mexicana—beef chunks simmered with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños. For the authentic Miami Cuban experience, dine with the common folk and power brokers at Versailles. Just don’t wear your Che shirt.

Where do you get your cheap eats on Calle Ocho?

America's Tastiest Streets [Good Magazine]

Photo, of the paella at Casa Panza: markaragnos [Flickr]

FIU doesn't have a culinary school, but it does have a large school of hospitality on the Biscayne campus, and students in the two food prep classes prepare a gourmet three-course meal every Tuesday and Thursday for the FIU Hospitality Management Dining Room. You do have to do a little planning — it's only available when school is in session, and there's just one seating at noon, so it's a good idea to call ahead and make sure they're open.

The entire operation is run by students, so the experience isn't quite as polished as one would expect at a fine dining restaurant, but then again you're lucky if you get an appetizer for $15 at a fine dining restaurant, let alone a full meal. Each meal includes an appetizer, a choice of two entrees, and a dessert, plus wine and coffee. Pictured at left is the dessert served at a recent lunch in the dining room, with blackberries, homemade vanilla ice cream, and a cookie sort of thing on top that was totally addictive.

FIU Hospitality Management Dining Room [MenuPages]

We had lunch recently at Por Fin Restaurant, the most aptly named restaurant ever; the food is tasty, and the lunch is a good deal, but don't expect to get out of there in under an hour and a half.

Our favorite part of the meal was the tuna tartare pictured above. The little pieces of mango interspersed among the tuna were perfect, and the sesame vinaigrette added a nice touch. We've heard the tapa of fried eggs with jamon serrano and truffle oil is fantastic, but unfortunately that's dinner-only. Which means we might have to make a return trip.

Por Fin Restaurant [MenuPages]
Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

Photo: Nathan Hale

The New York Times reports that Quattro Gastronomia Italiana might have a Manhattan location soon:

QUATTRO GASTRONOMIA ITALIANA The Trump SoHo Hotel Condominium, which is to open early next year, has asked Nicola and Fabrizio Carro, twin chefs from Piedmont in Italy, to install a branch of their Miami Beach restaurant, with 150 seats. Diners may never know which brother is cooking in Manhattan and which in Miami Beach: 246 Spring Street (Varick Street).

Off the Menu [New York Times]
Quattro Gastronomia Italiana [MenuPages]
Quattro Gastronomia Italiana [Official Site]

After always hearing about New York restaurants opening branches in Miami, it's kind of nice to see the process go in the other direction. Rumor has it that Joe's Stone Crab is looking for a spot in Manhattan, according to New York blogger Gluttoness. What do you think? Can Joe's make it in the Big Apple? We're inclined to think they could do very well there.

Best News Ever [Gluttoness]
EaterWire: $81 Burger, Cocoa Bar Sold, and Joe's Stone Crab Expanding to NYC [Eater]
Joe's Stone Crab [MenuPages]
Joe's Stone Crab [Official Site]

Photo: marchdoe [Flickr]

The Rascal House is officially closed. They served their last pastramis on rye and egg creams on Sunday, to teary-eyed folk who remembered many a good meal there. There is a small bit of good news; the Epicure Market that is planned for the space will be keeping some of the recipes, which will likely show up in the deli and bakery sections of the store.

Death of a deli: Rascal House closing for good [Miami Herald]
Rascal House Closing In April [MP: South Florida]
Rascal House [MenuPages]
Rascal House [Official Site]

Photo: MMChicago [Flickr]

There's a short interview with Michael Schwartz on US News & World Report's "Inside Job" blog that's pretty entertaining. They give him the beginning of a sentence, and he has to finish it. Our favorite:

1. My job title should really read... "camp counselor and head baby sitter."

According to Frodnesor over at Chowhound, the Nexxt Cafe on Miracle Mile, which has been open for just a few months, is now sporting a sign that says "permanently closed." Guess they never quite recovered from the health code violations in late 2007.

What would you like to see come to the Mile next?

Nexxt Cafe (on Miracle Mile) [Chowhound]
Nexxt Cafe [MenuPages]
Nexxt Cafe [Official Site]

Photo of the Thai steak salad at Nexxt: brandon shigeta [Flickr]

Look at the color on that thing. All sorts of seafood and rice in a gorgeous broth. You'll find this moqueca, a Brazilian seafood stew, at Sushi Samba Dromo on Miami Beach, where it comes with shrimp, squid, cod, crayfish, coconut milk, cashews, dende (palm) oil and chimichurri rice. The restaurant offers a lunch portion of the stew for $20 (it's $24 at dinner time). Cacao Restaurant in Coral Gables also features a lunchtime moqueca for $15. And for $14, you can get the catch of the day cooked moqueca-style at Oba Oba in Coconut Creek.

Moqueca [Wikipedia]
Sushi Samba Dromo [MenuPages]
Cacao Restaurant [MenuPages]
Oba Oba [MenuPages]

Photo: Masala Cha [Flickr]

We were perusing the daily drink specials over at Hooligan's Pub & Oyster Bar in South Miami when our eyes caught "$1 pitchers." Initial reaction: WOW. Then we saw: 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. Unfortunately, that's a little past our bedtime, especially on a Tuesday night. But hey, if you're up at that hour, that's a pretty awesome deal. There's also a beer pong tournament at midnight. Makes sense, of course, since it's college night.

If you're like us (i.e. not a night owl), Hooligan's has happy hour every day from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m., when 20-ounce drafts are $4.75-$6.75. Show up after 5 p.m. and the oysters are $4.95 per dozen.

Hooligan's Pub & Oyster Bar [MenuPages]
Hooligan's Pub & Oyster Bar [Official Site]

Photo: minntyfresh [Flickr]

The Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge just opened yesterday at the Ritz-Carlton on Key Biscayne, but the burgers first appeared at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival's Burger Bash. They didn't win, but they were up against some stiff competition.

The burgers start at $16 for "The American Classic"; on the other end is a plate of Kobe beef sliders with sauteed foie gras and picolit grape jam. That is one pricey burger. But hey, at least the fries are included. You can also get a Chicago-style hot dog and a mini burger or a burger with fresh bacon and blue cheese froth. And if you'd like a cocktail with that, well, that'll set you back another $15.

Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge [MenuPages]
Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge [Official Site]

Plum took a tour of the Café Bustelo factory and spoke with the family about the operation. Did you know that they're planning on starting coffee shops? The first one is slated to open in the Gansevoort South in Miami Beach. We'd recommend they work on getting a website too. It might help.

Café Bustelo [Plum]
Gansevoort South [Official Site]

We got a hold of Kris Wessel by cell phone yesterday to talk about his new restaurant Red Light on the premises of Motel Blu on Biscayne Boulevard; it's set to open as soon as he gets everything straightened out with Tallahassee. You might remember him from Liaison on South Beach and Elia in Bal Harbour, neither of which is still around. He also helped launch Paninoteca on Lincoln Road.

MP: What's with the delays?
Kris: I’m actually being held back by Tallahassee on the food license. They lost the application in December. It’s a big issue with us and the regional inspection office. We’re still about three weeks out from serving food.

I’m pissed, needless to say. I’ve written my local commissioners. They’ve now held me up for a month and a half. I don’t have time to get into lawsuits and things like that. I’m at the mercy of the state. Not only do I find a restaurant in a beaten-down drug and prostitute motel, but now at the end of the road the state is giving me this surprise.

MP: Speaking of the motel, how did you decide on this location?
Kris: I was driving my daughters home about three years ago, and I looked out of the corner of my eye at this motel with broken windows. And I saw three letters and “restaurant.” It was a jungle of iguanas, manatees and turtles. At least that’s what my daughter saw. What I saw were crack addicts and prostitutes in this old abandoned Chinese restaurant. Now that I’ve pulled everything together, I’m noticing the manatees and turtles more.

MP: Manatees? Seriously?
Kris: It’s one of the largest migrations of manatees in South Florida. And they turn around at the dam, so I get them going in and going out. The manatee association sent me brand new manatee signs. They love me. And the birds from the El Portal bird sanctuary — they fly and inhabit this river. All on Biscayne Boulevard!

MP: What will the food be like?
Kris: I call it regional dining in the sense of the region of the southeast, but if you look at the southeast from the South, to Florida, to the Caribbean, to South America — everything that influences this region. That, blended with a dominance of organic foods. And all the menu categories will be subdivided into technique and protein and veg, and any starch will be on the side. I also have a little red smokehouse down on the water, and I have a section on the menu of smoked proteins. Lots of tropical fruit that is very easily had will be all over the menu. It won't be so overly Florida — it's a regional organic-driven restaurant.

