Where in the World is Norman Van Aken?

There were rumors that father-son chef duo Norman and Justin Van Aken had been fired from Norman’s 180 a couple weeks ago. So we decided to stalk em. Or at least their Twitter.Yes, this is indeed sick and disturbing behavior, but someone had to put the rumors to bed. Norman…

Top 5 Vegan Restaurants in South Florida

Vegan restaurants in Miami are rare. For the most part, they cater to a granola-munching, Birkenstock-wearing demographic, but neglect the rest of us who just like to eat. Maybe veganism would be more widely accepted if it struck a balance between looking appetizing and providing an environment where the masses…

HDNet’s Drinking Made Easy Hits South Florida November 10

Just when you thought there couldn’t be another show about people gallivanting around the country eating and drinking, along comes Drinking Made Easy, a 24-episode show that travels the country in search of local libations and tippling traditions.Zane Lamprey and his drinking buddies, Steve McKenna and Marc Ryan, are actually…

Escopazzo’s Expanded Vegan Menu Coming This Month

It might seem like some kind of miracle that an Italian restaurant is offering vegan fare. Wait…it is a miracle that any fine dining restaurant would want to do vegan cuisine. Nevertheless, it’s true, South Beach’s Escopazzo has a section on its menu entirely dedicated to raw, vegan specialties. Executive…

Adrian Grenier Uses His Celebrity for Bluefin Tuna

Entourage hottie Adrian Grenier is putting his celebrity to good use. He, Oceana, GQ’s Gentlemen Fund, and Nautica have joined forces to fight extermination of the bluefin tuna in the Atlantic. The population of these huge creatures has been reduced by nearly 82 percent as a result of overfishing…

Most Expensive Breakfast: Bistro E, Morgans, and More

Bistro E at the Viceroy is offering a $15 mix-n-match, daily breakfast “deal.” How could $15 truly represent a deal at breakfast? That is more expensive than some lunches. And how does it stack up against the competition.Pick an entree, a side, coffee and juice. There are eggs “your way,”…

Mandarin Oriental: Social Media Monster

Social media brings customers. One of businesses using it very successfully is the Mandarin Oriental, home of Azul, Cafe Sambal and M Bar. Here’s a quick recap of how they use it:1. Twitter 1,703 Followers, 721 Following – constant interaction with individuals conversing about the brand and #FollowFridays to recognizing…

Mi-kan, Brickell’s Sushi Pioneer, Revamps its Menu

​In a recent Short Order post, we couldn’t help but notice that Brickell’s been pimping sushi lately, but who is the Sushi “O.G” in that neighborhood? The answer is Seiji Ikemizu — who now just goes by “Ike”. He opened Mi-kan in what is now the Chase Building in Brickell…

David Ortiz: Iron Fork Finalist’s Recipes

The Booze Hound yesterday featured mixologist David Ortiz from the Viceroy’s Club 50. He has been nominated as one of the city’s top mixologists in tonight’s Iron Fork Awards and after tasting through a myriad of his Miami-inspired cocktails, we know why. These were the three that stood out. The…

David Ortiz & Club 50 at the Viceroy: Mixologist Snapshot

In preparation for tomorrow night’s Iron Fork, Booze Hound has been stalking the nominated mixologists. The first one we were able to track down was David Ortiz from Club 50 at the Viceroy. A long-time South Florida resident, David makes cocktails with a deeply native feel. Blessed with  a Miami…

Table 40, A Rare Find

The most exclusive table in town just sprouted up in Downtown Miami. The Intercontinental Hotel launched Table 40, a chef’s table concept, in honor of its Executive Chef Alexander Feher. The place celebrates Chef Feher’s fortieth anniversary with the Intercontinental Hotel brand. It’s also the only Chef’s Table in downtown…

Ceviche Throwdown, Photo Recap for a Good Cause

Close to 300 tickets were sold to yesterday’s Ceviche Throwdown.  Miamians, tweeples, foodies and judges alike came together to benefit the Friends of the Fishermen, a nonprofit associated with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board. Congratulations to Sugarcane Raw Bar & Grill, Miami International Wine Fair and the South…

Joshua Marcus of Chow Down Grill Is a Chopstick Nazi

Chef/owner of Chow Down Grill Joshua Marcus doesn’t stock chopsticks. No way. No how. Why? It makes sense to him, but not to many others. At one time, it caused a bit of a stir on his Facebook and Twitter pages. We wanted to know what he had to say about the…

Wine Over Miami, Where Wine Doth Taken Over

​Forget about that full-body cleanse. It seems as though wine has just taken over the city this week. Miami plays host to a number of wino-centric events open to both trade and consumers. If you love Spanish wines, jump on the wine train Wednesday, October 13 at the Great Match…

Escopazzo Wine Dinner This Wines-day

An oldie but goodie, Escopazzo features a four-course wine dinner Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Maybe one of the last places in Miami where a diner can get white-glove service and perfectly prepared nibbles, this Italian enclave charges $72 for the degustation and wine pairing. Chef Giancarla Bodoni’s expertise lies in a…

Plunge Into a Pink Elephant at the Gansevoort Miami Beach

It’s Friday and Short Order sniffs out this weekend’s top cocktail yet again. We popped into the Gansevoort Miami Beach Hotel this week and discovered the Pink Elephant — a refreshing combination of fresh muddled strawberries, mint, and lime swished together with Grey Goose Pear Vodka and laced with a…

Bistro 1401 Opens on Coral Way

Chef Fabio Pizelman’s Bistro 1401 is barely a month old now and it’s already become a neighborhood favorite. Diners, friends and online reviews all concur. Located on the corner of SW 14th Avenue and Coral Way, the 40-seat eatery serves up traditional Argentinian dishes mixed with Italian inspiration. Fulfilling a…

Latin Burger #1 on Twitter Among Local Mobile Eats

Last week, Short Order featured a list of tweeting, or twittering (whatever your pleasure) Miami chefs. This week’s focus is on the numerous food trucks roaming the “M-I-A.” There are well over 20 decked-out chariots dishing out delicious grub with menus ranging from burgers and tacos, to seafood and ceviche,…

DB Bistro Moderne Opening October 29 at JW Marriott Marquis

DB Bistro Moderne opens its doors to salivating Miami diners on October 29 in the JW Marriott Marquis Miami, located at 345 Avenue of the Americas. Three-time James Beard Awarded chef Chef Daniel Boulud’s arrival reaffirms Miami as a top culinary destination.Executive Chef Jarrod Verbiak will helm the Miami locale…

Del Maguey Mezcal Shows a Tastier Side of Tequila

Let’s start off by saying that all tequila is mezcal, but all mezcal is not tequila. Patron and Cuervo have massive marketing budgets, so smaller, quality-driven mezcal producers must live in their shadow. Worse, mezcal is famous as the crap with he worm in it.But there’s great stuff out there…

Miami Chefs Return from NoLa Ready to Support

Five months after the Deepwater Horizon spilled more than 5 million barrels of crude into the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans economy is still hurting. Three locals toques, Michelle Bernstein, Michael Schwartz, and Peter Vauthy, recently visited re-opened waters, spent some time with fishermen and learned about what the government…

Sardinia Enoteca is Overrated

Among the hundreds of mediocre Italian restaurants in this town, there has always been one that people claim to be a cut above the rest — Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante on Purdy Avenue in South Beach. Actually, this is the one Italian restaurant that locals rant and rave about. Do a search…