We’re about to say goodbye to 2017… so let’s do it in style! Looking for a festive way to welcome the new year? Read below to find out where to go.
Pizza, Burgers, and More
Where: Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina
Have a laid-back, family-style NYE this year at Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4636}. What can you look forward to? The restaurant will offer a three-course, prix-fixe dinner with plates like Classic Caesar, Shrimp Cocktail, Meatball, Pork Belly B.L.T., Calamari, Rossini Burger with black truffle and Hudson Valley foie gras, Shrimp N’ Grits, Salmon and Farro Risotto, Wagyu Hanger Steak, Truffle Chicken Pot Pie, Whoopie Pie, Key Lime Tart, Champagne Raspberry Mousse, and more. The menu will be available on New Year’s Eve, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is priced at $75 per person. The restaurant’s regular a la carte menu will be available for lunch, from Noon to 5 p.m.
A Traditional Steakhouse Experience
Where: StripSteak by Michael Mina
Want to get a little fancy for NYE? Head to one of Miami’s best steakhouses: StripSteak by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4780}. Here, you’ll get one of two prix-fixe menus available in two seatings. During the first seating, indulge in a three-course menu of plates like Prime Steak Tartare, Rhode Island Sea Scallops, Foie Gras Torchon, Scottish Salmon, Alaskan Halibut, Filet Mignon, Gallus Braun Chicken, and desserts like a Black Forest Bar with chocolate mousse or Champagne Flan with roasted pineapple and a coconut crunch. During the second seating, dine on a four-course feast of all that and more: like White Truffle Risotto with carnaroli rice and 24-month reggiano, or an Alaskan duet of Halibut and King Crab with choron, Jumbo asparagus, and steelhead roe. The first seating is available at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. It is priced at $150 per person. The second seating is available at 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10 p.m. It is priced at $295 per person.
An Italian NYE
Where: Scarpetta
Much like StripSteak by Michael Mina, Scott Conant’s Scarpetta {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4660} will offer two dinner seatings this New Year’s Eve. During the first seating, expect a three-course menu with plates like Burrata, Braised Short Ribs of Beef, Yellowtail Crudo, Filet of Beef, Seabass, Pici with wild mushrooms and truffle sabayon, Tagliatelle with Maine lobster, a Chocolate Tart with passionfruit and banana, and more. The second seating will include a five-course prix-fixe menu with dishes like Porcini Brodo with truffata raviolo, Pan Seared Scallop, Veal Carpaccio with tonnato and crispy capers, White Truffle Tagliatelle with butter and parmesan, Duck and Foie Gras Ravioli, and more. The first seating is available at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. It is priced at $150 per person. The second seating is available at 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10 p.m. It is priced at $295 per person.
A Night in France
Where: Palme d’Or at The Biltmore
Want a French feast fit for a king? Look no further than Palme d’Or at The Biltmore {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3189}. Start with an amuse bouche and move on to a four-course meal, cocktails, and dessert that includes plates like linguini pasta with black truffle, seared branzino, A5+ Japanese Kobe Beef Tenderloin, Brie de Meaux with dry fruits and mascarpone, and raspberry sorbet. This meal is priced at $185 per person. 
Happy Chinese New Year!
Where: Hakkasan
Head to Fontainebleau’s award-winning, modern Chinese restaurant, Hakkasan {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.276.1388}, and celebrate NYE with your choice of a four-course, prix-fixe or a later five-course, prix-fixe menu. For the first seating, the feast will include Crispy Roasted Duck with caviar and lychee sauce, Steamed Golden Leaf Har Gau, Pan-fried Scallops Bacon Roll, Stir-Fried Spiny Lobster, Charcoal Grill Chilean Sea Bass, Wok-Fried Wagyu Beef, and Champagne ‘Rocher’ with roasted strawberry, champagne mousse, and hazelnut. For the second seating, expect Crispy Foie Gras with venison puff, Traditional Peking Duck with Osetra Caviar, Abalone Fried Rice with sausage in lotus leaf, a Chocolate Cake with confit citrus and ginger ice cream, and more. The first seating is available at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. It is priced at $150 per person. The second seating is available at 8:30 p.m., 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10 p.m. It is priced at $295 per person.
