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If you didn’t know it was there, you’d probably miss it. But Sunny’s {1500 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.3935}, a small enclave tucked inside The Hall, a revived 1940s Art Deco hotel that opened this past November, won’t be secret for long.

Michael Colletti and Spike Mendelsohn

Spike Mendelsohn with Sunny’s Chef de Cuisine Michael Colletti

The creative genius behind the food and beverage operations of the hotel is Chef Spike Mendelsohn of “Top Chef” fame. Though Sunny’s is named after Mendelsohn’s grandfather, it’s a fitting moniker for a place that reflects the vibe that is synonymous with the Sunshine State.

The restaurant itself is “so Miami”—but not the Miami of exclusive clubs, see-and-be-seen events, or over-the-top trendiness. This is the Miami of lazy beach days and tropical-chic glamour, with a “come as you are” attitude that’s a direct reflection of Mendelsohn’s easy-going personality.

The main dining area is the courtyard, which includes patio-style furniture and a colorful juice bar, which is particularly busy in the morning, when locals and hotel guests stop by to get their fresh juice or coffee fix for the day. The adjacent dining room features an elegant bar and long, cushioned seating along the walls.

The menu, too, is a reflection of the laid-back chef, an avid surfer who has seemingly effortlessly concocted innovative twists on classic seaside-inspired dishes, combining ingredients almost as whimsically as a painter combines colors and brushstrokes.

sunny's

Head High Poke Bowl

Mendelsohn, who is in Miami about one week out of every month, was our culinary guide for the evening, and served us some of his favorite and most popular menu items. First up: the Head High Poke Bowl, made with soy-marinated tuna (which the chef had caught himself during a fishing trip earlier that day), Maui onions, sea beans, toasted sesame, and puffed rice.

sunny's

Charred Octopus + Garden

The meal could have ended there and we would have been completely satisfied. But it continued on with the Caprese of Juicy Melons with balled cantaloupe and honeydew, heirloom tomatoes, and succulent Burrata cheese. We also tried the Charred Octopus and Garden and Crispy Buffalo Frog Legs, which we were pleasantly surprised to discover that, in the words of the chef, tasted “just like chicken.”

Hot in Herre Chicken and Waffles

Hot in Herre Chicken and Waffles

Next up: the Hot in Herre Chicken and Waffles, with fried chicken served alongside fresh-from-the-iron waffles topped with powdered sugar and maple syrup, followed by the perfectly cooked Panther Coffee Spike Strip Steak, served with shishito peppers and yucca steak fries (another standout!).

sunny's

Bonfire Beach S’mores

And finally, the meal ended with the Bonfire Beach S’mores, marshmallows served with Hershey’s chocolate and graham crackers—and a much-needed side of napkins. “The best part of being an adult is being able to play with your food,” Mendelsohn said as he brought the tray of gooey goodness to our table. And to that, we say, “Amen!”

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

In anticipation of this Sunday’s Miami Marathon, Fontainebleau’s award-winning four-diamond Italian eatery, Scarpetta {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}, will offer marathon runners a special “Carb-Up” three-course prix-fixe menu specially crafted to ensure runners’ muscles are fueled and energy levels are high for optimal performance.

The menu is available from 6-7pm on Friday, January 22, and Saturday, January 23, for $45, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Items include:

Choice of Primi Piatti:
Burrata with broccoli rabe pesto, heirloom tomatoes, baby basil, and arugula
Arugula Salad with toasted pine nuts, pecorino, and truccioletto vinaigrette
Creamy Polenta with fricassée of truffled mushrooms

polenta scarpetta

Creamy Polenta

Choice of Piatta:
Spaghetti with tomato and basil
Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli with Marsala reduction
Short Rib Agnolotti Dal Plin with horseradish, red wine, and breadcrumbs

Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil

Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil

Choice of Dessert:
Coconut Panna Cotta with caramelized pineapple and guava “soup”
Amedei Chocolate Cake with toasted almond gelato and salted caramel sauce

Click here for more information.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

pomegranate caipirinha

The bar team at db Bistro Moderne Miami {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown; 305.421.880} is embracing the cooler months by introducing five new seasonally inspired cocktails to the restaurant’s already-intriguing drinks menu. One of our favorites is the citrusy-sweet Pomegranate Caipirinha. Visit db Bistro and have the experts make it for you—during happy hour in the lounge (Monday-Friday 5-8pm), perhaps?—or follow the steps below to make your own at home:

