One of many reasons why the Faena Miami Beach is viewed as Miami’s most glamorous hotel, PAO by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5600}, a modern Asian concept, has taken the city’s foodies by storm. Known for its Filipino cuisine with Spanish and Japanese influences—and of course, the $6M golf-leafed Damien Hirst unicorn sculpture that’s hard to miss—this unbelievable spot is as magical as it is delicious. And thanks to some stellar summer programming, guests can experience it for themselves with fabulous chef-driven events set to take place over the next few months.
Here are just a couple nights you can get excited about at PAO by Paul Qui:
“The Perfect Bite” Omakase Dining Experience
When you can get it: Tuesday, June 20, at 7 p.m.

This June, PAO’s Executive Chef, the James Beard Award–winning Paul Qui, is bringing a new concept to the Magic City: Omakases. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of letting go and trusting the chef to choose your order, this intimate communal dinner will feature Chef Qui’s “perfect bites”—a series of unpredictable flavor combinations that foodies across the globe have come to love. The second Omasake dinner of the year, this special June 20 dinner will center around Paul Qui’s passion for and training in Japanese cuisine. Couple that with the restaurant’s over-the-top Faena Miami Beach setting, and guests can expect extravagant dishes, bold Japanese flavors, and as with anything Chef Qui whips up, pure perfection. Tickets to this dinner are priced at $95+ per person, excluding tax and gratuity charges, and can be purchased here. Reservations are recommended, as seating is limited.
Chef Collective with Daniel Burns
When you can get it: Tuesday, July 25, at 7 p.m.
As part of its Chef Collective Series, a gastronomic event where chefs from around the world join together to create an innovative menu of unpredictable flavors, PAO by Paul Qui is excited to welcome renowned chef Daniel Burns to the kitchen. Known for being the chef behind Luksus, a seasonal tasting menu restaurant in New York City that’s recognized as being the first Michelin-star spot that only pairs its food with beer, Chef Burns now helms the Brooklyn-based tørst, a craft beer bar. During this magical evening, Burns will join Executive Chef Paul Qui at PAO as the two take guests on an epicurean adventure. Tickets to this dinner are priced at $95+ per person, excluding tax and gratuity charges, and can be purchased here. Reservations are recommended, as seating is limited.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Everyone’s favorite Southern restaurant, Yardbird Southern Table & Bar {1600 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.538.5220}, is impressing us once again—and this time, it’s with a new seasonal menu that our taste buds can’t help but crave. Combining light, flavorful salads just perfect for summer with hearty dishes that vacation begs you to indulge in, here are the new menu items fans of Yardbird are already lining up to try:
Country Sausage Toast with a smoky, poached-farm egg, frisée, and bacon chimichurri
Herb Garden Caesar with herb Caesar dressing, egg whites, red onion, dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and crispy capers.
Grilled Chicken BLT with fried green tomato, bacon, and lettuce on Texas toast
Carolina Q Tuna with seared ahi tuna, cornmeal-dusted okra, preacher’s ham, and scallions
Peppered Gnocchi Pot Pie with wild mushrooms, sage, and Mama’s biscuit crust
Crispy Brussels with spiced honey
Collard Greens with cider vinegar and “cracklins”
Cool Ranch Cucumber Salad with baby tomatoes and pickled sunburst onions
Southern Slaw with crispy chicken skins
Bread & Butter Fried Okra with buttermilk ranch dressing 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

On Friday, May 12, over 1,000 philanthropic foodies gathered at Wynwood’s Soho Studios to eat for a cause at South Florida’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry®. This 29^th-annual tasting event, which was hosted by Y100’s Nick Pena and CBS4’s EMMY Award-winning reporter Lisa Petrillo, showcased food and drinks by top South Florida chefs, sommeliers and mixologists—and in the process, secured over 680K meals for children in need.
Helmed by Chef Chairman Timon Balloo of SUGARCANE raw bar & grill and Honorary Chef Chair Allen Susser, more than 60 of Miami and Broward County’s best chefs participated in the event. Some of our favorites included:
Glass & Vine {2820 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove; 305.200.5268}
Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}
db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}
Malibu Farm {4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.0000}
Market at EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600}
Ortanique on the Mile {278 Miracle Mile, Coral Gabels; 305.446.7710}
PAO by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5600}
R House Wynwood {2727 NW 2 Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201}
The Sarsaparilla Club {1801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.341.1400}
Scarpetta {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}
Zest {200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Miami; 305.374.ZEST}
And in true Florida fashion, this charity event was nothing if not a party. While nationally-acclaimed music group, The Strumbellas, entertained guests at the event itself, the deliciously-eclectic R House threw an official after party that went until late into the night. Here, R House Chef/Owner Rocco Carulli whipped up delectable bites from his well-loved menu, while Elia Gourmet, Big Easy Winebar & Grill {701 South Miami Avenue, Suite 33, Brickell; 786.814.5955}, and SORSO by Scott Conant {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412} served tasty bites and drinks of their own.
No Kid Hungry and its partners have connected kids struggling with hunger with about 500 million meals. This year, South Florida’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry raised enough money to help feed children in need with more than 680,000 healthy meals. Local partners included Breakthru Beverage, Mike Sipe Entertainment, CBS4, Events on the Loose, iHeartMedia, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Loews Miami Beach Hotel, VOSS Artesian Water from Norway, Panache Classic Event & Tent Rentals, Social Thinking, Williams Sonoma, and Brustman Carrino Public Relations, and local beneficiaries include Florida Impact, FLIPANY, and Feeding South Florida. To learn more about South Florida’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry®, click here.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Looking for a new way to spice up your summer? Fontainebleau Miami Beach {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.535.3283} has just what you need. Special for the summer months, this hotel has plenty of laid-back evening events that are sure to pique your palate.
Monday
Bubble Battles, La Côte
When it is: 5 – 7 p.m.
What you’re getting: Start the week on a good note—with Monday bubbles! You’ll get a selection of Champagne, Prosecco, cava, sekt, and sparkling wine tastings to enjoy outdoors, for just $25+ per person.
Wednesday
Mixology Class, Pizza Burger
When it is: 5 – 6 p.m.
What you’re getting: For just $25 per person, join the Fontainebleau’s talented team of mixologists as you learn the art of making craft cocktails.
Passionate for Rosé, La Côte
When it is: 5 – 7 p.m.
What you’re getting: “Cheers” to summer as you learn how to make the famous La Côte Rosé sangria… and bring a taste of it home with you. This class is priced at $25+ per person.
Thursday
Bottle & Bottega Paint Night, La Côte
When it is: 5 – 7 p.m.
What you’re getting: Artists of all skill levels can unleash their creative side with painting, rosé, and unbeatable views of the Atlantic Ocean. All supplies, step-by-step instruction, and light bites will be included in the class—which is priced at just $50+ per person. 
Cigar Social, StripSteak by Michael Mina
When it is: 5 – 7 p.m.
What you’re getting: Head to the terrace of StripSteak by Michael Mina and you can sip on one serving of Zafra Rum and puff a Robert Caldwell cigar, all for just $25+ per person.
Every Night of the Week
Social Hour, Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina
When it is: 5 – 7 p.m.
What you’re getting: At this one-of-a-kind pizza and burger joint, get specially-priced cocktails, half-priced beer on tap, and discounted sparkling, white, and red wines.
Sunset Social Hour, Sorso by Scott Conant at Scarpetta
When it is: 6 – 7 p.m.
What you’re getting: Setting up shop in Scarpetta’s lounge and terrace, this pop-up cocktail lab and infusion bar has brought a cold-drip cocktail tower to Miami Beach. During Sunset Social Hour, get a taste of these carefully-crafted drinks and others for $12 (normally $17), as well as snacks and light bites for $6-$18 each.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

It’s all Purple Rain on Collins Avenue, when—from Thursday, June 8 to Sunday, June 11—Shelborne South Beach will host a weekend-long tribute to the one and only Prince. Since early Spring 2017, The Cabaret South Beach has been delighting guests with live musical acts at the hotel’s lobby bar, Drawing Room… and now, this same group will celebrate one of the music world’s finest.
For one weekend only, hotel guests and locals alike can sing and sway as The Cabaret’s talented cast performs some of Prince’s top hits: like “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” “Do Me Baby,” “Kiss,” and “I Would Die for You.” And while they sing, they’ll also serve; the cast doubles as both performers and bartenders. So what can you order? Hotel guests and local residents alike sip and savor food and drink from the happy hour menu at The Sarsaparilla Club {1801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.341.1400}, the brainchild of Top Chef alums Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, which includes favorites like the restaurant’s famous Tar’d N’ Feathered fried chicken wings, Scallion Pancake Quesadilla, House Made Ricotta Toast, Beet & Goat Cheese Dumplings, and more.
This event will run from Thursday, June 8 to Sunday, June 11, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m each night. Entry is free and open to the public.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

June is just around the corner—and for us Miamians, that means the 10th-annual Coral Gables Restaurant Week (CGRW) presented by DON JULIO® will be here before we know it. Running from June 5-25, 2017, this exciting week of food and wine celebrates the best of Coral Gables’ restaurant scene, and it all kicks off with Taste of the Gables on June 1.
Taking place at the Coral Gables Museum, Taste of the Gables invites Miami’s finest foodies to come together and indulge in cocktails by DON JULIO® tequila and KETEL ONE® vodka, and  bites by neighborhood Coral Gables restaurants, like Bulla Gastrobar {5335 NW 87th Avenue C102, Doral; 305.260.6543}, Cibo Wine Bar Coral Gables {45 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.442.4925}, and Swine Southern Table & Bar {2415 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 786.360.6433}, to name a few. Adding to the night, there will be live entertainment and a VIP lounge area, and at the very end, the “2017 Best Taste of the Gables” will be announced. For the latter, after a blind tasting, one dish from the event will be named the winner by three judges: Carla Torres of Ocean Drive Magazine, Olee Fowler of Eater Miami, and Kiko Suarez of NBC’s Que Rico Con Kiko.
Following Taste of the Gables, the three-week culinary adventure that is Coral Gables Restaurant Week will begin. And with it, hungry patrons will be able to get three-course, prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus starting at just $13 per person. Count us in!
Taste of the Gables will take place on June 1, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Coral Gables Museum.  This is a 21+ event. General Admission tickets are priced at $45 per person and VIP tickets are priced at $65 per person. All tickets can be purchased here.

