Matador Room Debuts Perfect Brunch on Mother's Day

Celebrity Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Latin-inspired Matador Room inside the Miami Beach Edition hotel is positively stunning. And arguably the best part about the restaurant is its serene and verdant outdoor space, Matador Terrace. So it makes perfect sense that as of May 10, Mother's Day, the eatery will make use of its exterior to begin Sunday brunch service. 

Matador Terrace will offer seasonal brunch options that are surprisingly affordable considering the beautiful surroundings, replete with custom trellises and claiming bougainvillea. Matador's executive chef, Jeremy Ford, is covering all bases with the menu. For those who like to kick off Sunday with something sweet, there's a trifecta of choices: pancakes, waffles, or French toast. Particularly intriguing are the coconut pancakes with grapefruit and lavender maple syrup ($16) and the crunchy Mexican-spiced French toast with apples ($16). 

For the pancakes, chef Ford uses coconut milk and coconut flakes to make the batter, which he says he must remake every two hours to ensure freshness and give them a pronoucned coconut flavor. The maple syrup is also homemade with fresh lavender and arrives warm on the side. To round things off, the spheres are crowned with pink grapefruit slices. 

Egg-wise, there are plenty of organic options, including poached eggs with roasted mushrooms, Parmesan, and herbs ($16). There's also an egg-accented pizza featuring mushrooms, three cheeses, and a garlic-parsley oil ($16). Matador Terrace will also offer less brunch-centric mains such as a crisp free-range chicken salad ($16), chipotle chicken tacos ($14), and a Cargill Ranch cheeseburger with mole and pickled chilies ($16). And if you want to make it a boozy brunch, $45 will get you bottomless mimosas (with fresh-squeezed OJ) bellinis, or bloody marys. 

When asked what he'd cook for his mom as a Mother's Day brunch, Ford says he's usually working during the holiday so they pick a different day to celebrate. But when the day comes he'll prepare her favorite breakfast: "eggs Benedict with a mimosa (or two) because she's awesome." Talk about a mama's boy. 

In a previous interview with New Times, Michelin-starred toque Vongerichten raved about Chef Ford's cooking and communication skills. "We’re in constant communication, and he sends us pictures. This business is all about people and people skills, and it’s very rare to find a person who has it all like Jeremy," he said. Prior to his stint at Matador Room, the 29-year-old Florida native worked at the now-closed 15 Steps at the Eden Roc. 

The Miami Beach Edition is already a destination because of the indoor ice-skating ring, bowling alley, nightclub, and dinner options at Jean-Georges' Market and Matador Room. And now a glamorous outdoor brunch has been added to the mix. It's an ideal setting. Let's hope the food measures up. 

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