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Home / 2015 / June

11:14 am
Restaurant Features
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This year, the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday, which means you have an entire weekend to celebrate (and, perhaps, recover). Here are our picks for the top Fourth of July events in Miami this year.

Unknown1. Red, White, and Woods 4th of July at Hyde Beach Miami
Hyde Beach at the SLS {1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.2990} is known for its wild weekend pool parties, and Saturday, July 4, will be no exception. The fun starts at 11am and will feature guest DJ Michael Woods, who is currently holding down his new residency at LiFE at the SLS Las Vegas.

IMG_4554

2. MOB Burger To-Go
If you’ve already been planning your own Fourth of July shindig, consider adding a bit more spice to it by serving burgers prepared by Executive Chef Ralph Colon of Midtown Oyster Bar {3301 Northeast First Avenue, Midtown; 786.220.2070}. The special recipe combines the perfect blend of prime beef, including brisket, short rib, and chuck, blended with a seasoning mix that includes paprika, lemon pepper, brown sugar, cayenne, onion, and garlic powder. Anyone can order a minimum of four 10-ounce patties that can be picked up at the restaurant on the morning of fourth between 10am and noon. You MUST order before Thursday, July 2, at 2pm. To place your order, email: [email protected].

slide-july4th3. Fireworks Spectacular at The Biltmore
The Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables} will once again be hosting its famous annual fireworks extravaganza. But in addition to this brilliant display of lights, you can join in on an entire evening of patriotic fun. The event starts at 5pm when the open bar begins (through 8:30pm), and is then followed by an extravagant Stars and Stripes Barbecue Dinner featuring all your favorite Fourth of July eats like hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue chicken, and more. Afterward, stick around, because you won’t want to miss the incredible fireworks, which begin at 9pm. For reservations, call 855.666.1727 or email [email protected].

But that’s not all! From July 3-5, Biltmore Fontana will serve special breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus that will include barbecue specials created by Italian Chef Beppe Galazzi. Also for the fourth, Palme d’Or at the Biltmore will be offering a special $55 three-course menu (from noon-3pm and 5pm-close), starring American classics with a French twist.

Delano miami pool

4. Independence Day Night Swim at Delano Beach Club
Get ready for a unique Independence Night at the Delano South Beac {1685 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.924.4071} for a pop-up swim night and pool party, starting at 7pm. Hosted by YesJulz and DJs Tito, Arlette Carlin, and Dave Sol, sounds will be bouncing off the legendary hotel pool, keeping the party going ’til the early morning. Guests will enjoy grilling in the orchard and ice cream carts, while dancers and models provide in-pool performances with glow-in-the-dark beach balls and floaties up for grabs. To rsvp, contact [email protected].

5. An All-American Barbecue, Tamarina-Style
Tamarina Restaurat & Bar {600 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.579.1888} is pulling out all the stops this year with a live band, an endless supply of traditional barbecue staples (including the restaurant’s brand-new, never-before-seen sliders), and unlimited Peroni and Four Roses bourbon. Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence, which inspired the restaurant to offer this special package for just $56.

Oceanaire 4th of july

6. Red, White, and Blue for Two at Oceanaire
The Fourth of July doesn’t necessarily have to be a group holiday. The Oceanaire Seafood Room {900 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.372.8862} is offering a special three-course menu designed for two. Choose from a selection of first, second, and third courses in addition to your choice of bottle of Campanile Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio or 14 Hands Columbia Valley Merlot—all for just $60. If you can’t make it on the Fourth, don’t worry. The menu will be offered from July 1-7.

7. Fourth of July Brunch at Seaspice
Planning on heading out on the water this weekend? Be sure to fuel up first by docking at Seaspice {422 Northwest North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}. And we don’t mean your yacht. On Saturday and Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm, the waterfront restaurant is offering a special Fourth of July seafood-inspired brunch with menu items include Deviled Eggs, Baked Shrimp and Eggs Casserole, Oysters Rockefeller, and a selection of premium caviar.

american social

8. American Social Brickell’s Supersede Group Takeover
What better place to celebrate our nation’s independence than at Miami’s very own red, white, and blue American-themed restaurant and bar, American Social {690 Southwest First Court, Brickell; 305.223.7004}? Join in the fun overlooking the Miami River, with music by the band Locos Por Juana and DJ Spiff. They’ll also be featuring $10 AmSo Burgers and Kobe beef hot dogs and $4 Tito’s cocktails and Bud Lights. Come for brunch and stay well into the night.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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10:57 am
Restaurant Features
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Libertine

Last week, DiningOut attended a very exclusive media event at Downtown Miami’s newest watering hole. This speakeasy bar and lounge has only been open for a week, but locals are already abuzz talking about it.

