By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

If you still haven’t made plans for your Valentine’s Day in Miami, try calling one of our favorite restaurants below. (You can thank us later.)
The Biltmore Hotel
If there’s one thing The Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 855.311.6903} does well, it’s romance. This Valentine’s Day, take your pick of three options! You can reserve a table at one of the property’s signature restaurants, Palme d’Or or Fontana, or for something really intimate, book a private dinner in one of the hotel’s poolside cabanas. Finally, if you’re looking for something more hands-on, head to the hotel’s Culinary Academy for a special pre-Valentine’s Day class on February 10. While there, you can work side-by-side with Executive Chef David Hackett and learn how to prepare your very own romantic Valentine’s Day feast at home. The “Date Night” lesson will take place on February 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., and is priced at $114 per person. Valentine’s Day dinners at Palme d’Or or Fontana start at $85+.  
The Setai, Miami Beach
On February 14, treat your loved one to a six-course dinner at Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}. The feast will start with an amuse-bouche of Tandoori Scallops with lemon grass and lemon zest, all topped with mango and papaya, followed by the restaurant’s signature Salmon Tartar, Onsen Tamago, Maine Lobster with kabocha and confit onion, Sea Bass poached in vermouth sauce, and Wagyu Ribeye grilled with truffle ponzu. For a sweet ending, pair your complimentary glass of Rose Champagne and strawberries with dessert: Black Forest Chocolate and Cherry Mousse. This dinner is available on February 14, from 5 p.m. to close. It’s priced at $125 per person. Couples who make a reservation for Valentine’s Day dinner by noon on Monday, February 13 will be entered for a chance to win a one-night stay at the hotel on Tuesday, Feb. 14th only.
Not fancy enough for you? Try the hotel’s $14K package. It includes a private dining experience by Executive Chef Mathias Gervais in the Chef’s Kitchen, a one-night stay in a one-bedroom Ocean Suite, a rare bottle of 1996 Château Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classé, signature spa treatments in the Spa by THÉMAÉ, a private jewelry showing in Asprey, and more. This package is priced at $14,000.

Bakehouse Brasserie
Celebrate Valentine’s Day a day early at Bakehouse Brasserie {808 1st Street, Miami Beach; 305.434.8249} with a French chocolate and wine pairing. Curated by the spot’s Pastry Chef Tatiana Vernot, with live entertainment there to serenade guests with French poems all night long, this night is designed to make you feel like you’re in Paris. This tasting will take place on February 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and is priced at $30 per couple.
Bulla Gastrobar
From now through February 20, make Valentine’s Day last even longer with a special Valentine’s Day-inspired market menu at Bulla Gastrobar {2500 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 305.441.0107}. Available for dinner only, this a la carte menu includes En Las Nubes, de Ibérico (bread with Bellota ham), The Lady and the Tramp (homemade Spanish truffle spaghetti), Pasiones (Wild King prawns tartar), Los Amantes de Teruel (Guinea hen), Flores, Bloody Mary y Salmon (Salmon goat cheese stuffed zucchini blossoms) and for a cocktail, the popular Apple of my Eye. Prices for each a la carte menu item range between $12 and $30.
db Bistro Moderne
Downtown Miami’s top French bistro, db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Blvd Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}, is offering a special, four-course menu for Valentine’s Day. Created by Chef Clark Bowen, this feast will include dishes like Kampachi Crudo, Sunchoke Agnolotti, and Dover Sole with optional wine pairings by the new Head Sommelier, Haunah Klein. The a la carte menu will also be available in the db Bar and Lounge. The prix fixe is priced at $95 per person, with optional wine pairings priced at $50 per person. 
Seaspice
This February 14, Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200} invites couples to come experience Executive Chef Angel Leon’s special candlelit dinner. Sit right by the Miami River, beneath a canopy of lights, and indulge in a la carte dishes like Kaluga Caviar on toasted brioche with peeky toe crab, Pan Seared Day Scallops with fennel jam and preserved grapefruit, Wood Fire Roasted Chateaubriand, and Grilled Maine Lobster served with caramelized cauliflower. For dessert, Executive Pastry Chef Jill Montinola has quite the treat: A Woman’s Sigh, made with dulcey mousse, port gelee, passion fruit, and marshmallow.
