The Best Events at SOBEWFF 2017

The tastiest time of the year is back. The South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) will celebrate its sweet 16 with the world’s most renowned chefs, wine and spirits producers, and culinary personalities. More than 85 finger-licking events will cater to upward of 70,000 attendees. Through SOBEWFF, you can…

Ralph Pagano Opens Naked Crab With Mermaids, Seafood, and Tiki Drinks

Miami chef and restauranteur Ralph Pagano says his new Fort Lauderdale restaurant, Naked Crab Seafood Kitchen, has one thing no one else in the area offers: mermaids. “There’s a lot of things that make this concept unique, but I don’t think anyone else has a tiki, steakhouse, cocktail bar with a live mermaid show,” Pagano says.

Chefs Michael Schwartz, Alex Kuk, and Andrew Gonzalez Strut Their Stuff at SOBEWFF 2017

Once upon a time, food was something you ate. Period. The average person couldn’t even name a chef, with the rare exception of someone like Julia Child. In case you haven’t noticed, food is trending. Nary a meal goes by without being Instagramed, everyone is a self-proclaimed foodie, and star chefs come in all flavors. Celebrities in other fields, such as singer Trisha Yearwood, have even crossed over and become food-famous.

Manna Life Food’s Brunch Prix Fixe Offers Vegan Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Brunch might be the world’s best meal, but too much of a good thing — like sugar, fat, and booze — can be less than enjoyable, particularly when you have to go back to work Monday morning. That’s why Manna Life Foods’ new Fuel Good Brunch is the perfect alternative for health-conscious Miamians. The all-inclusive Saturday meal is a guilt-free way to start the weekend.

SOBEWFF 2017: Kosher BBQ Digs for Chef Alon Shaya’s Roots

For many people, pork is central to barbecue. In North Carolina and throughout the South, whole hogs are slow-roasted, pulled apart, and doused in spicy vinegar sauce. It’s often made the centerpiece of the plate, woven into baked beans, or employed to make collard greens. Yet none of it will…

James Beard 2017 Semifinalists: Brad Kilgore and Zak the Baker Among Miami Nods

The James Beard Foundation has just released the semifinalists for its annual awards ceremony, and South Florida made the grade on several fronts. The Beard Awards are the culinary world’s equivalent of the Oscars, and winning an award — or even being nominated — can mean more customers for a restaurant and an upward trajectory for a chef.

Andrew Zimmern Is SOBEWFF 2017’s Busiest Boy

Andrew Zimmern has made his mark on the television world by eating things most Americans won’t. His Travel Channel show, Bizarre Foods, brought attention to the fact there’s a whole wide culinary world that ranges far beyond that of Big Gulps and burger franchises. At a time when the world,…

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill Opens in Miami Beach

Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, Miami Beach’s newest traditional Japanese eatery, has officially opened poolside at the newly minted Plymouth Miami Beach. The Bromberg brothers’ newest venue in their famed Blue Ribbon lineup is built on authenticity.

Sublime Restaurant Takes Top Honors in PETA’s Vegan Sweet Treats Awards

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and sugary goodies are on everyone’s mind. Though most drugstore chocolate hearts aren’t vegan-friendly, plenty of delicious dessert options fit the bill. Take, for instance, the postdinner lineup at Sublime Restaurant & Bar (1431 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale). The vegan eatery’s Chocolate Nirvana cake recently ranked number one on PETA’s “Top 10 Vegan Sweet Treats.” The insanely decadent chocolate layer cake is made with Kahlúa butter crème and dark chocolate ganache.

Five New Food Concepts to Try at the Wynwood Yard

Miami’s first culinary incubator popped up at the Wynwood Yard more than a year ago, bringing an assortment of unique eats to the Magic City. A variety of food trucks began offering plant-based bowls, omakase, and shaved ice cream as founder Della Heiman alleviated the hassle of a storefront and the stress of rising rent by giving local culinary entrepreneurs a risk-free space to test their concepts.

Phuc Yea Redefines Sunday Brunch, Launches Sunset Party This Weekend

It’s been years since Phuc Yea debuted as a rogue pop-up, bringing one of the most inventive culinary concepts to the Magic City. Inside the former Moonchine Asian Bistro space (7100 Biscayne Blvd., Miami), the eatery is now a brick-and-mortar, which opened in September 2016. Specializing in Viet-Cajun cuisine, Phuc (pronounced fook) Yea marries Vietnamese and Cajun flavors popular in Houston and New Orleans, where the cities’ large Vietnamese populations melded with traditional Southern and Cajun flavors.