First, create your own pomegranate-infused Cachaça by combining 2 or 3 pomegranates’ worth of pulp/seeds, 1 bottle Cahaça, and pomegranate syrup. Muddle 3 quartered fresh limes with 1 ounce simple syrup. Add ice and your pomegranate-infused Cachaça and shake. Pour into rocks glass. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Not a pomegranate fan? Here are four additional winter cocktails currently gracing the menu: the Rosalie (mezcal, lime juice, rose water, and Peychaud’s Bitters); the Maplenut Manhattan (bourbon, Carpano Antia, smoked maple syrup, and black walnut bitters); the Lemonbaum (Citron vodka, triple sec, lemon juice, rosemary syrup, and cranberry bitters); and the T Collins (gin, honeyed peppermint tea, lemon and lime juice, and sparkling wine).

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Adena Grill

Since 1939, Gulfstream Park has been South Florida’s ultimate destination for horse racing. And, for the most part, that was the only reason that people came to the area. But this has all changed in recent years, thanks to the continuous evolution of the Village of Gulfstream Park, an open-air, family-friendly shopping and entertainment complex that surrounds the racetrack. Such improvements cater to a much more sophisticated and diverse demographic of visitors and locals alike.

Among the recent additions to the park, which includes high-end retailers such as Crate & Barrel and Bang & Olufsen, is Adena Grill {900 Silks Run, Hallandale Beach; 954.464.2333}, a fine-dining steakhouse and wine bar that is quickly becoming a culinary destination in its own right.

Upon entering, we were immediately blown away by the impeccable décor. The elegant main dining room has a calming lavender color palette, with walls that are adorned with beautifully painted murals and shimmering chandeliers that hang from above.

Adena Grill Wall Mural

Cocktail with wall mural in background

Once seated, we were presented with our tasting menu for the evening, along with the regular menu and wine list. In addition, we were presented with an interactive version of the menu, which was loaded on a mini tablet, where we could browse menu items, learn more about the ingredients of dishes, see photos, and get in-depth information about the plethora of wines on offer, from their flavor profiles to the wine regions from which they came. The tablet also had links to the several mobile betting apps, further exemplifying the steps that Gulfstream Park is taking in an effort to attract a more chic and modern clientele through all of its outlets.

Adena Grill

Interactive iPad menu

At the helm of the restaurant is Chef Giovanni Arias, formerly of Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa Miami Beach, who brings 22 years of experience and passion to Adena Grill’s kitchen. Chef Arias’ dedication to clean, healthful, and flavorful dishes perfectly complements the values of Adena Farms, from which the restaurant sources all of its produce and meat. Adena Farms is Frank Stronarch’s family-owned, 95,000-acre farm in Ocala, Florida, where animals are raised free from stress, hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs.

Adena Grill

Left: Tomato & Avocado Salad; Right: Burrata & Strawberry

We were lucky in that we got to sample the restaurant’s most popular dishes, the first of which were the unbelievably fresh Tomato and Avocado Salad and the Burrata and Strawberry appetizers.

Adena Grill

Gnocchi Mac & Cheese Skillet

The meal continued with the Gnocchi Mac and Cheese, a sizzling, gooey skillet of housemade gnocchi with Parmesan cream sauce, bacon, and brown butter breadcrumbs topped with potato skin crisps, and the Roasted Bone Marrow, an adventurous dining surprise served with parsley and caramelized onion jam, which are meant to be placed on top of a crostini with the marrow before digging in. This interesting flavor combination was unlike anything we’d ever tasted—and we’ve tried a LOT of dishes!

Adena Grill

Roasted Bone Marrow

For our main course, we were delighted with the 14-ounce Adena Strip and the Organic Roasted Chicken. If you think that you can’t taste the difference in meat that is raised the natural way (as Adena’s is), then you are severely mistaken. The dishes oozed with natural flavors and weren’t masked by extra spices or unnecessary ingredients.

Adena Grill

Main courses: Adena Strip, Roasted Chicken, with side of Celeriac Purée

And, finally, for dessert, we tasted the Crème Brûlée and the signature Myers’s & Breyers: Vanilla ice cream served with berries and topped with Myers’s rum—a sensational finish to an exquisite four-course meal.

Adena Grill

Left: Crème Brûlee; Right: Myers’s & Breyers

The incredible ambience, attentive service, and delicious food at Adena Grill made for a remarkable evening. We’ll certainly be back to Gulfstream Park—but it definitely won’t be for the horses.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Happy New Year, Miami! 2016 promises to be an incredible year for the local culinary scene and we can’t wait to see what’s in store over the next 12 months. Here are nine of our must-do/must-try January events taking place throughout the city.

Chicha Morada

Chicha Morada from La Mar by Gastón Acurio


1. Healthy “Mocktails” at Mandarin Oriental
When:
Ongoing
Where: Mandarin Oriental, Miami {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8288}
What: Keep your New Year’s resolutions going strong with creative new non-alcoholic “mocktails” made with fresh, flavorful ingredients. At MO Bar + Lounge, Steven Minor presents the Purple Plush, with a floral and sweet blend of hibiscus tea and lychee purée finished off with club soda. At La Mar by Gastón Acurio, Lef Kraounakis makes fresh daily Chicha Morada, a traditional Peruvian purple corn juice cooked with pineapple, green apples, cinnamon, and cloves, then served with a splash of lime and sugar.

2. Whites of Winter Special at Oceanaire
When: Through February 5
Where: The Oceanaire Seafood Room {900 South Miami Avenue, Suite 111, Brickell; 305.372.8862}
What: Upgrade your dining experience and sample up to four three-ounce white wines of your choosing for just $19 when you purchase an entrée. Choose from a list of 15 fine white wines from all over the world, from Napa Valley to Provence to Marlborough, New Zealand, and many more. Purchase additional pours for $5.

Chicken Parm Pizza from Quality Meats

Chicken Parm Pizza from Quality Meats


3. New Menu Items at Quality Meats
When:
Ongoing
Where: Quality Meats {1501 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.340.3333}
What: Chef de Cuisine Patrick Rebholz is kicking off 2016 by adding several new dishes to his already-acclaimed menu. Perhaps the most exciting addition is the signature Chicken Parm Pizza, which is making a special “pop-up” appearance from Quality Meat’s NYC sister restaurant, Quality Italian. Intended for two people, this 14-inch chicken Parmesan topped with mozzarella, Parmesan, and pecorino is delivered on a pizza rack and sliced tableside. The dish is so popular in New York that the restaurant often runs out midway through dinner service.

4. Paella Cooking Demonstration and Dinner at Bulla
When:
January 16 at 6pm
Where: Bulla Gastrobar {2500 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 305.441.0107}
What: Share your passion for paella at Bulla’s next Let’s Eat Dinner Series. After tapas on the terrace, you’ll join Chef Miguel Rebolledo in preparing authentic Spanish paella, a dish he learned at one of the world’s most famous restaurants, El Bulli. Top off the culinary experience with a flavorful feast paired with fine Spanish wine and a tantalizing dessert. Cost is $65 per person. Click here for tickets.

5. Weekly Wine (and more) Tastings at Uvaggio
When:
Saturdays, 5-6pm
Where: Uvaggio Wine Bar {70 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.448.2400}
What: Join Head Wine-O and Managing Partner Heath Porter for weekly fun and education wine tastings. Upcoming themes include:
January 16: Spain with an Attitude, Not Your Parents’ Rioja
January 23: Piedmont and Tuscany … an ode to the next Uvaggio wine club trip
January 30: Beers Around the World … from the USA and Belgium, to our own backyard
Tastings are limited to just 24 people, so it’s best to reserve your space in advance. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 305.448.2400.

Fried Chicken and Waffles Hyde Beach Kitchen

Fried Chicken and Waffles from Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails

6. Waves and Rosé Brunch at Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails
When:
Every Sunday
Where: Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails {111 South Surf Road, Hallandale Beach; 954.699.0901}
What: Hallandale’s newest hot spot is now offering a sweet-meets-savory brunch menu featuring delicious comfort dishes such as the Hang Over Burger, Banana Nutella Waffles, and Very Berry French Toast. In addition to the mouthwatering fare, you’ll never go thirsty with bottomless Whispering Angel rosé for just $30 a person.

7. Wine Dinner at Fontana at the Biltmore
When: January 21 at 7pm
Where: Fontana at the Biltmore {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 877.624.2830}
What: Take part in an enchanting, seated, four-course wine dinner hosted by Wine Director Christophe Bristiel with wine from Chateau La Nerthe in Rhone Valley, France, sponsored in part by Pasternak Wine Imports. Cost is $45 for members, $55 for guests.