A few extra details we learned about the restaurant: there will be a raw bar down by the water, a main bar upstairs, and eventually a lounge. Wessel has also set up lots of riverfront dining, so you can watch the manatees (manatees!) swim by. Valet parking will be free. The bar will be open in two weeks, from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m., but there won't be any food until the license from Tallahassee comes through, and that will likely take at least three weeks.

Photo: James Beard Foundation

We just stumbled upon this photo of the coconut creme brulee at Dolores, but you can call me Lolita, and we were reminded of just how much we adore creme brulee and its Spanish cousin crema catalana. Most of the creme brulees at restaurants are pretty standard versions, but we looked around and found a few interesting takes on it:

• Max's Grille in Palm Beach Gardens serves a mixed berry creme brulee in pie form. We're not quite sure how that works.

• At Prime One Twelve in Miami Beach, the Tahitian vanilla creme brulee comes with a stack of peppermint brownies.

• Talula in Miami Beach serves a sweet potato creme brulee with burnt marshmallows.

• And if dessert isn't quite your thing, Le Bistro serves a dinner entree of sea bass creme brulee that's caramelized on top with champagne cream underneath.

Dolores, but you can call me Lolita [MenuPages]
Max's Grille [MenuPages]
Prime One Twelve [MenuPages]
Talula [MenuPages]
Le Bistro [MenuPages]

Photo: Flickr

Fourth. Not too shabby for Michael Schwartz, considering the really great restaurants he beat out. Here's what New York Times food critic Frank Bruni, who listed his top 10 best new restaurants outside of New York, had to say about Michael's Genuine Food & Drink:

And yet genuine is how this restaurant comes across. Once it leaves the dictionary behind, there are few games, no nonsense: just refreshingly straightforward cooking by a chef, Michael Schwartz, exercising an impulse shared by many peers these days. He’s ditching the haute for the homey and focusing more on sourcing than on saucing.

Don’t get me wrong: you most certainly can’t do this at home. You don’t have time to round up the range of ingredients that Mr. Schwartz has, especially the Florida black grouper, swordfish and pompano. And you’re highly unlikely to be equipped with a wood-fired oven, which is what he uses for a whole snapper ($15 a pound) with bulbs of fennel and, separately, a fat onion stuffed with cinnamon-scented ground lamb and apricots ($14).

But Mr. Schwartz is indeed going for the warmth and robustness of home cooking, along with its guiltiest, least sophisticated pleasures: chips (potato) and dip (onion) are on the menu, and you’d be lunatic not to order this ($6).

4. Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [New York Times]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [MenuPages]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [Official Site]

The county's first standalone Chick-fil-A is opening in Doral on Thursday, which means if you want to be one of the 100 people who will get a year's worth of free food, you might want to head over there and start camping. Now. According to the press release:

A one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A(R) Combo Meals (52 coupons) will be awarded to each of the first 100 adults, age 18 and older with identification, at the new stand-alone restaurant in Doral. The line can begin forming up to 24 hours prior to the opening, with the prizes being given away on March 13 sometime between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. The restaurant will open for business immediately afterward.

Launched in 2003 to mark the opening of the chain's first stand-alone restaurant in Arizona, the First 100 Fans promotion continues to draw Chick-fil-A raving fans from all over the country. Armed with tents, computers, games and even swimming pools, campers turn the grand opening event into an all-night tailgate party.

"When we started the First 100 Fans promotion we were stunned when someone arrived 18 hours in advance and asked where he could wait in line," said Chick-fil-A, Inc. President Dan Cathy, who has camped out at dozens of openings. "Almost five years later, we've given away more than $7 million in free Chick-fil-A food across the country to raving fans who've braved snow, wind, rain and triple-digit temperatures to help us celebrate the opening of each new Chick-fil-A."

Miami-Dade County's First Stand-Alone Chick-fil-A Restaurant Opens March 13 in Doral [Miami Herald]
Chick-fil-A [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

Sakura's owner is pumping $1.5 million into renovation and expansion of the current restaurant and re-naming it Soo-Woo Japanese Steakhouse, according to a Herald article that ran yesterday:

The renovations, expected to be completed in May, will add 1,500 square feet to the restaurant's current 3,500 square feet, a new glass-case sushi bar with interchangeable lighting, and 12 teppanyaki tables with stylish hood covers.

An is expecting the upgrades restaurant will boost annual sales by $3 million, but, he says, his focus is on bringing an original cultural treat to the area -- with an ambitious plan in mind.

''My ultimate goal is to put a quality Korean restaurant in every metropolitan city in the U.S.,'' said An, who is of Korean background. ``It's all about entertainment, making people laugh and having a good time.''

Doral's Japanese restaurant undergoes major expansion [Miami Herald]
Sakura Doral Japanese [MenuPages]

Photo: Flickr

Oh my goodness, how awesome is this?! We love this idea, and if we had kids, we'd totally be up for this.

Tuscan Steak [MenuPages]

We've never been a big fan of an enormous, meat-laden breakfast. We love bacon and ham as much as the next guy, but we just don't like how an eggs-and-bacon breakfast tends to sit in our stomach for hours afterward. Buttery crepes, like the ones here from La Riviera at the Sofitel Miami, probably don't qualify as especially light, but paired with some strawberries, they look like the perfect breakfast to us.

La Riviera at the Sofitel Miami [MenuPages]
Sofitel [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

We were just told that Pardo's Chicken, a rotisserie chicken chain from Peru, will be opening in Venivici's old spot in the Gables sometime soon. The only current U.S. location is in New York City, and we found quite a few reviews for it:

• From Goodies First:

We tried half a chicken brasa and half parrillero, the brasa being rotisserie style and parrillero a grilled boneless fillet. Who knows what the advertised 14 secret ingredients were, but salt is definitely one of them.... I preferred the classic spit-roasted version, both styles were juicy throughout, no cottony white meat. There are quite a few sides to choose from, we got yuquitas, commonly called yucca fries, which are rapidly becoming one of my favorite fried starches, and tacu tacu, which are croquettes of beans and rice mashed together into fat little logs. Mayonnaise and a creamy aji sauce using yellow South American chiles come on the side. Despite the cute name, tacu tacu was kind of dull, I would’ve expected more pizzazz from a fritter. I might try canario beans instead if I went again.

• From Chowhound:

While I only room enough for a quarter chicken, I was extremely impressed. The skin was super crispy and flavorful the spicing permeated every nook of the chicken. Moreover, they give you two accompanying sauces, one of which, the green peppercorn, is superb (the other, homemade mayonaise, paled in comparison).

Pardo's Chicken [Official Site]
Pardo's [MenuPages]
Pardo's [Goodies First]
Pardo's chicken - Just as good as now-defunct El Pollo [Chowhound]

Photo: Flickr

We have tried to get you the menu for Por Fin Restaurant. We've tried so very hard over the past month. We've called and been promised an e-mail menu multiple times. It never came. We've stopped by and asked to borrow a menu to make a copy at the Kinko's across the street. In that instance, we were told that the only one authorized to give out menus was the owner, and he wasn't around at the time. We've begged, pleaded, left messages, handed out business cards, and thoroughly annoyed the woman who answers the phones, and still we have no menu. We give up. We have 4,200 other restaurants to deal with, so we don't really have time to camp out at the door and wait for the day they will finally let us see a menu.

Here's where you can help us. If you happen to eat at Por Fin, perhaps you could photograph the menu. Or if you're especially persuasive, perhaps you might actually walk out of there with a copy of the menu. And if this miraculous event actually occurs, please please please get in touch with us.

Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

Thanks to a helpful chowhound, we learned that the renovations at the Fontainebleau, which should be done by July 2008, will include a number of restaurants, one of which will be a steakhouse. Of course. Anyway, here's the rundown of what's coming to the Fountainebleau sometime this year:

• Gotham Steak: Alfred Portale, of Gotham Bar & Grill, is behind this one. From the fact sheet: "The restaurant will expand upon the modern American steak house featuring raw seafood towers, an expanded menu of prime and exotic meats and a wine selection of more than 500 wines from around the world."

• "Italian Restaurant": This one apparently still is unnamed. What we do know is that it'll be helmed by Scott Conant and will feature a regional Italian menu. Conant currently has two New York City restaurants: L'Impero and Alto. Here's more: "The dining concept combines the honesty and simplicity of Italy’s cucina rustica with the ambitious efined notes of alta cucina. The food will be inspired by the seasons, using farm-fresh products – to be served during lunch and dinner."

