Courtesy of Chuy's
March Madness Pasta Tournament, MacMadness, at Macchialina. Miami Beach's Macchialina and its Brooklyn-based sister restaurant, the Saint Austere, will go head-to-head in a pasta-packed, March Madness-inspired tournament, MacMadness, kicking off Monday. The carb-fueled event will challenge both restaurants to serve two unique pastas per week, both created by Macchialina chef/owner Michael Pirolo. The pasta with the most orders will advance to the next week, and the last plate standing will become a mainstay on Macchialina's and the Saint Austere's menus. 6 p.m. Monday, March 12, at 820 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; macchialina.com. Call 305-534-2124 or visit opentable.com for reservations.
Le Chick Opens in Wynwood. On the heels of the departure of the highly admired Wynwood fast-casual eateries Dizengoff and Federal Donuts, rotisserie-chicken spot Le Chick will open Tuesday on the same block. Le Chick will open for dinner and will also seek out the neighborhood's late-night dining crowd, with a bar menu available until 3 a.m. and DJ sets Thursday through Saturday nights. Lunch service will follow in the future. In addition to a large selection of rotisserie chicken, there will be a rotating burger of the month and fried chicken. Le Chick's version is brined overnight for 12 hours and soaked in buttermilk before being fried with a special spice mix. Starters will range in price from $7 to $32, entrées will run $15 to $36, and desserts will cost $8 each. 310 NW 24th St., Miami; lechickmiami.com. Opens Tuesday, March 13. Sunday through Tuesday45 p.m. to midnight, Thursday through Saturday 4 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Mendin & Friends at Habitat. This month, chef Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura, owner of the Japanese-Peruvian restaurant Maido in Peru, which is ranked eighth on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, will team up with Habitat's Jose Mendin for a two-night event Wednesday and Thursday. Join the pair for an intimate cocktail reception ($50 per person) including a welcome drink, an array of passed bites, and an opportunity to chat with both toques. Thursday, Tsumura and Mendin will collaborate on an eight-course dinner paired with select wines ($275 per person). 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, and 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at Habitat at the 1 Hotel South Beach, 2395 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-604-6700. Tickets cost $50 to $350 via exploretock.com.
Michelin-Starred Chefs Dinner at Zucca. To celebrate its first anniversary in Coral Gables, Zucca will host two Michelin-starred chefs from Italy — Walter Ferretto and Fulvio Siccardi — to prepare a four-course meal, which will feature flavors from Italy’s northern region of Piedmont. The visiting chefs will also prepare a selection of pasta specials, which will be available for lunch all week. 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at Zucca, 162 Alcazar Ave., Coral Gables; 786-580-3731; hotelstmichel.com. Tickets cost $85 via opentable.com.
Pineapples & Pizza at Matador Bar. The folks at Matador Room assure us that the age-old debate is over: Pineapple and pizza do go together, and the combo is scrumptious. That's why they're pairing spicy sausage and kale pizza with a fancy pineapple cocktail and inviting everybody to partake. The event is part of the restaurant's monthly Pineapples & Pizza series, which offers live music and off-menu pairings of exotic pizzas and specialty cocktails. Naysayers are encouraged to bring a friend to experience it, though it's doubtful you'll be able to deny the deliciousness. 9 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at 2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-257-4600; matadorroom.com. Cost is $35 per pizza and cocktail pairing.
Lime Fresh Mexican Returns to South Beach. Lime is back in business in Miami Beach. The local fast-casual restaurant chain, which debuted in South Beach in 2004, will honor its roots by taking patrons on a trip back in time. Through Sunday, March 18, the eatery is offering the brand's original 2004 menu and pricing. That means you can get the signature Lime burrito for $6.59 — nearly $2 less than its current price — or a cup of tortilla soup for $2.75, a 75-cent savings. Throwback menu items available for a limited time include Lime's original firehouse jalapeños, fried cheese-stuffed jalapeños served with cilantro dipping sauce ($3.99); nachos, made with three tostadas topped with sour cream, jalapeños, pico de gallo, melted cheese, and a choice of meat ($5.19 to $7.08); and the mole burrito, a flour tortilla stuffed with rice, sour cream, melted cheese, and a choice of meat and smothered in a spicy mole sauce ($7.69). 1439 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; 786-420-5463; limefreshmexicangrill.com. Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