For more information about Coral Gables Restaurant Week, click here.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Everyone loves Faena Miami Beach, and for good reason. (Have you seen the décor? It’s stunning!) It has its own theater, is part of an entire arts complex, sits right on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, and has a score of multi-billion-dollar artwork—like gold-plated woolly mammoth statues and unicorns, for example—that will take your breath away. And looks aside, it has some pretty amazing restaurants, too.
As Miami gets hotter, celebrate summer in the Magic City with weekly specials at Faena’s two main restaurants, Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach;786.655.5600} and PAO by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5600}, and let the good times roll. We’ve included a few of our favorites, below. 
SUMMER TASTING MENU
When you can get it: Sunday through Wednesday, starting at 7 p.m.
With this special, four-course tasting menu, guests can nosh on both signature Pao by Paul Qui menu items and new soon-to-be favorites. Octopus Aguachile and Chef Paul Qui’s famous East Side King Fried Chicken are definitely on the menu, as are newer plates that are perfect for summer: like fresh Florida Snapper and Tender Aged Beef. This menu is priced at $55 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations can be made here or by calling 786.655.5600.  
SUNDAY ASADO BRUNCH
When you can get it: Every Sunday, from Noon to 4 p.m.
Every Sunday, guests can head to Los Fuegos’ Sunday Asado Brunch for a real taste of South American live-fire cooking. A major social event in Argentina, “asado”—which translates to “open-fire barbecue”—is typically when friends and family gather around traditional, family-style dishes and spend an afternoon catching up. Faena’s Sunday brunch version is just as cherished, but in true Faena fashion, it’s a little more extravagant. Spread across four courses, it invites guests to feast on plates like Empanadas stuffed with hand-cut prime filet mignon and llajua sauce, Pink Grapefruit Salad with avocado and provoleta, Chorizo with garlic aioli and potato salad, Dulce de Leche Pancakes, and more. Brunch is priced at $75 per adult and $35 per child. Bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary’s are available for an additional $25 per adult.
SUNDOWN SOCIAL AT PAO BY PAUL QUI
Sunday through Wednesday, from 6 – 8 p.m.
Ready for some happy hour? Pao by Paul Qui is just the spot. During the “Sundown Social,” guests can munch on Chef Paul Qui’s “perfect bites,” like East Side King Fried Chicken and specially-priced oysters, caviar, and “pulutan” Filipino finger foods. And of course, to wash it all down, get discounted cocktails, beer, and wine. For more information about Sundown Social, call 786.655.5600.
Happy Dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

On Sunday, June 11, internationally-acclaimed Chef Gastón Acurio is coming to the Magic City! And when he does, he’s kicking-off a three-city summer tour to raise money for Pachacútec Culinary Institute—his Peruvian-based culinary school for underprivileged students in Pachacútec, Peru. Founded by the esteemed chef in 2007, this school provides classes about the history of Peruvian cuisine, kitchen techniques, nutrition, and the English language, and is led by some of the great masters of Peruvian cuisine.
Taking place on Brickell Beach at Mandarin Oriental, Miami {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell Key; 305.913.8358}, Cebiche Gang with Gastón Acurio will bring together the talents of Miami’s most renowned chefs. On that list? Chef Diego Oka of La Mar by Gaston Acurio (the man believed to be Acurio’s protégé!), Chef Brad Kilgore of ALTER and Brava, Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli of Eating House and Glass and Vine, Chef Phuket “Cake” Thongsodchaveondee of Cake Thai, and Pastry Chef Antonio Bachour of St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. Sure to be a delicious evening, this Cebiche Gang event will feature different types of cebiche, Peruvian-style BBQ, cocktails, music, and more.
Cebiche Gang with Gastón Acurio will start with cocktails at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 11. Tickets for the event are priced at $120 per person and can be purchased here.
Happy Dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800} is at it again!
On Wednesday, May 31, head to this haute French-American spot for a Sardinia-inspired evening led by Sommelier Haunah Klein and Executive Chef Clark Bowen. Sure to be a night your taste buds won’t forget, this special celebration of food and wine invites diners to sit back as Klein takes them on a journey through the flavors of Sardinia; a journey centered around Sardinian wines. Adding to the experience, Chef Bowen will pair each vino with a three-course menu of Mediterranean fare—like Zuppa Gallurese with clams, shrimp, and artichoke—and an expert Banville Wine Merchant will be on hand to lead guests through a tasting of The Azienda Agricola Pala’s exotic vintages.
Intrigued? So are we. This evening will start with a wine reception and light appetizers at 7 p.m., followed by a three-course dinner in the main dining room at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $65 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, and can be purchased here.
Happy Dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor