Just in time for summer, Miami’s innovative, waterfront Peruvian favorite La Mar by Gastón Acurio {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8358} has launched a new menu by Executive Chef Diego Oka–and trust us, you don’t want to miss it. Inspired by his travels from all over the world, this acclaimed chef has come up with 20 new dishes designed to delight almost any palate.

To kick-off your meal, start with one of La Mar’s Cebiches, Tiraditos and Causas, like the Lujoso ceviche with lobster, sunchoke leche de tigre, aji amarillo, avocado, and green olive oil; or the Bachiche tiradito made with fresh catch, 22-month aged Parmesan cheese, leche de tigre, colatura, garlic chips, and basil. For a dish that really impresses, try the new Flor causa: it has a ball of Maine Lobster tartare completely covered in squid ink-infused potatoes, all garnished with caviar, avocado, and wait for it—gold.

If you need to spice up your meal even more, spring for one of La Mar’s Anticuchos, where you’ll find grilled skewers like Swordfish with miso anticuchera, grilled broccolini, and sesame. Then, waste no time getting to the mains: La Mar has Peruvian Specialties and Arroces y Pastas like the Chinese-inspired Tallarin Taypa–pan-fried egg noodles served with scallops, char siu, quail egg, and XO sauce–or Rocoto Relleno, a rocoto pepper filled with velvety seafood stew and cheese, all of which is torched tableside.

Finally, since you’re taking a mini-escape to Peru, the Tamal is a definite must-try. Inspired by a menu Chef Oka recently won awards for, it features pork jaw and quinoa, grilled fish, seco stew sauce, and mint chalaca salsa.

As would be the case with any restaurant at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, the delights don’t stop there. To make sure you get to experience it for yourself, head to La Mar today and start ordering. Whatever you choose, one thing’s for sure: you won’t regret it.

By Jennifer Agress

This July, join The Biltmore Hotel as it celebrates its milestone 90th birthday with a special $90 nine-course menu at its award-winning, signature French restaurant: Palme d’Or {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200}. Led by Michelin-starred Executive Chef Gregory Pugin, both the restaurant and the menu promise to take diners on a culinary journey through the delectable, and authentic, cuisine that France has become known for.

As one of only three Five Diamond restaurants in all of Florida, Palme d’Or is inarguably one of South Florida’s most sought-after restaurants. Here is what patrons of the locale can expect when they try the delicious, limited-edition menu, available at the restaurant from July 1-31: 

First Course: Le Crabe Royal D’Alaska – King crab, carrots, English peas, cipollini onions, and grissini

Second Course: L’Oursin Et Langoustine – Sea urchin custard, poached langoustine, golden osetra caviar, and Granny Smith apple gelee

Third Course: Le Poulpe Et  L’Escargots de Bourgogne – Spanish octopus, Burgundy snails, wild mushroom, and spring onions emulsion

Fourth Course: Foie Gras Poele – Seared foie gras, strawberries, madeleine, duck jus, and elderberry emulsion

Fifth Course: Le Cabillaud D’Alaska – Alaskan black cod poached in coconut milk, sweet potato degustation, and curry sauce

Sixth Course: La Caille – Quail, tri-colored cauliflower, quail egg, dates, and quail jus

Seventh Course: Le Citron – Citron cream, limoncello, meringue, and lime tequila sorbet

Eighth Course: La Degustation de Chocolats Valrhona – Caramelia and Dulcey Valrhona chocolate tasting

Ninth Course: Petit Fours Cart

By Jennifer Agress

This Friday, June 17, one of South Florida’s most raved-about charitable events, Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, is back for its 28th year–and top chefs from the area are coming out to take part.

Hosted by Y100 radio celebrity, Froggy, and CBS4’s Emmy-nominated anchor Marybel Rodriguez, this annual event invites South Florida’s finest to taste and sip their way through more than 80 of the hottest restaurants, top chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists from Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

With general admission tickets priced at just $125 per person, guests of the evening will be able to pair their tasty bites and libations with fun-filled events like a silent auction, a mystery wine grab, an interactive Citi lounge with handcrafted cocktails, an LG Farm-to-Table Kitchen activation and “Urban Beer Garden,” and more. Those who want a more extravagant experience can purchase a VIP ticket for $250, which will get them in one hour before the crowds, as well as access to an exclusive after party even after the event has shut down.