Located just steps away from popular 24/7 nightclubs Space and E11even, Libertine {40 Northeast 11th Street, Downtown; 305.363.2120} is perhaps the coolest space to make its way to the downtown area—ever.

Libertine Miami

A long, dark hallway with shiny red floors lined with chicken wire and walls with quippy sayings like: “Better Never Than Early.”

When you get to the actual bar area, you’ll feel as if you’ve entered some sort of time and space vortex. Akin to modern-day speakeasies found in urban cities like New York and San Francisco, the entire place feels more like a library or parlor in an old mansion, with its low lighting, leather couches, and coffee tables. On the back wall is a fireplace with a glowing faux log backed by towering bookshelves. The ladder that stands against the wall is real, but the books are painted on (though from afar, we did think they were real!).

Libertine miami

On the opposite wall is a small stage with a baby grand piano, which we were told will serve as a DJ booth and a platform for live musical performances. And to top it all off, the floor is covered in thousands of real pennies, sorted by finish to create a shimmering trompe l’oeil effect.

As if the space itself wasn’t enough to wow, Libertine’s specialty cocktails take mixology to the next level. We had the opportunity to taste four of the Prohibition-style cocktails that will be offered:

  1. The Libertine (Bols Genever, absinthe, and angostura and Peychaud’s bitters)
  2. The Firewater (Bacardi, Zacapa, fresh orange and lime juices, Cherry Heering, angostura bitters, and a float of Peychaud’s and Bacardi 151, served with flame intact)
  3. The Grog (bourbon, egg whites, muddled cherries, and fresh lime juice)
  4. And our fave: The Moonshine (with moonshine, fresh peach purée, citrus, and sparkling soda served with a delicious peach garnish)

libertine miami

Libertine is now open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10pm to “whenever.” Hope to see you there!

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor; Photos by Gianfranco Bianchi 

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2:29 pm
Restaurant Features
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PM Fish & Steak House

Earlier this month, DiningOut had a fun opportunity to attend a special wine-pairing dinner at the upscale PM Fish & Steak House {1453 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.200.5606}. The event was hosted by the prestigious Castillo de Argum winery located in Villarrobledo (Castilla-La Mancha), Spain, known for making 100-percent organic wines. We were joined by the winery’s winemaker, Fernando Santos Jimenez, who led us through each wine’s aging process from grape to bottle. Each wine was expertly paired with distinguished and mouthwatering dishes by PM’s Chef Mauricio Rocha.

We started off the evening with the Castillo de Argum Rosada, a fresh and fruity raspberry-pink rosé. It was paired with a colorful sashimi platter featuring cuts of salmon, tuna, and striped bass, along with PM’s signature Octopus Carpaccio, finely sliced pieces of fresh octopus topped with olive oil, ponzu sauce, and lemon and lime zest. The simplicity of the dishes paired with the refreshing rosé wine was the perfect beginning to what turned into an extravagant multi-course journey of food, fun, and friendship.

PM Sashimi

The rosé was soon traded in for the Castillo de Argum Sauvignon Blanc, which is made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The winemaker explained to us that young white wines sugar themselves, paralyzing the fermentation that’s obtained naturally. To fully soak up the flavor, the dish was paired with a mixed ceviche, which was prepared in a light tomato sauce with oyster and citrus juices.

ceviche

The white wine continued to flow before we switched over to the winery’s signature reds: the Cencibel Ecológic, made from 100-percent Cencibel (Tempranillo), and the Roble Cencibel, a Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend aged for just four months in oak barrels, but then kept six months in the bottle before it is even released.

Argum rose wineargum white

We were served even more delicacies from PM’s kitchen, including the restaurant’s homemade chorizo sausage and provoleta cheese, a thick, gooey slab of aged provolone served piping hot. Red wine was all around us before along came the dish we all were waiting for: a prime slab of New York Strip Steak cooked to perfection.

Pm steak

The meal ended on a sweet note with the Chocolatisimo PM, a hot decadent chocolate soufflé served over a coffee reduction with vanilla ice cream. Suffice to say, we were beyond satisfied.

dessert

Our takeaway from the evening was twofold.

  1. Castillo de Argum organic wines are by far superior to a majority of the wines that we’ve tasted in the past;
  2. PM Fish & Steak exudes unmatched sophistication and fine culinary prowess that we know we’ll be back to enjoy in the very near future. Oh, and the next time we’re in Spain, we know where we plan on staying. The winery gets its name from the medieval-like castle in which it sits, a space that doubles as an elegant hotel.

Castillo de Argum

 By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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3:09 pm
Restaurant Features
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“Out with the old, in with the new,” is how the saying goes. But in the case of the three restaurants below, it’s more like, “Out with the old, in with the improved.” Here, a look at three highly anticipated restaurant openings for the summer:

PB Station

PB Station {121 Southeast First Street, Downtown; 305.532.7555}
Pubbelly “goes new American” this summer with the opening of PB Station, the first dining concept outside Miami Beach’s city limits for the Pubbelly Boys’ (Jose Mendin, Andreas Schreiner, and Sergio Navarro of Pubbelly, Pubbelly Sushi, and L’Echon Brasserie fame).

Located on the ground level of the new Langford Hotel in Downtown Miami, PB Station will be led by Executive Chef Guillermo Concha, who will offer original dishes inspired by the restaurant group’s former concepts PB Steak and PB Fish such as the Ceviche Taquitos, Steak Tartare Sliders, and French Onion Soup Dumplings, plus carefully selected à la carte steak and poultry cuts, with seafood selections varying daily based on what is fresh and local.

Tiramesu

TiramesU {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach}
The latest buzz in Miami Beach’s exploding South of Fifth neighborhood is the highly anticipated reopening of TiramesU, the 25-plus-year-old establishment that has been a South Beach staple since its inception.

The restaurant made its debut in 1988 on Ocean Drive and later moved to a prime location on Lincoln Road, where it reigned for 17 years. The Italian restaurant caused a stir when it closed its doors in April of last year, announcing that it would soon reopen in the SoFi district. And now, after a seemingly forever hiatus, the time has finally come for it to reemerge bigger and better than ever.

Chef Fabrizio Pintus, who has been at the helm of the kitchen since 2010, will resume his role as executive chef, offering up a new and improved menu featuring the same authentic Italian flavors with a fun, contemporary twist.

CENA by michy

CENA by Michy {6927 Biscayne Boulevard, Midtown; 305 759 2001}
Unlike TiramesU, which is essentially an old restaurant in a new location, CENA by Michy is a new restaurant in an old location. After a 10-month closure and a total renovation, James Beard Award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein’s landmark eatery Michy has reopened its doors, but with an entirely new name, look, menu, and spirit.

CENA by Michy has shucked the original incarnation’s bright colors and cottage-chic décor for a clean, white color palette complemented by dark chrome starburst chandeliers. The menu is approachable yet adventurous, boasting soul-pleasing favorites as well as an array of dishes inspired by what Bernstein says are her current culinary obsessions. The menu will feature nightly selections from the restaurant’s new rotisserie and has already been praised for its innovative and Latin-inspired flavors for which Bernstein is known.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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11:31 am
Restaurant Features
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Miami Beach’s iconic Fontainebleau {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.538.2000} hotel has a reputation for being the destination of choice for locals and visitors wanting to dine, drink, and dance the night away. To help beat the heat this summer, the sprawling property has launched a number of cool and innovative libations perfect for summertime sipping in Miami.

Caribbean Swizzle

Caribbean Swizzle

The hotel lobby’s central Bleau Bar has added 12 new cocktails that range from spicy to exotic to classic, and everything in between. If you want a bit of a kick, try the Fire in the Hole, with poblano pepper-infused Cabeza tequila, passionfruit-vanilla syrup, lime, Chichicapa mezcal, and jalapeño.

For a tropical treat, try the Caribbean Swizzle, made with Brugal 1888 rum, Ancho Reyes, honey ginger syrup, lime, and mint. And if you have a sweet tooth, go for the Chocolate Old Fashioned, made with Bulleit bourbon, Tempus Fugit Crème de Cacao, orange bitters, and angostura bitters, garnished with a handmade praline from the hotel’s coffee and pastry shop, Chez Bon Bon.

Bari

Bari

Chef Scott Conant’s Italian comfort food mecca Scarpetta is also offering new cocktails named after some of Italy’s most vibrant regions. The Lombardia is made with Bacardi 8 rum, Bulleit Rye whiskey, angostura and orange bitters, dry Sherry, and simple syrup, garnished with candied pancetta, while the Bari refreshes with Corzo Blanco tequila, watermelon, jalapeño, basil, cilantro, agave syrup, and lime juice.

Pisco Punch 2

Pisco Punch

Fontainebleau’s Chinese cuisine staple, Hakkasan, is rolling out new cocktails that complement the restaurant’s contemporary Asian fare. The Western Smash, for example, is made with High West Rendezvous Rye whiskey, fresh mint, blackberry purée, lemon juice, and simple syrup, while the Pisco Punch is a combination of Kappa Pisco, Lillet Rosé, hibiscus syrup, pineapple juice, lime juice, and fresh herbs.

Pimm's Cup 74

Pimm’s Cup 74

Celebrity Chef Michael Mina’s namesake Michael Mina 74 restaurant is known for incorporating its beverages with new age techniques. Summertime libations include the Samba Pa Ti, a modern take on a classic caipirinha consisting of Avuá Amburana Cachaça, passionfruit, Chinese five spice, and CO2 effervescence. The Pimm’s Cup 74, a twist on a classic Pimm’s Cup with peppercorn-infused with Plymouth gin, pineapple, Pimm’s No. 1, lemon, and mint.

Macarthur Causeway

And finally, Fontainebleau’s newest signature restaurant, StripSteak by Michael Mina, has introduced a few new cocktails to complement the steakhouse’s fine cuts of meat: The Real McCoy, with Facundo Eximo rum, anise-infused brandy, crème de menthe, pineapple crème, and Cara Cara orange; the MacArthur Causeway, with Ransom gin, Fresno and lemon preserves, velvet falernum, and crème de violette; and the Japanese Whiskey Drink #8, made with Nikka Taketsuru 12-Year, blood orange, yuzu, simple syrup, and angostura bitters.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

 

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8:00 am
Restaurant Features
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Beyond the Mediterranean

Paleo. Gluten-free. Raw foods. Which of these dietary trends have you or someone you know tested in the recent past? Award-winning culinary nutritionist and Boulder-based author Layne Lieberman, RD, believes the key to a healthy lifestyle is simpler than these passing fads. While living in Switzerland, she discovered the eating habits that allow the Swiss to enjoy the second longest lifespan worldwide after the Japanese. Now back in Boulder, she has shared the lifestyle secrets she learned abroad in her self-published book, “Beyond The Mediterranean Diet: European Secrets Of The Super-Healthy,” a finalist in the Health/Wellness category of the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards.

Layne Lieberman

Author Layne Lieberman

The European Lifestyle

All of these “secrets” revolve around a very different lifestyle than we’re accustomed to in the U.S. During her time in Switzerland, Lieberman befriended the locals, dined with them, and observed how they lived their lives firsthand. She found many core differences, including the way they shopped, exercised, and ate. Instead of doing one big shop a week, Europeans went to the store on nearly a daily basis to pick up fresh ingredients. They source high-quality local ingredients, because largely, that’s what’s available to them. And for the most part, she found that Europeans don’t go to gyms. Instead, they’re getting exercise by walking around pedestrian-friendly cities and towns, and exploring the mountains.

A Different Way of Eating

On the culinary side, Lieberman discovered that Europeans cook at home much more frequently than Americans, in part because of the expense. They build their meals around produce, with smaller portions of pasta and meat, and they’re not eating dessert every night.

But it’s also about ingredient quality. Rather than load up on processed foods, Europeans seek out high-quality ingredients. The Slow Food movement bloomed in Rome, and Italians are one of the largest producers of organic produce in the world. At bars there, greasy food isn’t what prevails–rather, patrons can enjoy spreads of vegetables and salads.

So What’s the Secret?

The question Lieberman sets out to answer in her book, is: “How is it that these cultures can be slim without going gluten-free or not eating cheese—without depriving themselves?” However, she does more than just document how the Swiss, Italians, and French eat and live. She recontextualizes the secrets she learned in American culture. “It’s really about how we bring it home,” Lieberman says. Luckily, for Coloradans, our lifestyle is already a little more similar than other regions of the U.S. to that of Europe thanks to our proximity to the Rockies. “Their culture is based on weekends hiking in the mountains,” Lieberman says of the Swiss. “They’re oriented much like people in Colorado.”

“Beyond the Mediterranean Diet” is a rich tapestry of reflections, tips, and 50 recipes for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, and dessert that empowers readers to be healthy all while enjoying bread, cheese, pasta, and chocolate. Lieberman shared a few of her secrets with fellow Coloradans, and a recipe from the book.

Smoked Salmon Spread

4 Secrets of “Beyond The Mediterranean Diet”

1. The Swiss eat one to two servings of dairy or protein daily. One serving might be an egg, an ounce of reduced fat cheese, or a quarter cup of fresh cheese, like ricotta or farmer’s. “A lot of their cheeses are fresh and lower in fat,” Lieberman says.

2. Italians learn to count carbs by instinct. “If they eat a bowl of pasta, they’ll only eat a little bit of bread to sop up the sauce at the end of their meal,” explains Lieberman. Learn to include about four to six servings of carbs per day. What’s a serving? A half cup of cooked pasta, a slice of bread, or three ounces of potato, for example.

3. French chefs have a technique of spooning the sauce on the bottom of the plate, rather than on top of the food. This allows you to control how much sauce you eat—and sauce can often be glutted with salt, butter, and sugar. “You can do it with salads or desserts, too,” Lieberman suggests.

4. Got a sweet tooth? Before reaching for cookies or cake, try to satisfy your craving with organic, seasonal fruit or chocolate. “Indulge in pure organic cocoa, which is low in calories and fat and highly nutritious,” Lieberman says, “or have a small square of dark chocolate with at least 70-percent cocoa content once a day.”

Chocolate Tofu Banana Mousse

Photo Credit: Layne Lieberman (All Rights Reserved)

Beyond Mediterranean Recipes

Lieberman shared with us a couple of her favorite recipes from the book. Here are a few to try at home:

Smoked Salmon Spread

Chocolate Tofu Banana Mousse

For more “Beyond The Mediterranean Diet” wisdom and recipes, order Lieberman’s book online, or visit her website for more information.

By Maya Silver | Editor

 

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9:12 am
Restaurant Features
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Whether dad wants to enjoy an elegant sit-down dinner, a hearty steak, or an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, Miami’s got the perfect place for you and your family to celebrate. Be sure to make reservations soon so that he can spend Father’s Day the way he wants. Here are some of our suggestions:

STK Miami

STK Miami {2311 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.604.4988}
Normally, STK touts itself for being “not your daddy’s steakhouse.” But on Father’s Day, everything changes. From 6-11pm, STK Miami is offering exclusive specials for dads, including a complimentary Black Rye Affair cocktail–a mix of Templeton Rye, lemon juice, blackberries, and mint.

Cleo {Redbury Hotel, 1776 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.534.CLEO}
Sip Shanks and Shawarma! On Father’s Day, Cleo is offering an appetizer, lamb shawarma dish, and beer pairing for just $40 per person.

BLT Steak

BLT Steak at The Betsy {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.673.0044}
In honor of those dads who like a hearty slab of meat as the basis for their meal, BLT Steak is offering what it calls: WOW! Himalayan sea salt-rubbed, 30-day dry-aged, double-cut, 32oz bone-in, NY Strip Steak for $80. (Try saying that one three times fast!) In addition, the restaurant’s General Manager David Weiss has a created a unique cocktail—the Smoky Martini—just for dads. It’s three ounces Oxley London dry gin, 1/4 ounce of Lagavulin 16-year Scotch whisky, and 1/2 ounce Noilly Prat dry vermouth with a garnish of smoked salmon jerky.