MR CHOW
This year, celebrate love with a romantic dinner at MR CHOW {2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.1695}. Start your three-course meal with sharing plates of Crab Claw Squab with Lettuce or Fresh Clam with Rice Cake, and move on to mains, served community-style, like Braised Prawns with Sweet Fermented Sticky Rice, Hunan Bean Fish, or Gamblers Duck with Special Pancake Fiery Beef. A chef’s dessert selection will be served, and drinks will be available a la carte. This dinner is priced at $95 per person, for the food only.
Pisco y Nazca
From now through February 20, make the holiday last longer with a Valentine’s Day-inspired market dinner menu at Pisco y Nazca {8405 Mills Drive #260, Kendall; 305.630.3844}. Available for dinner only, this a la carte menu includes Ensalada de Higos, Tiradito Cupido, Pachmanca’s Love (roasted baby chicken), Langosta a la Plancha, and Atún Nikkei (sesame seed crusted tuna). For dessert, finish your meal with Chocolate Apasionado and a Cupid’s Arrow cocktail. Prices for menu items range between $12 and $38.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Still haven’t bought your tickets to the 16^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF^®) yet? Don’t fret! Fortunately for you, there are still tickets available for some (emphasis on some) of the weekend’s best events. If a day on the sand is more your style, buy tickets to one of SOBEWFF’s walk-around tastings here. For something a little more debonair, however, try one of the weekend’s intimate, celebrity chef-led events.
Don’t which one(s) to choose? Start with these−as of today, tickets for each are still available:
Tribute Dinner honoring José Andrés and Louis Roederer owners Jean-Claude Rouzaud and Frédéric Rouzaud with Master of Ceremonies Anthony Bourdain
Presented by Bank of America
Part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series
Tickets: $500/person
Amigos de La Huella: A Dinner
Hosted by Florencia Courreges, Alejandro Morales, Harry Sasson, Fernando Trocca, & Nano Crespo
Tickets: $250/person
Vegan Dinner
Hosted by Chloe Coscarelli and Matthew Kenney
Tickets: $250/person 
A North Carolina Sisterhood: Dinner hosted by Vivian Howard, Ashley Christensen, Andrea Reusing, Gavin Pera & Ryan Cross
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person 
Mango Gang Reunited: Dinner hosted by Cindy Hutson, Allen Susser, Norman Van Aken, Robbin Haas, Mark Militello and Douglas Rodriguez
Part of The NYT Cooking Dinner Series
Tickets: $250/person 
Point Royal Clambake hosted by Geoffrey Zakarian, Valerie Bertinelli, Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person
Michael Solomonov’s CookNSolo Dinner Party
Sponsored by Eighty Seven Park
Tickets: $250/person
Dinner hosted by Marc Murphy and Chris Miracolo
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person
Dinner hosted by Uri Jeremias, Aret Sahakyan and Sergio Sigala
Tickets: $250/person
An Asian Inspired Dinner with Pok Pok, Babu Ji and NaiYaRa
Tickets: $250/person
10 Years of Genuine: Dinner hosted by Michael Schwartz, Marc Vetri and Jonathan Waxman
Presented by Bank of America
Tickets: $300/person
Dinner hosted by Amanda Freitag and Angelo Elia
Part of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series
Tickets: $250/person
Burnt Ends: A Kosher BBQ Dinner hosted by Alon Shaya
Tickets: $300/person
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

First launched in Paris in 1988 by a man named François Pasquier, Le Dîner en Blanc–the swanky “secret society” of the dining world–has since become a global culinary phenomenon. Every year, 10,000 of the world’s finest foodies don their fanciest whites and anxiously wait for that one day a year when this top-secret picnic pops up in their city. And lucky for us Miamians, that day is just around the corner: Le Dîner en Blanc is coming back to the Magic City for the third time on Saturday, March 11.