Taking place at Wynwood’s Soho Studios {2136 Northwest First Avenue, Wynwood; 305.600.4785}, this premier culinary event is designed to fuse food and fun with a cause–raising money to further No Kid Hungry’s efforts to end childhood hunger in America by ensuring that kids start their day with a nutritious breakfast, and that families have the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. This event will run from 7pm to 10pm, with special VIP attendees getting in at 6pm, and continue late in the night with an after party for VIP ticket-holders and chef participants at R House {2727 Northwest Second Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201}, from 10:30pm to midnight.

So, who can South Florida’s foodies expect to see at Taste of the Nation? Only the best. Read below to see the full list of participants, and then purchase your tickets here.

Participants: 3030 Ocean, Afrohead Rum, Area 31, August Wine Group, Bakehouse, Barefoot Wine, Beaker & Gray, Biscayne Bay Brewing Company, BLT Prime, BOCCE, BOURBON Steak by Michael Mina, Brown-Forman, Bulla Gastrobar, Burlock Coast, Byblos, Chatham Imports Inc., Concrete Beach Brewery, CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar, DIRT, Disaronno International, E&J Gallo Winery, EDGE Steak & Bar, Fetzer, Finka Table & Tap, FIOL Prosecco, Folio Fine Wine, Fooq’s, Funky Buddha Brewery, Glass and Vine, Guarachi Wine Partners, Hatfield & McCoy, Haven Kitchen + Lounge, Hill Family Estate, Hiro Sake, Izzy’s Fish & Oyster, J Wakefield Brewing, Jackson Family Wines, JWB Prime Steak and Seafood by Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, Kuro at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, KYU, Le Zoo, Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar & Pizzeria, Lure Fishbar, M.I.A. Beer Company, Macchialina, Matador Room & Market at EDITION, Meat Market, Nespresso, Nunshen, O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, Orvino Wine Imports, PB Station at The Langford Hotel, Pincho Factory, Preston’s Market at Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Proof Pizza & Pasta, Quality Meats, R House Wynwood, Red, the Steakhouse, Rhum Clément, Shake Shack, STK Miami Beach, StripSteak by Michael Mina, SUGARCANE raw bar grill, SUSHISAMBA, Susie’s Scrumptious Sweets, SuViche, TALDE Miami Beach, Temple Street Eatery, Testa Wines, The Café at Books & Books, Arsht Center, The Dutch Miami, The Fed, The Forge, The Salty Donut, The Sarsaparilla Club, The Social Club, Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House, Vineyard Brands, VOSS Artesian Water from Norway, Whisk Gourmet, Wild Sea Oyster Bar & Grille, Wynwood Brewing Company, Wynwood Kitchen and Bar, Zest / Ortanique on the Mile, Zuuk Mediterranean Kitchen.

By Jennifer Agress

A Magic City staple since 1954, the Fontainebleau Miami Beach has been impressing A-list guests with its timeless glamour, celebrity parties, iconic nightlife, and award-winning restaurants for decades. And to celebrate summer, one such restaurant, Scarpetta {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}, is kicking-off the season with some new menu items sure to impress.

Named for the Italian expression that means “little shoe”–or the shape bread takes when used to soak up those last few bites in your most delicious dish–Scarpetta embodies the essence of savoring a meal to the very last bite. And when you consider the restaurant is the brainchild of celebrity chef Scott Conant, you have to ask yourself: Would you go and do anything less?

Head to Scarpetta this summer, and be sure to look out for these hot new menu items:

Primi piatti (small plates)

Crispy Fritto Misto with seafood, vegetables, herbs, and lemon

Paste (pasta dishes)

Ricotta Raviolini with sweet corn, hazelnuts, and honshimeji mushrooms

Squid Ink Tagliolini with seafood ragu, lemon, and parsley

Pici with Maine lobster, tomatoes, and tarragon

Piatta, or entrées

Fennel Dusted Black Cod with concentrated tomato, fennel, and mantecato

Roasted Branzino with artichoke, sea beans, anchovy, and tomato dressing

Pancetta Wrapped Atlantic Halibut with cauliflower, asparagus, Barolo grapes, and hazelnut

Herb Crumbed Lamb Loin with fresh chickpeas, fennel, and semi-dried tomatoes

Contorni, or side dishes

Roasted Corn with piquillo, scallion, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs

Marble Potatoes with guanciale and herb crumbs

Seared Wild Mushrooms with lemon and herbs

And of course, new menu items or not, don’t forget some of Conant’s signature dishes, like his Spaghetti with tomato and basil and Creamy Polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms. Those alone are worth a visit.

By Jennifer Agress