It's Memorial Day weekend, which means most of us have three whole days to enjoy Miami. And although this weekend tends to be quite hectic on the beaches, there's still plenty to do in the way of eating, drinking, and having a great time.
From a killer barbecue that requires absolutely no work on your part, to brunch, to bocce, there are always fantastic options.
Your (long) weekend starts now.
See also: Sean Combs Promotes Opening of Finga Licking @ Royal Castle
Barbeque-Palooza at the Federal Food Drink & Provisions
Sure, Memorial Day is all about grilling. But who said you had to be the one to do it yourself? Instead of firing up the grill, head the Federal and let chef/owner Cesar Zapata do the work for you from the restaurant's outdoor smoker.
We're talking barbecued deviled eggs topped with pulled pork, pickled serrano peppers, and creamy horseradish; smoky fried chicken; campfire bacon (grilled, house-made bacon with maple and chives); dry-rubbed Saint Louis-style pork ribs with creamy slaw and pickled peaches; Hawaiian duck leg grilled with a Coca-Cola hoisin glaze; applewood-smoked jumbo chicken wings; a grilled sausage platter; and a ham steak (to name just a few carnivorous pleasures). Prices range from $8 to $22, and the special menu is available Friday, May 23, through Sunday, May 24, during dinner hours. Wash it down with bottomless bubbles and beer for $15 and you've got a much better way to get your meat smoked than doing it yourself.
Opening of Finga Licking @Royal Castle
Look, if Diddy is looking forward to this place opening, attention must be paid. We don't know if it's the promise of grilled lobster with a side of macaroni 'n' cheese or the hint that at any given time Sean Combs might pop in for some shrimp, but we are all about checking out the grand opening of Finga Licking @Royal Castle today, May 23. Because the co-owner is Elric Prince of Poe Boy Music Group, you never know what industry types you might run into. We sense a major Instagram moment in the making.
Memorial Day Brunch Guide
It's Memorial Day, and if you're planning a nice, quiet beach day, that's not happening on SoBe this weekend. Skip the beach (you've got the rest of the summer to enjoy it in relative peace) and spend the day brunching. After all, enjoying eggs and mimosas is a much more productive use of your day off, and you don't have to worry about those pesky UV rays if you're indoors with a bloody mary. Here's a handy guide to some of the best places to partake of the weekend meal with friends:
See also: Where to Get Brunch on Memorial Day
Chefs' Bocce Tournament (Game One) at Bocce Bar
You know that bocce court in front of Bocce Bar? It'll be the site of a culinary smackdown for the ages -- a chefs' bocce tournament. That's right, kiddies. Not only do some of Miami's best chefs know how to cook some great dishes, but they've also got mad ball skills (bocce balls, that is). Don't believe us? Go watch the fun. This four-game series will pit chefs from Scarpetta, the Federal, Via Verdi, Toscana Divino, St. Regis, and Salumeria 104 against one another in that great Italian sport of bocce. The first match goes down Monday, May 26, from 5 to 8 p.m., as Scarpetta's own Top Chef star Nina Compton takes on the Federal's Cesar Zapata. Head over, sip negronis, and watch the action. And be sure to tweet your pictures using hashtags #chefboccetournament and #boccethrowndown.
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