Biltmore Brunch

The Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200}
Every Sunday, the Biltmore offers an extravagant buffet brunch with delicacies such as caviar, smoked salmon, shellfish, carved meats, fresh omelettes, pasta, sushi, and more. Father’s Day is no exception. The whole family can enjoy this impressive event, which features live entertainment and bottomless Champagne and Bellinis.

Morton’s The Steakhouse {multiple locations}
In honor of Father’s Day, all Morton’s locations are offering a three-course menu for just $59 per person. Includes choice of salad (Morton’s Salad, Caesar or Slice Beefsteak Salad); choice of entrée (8oz Filet Mignon, Double-Cut Prime Pork Chop, Braised Beef Short Rib, Chicken Bianco, or Honey-Chile Glazed Salmon Fillet; choice of vegetable or potato; and choice of dessert (Double Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Pie, or Individual Soufflé).

Cipriani Miami

Cipriani {465 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 786.329.4090}
Cipriani Downtown Miami has a prix-fixe Father’s Day menu for just $70 per person. Includes choice of appetizer (Baby Artichoke Salad, Homemade Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli, or Steak Tartare alla Cipriani); choice of main course (Grilled Filet of Beef “Tagliata,” Pan-Roasted Chilean Sea Bass, or Eggplant alla Parmigiana); and individual Saint Honoré for dessert.

Vintro Kitchen {2216 Park Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.9200}
Treat dad to “a real man’s” Father’s Day brunch at Vintro Kitchen. From noon-4pm, the restaurant is hosting an exceptional brunch featuring its world-famous grill. After a delicious meal surrounded by family, he can go enjoy a cigar out on the terrace.

Bellmont Spanish Restaurant

Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant {339 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 786.502.4684}
From 10am-3pm, Bellmónt is hosting its honorary Father’s Day brunch featuring all-you-can-drink sangrías and mimosas and the restaurant’s specialty: suckling pig roasted on wood-fired oven, “cochinillo a la leña” (pictured above).

Bulla Gastrobar {2500 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 305.441.0107}
For the dad who loves Spanish fare, Bulla’s Chef Diego Solano will be serving up a special Father’s Day prix-fixe at $39 per person. Standout dishes include: Montaditos de Pancetta with homemade waffle, mushroom purée, pork belly confit, quail egg, pork reduction, and truffled honey and the NY Strip y Piperrada with roasted bell pepper, wrinkled potatoes, and mojo Canario.L'echon brasserie

L’Echon Brasseri {6261 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.483.1611}
If dad wants to sit back, relax, and slowly drink the day away, take him to L’Echon Brasserie, which is offering a number of inventive “Godfather” cocktails: the Godfather I with Dewar’s, Amarula cream, and hazelnut liquor; the Godfather II with sweet vermouth, cherry liquor, and orange juice; and the Godfather III with Bombay Sapphire, cardamom and pineapple shrub, yellow chartreuse, lemon, and pineapple juice. Buckets of Miller Light will also be available for just $15.

Villa Azur {309 23rd Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8688}
This Father’s Day, show how much you love dad by taking him to Villa Azur, the South of France-inspired eatery located in the heart of South Beach. The Mediterranean cuisine venue is pampering the gents with a complimentary glass of Johnnie Walker Green Label, while offering its usual mouthwatering menu. Acclaimed Pastry Chef Sebastien Feneyrol has also crafted a special Monsieur Liégeois dessert that consists of an indulgent combination of guanaja, coffee Liégeois, and coffee-flavored ice cream and foam.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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7:56 am
Restaurant Features
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June is not just all about dads and grads. There are plenty of exciting events and specials this month to keep you busy as things heat up outside—and in the Miami restaurant scene.

1. #GlazedAndConfused for National Donut Day
When: Through June 30
Where: STK Miami {2311 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.604.4988}
What: In celebration of National Donut Day (June 5), STK premieres a trio of boozy flavors infused into bite-sized sugary confections. Crafted by Corporate Pastry Chef Abbie White, these donuts have a deconstructed twist: the Cocoa Bomb (vanilla lemon custard and hazelnut liquor), the Fruity Rebel (cereal custard and raspberry liquor), and the Not Your Daddy’s Donut (cherry bourbon custard and orange liquor).

