Sunday Brunch at Zest

Here are all of the food events in Miami you can get excited about this week:

Nikki Beach Hosts 28th-Annual Festival of Chefs
On Wednesday, November 9 at 6:30 p.m., Nikki Beach will host the “28th Annual Festival of Chefs” presented by Easter Seals South Florida. This event will feature top chefs from more than 26 South Florida restaurants—like Chef Nicole Votano of DIRT, Chef Rocco Carulli of R House, and Chef Pedro Lopez of Soyka Restaurant & Bar—all of whom will offer samples of their best dishes. This event will feature a silent auction with fine art, jewelry, fabulous wines, and getaways. All proceeds from the Festival of Chefs will benefit Easter Seals South Florida’s Culinary Arts High School, a vocational training program for students, ages 14 to 22, with autism and other disabilities. General Admission is $125 per person beforehand, $100 per person online (with a PROMO code), or $150 per person at the door.

Fooq’s & Friends Presents “OLLA” by Chef Scott Linquist
Scott Linquist, of COYO Taco, is opening his much-anticipated modern Mexican concept, OLLA (pronounced “oi-ya”), this weekend. And to get a first bite of all the delicious food diners can expect, head to Fooq’s & Friends on Wednesday, November 9, for an inspired Mexican feast like you’ve never had in Miami before. Start with an amuse of Island Creek Oysters, and move on to four distinctly different preparations of mole and a dessert of Pistachio Crepes and spiced Mexican coffee, Café de Olla. Each seating is priced at $60 per person, and for an additional $35, you can pair each course with wine and cocktails, like sangrita verde and a shot of Illegal Mezcal Joven. Reservations are recommended, and can be made between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. by calling 786.536.2749.

Zest Brings Back Sunday Brunch
This Sunday, November 13, Chef Cindy Hutson’s latest restaurant, Zest, will bring back its popular Sunday brunch. Priced at $45 per person, this four-course menu features menu items like a Huevos Rancheros Skillet with chorizo potato hash or Stuffed French Toast with almond orange cream cheese. Get bottomless bellini’s, Bloody Mary’s and mojitos for just $25, or order from an a la carte menu just for kids. Reservations for brunch are recommended, and can be made between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. every Sunday.

9th-Annual “Taste of Design” Returns on Saturday, November 12
This Saturday, November 12, Miami’s Design and  Architecture Senior High (DASH) welcomes back its annual fundraising event, “Taste of Design.” This year’s edition is themed “Dare to be DASHing” and will feature a silent auction, music, art, and food from celebrated Miami chefs. Guests can enjoy food from renowned Chef Dewey Lossaso of Bill Hansen Catering, eclectic cocktails from Southern Wine & Spirits, and tastings from Soyka, Crepe Maker, Divieto’s, and Enchanting Creations. Throughout the night, works from the school’s promising students, including visual art, industrial design, film, graphics and fashion, will be on display. This event will take place in the historic Moore Building from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., and all proceeds will benefit DASH. 

Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

DIRT

The Miami restaurant scene is changing, and by now, it’s safe to say that the Magic City has embraced a health-focused food culture with creative options for vegetarians and vegans alike. All this week, Miami has come together to celebrate that culture with the Seed Food & Wine Festival 2016, presented by Whole Foods, the premier celebration of plant-based food and wine in the nation. With so many events having already taken over Wynwood and Miami Beach – like a plant-based burger battle and a meditation- and workshop-focused “Seed Summit” at Nobu Hotel Eden Roc and Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort, to a kick-off dinner at 27 Restaurant and Bar – there’s still so much to come this weekend.

Here are more events you can look forward to from the Seed Food & Wine Festival 2016 through Sunday:

• “Best of the West Dinner” (November 4, 2016): This four-course wine-pairing dinner is prepared by three top West Coast chefs and will take place at The Palms Hotel and Spa from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $125 each.
• “Best of the East Dinner” (November 4, 2016): This four-course wine-pairing dinner is prepared by three top East Coast chefs and will take place at The Sacred Space Miami from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $125 each.
• Seed 5K Fun Run, Yoga and Meditation (November 5, 2016): Wake up and go for a run with celebrity athletes like Rich Roll, Ella Magers, Dominick Thompson, Marco Borges, Nicole Mejia, and John Lewis. After that, relax with a downward dog (or five!) and meditation in a class led by Dawn B, Paige Held, Kelly Green, and Chira Cassel. This event is free and open to the public, and will take place at MANA Wynwood from 8 – 10:30 a.m.
• Seed Festival Day Tasting Village (November 5, 2016): The undeniable main event of this plant-food-focused week, this is an all-day sampling of plant-based health, wellness conscious, and sustainable foods. There is a beer garden, live music, and Chef Demonstrations, as well as a Speaker Stage, yoga lounge, fitness zone, crafts, apparel, edible garden demonstrations, an organic cruelty-free beauty bar, and more than 80 restaurants, bakeries, brands, wines, spirits, and juice brands sampling delicious plant-based treats all day. The tasting village runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at MANA Wynwood. Tickets are $20 for kids, $45 for General Admission, and $85 for VIP entrance, which gets you in one hour early.
• Made in Miami Farm-to-Table Dinner (November 5, 2016): During this anticipated event, some of Miami’s best chefs will come together to whip up plant-based dishes that highlight local organic farms in South Florida. Lookout for dishes from Nicole Votano (Dirt), Brad Kilgore (Alter), Brian Nasajon (Beaker & Gray), Cesar Zapata (The Fed/Phuc Yea), and Blair Wilson (Surfcomber Social Club), and enjoy five courses paired with local craft cocktails and organic wines from Cerda, Llanos y Cia. This event will take place at the Surfcomber from 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Tickets cost $145 each.
• Mantra Yoga + Meditation + Brunch (November 6, 2016): Wake up and celebrate mindfulness with a yoga class led by Eoin Finn and Yana Guseva, followed by guided meditation led by Jennifer Grace. Then, enjoy a delicious, plant-based brunch by A-list chefs like Allen Susser, Amber Antonelli, Scott Winegard, Steve Santana, Dewey Losasso, and Max Santiago. Adding to its allure, every dish is paired with refreshing juices, cocktails, and bellinis. This event will take place at The Sacred Space from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tickets cost $55 each.

