See also Miami Spice, the Good, the Great and the Grudging, Part One and Part TwoThis three-part look at Miami Spice comes just as the dining program gets set to begin August 1. There has been a split in price categories this year, meaning there is now a “fine dining”…
I missed the news, and perhaps you did too. Chef Bloise tweeted this four days ago:@MichaelBloise: As of today, July 23, 2012, I am no longer working at Sushi Samba. I am looking forward to my next challenge.In a way, this could be good news. Samba is set enough to…
See also: “Miami Spice 2012: The Good”This three-part look at Miami Spice comes just as the dining program gets set to begin on August 1. There has been a split in price categories this year, meaning there is now a “fine dining” grouping as well as a “luxury” grouping. The…
Over the next three days, in the runup to the August 1 rollout of Miami Spice, I will rate the deals of some 50-plus menus as either good, great, or grudging.There has been a split in price categories this year, meaning there is now a “fine dining” grouping as well…
Flapjack Flip-Off XII: Miami’s Best Chocolate Chip Pancakes 2012
In-N-Out Burger set up its first shop in 1948: Fresh, never-frozen, cooked-to-order double-patty burgers on house-made buns. French fries cut in the stores and cooked in vegetable oil. Shakes made from real ice cream. In other words, a quality fast-food burger chain (with about 280 branches, all out West).Some 40 years…
Of course I’m not saying what a candidate eats should be the sole factor considered by voters when determining the next president of the United States. That would be crazy. Other things are important too — like what he drinks, and economic policy and stuff.But character surely plays a role…
La Gloutonnerie: Expensive, Expertly Precise French Cuisine in South Beach
“Stay invisible unless you’re going to shine,” is just one piece of kitchen advice from Marcus Samuelsson in his new memoir, “Yes, Chef.” Samuelsson has always shined in restaurants, most notably at Aquavit in Manhattan. While cooking there he became the youngest chef to receive a three-star rating from The…
Burger King has seen 105% fan growth on Facebook since January. McDonald’s follower growth on Twitter has seen a 118% growth in the same period. Mickey Dee’s also responds quickest to tweets than any other chain — an average of 29 minutes.Compare that to Burger King, which takes over 60…
Salsa Fiesta started in Venezuela, where it has flourished as a food court staple. The Biscayne Boulevard branch has also fared well; it’s Mexican fast food, but of a higher quality than the Taco Bell-level chains. Actually, the folks at Salsa Fiesta prefer having their food referred to as “casual”…
Next Wednesday, July 18, is National Caviar Day, a time when Americans all across the land pry open tins of exquisitely expensive Russian fish eggs and toast the holiday with chilled shots of vodka. Or maybe some people do what I do — give a more subtle celebratory nod to…
Fabien’s Bistro, which quietly opened last month on Brickell Key, will be celebrating Bastille Day this Saturday with a $35 prix fixe menu that includes complimentary Kanon Organic Vodka cocktails. The special dinner (from 5 pm until close) starts with a charcuterie and cheese platter, segues into a choice of…
Villa Azur’s Pricey Mediterranean Fare Is Fresh but Nothing Special
Actor Olivier Martinez confirmed his engagement to Halle Berry at a promotional affair for Villa Azur, which he co-owns with French friends Michael Martin and Jean Philippe Bernard. Martinez has been called “the French Brad Pitt.” Martin has been hosting nightlife parties at sundry South Beach clubs since he arrived…
Iron Side is an art complex by the railroad tracks in Miami’s Upper Eastside. Partners Fernando Nascimento and chef Nuno Grullon, both formerly of Metro Bistro, opened Iron Side Café within the complex about six months ago. Fernando is from Rio de Janeiro; Nuno is from the Bronx and learned to cook…
The food universe is infinite, which makes learning about it a never-ending pursuit. For decades I’ve been marinating various meats, but it wasn’t until I caught a rerun of America’s Test Kitchen on the local PBS station that I gleaned the secret to getting a marinade to truly penetrate and add…
My first visit to momoCHA Tea House on Española Way lasted about one minute. I ordered a bubble milk green tea but was told the tapioca pearls wouldn’t be ready for another 40 minutes. So I switched my order to a fruit-based, rather than milk-based, tea and asked for boba…
See also “Scarpetta’s Michael Pirolo Talks” and “Chefs Cook Up New Menu Items.”Pubbelly, Pubbelly Sushi, and Barceloneta, all on the same stretch of 20th Street in the Sunset Harbour area of South Beach, set the standard for contemporary SoBe neighborhood restaurants that locals can enjoy and afford.Their latest effort, in…
This is the time of year in Miami when friends hand me mangoes. “I have more than I know what to do with,” they are apt to say in these circumstances. In fact, it isn’t that unusual for strangers to hand me mangoes. “I can’t eat them all,” they say,…
Josh’s Deli: Old-School, House-Cured Meats and Pickles in Miami Beach
If you’re looking for a last-minute punch to prepare for July 4th guests, look no further: This Pisco Punch is distinctive, pretty to present, and it refreshes in a light, lemony fashion. Plus this is, after all, Miami, where pisco is particularly popular among our Peruvian populace…