Taking place at an undisclosed location until the day of (which, in 2014 and 2015, included places like Soundscape Park at the New World Symphony and Palm Court in the Design District), Le Dîner en Blanc will once again grace Miami with a fun and fabulous night of music, wining, dining, and dancing. On the morning of March 11, guests will be e-mailed a meeting location, and for the ultimate secrecy, will be guided from there to keep the location of the event a total secret until the last possible minute. Once they arrive, the magic begins, as 2,000 locals dressed in elegant whites set up tables, two white chairs and a white tablecloth, and unpack their picnic basket. And in that picnic basket, more elegance: fine food, proper stemware and white dinnerware. After the food has been eaten, the wine is gone, and the festive night comes to an end, guests pack up every last bit of their table, chairs, and debris, and like magic, make it look like their night of elegant revelry never happened.
Because this isn’t just any picnic… it’s Dîner en Blanc.
And to participate in the fun, you’ll have to act fast–everyone who’s anyone wants to be cool enough to go to this in-the-know soirée. Registration to participate happens in three stages: Phase 1 (February 8) for members who attended last year, Phase 2 (February 9) for new members who are referred by Phase 1 attendees, and Phase 3 (which starts February 14) for the general public who signed up to be on the waiting list. While Phase 3 registration starts on February 14, you can sign up to be on the waiting list now. Click here to complete all sign ups and registrations.
General Admission for this event is priced at $45 per person, and includes round-trip transportation from the meeting location, via a private motor coach, and live entertainment.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

The classic Lincoln Road Italian spot, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833}, is bringing back its acclaimed “Bacco Night”—a Monday night special where all 200+ bottles on the restaurant’s La Bucca di Bacco wine list are available for 50% off. And to make sure you enjoy it to the fullest, Executive Chef Luciano Sautto has come up with a list of dishes designed to pair perfectly with the restaurant’s best vintages.
For a real taste of la dolce vita, head to Quattro Gastronomia Italiana and try the suggested wine pairings listed below:
Branzino Interno in Crosta di Sale Marino: a whole Mediterranean Sea Bass baked in salt crust, and served with grilled vegetables.
Suggested Wine Pairing: Gavi Di Gavi Black Label
Vitello Tonnato con Capperi: thinly-sliced veal with Favignana Tuna sauce and capers.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2013 Vie Di Romans 
Agnolotti Alessandrini Alla Stufato: braised beef ravioli with Piedmontese sauce.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2014 Il Bruciato Antinori
Ossobuco alla Milanese: braised veal shank with Gremolata, served with saffron risotto.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2010 Barolo Pio Cesare
Polope del Mediterraneo con Farro Legumi Pomodorini: grilled Mediterranean octopus with farro, cherry tomatoes, and lemon dressing.
Suggested Wine Pairing: 2014 Falanghina Terredora Di Paolo
“Bacco Night” at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana takes place every Monday, during dinner service only. The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday, from Noon to 11 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays, from Noon to 11:45 p.m. 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the 16^th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF®) is offering a special, limited-time-only Fifty Shades of Food promotion. With this deal, Festival fans who buy two or more tickets to Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach online using the code VDAY17 will get two surprises: two complimentary tickets to an even sexier Festival beach party, BACARDÍ On The Beach with Beats by Rev Run & DJ Ruckus, and a copy of Fifty Shades of Chicken: A Parody in a Cookbook by Clarkson Potter.