Chef Cindy Hutson

Chef Cindy Hutson

8. A Taste of Jamaica Cooking Class with Chef Cindy Hutson
When:
January 23, 11:30am-2:30pm
Where: Ortanique on the Mile {278 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.446.7710}
What: Join Chef Cindy Hutson for an interactive cooking class featuring staples of Jamaican cuisine: Guinness-Braised Shredded Oxtail on a crispy cassava cake; Red Snapper Rundown with boiled green banana mash and Caribbean veggies; and Drunken Banana “Stamp and Go” Fritters with rum-raisin ice cream and salted caramel. Cost is $108 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing [email protected].

9. Fontainebleau’s Cellar 1954 Wine & Dinner Series
When:
January 23 at 8pm
Where: StripSteak by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.535.3283}
What: The Cellar 1954 Wine and Dinner Series pairs the world’s most prestigious wines and winemakers with the award-winning cuisine of the Fontainebleau’s signature restaurants. The 2016 season kicks off with a five-course meal prepared by StripSteak Chef de Cuisine Derrick Roberts. Each course will be complemented by a different variety from the Napa Valley winery, Darioush, hosted by proprietor Darioush Khaledi. Cost is $225 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by clicking here.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

mortons

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean there’s nothing left to celebrate. So, grab your family, friends, or significant other and head to your nearest Morton’s The Steakhouse {1200 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.400.9990} and {2333 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 305.442.1662} and {17399 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach; 305.945.3131} for an unbeatable three-course meal for just $36 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).

This limited-time offer is only available through January 14, so be sure to make your reservation today. The extensive menu includes choice of starter (Half Bibb Salad, Half Caesar Salad, or Cup Lobster Bisque); choice of entrée (6oz Filet, Dirty Pork Chop, Grilled Salmon Bianco, or Chicken Christopher); choice of side (Horseradish Mashed Potatoes or Broccoli Florets); and choice of dessert (Double Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Pie, or Crème Brûlée).

What a great way to kick off the New Year!

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

The Restaurant_Courtyard

Just a few weeks ago, the award-winning Setai Hotel debuted Jaya {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}, a brand-new restaurant concept by Executive Chef Mathias Gervais of “Chopped” fame. Taking the place of what was previously The Restaurant at The Setai, Jaya introduces an entirely new approach to Asian cuisine. DiningOut had the opportunity to dine at the revamped restaurant, and we couldn’t have been more impressed by the quality of food and service.

The Restaurant at setai jaya

Chef Gervais, along with Executive Sous Chef Vijayudu “Vijay” Veena, have collaborated to create a mouthwatering menu full of authentic dishes from Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and India, all served family-style. The menu is comprehensive, but not intimidating, and our server guided us with some stellar recommendations.

We started off the evening with drinks from the specialty cocktail menu: the Cucumber Martini and the Setai Cosmo, both equally delicious! For appetizers, we tried the Shrimp Maki, an avocado-wrapped roll with shrimp, puffed rice, salmon roe, and blood orange; and the Wagyu Tataki, with leeks, pickled daikon, and crispy garlic wrapped in the beef sausage-style. And, of course, we couldn’t pass on beginning with the famous Naan Bread, a simple yet flavorful Setai staple that stole the show.

jaya at the setai

Shrimp Maki

We continued the meal with the Peking Duck (also a longtime Setai menu favorite), served with steamed pancakes (to make your own wrap) and a deliciously sweet plum sauce, and the Hanger Steak Ssam, which was served with red kimchee, ginger, scallions, mint, and lettuce with a green chile relish. Everything that we tried was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor.

jaya at the seat

Hanger Steak Ssam and Peking Duck

Of course, no meal is complete without dessert. We opted for the sampler, which came with four equally impressive bite-sized treats.

image19

Jaya, which means “victory” in Sanskrit, was chosen to honor The Setai’s distinguished interior designer, Jaya Ibrahim, who recently passed away. The concept is part of the hotel’s culinary re-launch, as it celebrates a decade of unmatched success in Miami Beach and luxurious Asian hospitality. While the name, menu, and overall concept of the restaurant have certainly changed, you can still expect the same impeccable service, caliber of standout dishes, and the sophisticated yet laid-back ambience for which The Setai is known.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor