Jamie DeRosa to Open LaMuse Cafe at Epic Hotel

When Jamie DeRosa closed Tongue & Cheek last month after a three-year run in SoFi, the chef/restaurateur said that he had other projects on his plate including plans to open a Parisian-style café meets art gallery in downtown Miami.  The chef has just shared details on his new concept.

LaMuse Cafe, which is located inside the contemporary Avant Art Gallery at the Epic Hotel (270 Biscayne Blvd. Way) will open in spring of 2016, featuring healthy bistro food inside the artistic space. The restaurant is a partnership between the chef, gallery owner Dmitry Prut, and Dirk DeSouza. 

Jamie DeRosa said that the collaboration between himself and Avant's Dmitry Prut would allow people to see the gallery in a whole new way, while providing a much needed affordable dining option to the people who live and work in the area. He said that his wife, Amy, works in the neighborhood and there are few good lunch options. "There's Whole Foods and its salad bar, but sometimes you just want someone to make you a good Niçoise salad to go or sit down and enjoy a light meal without paying too much." La Muse will also offer delivery to the Epic Hotel & Residences and to people within a four-block radius in Brickell's central business district.

The chef describes the 32-seat space as "a really cool blend of art and food", with seating inside the gallery, on the terrace, and additional places to enjoy a meal on the tiered outdoor stadium along Biscayne Boulevard Way. DeRosa envisions LaMuse as a place to get coffee in the morning, lunch in the afternoon, and a glass of wine and some charcuterie after a long day. "I really believe this is what Brickell needs." The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night dining daily, offering counter service and grab-and-go options.

Breakfast items will include buckwheat crepes made with organic eggs, country-style ham, and Gruyere; smoked sturgeon on a poppy seed bagel with cucumber, tomato, and cream cheese; and tartines. DeRosa also plans on offering healthy options like a probiotic coconut bowl with granola, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, and cashew or a tartine with almond butter, bee pollen, pink lady apples, dairy-free coconut yogurt, peach, and pistachio. Breakfast will range from $4 to 12. 

Lunch and dinner items include roasted eggplant with feta, balsamic, salsa verde, and arugula; a green goddess salad with shaved asparagus, hydro bibb lettuce, lemon, and herbs; a tabbouleh kale salad with cauliflower, cucumber, crispy rice, sumac, and currants; and classic Greek and Niçoise salads. Prices will range from $8 to 22. 

DeRosa plans on utilizing local provider partners whenever possible for coffee, breads, and produce and will offer Palais de Theas tea from France. The café will also feature a selection of European wines including rosés and champagnes, European beers, and sangrias.  

DeRosa also explains that opening LaMuse allows him to grow as a chef while allowing him time with his family. He and wife Amy recently welcomed their second child, Charlotte Mae into the world on September 24. While the baby was a healthy 7-pound, 6-ounce girl, Amy DeRosa suffered complications, spending 17 days in ICU, according to a message the chef posted on Facebook. Amy DeRosa was released from the hospital on October 26 and is on the road to a full recovery. "She continues to be the strongest and most intelligent person I know," writes DeRosa.  

DeRosa also plans on developing his Izzy's Fish & Oyster brand further, with two locations including one in Key West.

LaMuse will serve breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon, with lunch and dinner offered from noon to midnight daily. In addition, the café will feature a happy hour, highlighting its rose sangria and other specials, to be announced.