• "Chinese Restaurant": Another unnamed restaurant, this one from Alan Yau, who has the only Michelin-rated Chinese restaurant in London.

• Oceanfront Grill: This restaurant, which overlooks the beach and the pool, will be the place for cocktails and tapas. More on the food: "Simply prepared southern French cuisine with an outstanding selection of appetizers oysters, Fruits de la Mer, salads, crudités, as well as char grilled seafood and meats will be complemented by refreshing chilled desserts."

Those are some fairly big names in the restaurant industry, and yet, we're a little underwhelmed. We're tired of steak, and, quite frankly, it's 80 degrees outside. The last thing we want to do is sit down to a huge butter-poached steak. And we're curious about how this seasonal farm-fresh menu will work at the Italian restaurant. Seasons here, and seasons in Italy, or New York for that matter, are very, very different.

Fontainebleau Fact Sheet [.pdf]
Anything newer or on the way to Dade? [Chowhound]
Photo: Flickr

The new Regent at Bal Harbour's restaurant, 1 Bleu, opened just yesterday for dinner. So far, that's the only meal being served; they'll be adding lunch at some point in the next few weeks.

The menu hopscotches over the Mediterranean, as many fashionably overpriced restaurants do these days. Here's a little sample:

• Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio with cepes confit, mache, truffled potato chips and xeres vinaigrette
• Seafood Mixta: grilled langoustines, clams, mussels, scallops, oysters, puntilla, trout roe, baby corn, saffron aioli, micro greens
• Moroccan lamb loin with grilled pineapple, coconut, dried fruit, and ginger flowers
• Prime-aged filet mignon and potatoes with creme fraiche foam

We would also like to point out the mention of "EVO Oil" listed with the "Local Day Boat Catch," which makes us think of Rachael Ray, which isn't a good thing.

1 Bleu [MenuPages]

The door in that photo is that of La Piaggia, the restaurant at Murano Grande, the luxury condo building at the very southern tip of Miami Beach. If you look closely, you might be able to make out "Private Club/Members Only" on the brown sign to the left. We always assumed that it was off-limits, available only to those who live in the building and their guests. But a friend of ours visited this past weekend, went right past the sign and sat down to eat without any problems. Turns out it's not really a private club; they just want the teenagers to think it is one. (The menu isn't really typical teenager fare anyway, and it's definitely a little pricey for the average 18-year-old.) It does get busy on the weekends, so if you're headed over there on a Saturday evening, reservations might be a good idea. And they'll take your reservation even if you don't live at the Murano Grande.

La Piaggia [Official Site]

The Veggie Bus, which gets six to seven miles per gallon of grease, recently made a stop in South Florida looking for large quantities of used vegetable oil. Unfortunately, the 75 gallons donated by Miami-Dade College had too much sediment. That's why they like fondue restaurants; the oil is used to cook just one dish before it's tossed. Despite the disappointment, they found exactly what they needed at Ver-Daddy's Taco Shop:

Ver-Daddy's Taco Shop had been scouted, on Biscayne Boulevard and 75th Street. Acceleration was smooth on the way over. Miami traffic was horrible.

Two barrels of used cholesterol-free, non-hydrogenated soybean oil waited in back of the taco shop parking lot, gratis, with the somewhat mystified consent of the owner, David Bass.

Normally, his grease is picked up by a recycling company that pays him $10 every three months for the privilege.

He wasn't sure what they did with it -- something to do with cosmetics, maybe.

But nobody had ever pulled up in a bus and asked to fuel up before. ''Never, never,'' he said. ``It's exciting for us -- we're just a little taco shop.''

The crew put on filthy jumpsuits. The barrels were opened, gingerly.

The crew has discovered, in grease vats less wholesome than Ver-Daddy's, dead rats and condoms and chicken bones.

But this was good stuff: the color of honey, with excellent lees. It was sticky to the touch, which was unavoidable, and utterly repulsive. ''I get pretty nauseated from the smell,'' Blount said.

Eighty gallons were ladled from the barrels into five-gallon buckets, hauled over to the bus, siphoned, heated and pumped into the tanks. Another 70 gallons were slopped into buckets stacked in the bus's storage compartment.

This took half an hour, followed by some minutes of vigorous hand washing with a powerful cleaning agent, but everyone agreed the grease had been an excellent find.

''We're going to get out of Florida with that,'' said Bassett.

Veggie oil-fueled bus stops in Dade [Miami Herald]
Ver-Daddy's Taco Shop [Official Site]

We thought we'd steer you toward some reading material this morning about the only remaining Royal Castle. The article in the Herald is part of its series on 27th Avenue (aka Unity Boulevard), which cuts through a number of very diverse neighborhoods.

William Singer got the idea for Royal Castle in Columbus, Ohio. The only restaurant that stayed afloat there during the Depression, he would say, sold small hamburgers for pennies. It was a quaint chain called White Castle.

Bankrupt and desperate to be an entrepreneur, Singer tinkered with the name and took the idea to Miami in 1938.

By 1958, Royal Castle had grown to 58 stores in South Florida. They thrived in working-class, mostly white areas, where families bought the greasy patties layered in onions, pickles and mustard by the dozen.

Under Lawrence Singer, William's son, the chain blossomed to at least 185 throughout Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. All had strict rules. No more than 10 stools at the counter. No women behind the counter. No blacks sitting in front of it.

The last Royal Castle continues to thrive [Miami Herald]

Photo: Flickr

We'd recommend you head to Rascal House for a final pastrami sandwich -- they're closing:

Wolfie Cohen's Rascal House Restaurant in Miami Beach is to close in April.

The restaurant, at 17190 Collins Ave., notified the state that it would lay off 97 employees between April 4 and April 16.

A spokeswoman for Jerry's Famous Deli, the Studio City, Calif.-based company that owns Rascal House, Epicure Market and Bakery and its namesake restaurant, said the company has notified employees and would absorb as many into its other restaurants as it could.

There's not much time. Seriously -- go get your pastrami!

Rascal House to Close in April (for real) [Save the Deli]
Rascal House to close [South Florida Business Journal]
Rascal House [MenuPages]
Rascal House [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

The accolades keep pouring in for Michael's Genuine Food & Drink. This time, it's from New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni, who recently did some restaurant research across the country. Michael's is on his top 10 list, although we won't know exactly how it'll rank for another couple of weeks since it's a four-part series. But here's what he had to say about it on his blog:

I can’t imagine Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink anywhere but Miami, and that’s not just because there are scattered palm fronds around the tables in its spacious outdoor area, usable even on an early February night.

It’s because of the prevalence and quality of the citrus in dishes, the freshness of the whole red snapper, and the adulatory attention servers draw to this fish.

Coast to Coast, Restaurants That Count [New York Times]
What New Yorkers Are Missing [Diner's Journal]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [MenuPages]
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink [Official Site]

There were spit cups everywhere. Did we use them? Of course not. Why waste perfectly good wine, right? We also made the mistake of not availing ourselves of enough food samples. Sure, we had a few good bites, but it was so hot, and we felt sticky and the last thing we wanted to do was eat. So let's review: lots of wine + not enough food + hot sun = one very drunk blogger. Our only consolation is that almost everyone else at the festival was in a similarly tipsy state.

OK, we'll start from the beginning. We had a ticket to "He Says, She Says: The Sexes on Wine" at 11 a.m. So yes, we got an early start on the drinking. When we first got the ticket, we hadn't really paid attention to the name on it: Andrea Robinson. Only when we got there did we realize that it was Andrea Immer; Robinson is her married name. That's when we got all excited -- we were going to a class given by a Master Sommelier!

We initially thought the class would discuss any differences in how men and women taste wine. That definitely wasn't the case, although we did learn that women, on average, tend to be better tasters than men. There was a reason given, although that's one of the many details that we cannot remember. (Did we mention we drank a lot?) The seminar was actually a competition between Andrea and her husband John. We loved both of them. They were fun, witty and incredibly down to earth. And she's not the only wine expert in the family -- he can hold his own pretty well.

