During the Olympic Games, the men and women of our great nation kick ass and make us all teary-eyed and proud of them. We’re amazed that we share the same homeland as these athletes who sacrifice booze-filled nights and fast-food binging to bring home a bunch of medals (and a…
When diners enter Toscana Divino, they’re greeted with a rehearsed welcome from behind a sleek hostess stand, as the staff bellows, “Buona sera!” Lustrous wooden tables are adorned with fuchsia flowers and colorful handmade Tuscan glassware. Dark-gray shelves, highlighted by subdued LED strips, showcase stylish designer handbags and contemporary artwork…
See also “Artisan Food: If It’s Made for the Masses, Can It Be Called Artisan?”Artisan is the new organic — the of-the-minute foodie terminology that means next to nothing as far as the actual food is concerned. After all, there’s nothing to stop your average corporate suit from slapping the…
Kahlúa buys an awful lot of coffee beans to create its liqueur, so why not take those same Arabica beans (from Veracruz, Mexico) to make coffee, then take the two beverages, blend them, seal in cans, and roll out as Kahlúa Iced Coffee?It certainly makes sense. The resultant cocktail is…
Lolita lights up Nemo’s staid old space.Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar: South Beach cantina is all about fun, but food is more than an afterthoughtLolita Cocina & Tequila Bar has closed. The restaurant bar, which was known for its selection of over 100 tequilas, border town bordello decor, and complimentary…
If the Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans last week taught me one thing, it’s that your liver can take five days of abuse as long as you feed it lots of red beans and rice. (Oh … coconut water and cat naps work well, too.)Seriously, there was…
Johnson & Wales University and Miami Spice have gotten together to reward you for what’s probably your most annoying habit …taking pictures of your dinner and then tweeting them. Hey, we do it all the time, under the pretense of “it’s our job”.Here’s how it works: Just enjoy a meal…
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ is set to open soon at Mary Brickell Village, bringing the popular New York City mini-chain to South Florida. Jim Goldman, one of the principals, showed me around the restaurant. The floors were being worked on, so we chatted outside for a while.It was during that chat…
The Dining Room closed its petite South Beach venue last week and has decided to move in with relatives until it finds a place of its own. Sort of. Vesper Brasserie in the Shelbourne Hotel will be giving its space up to The Dining Room, which starting tomorrow evening will…
Miami Restaurant Openings & Closings June, 2012The big news in July regrettably revolved around closings: Sra. Martinez said adios in the Design District, David’s Cafe II shut down its Lincoln Road branch, and Jamie DeRosa and Geoffrey Zakarian are now both gone from Tudor House, which sort of ends that…
There’s no question about it — summer is here. But hey, it could be worse, like 110 degrees and no beach breeze. So while the rest of the country rides the heat wave, get outside for a beach barbecue before the inevitable afternoon storms roll in, and you’ll never wonder…
Let’s put it this way: Fifty Shades of Grey, much like Real Housewives of New York City, Justin Bieber, or the KFC Double Down, is one of those pop culture phenomenons that we can’t wrap our heads around. If given the opportunity to spend the night with a controlling young…
See also “Sra. Martinez’s Robert Montero wins Marie Brizard cocktail challeng” and “Julio Cabrera of Sra. Martinez wins Campari cocktail competition at The Corner.”Miami was well represented at the tenth anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail. This five-day long celebration of spirits brings the world’s best bartenders together — all…
Hey, local chains, time to get brand smart. Miami celebs, time to get hip to your local chain restaurants. Mr. 305 himself is doing it. Last week Miami Subs partnered with Miami artist Pitbull in a big push to expand the chain. We know of a few more local chains…
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don’t forget to check out the full Best of Miami® 2012 online at bestof.voiceplaces.com.Unlike their meatier namesakes, veggie burgers are a…
Cecconi’s is launching a monthly series when executive chef Sergio Sigala will be instructing guests on the true nature of summertime cooking in Italy. For this first installment, Sigala is focusing on his favorite summer dishes, demo-ing a four course meal featuring simple ingredients with easy to follow directions. You’ll…
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”…
This year Miami Spice, which starts August 1, may not only refer to ingredients on food, but also to the way we get hot about food. The Naked Sushi platter at the Kung Fu Kitchen & Sushi will get you hot for sushi, and not in a metaphorical kind of…
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…
There was a time when spirits were distilled by family-run companies. Small batches of rye, bourbon, or rum were made and distributed. In time, large corporations started buying out these small companies until it seemed like most every item in your local liquor store could be traced back to a…
There are fewer concepts more pleasing to the palate of a wine lover than the notion of a generous pour. Hence The Capital Grille’s annual celebration by the same name, geared to its vino enthusiast patrons. This summer wine event offers visitors a chance to sample an extensive variety of…
See also Julie Frans’ San Diego Roots and Matthew Oetting of BLT Steak: From NYC to MIA.As Miami makes its culinary mark, chefs of every stripe are making their way to the Magic City – and not just via other U.S. destinations. European talent is also finding its way to…
