November grand opening, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar is creating much
buzz around Miami. Executive Chef Marco Ferraro, the culinary artist
behind Miami Beach restaurant Wish, gave the New Times a one-on-one
sneak peek.
Described as an "American Brasserie," it will have the kind of accessible menu and variety, likely to please locals. It begins with
$7-$10 starters including house-made sausages (ranging from savory
beef with spicy mustard to lamb with a cumin spiked yogurt dip),
sautéed garlicky mussels in a flavorful tomato broth, tuna tartare
with avocado, chili oil, and ginger vinaigrette, earthy hummus,
tabouleh, and baba ghanoush with warm pita bread.
Art will be a vital cog in the
design and concept of Wynwood Kitchen & Bar. Ferraro says the art hung in the place will speak
for itself just like the food.
Overall, he just wants people to enjoy the food for what it is in an
environment they can feel comfortable.
There will be six juicy burger selections ($9-$11) served on brioche or multi-grain pita, with spicy slaw or crisp hand cut fries, include an all natural Angus beef with sautéed local mushrooms, caramelized onions and melted Swiss, tuna with pickled cucumber, house ground turkey with lemon coriander and a saucy braised BBQ pork burger.
A variety of generously portioned omelets and sandwiches ($10-$12) will include a Gruyere cheese steak with crispy onions, a classic turkey club, and a tuna pain bagna served on a choice of several house baked breads with salads or fries. Farm fresh salads with Homestead greens, like the Greek salad with delicate locally made feta, cucumber, plum tomatoes, and red onion.
The place will feature a variety of local produce. The heirloom tomatoes, for example, come from Teena's Pride while the goat and feta cheese are of Hani's Organics. Other fresh ingredients used in Chef Marco's kitchen will be had from Health and Happiness Farms Inc. and Paradise Farms.
Ferraro is most excited about his menu's clay pots ($9-$24), which take up to three hours to cook and use as many as 27 ingredients! The chef's hope is that these full and half-sized portions of local snapper and mussel curry spiked with ginger, mango, and basil, tender braised pork with pineapple and cardamom, and chicken curry with the snap of Fresno chili become the standout of the restaurant. "They're something with a lot of love, a lot of ingredients," he says.
Rounding out the menu are home-style entrees ($18 to $24) such as caramelized grilled rib eye with garlic-rosemary confit, juicy hanger steak with Romesco sauce, fried fish and chips, lemony steamed local snapper with herb compote, crispy skinned, perfectly roasted chicken au jus, and succulent grilled herb crusted lamb chops. And many of these meats will be grilled on Ferraro's wood-burning grill, with wood provided locally.
And be sure to look forward to the cocktail menu, inspired by the artists whose work decorates the walls of Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, prepared with a helping hand by Chef Marco and his culinary team!
Wynwood Kitchen & Bar
2550 NW Second Avenue, Miami