Continue reading "Sunday At The South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Part 1" »

Oh my God. What a mess. If you're home, we'd advise you to stay put. Traffic lights are out everywhere due to the crazy power outage that's affecting millions in the area. FPL has managed to restore power to most places, but we heard that much of downtown Miami is still without light. And more importantly, without a/c on a hot day. We'd suggest getting out of the building, and if your office is anything like ours (i.e., nothing gets done when there's no power), heading to the nearest watering hole for a cold beer. We made a few phone calls and found a handful of places in downtown Miami/Brickell that have got power:

• The lights at Hooters in Bayside flickered on and off a few times, but they never really lost power.
• Gordon Biersch lost power, but it's back now, so the beer is cold and it's flowing. The kitchen's still recuperating though, so food selection may be limited.
• Andu Restaurant & Lounge lost power for about an hour and a half, but they're back up and running now.
• The Bar at Level 25 also lost power, but it's back.

About 680,000 without power in Florida [Miami Herald]

Photo: CBS4

You know that frozen yogurt craze that's sweeping certain parts of the country? (OK, so mostly just California.) We'd been wondering when it would hit Miami, which just seems like a perfect market for fat-free fruit-topped yogurt. Enter That Cool Yogurt Place, which is opening in three weeks on 10th Street and West Avenue in Miami Beach. This will be the first location; a second one is slated to open in Aventura in two to three months. We're excited about the variety of flavors offered, much more than Pinkberry's plain and green tea. These guys are going to offer plain cool, green apple, pistachio, white raspberry and mango, in addition to some rotating special flavors like chai tea, hazelnut, pineapple and blackberry. Then there are the toppings: lots of different fruits, granola, cereals, nuts, chocolate sprinkles, coconut flakes, honey and maple syrup.

The Miami Beach location will be having a soft opening sometime soon, although the owners haven't settled on a date yet. Of course, we'll fill you in when they do.

That Cool Yogurt Place [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

Did you know that Le Bon on Lincoln Road has a "Beat the Clock" special? Show up between 5:30 and 7 p.m., and all of the half-kilogram mussel pots are $9.50. And that's with fries. It's not a bad deal; the regular mussel pot prices can be almost double that.

Le Bon [MenuPages]
Le Bon [Official Site]

Photo: Le Bon Restaurant

We read consumable Joy's review of The Smoking Rabbit with interest, since we'd visited there recently and had a similar experience. The restaurant was also totally empty when we went, which is really not a good sign on a Friday night at 9 p.m. There were people all over Ocean Drive, but only two others were seated inside the gastropub. And while we liked it overall, we agree with cJ that a few things were disappointing, in particular the lack of beer on tap and the crust-less mac & cheese. (The crust is our favorite part!)

As we enjoyed our meal, we tried to figure out why it was so depressingly empty on what should have been a busy Friday night. We decided the location was the problem. One would think an Ocean Drive location would be excellent, but that's not necessarily the case when trying to attract a local crowd. Not one of the four of us (two of whom live on South Beach) could remember the last time we'd eaten at an Ocean Drive restaurant. It's tourist central. Most tourists aren't going to end up in a place like The Smoking Rabbit, and most locals are going to avoid that stretch entirely.

We were thinking that ISHQ, on the same block as the gastropub, might be suffering a similar fate. Has anyone been there recently and seen how full/empty the dining room is? We're curious to hear how they're doing.

One final thing: We cannot fully convey how much we loved the shoestring fries at The Smoking Rabbit. Thankfully, they came in a very large bowl, which we shared with our dinner companions. (Next time, we might not be so generous with our fries.) The chef told us they were fried in oil with sage before being tossed with salt, pepper and fresh rosemary. Totally addictive.

The Smoking Rabbit [consumable Joy]
The Smoking Rabbit [MenuPages]
The Smoking Rabbit [Official Site]
ISHQ [MenuPages]
ISHQ [Official Site]

No, really. We're serious this time. They're opening. But there's a catch: it's reservation-only, and there are just two seatings, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. We were told that it'll likely stay reservation-only for another one to two weeks. These guys clearly aren't big on setting firm deadlines for anything.

We're in the process of getting our hands on a menu. It has been difficult, but as soon as we get it, we'll post more about the fare.

Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

We had heard lots of rumors about The Mint Leaf, a London Indian restaurant that was supposedly opening up in the Gables. We tried investigating a while back, but that led nowhere. But recent reports of actual construction at the site gave us hope. And we were happy when we called up and were told the restaurant will be opening on February 29 for lunch and dinner.

We've got to say, these people are organized. The website is up and running with copies of the complete menu and wine list a full week before opening. That's pretty unheard of around here.

So, on to the menu. There are two pages of text explaining that the cuisine hails from both north and south India, what the tandoor is, etc. There are tons of appetizers, half vegetarian, half meat. In fact, there are a ton of vegetarian options throughout the menu; that's not uncommon for Indian restaurants, but this place seems to go above and beyond. We see a lot of standard dishes on the menu, which isn't a bad thing, since we're lacking a really solid upscale Indian restaurant in the area. If they execute well, this could be pretty exciting.

The Mint Leaf [Official Site]

You're probably sick of hearing/reading constantly about the South Beach Wine & Food Festival already. (Did we mention it's on? This weekend?) It's especially difficult to read about all of this when prices for the different events start at around $150. That's a lot of money, and it won't even get you into the big parties.

We managed to get tickets to two events on Sunday, so we'll be sure to give you all a detailed account. In the meantime, check out Paula's take on the 2004 and 2006 festivals over at mango&lime. And the Miami Herald has a pretty good guide to the festival.

South Beach Wine & Food Festival [Official Site]
Should I stay or should I go? [mango&lime]
Insiders' guide to the South Beach Wine & Food Festival [Miami Herald]

The food may be a bit pricey at Brosia, but the happy hour deal is pretty good. Every day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. you can get two for one sangria, which is usually $8 a glass. They've got a red version (malbec, brandy, licor 43, amaretto, orange juice, simple syrup and soda) and a white one (prosecco, peach nectar, peach schnapps, apricot brandy and simple syrup).

Later on in the evening, there's a party just a couple blocks away at Domo Japones. "Cocktails Anyone?" starts at 9 p.m. and features food by bar chef Albert Trummer and music by DJ Induce.

Brosia [MenuPages]
Brosia [Official Site]
Cocktails Anyone? [Miami Nights]
Domo Japones [MenuPages]
Domo Japones [Official Site]

Gansevoort South, a branch of the Gansevoort Hotel in New York City, is scheduled to open in early-to-mid-March with two new restaurants (among other things, like a rooftop pool and a David Barton gym). One of the restaurants will be Philippe by Philippe Chow, also a branch of a New York restaurant. We don't know too much about Philippe Chow, so we thought we'd do a little research.

Continue reading "Upscale Chinese Food Headed To Miami Beach" »

We're assuming Padma Lakshmi is really in town for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, but she cleared enough time in her schedule to stop by Books & Books in Bal Harbour on Friday for a bit of champagne and some signing of her latest cookbook, Tangy Tart Hot & Sweet. The event starts at 1 p.m. and is at 9700 Collins Avenue.

Books & Books [Official Site]
Tangy Tart Hot & Sweet [Amazon]
Padma Lakshmi [Official Site]

We found a little nugget about the Cobb Theaters at Dolphin Mall buried in a New York Times article about different ways that movie theaters across the country are trying to coax people off their living room sofas:

Real estate developers want the upscale cinemas because they attract high-income customers. Taubman Centers, a real estate investment trust that owns malls nationwide, carved out 20,000 square feet at its Dolphin Mall in Miami so Cobb Theaters could experiment with its new cinema restaurant. Cinebistro, which will have built-in cocktail tables, oversize love seats and service at seats, will open next to Cobb’s 16-screen theater this May. Taubman executives say such theaters give people a reason to drive past another mall and stop at the company’s shopping center.

Aiming to Stem Attendance Losses, More Cinemas Try a Full-Frills Model [New York Times]

Photo: Flickr

When Sara at All Purpose Dark described the wine list at Bourbon Steak as "epic" and included a link to it, we thought we'd take a look. We kept scrolling, and scrolling, and scrolling, and oh-my-goodness-it-keeps going. Epic is certainly an apt description.

A note here, while we're on the topic. We've had one or two people request that we include wine lists along with menus at the MenuPages South Florida site. Bourbon Steak is a prime example why we generally don't include wine lists with the online menus: they're too long. If it's a short one, we'll consider it, but often wine lists can be as long as the food menu, and they tend to change regularly. So it just makes our lives a little easier to not include them online.

So, back to this crazy-long wine list at Bourbon Steak. It's the kind of place that deals in decadence (duck fat fries anyone? How about some butter-poached prime rib?), so it's fitting to have a collection of 7,000 bottles of wine. But can anyone actually make a decision in, say, 15 minutes when there are so many choices? There are over 100 types of pinot noir alone. We'd feel overwhelmed; then again, that's what the sommelier is there for.

As for prices, we did a quick, unscientific check of the prices using cut-and-paste and Google. Here's what we found:

• A search for Melville Donna's Santa Rita Hills 2004 Syrah, which is $93 at the restaurant, turned up prices around $32-36.
• Next, a malbec from Mendoza, Catena Alta 2004. It's $95 in the restaurant, and $45-50 retail.
• Alta Rangi Pinot Noir 2004 from New Zealand is listed under the "Secrets of the Sommelier." It's $99, and we found it listed at a wine shop's website for $60.
• And finally, the Aubrey Brut NV, one of the various Champagnes offered, is $111. We found prices that varied from $50 to $55 online.

All in all, not bad. Those are pretty standard markups for a fine dining restaurant; actually, that pinot noir is a pretty good deal.

Bourbon Steak [All Purpose Dark]
Bourbon Steak [MenuPages]
Bourbon Steak [Official Site]

Surely by now you've heard the news that Granma leaked out early this morning about Fidel Castro resigning. (Didn't he do this already, when he effectively ceded power to Raul? We're not totally convinced he's still alive.) We hear that Versailles is already mobbed with reporters, news trucks and satellite dishes, as usual. If you don't mind giving a sound bite while getting your morning cafe and croqueta, then head on over there. If not, you might also want to avoid that other center of Cuban-ness in La Sagüesera, La Carreta Restaurant on 87th Avenue and Bird Road. Some other options in the area for a Cuban fix that will be decidedly quieter: Casa Larios, Casavana, Habana 1900, Havana Miami Restaurant, Las Culebrinas, and Tinta y Cafe.

Fidel Castro will step down after 50 years at Cuba's helm [Miami Herald]
Cautious optimism in South Florida [Miami Herald]

This restaurant is certainly earning its name. Remember how last week we wrote that Por Fin Restaurant was finally going to open today? It's been delayed again. We called to ask about how the first day in business was going and to try to get our hands on a menu, but a) there apparently are no menus printed and b) the restaurant isn't opening for another two weeks.

Opening (Finally): Por Fin Restaurant [MP: South Florida]
Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

Brickell just got a new pizzeria, and this one comes with a brick oven, which is generally a good sign. Another good sign? The fact that there are no pastas on the one-page menu, which we just received. We generally think it's a good idea for pizzerias to focus on one thing: the pizza. You've got 11 pies from which to choose plus seven different salads. Or you can start with a cheese pie and add all sorts of interesting toppings, including a bunch of unusual (for pizza) cheeses like brie, fontina, gouda, asiago, feta and gorgonzola.

We'll have the menu on the site tomorrow, but in the meantime, we thought we'd tease you with a few of the more interesting pizzas:

• Mare Pie: Ah! Our specialty! Clam and garlic on top of melted mozzarella and tomato sauce
• D Bacon Pie: Diced apple wood smoked bacon, crumbled feta cheese, green olives and mozzarella cheese
• Olé Pie: Kalamata black olives, marinated hearts of artichoke, creamy goat cheese, thin slices of organic chives, sprinkled with extra virgin olive oil
• Deep Forest Pie: Fresh organic spinach, sweet onions, fresh slices mushrooms, garlic and bell peppers, on top of a mozzarella and tomato sauce sprinkled with pecorino romano cheese

Pieducks, 1451 S Miami Ave, Ste C-2 in Miami, 305-808-7888

If you've got the day off today, you can still catch the last of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival, which ends today at 6 p.m. There will be works from artists who use all sorts of different media: clay, sculpture, paint, wood, metal and jewelry. There's also a Culinary Pavilion, which, of course, is what we're most interested in. Today there are presentations from Oscar del Rivero from Jaguar and Eleanor Hoh of The Wok Star. We also hear that there are chicken chili and wine tastings.

Coconut Grove Arts Festival [Official Site]
Greetings from Coconut Grove Arts Festival [Miami Herald]

Photo, of last year's festival food offerings: Flickr

The City Cellar on the Mile is closed. We called our 'secret source' in the Gables to ask about it; he hadn't realized it was closed (just happened this very weekend, apparently), but he used the word "tambleando" (shaky) to describe how business had been there recently. There's another City Cellar that has done well in West Palm Beach, but this one, which had opened in December 2005, just didn't cut it on the Mile.

Interesting that the other recent Palm Beach transplant, Max's Grille, also didn't last long in downtown Coral Gables, despite having two successful locations in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens.

City Cellar [MenuPages]
City Cellar [Official Site]
Poof Goes the Restaurant: City Cellar Edition [consumableJoy]
Max's Grille Boca Raton [MenuPages]
Max's Grille Palm Beach Gardens [MenuPages]
Max's Grille [Official Site]

Casa Toscana [MenuPages]
Casa Toscana [Official Site]

Look at that. South Florida made it onto the list of the nation's best sandwiches, according to Esquire. The editors chose the Cuban sandwich at one of the Latin Americans:

Little Havana’s specialty, an eight-inch roll wet with butter, plus sugar-cured bolo ham, lechon asado (slow-roasted marinated pork), Swiss cheese, and pickle, toasted in a plancha (press). The later the hour, the better it tastes. (9796 Coral Way; 305-663-2600)

Go with the French bread, not the croissant -- it’s appropriately crusty and soft in the middle. And get it to stay -- the seating is outdoors, and the seafood salad (jumbo lump crab, shrimp) goes well with the salty air. (229 Fourteenth Street; 305-532-8934)

The Best Sandwiches in America [Esquire]
La Sandwicherie [MenuPages]
La Sandwicherie [Official Site]

Miami Beach is getting another steakhouse. This time, it's Morton's, which announced today that it signed a lease for a space at The Crown on 40th and Collins. From the press release:

With a total indoor seating capacity of approximately 240, the new Miami Beach Morton's will seat 135 guests in the main dining room, 65 in Morton's exclusive private boardrooms and 40 in Bar 12*21, Morton's new bar dining concept, the place for specialty cocktails and Morton's appetizing Bar Bites menu. The restaurant will also feature a 1,000 square-foot outdoor patio with seating for 36 guests. The new Morton's is expected to open in late 2008/ early 2009. It will be the third Morton's The Steakhouse in the Miami/Miami Beach market and the eighth in Florida.

Morton's to Open New Steakhouse in Miami Beach [Sun-Herald]
Morton's, The Steakhouse [Official Site]
Downtown Coral Gables Restaurant Gossip [MP: South Florida]

We prefer to stay home on Valentine's Day and cook a lovely meal for our sweetie (on the menu this year: coffee-marinated bison short ribs). But if you prefer to head out on the town, here are a few good options for treating your valentine:

• Blue Door at Delano is having a four-course dinner for $95 per person between 7 and 11 p.m.

• If you're going the vegan route, there's Sublime of course. Their dinner is $59 per person and includes three courses; for the entree, you can choose between artichoke tofu quiche or seitan steak wellington. There's also a champagne and sea caviar supplement for an extra $20.

• At Kavanagh & Morrissey's, they'll be serving fresh oysters, three special entrees, and a special dessert of a frozen heart-shaped mousse topped with cherries and white chocolate truffle. YUM.

• If you're in the mood for steak, Morton's has a $69 per person menu that includes a salad and an entree of filet mignon and Alaskan king crab or filet mignon and Australian lobster tail.

• The price is a little higher, $150 per person, at 3030 Ocean, but the menu looks really good. Oh, and that includes one glass of champagne. You get oysters or shrimp, bison tenderloin carpaccio or Maryland crab, Tasmanian salmon or Hawaiian mero, grilled beef tenderloin or roasted rack of lamb, and if you're still not full, you can choose a cheese plate, a winter lemon tart or chocolate fondue.

• If you'd rather stay at home but not cook, L & L Market Bistro will do the cooking for you for $50 per person. You get beef, lamb chops or Chilean sea bass with polenta 'hearts' (awww) and chocolate-covered strawberries.

• Social Miami at Sagamore is offering a special tasting menu in addition to its regular menu for $75 per person. That gets you three courses; the entree options include pan-seared duck breast with candied pecans and butter poached rock lobster tail with jumbo lump crab gremolata.

• And finally, Andu Restaurant & Lounge, which just opened yesterday, will also be offering a Valentine's Day menu that will include four courses, an amuse and a glass of champagne, all for $80 per person. The goat-cheese crusted lamb loin caught our eye. Sounds good.

Alert reader Emily Contreras let us know that Chef Innocent at the Hotel St. Michel has closed. Here's what she had to say about it:

Another closing to report. The Restaurant at St. Michel in Coral Gables previously Chef Innocent at St. Michel, closed it's doors last week. The two partners whom were leasing the restaurant from owner Potamkin, simply ran it into the ground. Now, will Potamkin get back into the restaurant business and re-open St Michel??

Chef Innocent [MenuPages]
Chef Innocent [Official Site]

Karu is closed, but not forever, which is good, because otherwise we'd have to feel really badly for the owners who sank a ton of money into renovation just 16 months ago:

Opened at a cost of $25 million in September 2006, Karu seemed over the top even by Miami standards, with a massive chandelier by glass artist Dale Chihuly, Mercedes-Benz shuttle service to the nearby performing arts center and a chef trained in Spain's cocina de autor.

The decor will remain, but the menu ''will go to the Mediterranean side,'' Sotomayor says, with ''a big-name chef'' replacing Alberto Cabrera.

A $3 million lounge renovation will be finished in time for the March 25-30 Winter Music Conference, Sotomayor said, with the restaurant reopening thereafter with backing from ``a high-roller company, not from Miami.''

Putting a pricey restaurant in a depressed area was not necessarily folly, says Karu's former publicist, Susan Brustman: ``In other cities, restaurants have turned neighborhoods around.''

As for the changes, we're curious to hear who this big-name chef will be. (We're wondering if said chef has already been selected, or if the owners just decided they need to look for someone with a 'big name.') As for the proposed menu changes, towards a more Mediterranean theme, we're underwhelmed. It's been done. A lot.

Closed: Karu Restaurant & Y [MP: South Florida]
Posh Karu restaurant closes -- for now [Miami Herald]
Karu Restaurant & Y [MenuPages]

This restaurant is so aptly named, don't you think? ('Por fin' means 'at last' in Spanish.) If you visit the website, it still says that the restaurant "eagerly anticipates its grand opening in Spring 2007." Heh. Right. Anyway, we gave them a call today after a chowhound posted about some activity at the restaurant on Wednesday. The very nice man who answered the phone informed us that they're shooting to open on Friday, February 15, but given how things have been going, it will likely happen the following Monday. So that's good news!

Here's the description from the website:

Por Fin offers diners a unique experience by serving authentic dishes from Spain, Southern France, and Italy, fused with creative touches of the 21st century. Por Fin's 2nd floor is laced with plush seating in a lounge setting; a perfect place to enjoy your favorite cocktail after work or to begin your evening out.

Anything newer or on the way to Dade? [Chowhound]
Por Fin Restaurant [Official Site]

So we're a teensy bit late on this, since All Purpose Dark and South Florida Gourmet already covered it, but we feel that we should continue to spread the word about Karu Restaurant & Y's closing. The restaurant is gone, but the lounge/club will stay open.

Did anyone see this coming? The food didn't get great reviews, but mediocre food has never stopped a sleek, lounge-y place from succeeding in Miami.

The $25M question: Why isn't K&Y better? [Miami Herald]
Karu Restaurant & Y [MenuPages]
Karu Restaurant & Y [Official Site]

Damn, that is a lot of food. We're sure it tastes good, but it's like breakfast, lunch and a mid-afternoon snack all rolled into one really heavy meal. Out-of-towners would often ask me if there was the same pressure in Miami to be rail-thin, tanned and beautiful as there is in LA, and while that may be the case in South Beach and certain other parts of the county, it's never far to a place like El Rinconcito Latino, where you can sit down to a bistec a caballo for breakfast and be applauded for your healthy appetite. Our personal preference would be to skip the plate entirely and go for just the tostada cubana dipped in that cafe con leche. With, perhaps, a croqueta on the side. Yum.

El Rinconcito Latino [MenuPages]

Photo: Flickr

We just came across some unpleasant news concerning the food court at a certain South Dade mall:

MIAMI (AP) - Health inspectors say several food court restaurants in a Miami mall were temporarily shut down because of unsanitary conditions.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation found health violations in several restaurants at Dadeland Mall.

Inspectors say they found about 30 roaches crawling on walls, shelves, over bags of croutons and under food prep counters at a Chicken Kitchen.

At a Sarku Japan restaurant, inspectors say they found rodent droppings on top of a walk-in cooler.

Other restaurants had minor violations.

Mall officials say all the restaurants have reopened following a successful inspection by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants.

Health inspectors shut down food court restaurants in Miami mall [ABC7]

Sara, of All Purpose Dark, has been writing so many reviews of new restaurants for Miami.com, that we just had to list them here, especially since there's a good chance we won't be quite as prolific today. (Forgive us, it's Ash Wednesday, which isn't the easiest day on which to write about food.) But you should definitely check out her reviews for Atrio, Kobe Club, Domo Japones, and Bourbon Steak.

Notes from a Writing Machine [All Purpose Dark]
Atrio [MenuPages]
Kobe Club [MenuPages]
Domo Japones [MenuPages]
Bourbon Steak [MenuPages]

At first, when we read the headline to this item in the Herald (Tour of wine-belt region costs taxpayers $6,000), we immediately thought of crooked politicians being wined and dined in Napa Valley for vacation. Seems like it was kind of like that ... but not entirely:

Fine wine, hearty food and a cozy bed and breakfast -- a perfect combination for a trio of summer days and nights in upstate New York's wine-belt region.

And that's just where five Miami-Dade County employees and a group of local farmers spent a ''fact-finding'' mission last summer in an effort to pump up South Dade's agricultural woes.

''We were up at 6 every morning and down at 10 each night,'' said Miami-Dade County Agriculture Manager Charles Lapradd.

The trip -- approved by county commissioners -- was part of an ongoing attempt by Commissioner Dennis Moss to turn his struggling South Dade farming district into a tourist spot.

On the mission with Moss and Lapradd were a group of local farmers, Assistant County Manager Alex Muñoz, Planning and Zoning Director Subrata Basu and an aide to Moss.

Total cost to taxpayers: $6,097.53.

While tourism is the county's economic cog, scores of potential visitors bypass South Dade en route to the Florida Keys each year.

During a recent Power Point presentation to commissioners, Lapradd highlighted the Finger Lake region, noting a grape pie factory, explaining how farmers still raise sheep near retail outlets and telling of an apple orchard converted into an Ag-Tech park. Even the New York Rangers chose an energy drink based on a tart from the area.

''It was a great opportunity to see where a dying industry . . . had the ability to recreate and renew itself,'' Moss said. ``We have that same opportunity in South Dade.''

There's just one big difference between New York's wine-belt region (we're assuming it's the Finger Lakes) and South Dade: the former fits the typical bucolic scene of rolling hills, glimmering lakes, picket fences, fields of grapes and grazing cows. South Florida? Not so much like that. It's flat, with wide streets on a reliable grid, which is great for finding your way around, but grids don't exactly inspire romantic country images.

Still, it could work, especially given the sheer number of people who pass through the area en route to the Keys. If we can get them to stop in Redland or Homestead for a night, it would help. And we've already got one winery; now we just need a few bed and breakfasts.

Tour of wine-belt region costs taxpayers $6,000 [Miami Herald]
Schnebly Winery [Official Site]

Every year, sometime in February, our parents would drive us down to the Homestead area to pick tons and tons of strawberries. We'd usually get two big boxfuls of red, juicy berries, most of which wouldn't even last past dinner that night. We were just thinking about those wonderful berries today, so we thought we'd make a few calls and find out if the strawberries are ripe yet. Turns out that they are, at every single farm we called. Lots of local farms have strawberries, but unfortunately fewer and fewer are doing U-Pick, likely because of higher insurance rates. Most u-pick farms also let you pick other fruits and veggies, like tomatoes, lettuce and eggplant. Here's a good list with which to start:

• Knaus Berry Farm 15980 SW 248th St in Homestead, 305-247-0668. Our personal favorite, if only because you can finish an afternoon of berry picking with a sticky cinnamon bun and a thick strawberry milkshake. The u-pick strawberries are $2.25 per pound.

• Beefy U-Pick Farm 9865 Boynton Beach Blvd in Boynton Beach, 561-441-9721. U-pick strawberries are $2.10 per pound.

• Hydro Delight U-Pick Farms 15550 Okeechobee Blvd in Loxahatchee Groves, 561-792-4800. The strawberries here are organic and grown hydroponically, which means they're kind of stacked one on top of the other. It uses less land, less energy and less water, and involves a lot less stooping and crouching for the picker. (We couldn't get someone on the phone, so we don't have any idea about the price.)

