Miami's Best Eats and Drinks This Week: Very Happy Hours and a Wine War

Lots of drinking and eating to be done this week, so let's get right to it. From two new happy hours in South Beach (one Mediterranean and one Korean) to a wine bar taking over the Moore Building this Thursday and pitting 16 of Miami's top sommeliers against one another, there's not a sober moment in sight. Even tonight, the recently opened Books & Books at the Adrienne Arsht Center will get you inebriated with a sustainable seafood/wine-pairing dinner in collaboration with My Ceviche. And contrary to popular belief, it's not all white wines when it comes to fish. 

Week starts now. 

Monday

Books & Books/My Ceviche Sustainable Seafood Feast
You probably knew about the Monday farmers' market that takes place at the Adrienne Arsht Center (if you didn't, now you know), but did you know that since Books & Books opened at the performing arts center, chef Allen Susser has been doing themed farm-to-table dinners every Monday? And tonight is no different, except that it is. Susser has teamed up with My Ceviche's Sam Gorenstein to bring sustainable seafood caught yesterday to the table. The five-course dinner will not only be paired with wine for $60 a person, but will also include a bit of learning between each course. The topic: How you can help maintain our oceans' health. Pro tip: Don't eat farmed fish. The communal dinner begins at 7 p.m. inside the café.

Tuesday

Dips and Sips at Cleo
When the clock strikes 5, there's nothing better than pairing some alcohol with lebaneh, feta, and house-made laffa bread the size of your head — unless, of course, all the aforementioned are offered for $5 That's Cleo's new Dips and Sips happy hour. There will be hummus, baba ganouj, a bevy of wood-roasted items (think cauliflower, shishito peppers, and spicy potatoes), as well as various flatbreads (try the eggplant and lebaneh) and kebabs (go for the Wagyu skirt). Wash it down with one of two handcrafted cocktails, Estrella beer, Prosecco, or house selected wine. Everything on the Dips and Sips menu is priced at $5 to $7. Drinking begins at 5 p.m. and goes till 7 on the patio and bar only.

Wednesday

Dragon Hour at Drunken Dragon
Keep the happy-hour train going by hitting up Dragon Hour at the Drunken Dragon Wednesday and every Monday through Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. thereafter. Sit at the bar and choose from a plethora of the Korean-style barbecue joint's plates, such as the lobster roll (golden, crisp, and buttery brioche topped with a generous portion of fresh lobster meat) and crisp bok choy sizzling in garlic, plum, and soy. Wash it down beer, sake, wine, or maybe even a tiki cocktail. If the Voodoo Lady doesn't make you happy, nothing will. Prices for food and drink range from $3 to $7. 

Thursday

Wine Bar Wars
If you're favorite Top Chef episode every season is "Restaurant Wars," when two teams duke it out in 24 hours to come up with a restaurant concept, menu, and decor, you might want to check out Wine Bar War this Thursday. It's kinda similar except there's lots of vino. The second-annual Wine Bar, presented by LAN Chile in conjunction with Wines of Chile and the Guild of Sommeliers, pits 16 sommeliers against one another. Four teams of four must design and develop Chilean-inspired bars in one day. The challenge is to bring Chile to life through decor, ambiance, and wine selections. Captains for the teams include Brian Gandison of Hakkaasan, Heath Porter of Uvaggio, Amanda Fraga of Michael's Genuine, and Greg Rivera of the Breakers Palm Beach. The showdown, held at the Moore Building from 7 to 10 p.m., will feature live music and 32 wines that celebrate Chile. Tickets are available for $40 through GILT and include the opportunity to win two first-class tickets to Chile courtesy of LAN. Win-win.

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