STK Drunkin Donuts

STK’s Drunkin’ Donuts

2. Coral Gables Restaurant Week
When: June 8-28
Where: Downtown Coral Gables
What: Coral Gables Restaurant Week is not only a week—it’s three weeks! Over 40 Gables restaurants are offering amazing prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus at incredible prices. Participating restaurants include Anacapri Italian Cuisine & Market, Bellmónt Spanish Restaurant, Bread + Butter, Bulla Gastrobar, Cibo Wine Bar, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Ortanique on the Mile, Uvaggio Wine Bar, and many more!

3. Justin Wine Dinner
When: June 11 at 7pm
Where: The Biltmore Fontana {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200}
What: Sip and savor wines from California’s Justin Winery paired with tasty bites from the Biltmore Fontana. The experience includes four signature wines: Land Mark Chardonnay, Justin Sauvignon Blanc, Land Mark Pinot Noir, and Justin Cabernet. Click here for reservations.
Cost: $35 per person

4. Interactive Cooking Class with Chef Cindy Hutson
When: June 13, 11:30am-2:30pm
Where: Ortanique on the Mile {278 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.446.7710}
What: Ortanique’s celebrated Chef Cindy Hutson hosts an interactive cooking class to celebrate the coming of mango season. In this hands-on experience, participants learn to create mango-infused recipes such as Burrata Salad, Banana Leaf Steamed Fish, and Floating Island (“Isla Flotantes”). Call to RSVP.
Cost: $108 per person

Chef Cindy Hutson

Chef Cindy Hutson

5. TransArt Festival
When: June 14-30
Where: The Betsy Hotel {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.531.6100}
What: In its continuing mission to operate as a PACE (philanthropy, arts, culture, and education) hotel and support underserved communities, the Betsy presents Miami’s first TransArt Festival. The exhibition showcases a number of artists to create awareness, nurture aspiring artists, and enlighten the general population about the many layers of the transgender community.
Cost: Free

TransArt Miai

“Self Portrait” by TransArt Miami artist Kate Weakley

6. Ibérico Ham 101
When: June 17, 6-8pm
Where: Bellmont Spanish Restaurant {339 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 786.502.4684}
What: Discover Spain’s true national treasure: 100-percent Ibérico ham. Learn about Iberian pigs, the curing process, amazing nutritional properties, and other fun facts as you taste hand-sliced 100-percent acorn-fed Cinco Jotas Ibérico ham, delicious cheeses like Manchego, and traditional tomaquet bread. Your experience will be paired with an exquisite glass of a Rioja wine to complete your palate. Call to RSVP.
Cost: $29 per person

iberico ham 101

7. The Lost Art of the Apéritif
When: June 23, 7-9pm
Where: Uvaggio Wine Bar {70 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.448.2400}
What: In an effort to revive the lost art of the aperitif (a savoy drink that is meant to open our palate and stimulate our appetite before sitting for dinner later in the evening), Uvaggio Wine Bar hosts fun and informative tasting as it brings new life to that special time before a meal. Space is limited. Click here to RSVP.
Cost: $30 per person

8. BleauLive Presents Capital Cities
When: June 27
Where: Michael Mina 74 and the BleauLive Stage {Fontainebleau Hotel, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}
What: Witness Capital Cities, the indie pop duo Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian, perform their multi-Platinum hit “Safe and Sound” among other favorites. Before the show, fuel up at the hotel’s award-winning Michael Mina 74. Click here to purchase tickets.
Cost: $115 per person; includes performance, two-hour open bar, and dinner at MM74.

BleauLive presents Capital Cities

Capital Cities

9. DBGB Pop Up at db Bistro Moderne
When: Through July 31
Where: db Bistro Modern {JW Marriot Marquis, 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way; 305.421.8800}
What: For the second year, Chef Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen & Bar pops up at db Bistro Moderne, recreating fan favorites from the star chef’s casual New York and D.C. eateries. Menu highlights include: housemade Thai Sausage, The Piggie Burger, and the Peach Melba Sundae. This year, the pop up also features a tap takeover by J. Wakefield Brewery, which is offering three beers, including the Dragonfruit Passion Fruit, made exclusively for db Bistro Moderne Miami.

DBGB Thai Sausage by B.Milne

DBGB Thai Sausage

10. Hakkasan Summer Tasting
When: Through August 31
Where: Hakkasan {Fontainebleau Hotel, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}
What: Celebrate summer with a delectable season-long tasting menu at Hakkasan featuring small plates that include Steamed Vegetable Dumplings, Crispy Lobster, and Steamed Soup Dumplings; Traditional Roasted Half Peking Duck appetizer; and Wok-Baked Tiger Prawns, Baked Chilean Sea Bass, Stir-Fried Wagyu Beef, and Seafood Fried Rice as entrées.
Cost: $128 per person; complementary wine pairing for supplemental $68 per guest.

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8:19 am
Restaurant Features
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Taste of the Nation

Taste of the Nation South Florida founder and chair Allen Susser addresses the crowd at last year’s event.

South Florida’s leading culinary event for a cause is coming up fast—and tickets are selling even faster.

Did you know that one in five children in this country struggles with hunger?; in Florida, it’s one in four. South Florida’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, is the region’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to putting an end to these statistics. The event will take place on Thursday, July 16 in the newly renovated Loews Miami Beach {1601 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach}.

For just $125 ($250 for VIP admission), you can participate in silent auctions, sip and sample gourmet creations from over 50 of South Florida’s top chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists. And the best part: all proceeds benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign, which is dedicated to ensuring that all children have daily access to the healthy food they need. You purchase tickets here.

Since the campaign’s launch, No Kid Hungry and its supporters have helped provide over 107 million meals (of which 25 million were distributed here in Florida) to kids struggling with hunger. Last year, the South Florida Taste of the Nation event raised nearly $100,000, which went to helping over 10 million children gain access to healthy meals.

taste of the nation

The culinary affair will be led by distinguished tastemakers, including founding event chair Allen Susser and restaurant chair Timon Balloo of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill.

Buy your tickets today and be a part of a wonderful event for a very important cause!

-Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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9:35 am
Restaurant Features
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Vintro Hotel

Did you know that there’s a Park Avenue in South Beach? Until recently, we didn’t either. But it’s here where you’ll find Vintro Hotel & Kitchen {2216 Park Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.9200}, a hidden art deco gem just two blocks from Collins Avenue along the river.

Listed as a one of the top 25 hotels by TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, it’s no wonder that regulars want to keep this place all to themselves. Not to mention, every month, Vintro Hotel & Kitchen offers countless specials and discounted offers. And the best part: You don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy them! (Although, we must warn you, you may very likely be tempted to check in for a night—or two!) Here’s a look at what the hotel has going on this month:

Tapas + Unlimited Wine
For a limited time, Vintro Kitchen is offering a special on wine and tapas. For just $25 per person (every day from 7-9pm), you can have two tapas plates of your choice and unlimited house wine. That’s right, we said unlimited. From crispy pork belly and beet tartlets to mini lamb burgers, there really is no wrong way to go.

vintro kitchen

Father’s Day Brunch
Treat dad to “a real man’s” Father’s Day brunch at Vintro Kitchen. On Sunday, June 21, from noon to 4pm, the restaurant is hosting an exceptional brunch featuring its world-famous grill. After a delicious meal surrounded by family, he can go enjoy a cigar out on the terrace. Click here to book your reservation.

Cocktail of the Month: The Fat Tail
You’re in for a treat with this innovative cocktail featuring Grey Goose vodka, Domaine de Canton French ginger liqueur, fresh passion fruit nectar, and red pepper flakes—just to spice things up.

Vintro Kitchen

Vintro After Fillmore
After jamming out at the Fillmore Miami Beach (which is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel), you’ll likely be hungry. Show your concert ticket stub and Vintro will take 10 percent off your table’s tab.

Miami Staycation
Who says you have to leave South Florida for your summer vacation? Avoid the headache of traveling and make it a staycation instead. Florida residents who book their stay at the hotel any time between now and September 30 receive 10 percent off and free valet parking. Here’s to being a local!

–Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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