• The Girls Strawberry U-Pick 14466 S Military Trl in Delray Beach, 561-496-0188. When we called and asked if the strawberries were in, the person on the phone chuckled and said, "We've got a ton of them." These are also hydroponic, so no bending necessary. (On the site, it's advertised as "senior citizen friendly.") Berries are $4.99 per pound.

UPDATE: JD told us about another u-pick place, which seems to be smack-dab in the middle of Kendall. It's called U-Pick Fresh Produce, and there are two locations: at 137th Ave and 95th St and at 167th Ave and Kendall Dr. They have an ad in The Miami Herald, and if you can find it and bring it in, you get a 10 percent discount on the produce.

Photo: Flickr

Remember 8 1/2? You might not. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it place that got good reviews but just didn't make it. Well, the chef from 8 1/2, Jason McClain, now has his own place called Jason's at the Harrison on Miami Beach.

We just got the menu up today; it's certainly eclectic. There's tamarind braised oxtail with pickled papaya and yuca chips, beef carpaccio with ratatouille vegetable salad and Florida day boat grouper (which, given recent news, may either a) not be around for long or b) skyrocket in price). McClain also seems to be making an effort to use local ingredients, Homestead tomatoes for example.

Jason's at the Harrison [MenuPages]
Jason's at the Harrison [Official Site]

Oh man, we want one of these. We fear it might taste a bit too perfumey, as can sometimes be the case when working with flowers in the kitchen, but just look at that thing. It is so pretty. We're thinking that might be just right for Valentine's Day.

And now, we promise no more photos from Andú. At least not until it actually opens.

Andú Restaurant & Lounge [Official Site]

Check out these interior photos of the soon-to-open Andú Restaurant & Lounge. If the food is as sleek as the decor, this place is going to be quite a hit. We kind of like those big white designs on the walls. They remind us of bubbles.

We just learned that Andú will be opening its doors on Monday, February 11, which is well after "late December" as we were told earlier, but you know how these things go. The sample menu items we've seen are the same ones we posted about last time, so we won't bore you by repeating them, but we will repeat that we are incredibly excited about a mac 'n' cheese with a manchego crust. YUM.

Also, we should note that the restaurant is hiring servers, so if you're in need of a job, check out the ad.

Andú Restaurant & Lounge [Official Site]
Andú photos [Mike Butler]
Andú Restaurant & Lounge Will Open Doors Sometime Before The New Year [MP: South Florida]
Andu Restaurant Lounge - Servers Wanted [Craigslist]

Photo: Mike Butler

Miami Beach has a gastropub: The Smoking Rabbit, which occupies the former space of departed seafood restaurant 510 Ocean. It hasn't been open for long, but already it's got two reviews on Yelp. Here's one of them:

Daily Candy called this an English inspired "gastropub," but I saw no sign of pub-ish-ness in the place. First of all, no English brew whatsoever. We were told that it was just the soft opening and they planned to have some English beer soon, but there is no tap behind the bar, so I'm not sure that it will make much of a difference.

We were just having drinks, but we took a look at the menu for future reference. A few things sounded interesting, but I'm not sure I'd spend the money.

The owner was there, strutting around the place, looking proud of himself. A handful of the beautiful people were eating; I got the impression they were friends of employees. The rest of the patrons consisted of some very confused looking middle aged tourists.

The music was basically what would happen if you put my entire iTunes playlist on random. It went straight from Billie Holiday to Billy Joel. I am not making this up.

We haven't received a menu yet, but we hear it changes daily. Also, you should know that the phone number we've seen listed everywhere appears to be a cell phone number, so unless you want to leave the owner a voicemail message, you might want to try the restaurant number instead (305-531-2100).

The Smoking Rabbit [Yelp]

Dogma Grill owners Jeffrey and Lisa Akin, who are described as "hot dog hipsters" in the press release, whatever that means, are launching a catering division. Need 50 hot dogs for junior's 10th birthday party? Or a lot more than that for a company picnic? You can get anything from the Dogma Grill menu; they'll set up a miniature grill on site to cook the dogs.

It's pretty crazy how quickly they seem to have become the hot dog authority in the area. According to the release, they've only been around since 2002, and while there are just three locations (although in under five years, three locations isn't shabby), they seem to always be in the news somehow. We, sadly, have not yet tried the hot dogs at Dogma, but we'd love to hear what you guys think about them.

Dogma Grill [MenuPages]
Dogma Grill [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

We apologize for being a bit slow on the blogging front; we've been doing lots and lots of work on the site, updating menus, and adding new ones. Here are a few that we've added just recently:

• Good Eats Deli, 645 NE 79th St in Miami, 305-757-2731

• Metronome, 5090 PGA Blvd in Palm Beach Gardens, 561-775-1919

• Foxy's Ice Cream & Dessert Cafe, 12 SE 5th Ave in Delray Beach, 561-276-9379

• Five Guys, 7268 W Atlantic Blvd in Margate, 954-975-4818

• Cafe Le Glacier, 7295 Biscayne Blvd in Miami, 305-754-6551

Busy weekend for foodies! Not only is there the International Chocolate Festival, but there's also a stone crab picnic on Saturday at the Coral Gables Farmers Market hosted by Slow Food Miami. Here's what Paula, of mango&lime, wrote about the even in the SunPost:

The picnic starts at noon, but you may want to arrive early to watch Chef Roberto Ferrer, of Cohiba Brasserie in Coral Gables, demonstrate how to prepare a stone crab and avocado dish, from 10 to 11 a.m. And while you await your stone crabs, you can check out booths with organic produce, local honey, French pastries, spices and fragrant tea blends.

At the picnic, you pay for what you eat. Stone crabs will be sold for $10 per pound and provided by Judy the “stone crab lady,” who has been bringing seafood from Everglades City to the market for several years. Pick up some healthy sides from Whisk Gourmet Food & Catering at an adjacent booth. Then head over to the picnic tables and join your neighbors for seafood and wine. Reno recommends a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, but it’s up to you. Oh, and don’t forget your crab tools. The stone crabs will be cracked, but you’ll need some utensils to eat the yummy crustaceans.

International Chocolate Festival Is This Weekend [MP: South Florida]
Slow Food Miami [Official Site]
Come On, Get Crabby! [SunPost]

Did you know that cacao's scientific name, Theobroma cacao, means "food of the gods?" So very apt, don't you think? There's lots more interesting trivia to learn at the second annual International Chocolate Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. There's a screening of Like Water for Chocolate tomorrow evening, and over the weekend there will be tours of Fairchild's rainforest, plant sales, cooking demonstrations, and lectures on the history of chocolate and how to make it. If you're a member of the garden, the event is free. If not, it's $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, and $10 for kids 6-17 (under 5 enter for free).

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden [Official Site]
Chocolate festival program [pdf file]

Photo: Flickr

Our counterpart in Chicago steered us toward this site, which says that Miami may be seeing yet another steakhouse within the next year. Which is exactly what we need. According to the site, Gibson's Steakhouse plans to open a South Beach location in fall 2008 or early 2009. Of course, this could just be a rumor, but given the current steakhouse trend, we wouldn't be surprised if it were true. While we're sure that Gibson's is an excellent steakhouse, we're just up to our ears in large slabs of read meat down here, and quite frankly, we're bored by it.

Gibson's heads South for the winter [312 Dining Diva]
Gibson's Steakhouse [MenuPages]
Gibson's Steakhouse [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

If you're an Alex Rodriguez fan, you might want to head over to Origin Asian Bistro & Sushi in South Miami; it seems he frequents the place. Here's what blogger Blind Mind had to say about it in his review of the restaurant:

Ok, so I stopped by Origin last night for dinner just like I said. It was incredibly good and I was reminded that I need to go back more often. Being that I was in Loserville, aka "dining alone" haha, I decided to sit inside rather than take up an outside table. It was kind of a bummer because one of my favorite things about eating outside there is that you get to see all the guys coming and going from "Booby Trap" next door...sinners haha. The inside is really nice and I think they repainted because I thought the paint used to be purple and its now a nice sage green. I could be mistaken though. There was one decoration that really stood out as an eyesore though. They have a staircase that leads upstairs to where the bathrooms are located and it is lined with 3 HUGE Alex Rodriguez autographed jerseys, one for each team he has financially sunk into the ground with his ridiculous contract before choking in the playoffs. I was thinking that either the owner is a huge fan or somehow A-Rod is involved with the restaurant, which would explain the eyesore jerseys since he has a huge ego to feed. Sure enough, 2 minutes later A-Rod comes walking down the stairs to have dinner with his wife who was surprisingly not that attractive at all. Now I understand the rumors that he cheated on her haha.

Overall it was another great trip to this South Miami restaurant and I can understand why they would consider opening another one in Key Biscayne. My bill came to $31 and I added $6 for tip. Not bad for 2 high quality apps, a huge sushi roll, and a beer. I definitely recommend that any Asian food fans check this place out. On my way out, I looked at A-Rod and he gave me one of those, "Yeah, I know you know who I am, please dont bother me" head nods. I can respect that, so I simply said, "Go Sox" as I walked past and he gave me the "Thats funny...asshole" smile haha.

More good eats at Origin Asian Bistro [Blind Mind]
Origin Asian Bistro & Sushi [MenuPages]
Origin Asian Bistro & Sushi [Official Site]

Photo: aolcdn.com

In case you were wondering what the new Texas de Brazil on South Beach looks like inside, here's a photo for you. We learned that the menu is much like that of the other Texas De Brazil in Dolphin Mall, but the new one has a sushi bar. Is there a law on the city's books that states that every restaurant on the beach must serve sushi?

Texas de Brazil [MenuPages]
Texas De Brazil [MenuPages]
Texas De Brazil [Official Site]

There are some restaurants that won't ever be featured on MenuPages, unfortunately. Romeo's Cafe for instance. Despite the fact that everyone we know who's been there has raved about it, the restaurant doesn't have any sort of menu, which is a problem for a menu directory site. Moveable restaurants, which in addition to having no fixed location also rarely have set menus, fall into that group as well. But the folks over at the Miami Herald have launched a new version of Miami.com, and in it we found a useful guide to food trucks in the area. We've already written about Orale!, but we were happy to learn of trucks that sell Haitian roasted nuts and smoked ribs.

Dashboard Gourmet [Miami.com]
Romeo's Cafe [Official Site]
Bayside Chatter: Tropical Fruit And Street Cart Tacos [Miami Herald]

Via Critical Miami

We thought we'd share this letter we found in the New Times from Josh Woodward, Govind Armstrong's partner in Table 8.

We're here!: Though we certainly don't mind being compared to restaurants such as those run by Michael Mina and David Bouley in Lee Klein's "A Pretty Good Year," (December 27), I have to say that when it comes to a comparison of how much time my partner, Govind Armstrong, spends in Miami, we are not so similar. Govind has been very involved in the Miami community this past year and has spent almost as much time in South Beach as he has in Los Angeles. We were blessed this year that Govind had the opportunity to release his first cookbook, a wonderfully exciting milestone for any chef! This took him all over the world on a book tour, but I can say proudly that our kitchen did not suffer in his absence, because Chef de Cuisine Jason Smith and his kitchen staff are second to none.

When not in our kitchen, Govind could be found all over town participating in local benefits and pitching in for local causes. Our restaurant in Miami is in no way a Vegas-style "licensing deal" where chefs are paid big money to lend their names to faceless businesses. Table 8 is a mom-and-pop operation. We have put our blood, sweat, and tears into our South Beach location. I have moved permanently from Los Angeles and have been in that restaurant day and night for the past year and a half. You wouldn't have to ask around too much to find that Govind and I have truly embedded ourselves in the local community, and won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

Letters from the Issue of January 17, 2008 [Miami New Times]
Table 8 [MenuPages]

We've been busy collecting menus and adding them to the site, so here are a few that have gone live this week:

• Sushi Club, 6542 Collins Ave in Miami Beach, 305-868-7760

• The Village Chalet Restaurant, 12312 SW 224th St in Miami, 305-258-8900

• Yard House, 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens, 561-691-6901

• Casimir Bistro, 416 Via de Palmas in Boca Raton, 561-955-6001

• Taqueria Dona Raquel, 793 S Dixie Hwy W in Pompano Beach, 954-946-4490

Miami Beach restaurateurs are not happy about the city's ban on food displays outside of restaurants. Stroll down Ocean Drive, and you'll notice that the displays are still there. But the city's public works director has begun to threaten to actually enforce the ban, and the penalties can be stiff: $100 for the first violation, up to $1,000 for the fifth violation. After that, the cafe's permit might be suspended. Some restaurants are trying to fight it -- they even tried to enlist the help of the ACLU, which politely declined to get involved -- while others are trying to come up with creative ways to get around it:

Some restaurateurs have already begun thinking of new ways to lure the customers in.

One idea: ''Talking menus,'' a tablet of audible menus in seven languages developed and touted by a Kendall-based company, Menus That Talk.

That won't work, however, for Jay Egilmez, owner of Lincoln Road's Aura Restaurant.

''Talking menus and menus with food photos are not the same as the displays,'' Egilmez said.

The restaurant owners asked the city's public works director if they could display their food in windows or alcoves.

Likely so, said Beckmann, since the law doesn't pertain to private property.

Then there is the idea of ''moving food display'' -- waiters and waitresses.

''Can our employees stand holding the food displays?'' asked Aura's Egilmez.

Code enforcement officer Jose Alberto conceded the possibility: ``Technically . . . you got one there.''

Ban on food displays has some restaurateurs choking [Miami Herald]
Say Goodbye To Food Wrapped In Plastic [MP: South Florida]

First we've got the much-anticipated Forté di Asprinio, the restaurant of Top Chef contestant Stephen Asprinio. It'll feature upscale contemporary Italian cuisine, although given Asprinio's sommelier background, we imagine the appeal here will be the wine list. It was supposed to open in late 2007, but it looks like the opening, at 225 Clematis Street in West Palm Beach, was pushed back until February.

If you're a fan of Novecento in Brickell or the beach, you'll be happy to know that a third location is opening in Coral Gables at 121 Alhambra Plaza. They're hiring now, and we were told by someone at the Brickell location that the new restaurant should be open around mid-February.

And finally, we just learned of a new restaurant called Melao Cafe opening sometime this week in the old RJ Gators location at 18415 S Dixie Highway in south Dade. We don't know much else, and we couldn't find a phone number, but we'll update as soon as we learn something new.

Forté di Asprinio [Official Site]
"Top Chef" Stephen Asprinio Seeking Skilled Employees [Craigslist]
Novecento [MenuPages]
Novecento [MenuPages]
**NOVECENTO RESTAURANT JOB FAIR** [Craigslist]
NOW Hiring! New Restaurant! [Craigslist]

Check out the photos from the first day of the Upper Eastside greenmarket over at mango&lime. It looks small, but there seemed to be lots of great-looking produce. Let's hope that it sticks around!

Upper East Side Green Market [mango&lime]

We learned today of a food festival in early February sponsored by the government of Navarra, Spain. The image above has most of the pertinent details; each of the participating restaurants will be offering special tasting menus featuring dishes from the region. Think stuffed piquillo peppers, idiazabal cheese and a good rosé.

Navarra, Spain Visits Miami and New York [Earth Times]
Navarra Food Festival [Official Site]

Yes, it's here, the Spanish cured ham made from a black pig that eats only acorns. Until recently, it was banned in the United States, but the USDA finally decided in favor of deliciousness, and the first shipments arrived on this side of the Atlantic just last month. Delicias de España just received its first batch of ham four days ago; it took them a bit longer as a restaurant to be approved as a jamón ibérico retailer. They're selling the hams for $52 to $95 per pound, and it comes either whole (7-10 pounds) or sliced as thinly as you like.

Delicias was the first place we thought of to call, although if you know of any other Spanish restaurants or markets carrying it, let us know. We've never tried it, and we can't wait to do so!

Delicias de Espana [MenuPages]
Delicias de Espana [Official Site]
What's Up With Jamón Ibérico? [MP: Boston]

Photo: Flickr

Florida Trend released its 20 best new restaurants in the state. Here are the South Florida ones that made the cut:

• Boca Raton: Cafe Joley, Chops Lobster Bar, Nick's Fishmarket of Hawaii

• Coconut Grove: Christabelle's Quarter

• Hollywood: Lola's on Harrison

• Miami: Bourbon Steak, Casablanca Seafood Bar & Grill, DeVito South Beach, Grimpa Steakhouse, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink

• Palm Beach Gardens: Amazonia Churrascaria, III Forks

Wow. That's a lot of steak. We see a few interesting restaurants (Michael's, Cafe Joley, Lola's, Casablanca), but really, the rest of the list just seems so...boring.

20 Best New Restaurants [Florida Trend]