Designed to kick-off the Festival’s Miami Beach events, Barilla’s Italian Bites on the Beach will bring together 30+ chefs on Thursday, February 23, to take guests on a culinary tour of Italy. Keeping the party going, A-list ladies Valerie Bertinelli and Alex Guarnaschelli will play host; one of Australia’s most popular rock bands, Little River Band, will bring the tunes; and attendees will sip on complimentary glasses of Aperol, Campari, Cynar, Folonari, Frangelico, Heineken Light, Melini, Strongbow and more. When the bites are all gone, out comes the BACARDÍ. Just two days later, on Saturday, February 25, the Delano South Beach will set up a beachside tent to host the first-ever BACARDÍ On The Beach. At this late-night fête, partygoers will get to dance to beats by Rev Run and DJ Ruckus, while indulging in bites and beverages from 20 of South Florida’s top food spots.
Ready to buy your tickets? Hurry up, before they’re all gone. The Fifty Shades of Food promotion starts today and runs through Midnight on February 14. 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Still don’t have Super Bowl Sunday plans for tomorrow? Depending what you’re into and where you want to go, Miami has a little something for everyone.
Pick what works best for you:
For an easy Super Bowl Sunday: Brasserie Azur
Who’s ready to see a showdown?! If the game is already stressing you out, don’t let the watch party make it even worse. At Midtown’s Brasserie Azur {3252 NE 1st Avenue, Midtown; 786.800.9993}, enjoy the game with multiple large TV screens, surround sound, and most importantly, happy hour specials: like $3 draft beer, $5 craft cocktails, $5 wine, burgers, pizzettas, papas bravas, and more. These specials will run from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
For the luxury sports guru: The Lounge at The Setai
If you don’t know which team you’re rooting for, let your drink(s) decide. Tomorrow, head to The Lounge at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.520.6000} and sip on special cocktails named after the teams battling it out: the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. Inspired by the Patriot’s red, white, and blue colors, the Patriots Cooler mixes vodka, Campari, peach puree, citrus, simple syrup, and Blue Curacao. For a more Southern Flair, the appropriately named Falcon Sour mixes Bourbon, citrus, simple syrup, and grenadine, and tops it all with egg whites.
For sports fans who love good seafood: Izzy’s Fish & Oyster
If you like your sports with a side of seafood (or really, the other way around) watch the big game at Izzy’s Fish & Oyster {423 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.397.8843}. While there, choose from Izzy’s regular menu or feast on a special Super Bowl, New England-style buffet. You’ll find dishes like Smoked Fish Dip, Knuckle Sandwiches with Maine lobster, New England Oysters, Peel & Eat Shrimp, Crispy Chicken Sandwiches, Stuffed Clams, and unlimited Narragansett beer and cups of Izzy’s Game Day Punch Bowl, all for just $55 per person. This game day special will start at 5:30 p.m.
For trendy fans who like an amazing deal: Ricky’s South Beach
At Ricky’s South Beach {1222 16^th Street, Miami Beach; 305.704.3602}, football fans can celebrate Super Bowl LI with food specials like $2 American sliders, $3 regular fries, $5 nachos, and a “Beat the Clock” happy hour. Then, while you eat, watch the game the best way Miami residents can: on giant 115- and 155-inch screens. Touchdown! These game day specials will run from Noon to 5:30 a.m.
For lovers of whiskey, tequila AND football: South Pointe Tavern
SoFi’s newest hotspot, South Pointe Tavern {40 South Pointe Drive, Miami Beach; 305.763.8368} is already impressing Miamians by having the largest collection of whiskeys and tequilas on Miami Beach. And now, these same drinkers can get amped up for the tavern’s Super Bowl Sunday specials: 50% off Budweiser and Yuengling beer, $6 Gameday Sangria, and $1 Pigs in a Blanket. Still hungry? Ask for the menu—South Pointe Tavern has a famous Pastrami Reuben Sandwich that will call you back for more. These game day specials will start at 6 p.m.