It is important to note that all food served during the festival is plant-based or vegan, and whenever possible, organic and non-GMO certified. Tickets for all of the different events range from FREE to $559 per person, and can be reserved here.

Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Fonduta Tartufata con Crostini at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana

It’s fall, and for foodies all over the world, that only means one thing: truffle season. To get you in the truffle spirit, Miami’s own Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, South Beach; 305.531.4833} is introducing a limited-time-only a la carte menu flavored with Alba’s coveted white truffles. Available now through the end of December, these tasty and aromatic dishes are sure to give Magic City diners a taste of Italy like they’ve never had before.

Here is what you can expect on Quattro Gastronomia Italiana’s delicious truffle menu:

ANTIPASTI
Fonduta Tartufata con Crostini ($40): Fontina cheese fondue with poached egg yolk and toasted Biova croutons

Tartare Di Filetto All’Albese ($45): Tartar of Filet Mignon with artichoke salad and crispy Parmigiano Reggiano

PRIMI PIATTI
Tagliolini Delle Langhe Al Burro Montato ($85): “Langhe” Tagliolini in an Italian butter sauce

Risotto con Toma Ossolana ($85): Risotto with Piemontese Toma cheese

SECONDI PIATTI
Scaloppina  Di Vitello ($95): Veal scaloppini in a truffle wine sauce with spinach flan and truffle shoestring fries

Robespierre Di Filetto Con Porcini ($95): Thinly-sliced beef tenderloin with sautéed porcini mushrooms 

Antipasti dishes come with two grams of Alba white truffles shaved on top, while Primi and Secondi Piatti dishes come with three grams. Additional white truffle shavings are available at market price.

Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Cocktails at Segafredo L’Originale

Here are five restaurants we just can’t get enough of right now:

The River Seafood & Oyster Bar: The brainchild of Chef David Bracha, The River Seafood & Oyster Bar {650 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.530.1915} first opened in 2003, and has been a staple in Miami ever since. Using only local seafood, farmers, and vendors, The River Seafood & Oyster Bar puts a modern twist on classic seafood cuisine. Go for its prime Brickell location and extensive wine list, but stay for the top-shelf oysters, daily happy hour, and Smoked cocktail with High West Campfire, Zignum Mezcal, agave, and orange bitters.

Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar: Peru is known for its food, and here in Miami, we can get the best of it at Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar {8551 NW 53rd Street, Doral; 786.805.4344}. Opened by the same team behind Coral Gables’ Bulla Gastrobar, Pisco y Nazca—which is named after two Peruvian cities known for their production of pisco—serves up traditional Peruvian fare with an innovative twist. When you’re there, pair a Proper Rum & Coke with options like Passion Fruit Ceviche, Mushroom Empanadas, a Que Bestia burger, or a Plancha Pulpo with potato cakes and chimichurri. Whatever you choose, it’s guaranteed to be delicious.

R House: In an artsy haven like Wynwood, R House {2727 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201} fuses art with food. Part restaurant, part lounge, and part art space, R House is an intimate restaurant with an exhibition kitchen, an outdoor terrace, and a lounge with rotating DJs and live music. If you’re there for dinner, indulge in the Braised Lamb Shank with a porcini mushroom-coriander-cinnamon rub, Israeli couscous, arugula pesto, glazed baby carrots, and a port wine reduction. If it’s brunch you crave, go to the Sunday Sauce Brunch Party at R House, where for just $60, you’ll get unlimited brunch appetizers, one main entree, and bottomless mimosas, “Bye Joe” sangrias, and more.

Segafredo L’Originale: An Italian café by day, and a sexy lounge by night, Segafredo L’Originale {1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.673.0047} is always a good place to be. Go there for trendy DJs and beautiful people-watching, and stay for the long menu of espresso drinks, tapas, wine, cocktails, pizza, and more.

Berries in the Grove: Located in Coconut Grove, Berries in the Grove {2884 SW 27th Avenue, Coconut Grove; 305.448.2111} is a hip, friendly café filled with hanging lanterns, a tree planted in the center of the dining room, and Bohemian vibes. Start your feast with large appetizers like the Brie & Fruit Plate or the thinly-seared Tuna Tataki, and move on to Pumpkin Ravioli, Firenze Pizza, Rio de Janeiro Panini, and the Chocolate Pizza with Nutella and frozen yogurt. At Berries, nothing disappoints!

Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor