Ralph Pagano’s Naked Tiki Opens Today

Ralph Pagano is getting naked again.  The celebrity chef’s Naked Tiki, the third in his naked restaurant series, opens today, February 11, at the Stiles Hotel (1120 Collins Ave.) on South Beach. Pagano is also chef/owner of Naked Taco, a taco and tequila concept at the Dream South Beach hotel,…

Your Guide to a Vegan Valentine’s Day in Miami

Whether you’re single or attached this Valentine’s Day, nothing says loving like overindulgince. Food, after all, equates to love in so many cultures. if you really want to embrace a loving attitude towards all things edible, a plant-based diet is your best bet. Vegan food helps you to love your…

Junior’s Iconic New York Cheesecake Coming to South Florida

Long before Dominique Ansel’s cronut and Momofuku Milk Bar ‘s corn cookies, New York’s cult favorite treat was Junior’s cheesecake. Since its introduction in 1950, the decadent dessert was a sensation with New Yorkers, who raved about the creamy cake, with fans of the treat have making weekly (sometimes daily)…

The Salty Donut Is Popping Up in South Beach This Weekend

Say Happy Valentine’s Day with a holiday-themed doughnut from the Salty Donut’s one-day-only pop-up inside the Hyatt Centric South Beach (1600 Collins Ave.). Miami’s first artisanal doughnut shop, which pops up every weekend inside a small courtyard in Wynwood (29 NW 24th St.), is adding a second location for the sweet-filled holiday. …

GastroPod’s Fried Chicken Sandwich Reigns Supreme

The fried chicken sandwich is shockingly simple but perfect. No wonder more and more are popping up across Miami and America. In mid-January, Shake Shack began serving its version, aptly named the Chick’n Shack, across the nation. Restaurateur John Kunkel’s 50 Eggs Inc.’s fast-casual concept place Spring Chicken opened the…

Miami’s Ten Best Chocolate Shops for Valentine’s Day

February 14 is right around the corner, and in the age of Tinder and digital dating, classic gestures can go a long way. Combine that with the universal love of all things sweet, and the annual Valentine’s Day gift dilemma practically solves itself. Whether they’re decadent mini cupcakes or silky-smooth…

Hipster Haven Beaker & Gray Tries to Fit Into Wynwood

A description of Wynwood’s 2-month-old Beaker & Gray reads like a hipster checklist. There’s pork belly, sous vide cooking, and exposed brick walls. The soundtrack bounces from ’80s hits to the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Gimme the Loot.” When the 120-seater’s owners, Brian Nasajon and Ben Potts, who respectively oversee the kitchen…

Mardi Gras in Miami: Celebrate with Crawfish, Beer, and King Cake

Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Carnival, Shrove Tuesday — there are a lot of different names for tomorrow, February 9. The holiday marks the last day of revelry before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. While its roots may be firmly planted in Christianity, some say the holiday is even older, with…

Food Halls Planned for Little Haiti, Wynwood, Downtown Miami

A handful of food halls all located within a stone’s throw of Biscayne Boulevard in Miami proper are in the works, though it’ll be at least a year before any open. Conway Commercial Real Estate and Urban Atlantic Group (Disclosure: I rent shared office space from the two) are planning…

Miami Diners at Risk for Credit Card Fraud at Landry’s Restaurants: Morton’s, Bubba Gump, Oceanaire Involved

Landry’s, Inc., the giant restaurant company that owns over 500 different eateries under 40 different brands like Morton’s The Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Rainforest Cafe, has finished an internal investigation of widespread credit card fraud. In December 2015, Landry’s issued a press release acknowledging there…

Awa Kava Lounge in Miami: Stress Relief in a Bowl

To David Bonilla, a kava bar is much more than a business. “It’s more about a lifestyle and creating a community of like minded people, ” the Awa Kava Lounge partner says. The lounge (3930 NW 2nd Ave., Miami) soft opened a few months ago in an old 1940’s house in Buena…

Bal Harbour’s Le Zoo Does Stephen Starr Proud

Conventional profiteroles can be among the most uplifting desserts. Just one bite of the dressed-up cream puffs drizzled with chocolate sauce conjures fond childhood memories or romantic sojourns in Paris. At Le Zoo in Bal Harbour Shops, executive pastry chef Kelli Payne’s profiteroles are guaranteed to stir your emotions too,…

January 2016’s Miami Restaurant Openings and Closings

Just one month into the new year and already Miami’s restaurant landscape is changing. Ariete, the Coconut Grove restaurant by Michael Beltran and Jason Odio, opened to much buzz in Coconut Grove. Ariete will be joined by several more Grove restaurants including Glass & Vine, The Spillover, and Spasso, making a…