For those who want to watch the game poolside: Fontainebleau Miami Beach
What’s better than a pool party?! Tomorrow morning, head to the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.538.2000} for a game day experience in your very own poolside cabana. Watch the game from the cabana, or join the masses and cheer on your favorite team from inside the Arkadia pool—a large 9 x 16 foot television will be on display right on the Arkadia pool deck. Aiding the celebration, each cabana will come with a 42-inch flat screen TV, wireless Internet, a mini refrigerator, a phone, a digital safe, and your own personal butler service. Happy Super Bowl! The cabanas will be available as early as 9 a.m. 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

The Setai, Miami Beach has become a haven for luxury lovers in the Magic City, and this year, the revered hotel is turning 80. To celebrate, it’s jazzing up its popular Sunday brunch–and like a true legend, it wants you, Magic City diners, to join in the fun.
In honor of the special anniversary, from now until the end of 2017, the luxurious Sunday Jazz Brunch at Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899} will be reduced to just $80 per person. At this weekly feast, guests will be able to indulge in Jaya’s same signature spread: a buffet of global cuisine, live jazz, and to make it extra fancy, glasses overflowing with unlimited Louis Roederer Champagne, mimosas and Bloody Mary’s.
The hotel’s enchanting ambiance aside, what makes Jaya’s brunch most special is how well the culinary team makes different styles of cuisine from all over the world. In fact, some would say that this Sunday brunch is a journey for the international palate. You can get a delicious, traditional American brunch–like omelets, a raw bar, a waffle and pancake station with every topping imaginable, and meat carving–to breads, cereals, and Thai and Chinese stations with Steam Bao, Chinese Dim Sum, Indonesian Beef Rendang, and Singaporean Lakss. There’s an Italian station with fresh pastas, cheeses, and premium Italian meats like Prosciutto di Parma, Bresaola, Speck, and Salami Toscana, right next to a table of Mediterranean favorites and a lavish dessert station. Different from other brunches, this one also has something that’s typically hard to find in the Magic City: a buffet of Indian favorites like Butter Chicken, Eggplant Masala, Cumin Potato, Basmati Rice, and more.
Of course, a fabulous menu like this wouldn’t be possible without a fabulous chef, and that’s where 
Executive Chef Mathias Gervais comes in. As a rising star in the world of fine dining, Chef Mathias, a Food Network Chopped winner in September 2015, has been impressing The Setai, Miami Beach guests since he first joined the team in 2012.
Already craving tomorrow’s brunch? We can’t blame you. Jaya at The Setai’s Sunday Jazz Brunch is available every Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

While most might think of Ocean Drive solely for its souvenir shops, cheesy bars like Wet Willie’s, and tourist trap restaurants, this iconic row of Art Deco architecture is an integral part of the South Beach experience and has some hidden gems worth discovering.
One such gem is the restaurant at the historic Avalon Hotel, which has been a mainstay on the strip for 27 years and counting. A Fish Called Avalon {700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.532.1727} is the perfect place to take out-of-towners or for a fun date night to change up the scene. The sea breeze and bustle of Ocean Drive combined with the restaurant’s own live music creates a lively and romantic atmosphere– a seat on the upper level of the patio is optimal for excellent people watching.
Service is warm and friendly here, as the staff and management are proud of the legacy and name this spot has earned itself. Appropriately named, A Fish Called Avalon specializes in seafood fare and really shines with a variety of unique dishes and flavors. Their warm bread with homemade hummus is a nice start to the meal, while sipping on a Mojito of course. Tempting appetizers like the Bang Bang Shrimp in a curry and mint yogurt sauce with cucumber pepper relish are sure to tantalize the palette. For the main event, again seafood steals the show with creative entrees and sizeable portions. The Orzo Seafood Paella for two is perfect for that romantic date night to evoke Mediterranean memories, while the Macadamia-Crusted Snapper plays with texture and bursts of flavor in the accompanying raspberry Beaujolais Beurre Blanc and spinach risotto. Delectable desserts end the evening on a sweet note, and there’s even a late night Greek-inspired menu available on weekends to satisfy those cravings for Spanakopita and grape leaves.
No matter the occasion, A Fish Called Avalon is truly a classic fine dining establishment amidst the rest that offers the quintessential South Beach experience.
By Chelsea Olson | Contributor