Six Celebratory Courses
Where: The Strand Bar & Grill
For a NYE filled with thoughtful new American fare, look no further than The Strand Bar & Grill {6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.514.7474}. This six-course feast will include Caviar Pie, Heirloom Beets with mesclun greens and truffle vinaigrette, Octopus Carpaccio with seasonal citrus and fennel, Corn Agnolotti with lobster and carrot, Braised Short Rib with white fruits and a foie gras mousse, and a Chocolate Torte with passion mango sorbet. If you don’t want to indulge that much, opt for the three-course option with a select few of those favorites. Both dinners are available on New Year’s Eve. The six-course menu is priced at $98 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $55. The three-course option is priced at $60 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $40 per person. Reduced valet parking is available for $10.
A Taste of Brazil
Where: Coco Bambu
Ring in 2018 with a Brazilian-themed New Year’s Eve Dinner at Coco Bambu {955 Alton Road, Miami Beach; 786.348.0770}. There will be two dinner seatings, a performance by The Voice Brazil contestant and  DJ Thais Moreira, and food and drink vouchers to last diners all night long. When the meal is over, it doesn’t mean the party has to be—at 2 a.m., dance on over to Five Star New Year’s Eve, on Watson Island, where there will be a premium, full-service open bar all night long. The first seating starts at 5:30 p.m. It is priced at $100 per person. The second seating starts at 9 p.m. It is priced at $200 per person.
Dinner with a Neighborhood Feel
Where: Sakura 736
Come visit the new kid in town: Sakura 736 {736 1 Street, Miami Beach; 786.607.0199}. On New Year’s Eve, this Nikkei-inspired restaurant will serve a five-course “omakase” menu of Alaskan King Crab, Octopus, Ossobuco, and more, all paired with Perrier Jouet Champagne. Happy hour starts at 6 p.m. and the dinner seating is at 9 p.m. This dinner is priced at $150 per person. Reservations are recommended.
The Golden Villa Azur Party
Where: Villa Azur
The roaring 20s are back! Celebrate NYE at Villa Azur {309 23 Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8688}, where partygoers can dine and dance their way into 2018 with a burlesque show, fire breathers, aerialists, jugglers, fire dancers, champagne parades, live entertainment, and two exclusive dinner seatings—one four-course and one five-course menu. The first seating includes a class of Ruinart Blanc de Blanc champagne, while the second includes Dom Perignon Rosé or Brut. There are three packages available for the second seating: Ruby, which has a five-course menu with a bottle of Cristal Brut for four people; Sapphire, which has a five-course menu with a bottle of Dom Perignon Brut for four people; or Diamond, which has a five-course menu with a bottle of Dom Perignon Rosé for four people. The first seating can be scheduled between 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. It is priced at $200 per person, with an optional “open bar package” from 9 p.m. to Midnight for just $90 per person. A $99 kids menu will be available until 9:30 p.m. The Ruby package is priced at $500 per person. The Sapphire package is priced at $600 per person. The Diamond package is priced at $800 per person.
An Asian Night Bazaar
Where: Jaya at The Setai
On New Year’s Eve, Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899} will transform into a special “Asian Night Bazaar,” complete with a cocktail reception, a five-course dinner, and an all-night party to ring in 2018. The party will take place in the hotel’s famed courtyard, and will include beats by DJ Christophe Lacroix, glasses overflowing with champagne, and plenty of surprises. Family seating starts at 6 p.m. It is priced at $350 per adult and $175 per child, ages 5-12. Asian Night Bazaar and dinner seating starts at 8 p.m. It is priced at $350 per adult. The Asian Night Bazaar (with bar service only!) starts at 11 p.m. Courtyard pod reservations can be made with a $10,000 minimum. Entrance is free after 11 p.m.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

For me, Nobu {4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.3232} has always been the epicenter of coolness, beautiful people, and amazing food. A glimmering culinary destination worth aspiring for. What’s amazing is that, with a decade of changing tastes, Nobu still occupies that same idea in my mind. There is something undeniably exhilarating about the entire dining experience. It’s a concept that is difficult to describe, but it’s a feeling that you instantly recognize when you see it. When I’ve dined at their various locations, I almost feel like I’ve wandered into the coolest party in the city and I don’t want to leave.
The story of Chef Nobu is remarkable; an immense talent who cultivated his years of experience as a chef in Tokyo and around the world to build an empire that spans the globe and has collected Michelin stars and universal acclaim. However, the beauty of the experience lies in never feeling that you’re dining in a food empire, rather each restaurant is tailored to the city and tastes that it inhabits.
Perhaps the best example of this aesthetic is Nobu Miami. Since starting over 16 years ago, it is an institution that is largely responsible for transforming the entire food ethos of the city. It allowed Miami to completely reimagine what was possible in fine dining, in relation to service, presentation, and quality. Now located in the Nobu Hotel Miami, the restaurant continues to delight and the chef braintrust they’ve cultivated is looking to lead the future of the city’s dining scene.
We all know that a restaurant can’t merely get by on reputation and memory alone. In order to keep satisfying the lofty expectations of diners and exceeding them, a restaurant must always be innovating. Nobu Miami has been able to achieve this by serving a mix of the classics that made foodies fall in love with the menu originally, as well as serving a rotating mix of dishes that are as creative as they are satisfying. Much of this has to be attributed to the incredible talents of Chef Thomas Buckley, who now is the corporate executive chef of Nobu restaurants around the world. When I spoke with him he was warm and down to earth, as often is the case with exquisitely talented people with nothing to prove, and explained in a delightful British accent why he chooses to live in Miami.
“It’s a feeling of being comfortable when you have that feeling of the salt air. When I was landlocked I missed it. Coming to Miami, being by the ocean felt like home again. I’ve always been seafood oriented in my cooking. Where I grew up in England was a fishing town. I’ve always had a liking for the North Sea and the fish that come out of there. I’ve always been around a lot of seafood.” He goes on to explain that he had several choices of where to set up shop but Miami seemed to be the perfect location for what he wanted to accomplish.
Chef Buckley described the happy coincidence that brought him to Nobu. He had been working for free at the now closed, three-star Michelin molecular gastronomy mecca El Bulli in Spain and decided to take a paying job in Paris. When Chef Buckley was paid with a check rather than cash, he returned to London to set up a bank account and ended up taking a job at Nobu London. It’s one of those incredible strokes of serendipity, a life-changing moment that is almost always unexpected. And in Miami, he was able to find a city that was craving the level of expertly made food that had garnered such international acclaim.
Chef Buckley told me the role that Nobu has played in innovating the city’s dining culture. “When I came to Miami it was still a party town in terms of the restaurants. They would play loud music, and as you would be finishing your meal, the dining space would begin to transform into a nightclub. There really wasn’t much here. So when we opened, we transformed the scene in Miami. We had to educate the diners as well; the sushi rolls in Miami were closer to pancakes. But over the years we’ve seen such amazing changes and new neighborhoods. The explosion of local talent, some of whom went through Nobu, has made me feel so great about this city.”

Cultivating this local talent has vaulted a smaller city to international recognition and a bright future. The direction in Miami seems to also point to move away from the white tablecloth restaurants to a more casual set up that Nobu has spearheaded. “That informal dining trend is going to continue. You’re seeing a move away from these 20-course tasting menus to something that is more comfortable for the diner. It’s the past recreating itself. A lot of chefs are going back to cooking with wood and charcoal. I think that’s what people want. The younger generation wants good quality and a memorable experience.”
Part of the innovation that Chef Buckley is bringing to some of the locations around the world are teppan tables. In Miami, he’s added a single table to create a one of a kind meal. “It’s an exclusive, memorable experience for the guests. It’s a personal interaction with the chef which is cool. It allows me to create a unique experience, with various menus like a white truffle menu or a wagyu tasting. We utilize various techniques that are usually not associated with a teppan table, like quick smoking, desserts, baking with salt or a steamed custard, all on the teppan table. We bring a lot of higher end techniques to something that people usually associate with Benihana.” This is a menu that is so much more than the fried rice you may have grown up eating from these tables. The level of innovation coming from a flat grill is almost jaw-dropping. Fortunately the unforgettable experience of the teppan can be reserved for private parties, which only adds to the sophisticated private party and off site options Nobu Miami already provides.
I ask the chef after opening restaurants all over the world, what makes Miami so special. “I travel all over the world, and what is most important in each city is to listen to what the diners in the city want. Miami is still evolving but I’m so excited to have been able to grow with this city and innovate for the future. I’m looking forward to see where the food scene is heading.” Based on the level of food that Nobu Miami is turning out nightly, they’re well on the way to delighting and shaping what people expect from a restaurant for another 16 years.
Sidebar: NOBU Miami
We were able to catch up with Yoshiko, who is Chef Nobu’s daughter and a wonderfully talented artist. Her design for the sake bottles graces our cover. Her inspiration for the design was actually her dad, and if you look closely at the design you can see an image of Chef Nobu cutting a fish.
What inspires you as an artist?
Family and what makes them happy!
Do you believe cooking is a form of art, and if so why?
Absolutely. It’s edible art. The final piece is inspired by something and it can BE inspiring. The whole thing is an experience—it’s like theatre.
Tell us about how you designed this label. How does it speak to the ‘Nobu’ family of restaurants and how does it represent what they’ve accomplished?
I designed this label because the sake master wanted to express a newer, fresher side of sake. This sake can be paired with food, as wine can, and the opportunity is endless. I wanted to show the connection between the Nobu family and the Hokusetsu family, and how side by side we always are.
By Peter Gietl | Managing Editor
PHOTOS BY ALESSA DELGADO

It’s Christmas in Miami! Read below for 10 ways to celebrate the holiday (read as: eat and drink) in style.
BLT Steak
Go to BLT Steak {1610 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.605.0819} on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and get a three-course, prix-fixe menu of holiday dishes created by Chef Carlos Torres. On the menu? Look out for appetizers like Stracciatella & Hearts of Palm Salad or Calamari and Octopus Escabeche, followed by entrées like Grilled Colorado Lamb Chops with a pistachio mint mojo or Roasted Lobster Aji Amarillo and Catalan spinach. Sides will be served family-style, and will include plates like Root Vegetable Melange, Sweet Potato and Shiitake Mash, and BBQ Corn. For dessert, end the holiday on a sweet note with either Chocolate Buche de Noel with chocolate pearls and dulce de leche, or Mango Pavlova decorated with passion fruit and pomegranate seeds. Merry Christmas, indeed! This meal is available from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is priced at $80 per person.
MR CHOW
Looking for something different this Christmas? Look no further than MR CHOW {2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.1695}. This iconic Beijing restaurant will offer a semi-prix-fixe menu of signature dishes served family-style, like Glazed Prawns with Walnuts, Chicken Satay, Little Dragon Soup Dumplings, seasonal cocktails, and glasses overflowing with champagne. This dinner is available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, during normal operating hours. It is priced at $66 per person.
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
On Christmas Eve, head to Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5610} for either its regular Sunday Asado menu (at lunch!) or a special tasting menu for dinner. For dinner, expect to find a limited a la carte menu along with a tasting menu of holiday-inspired dishes, like: Florida Stone Crab “Milanesa,” Wood Oven Gnocchi Souffle, Slow Cook Ribeye, and for dessert, Roasted Pineapple with Illanka chocolate Yule Log and coconut cream. Then, on Christmas Day, come back for a special holiday asado menu for lunch and the restaurant’s regular a la carte menu for dinner. The special tasting menu is available on Christmas Eve only, and is priced at $125 per person. The holiday asado lunch is available on Christmas Day during normal lunch hours. It is priced at $95.
Fontana at The Biltmore
This Christmas Eve, celebrate with a four-course, prix-fixe Italian feast at Fontana at The Biltmore {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.445.1926}. Start with a first course of Il Carpaccio de Bisonte with a white truffle citronette or La Coda Brasata, braised oxtail with Parmigiano reggiano polenta, and move on to second course plates like La Lasagnetta Rustica or Il Raviolo alla Parmigiana. For a third course, choose the roasted double-cut, coffee-crusted Australian lamb chops or the Chilean seabass, and finish with a sweet ending: like a vanilla dome with mixed berries and vanilla gelato. This menu is available on Christmas Eve only. It is priced at $98 per person.  
Pao by Paul Qui
Want to celebrate Christmas the Asian way? Head to Pao by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5600}, at Faena Miami Beach, for a limited a la carte menu and a special, prix-fixe tasting menu. Prix fixe menu items include: Toro, Rabbit Adobo, Milk Crusted Fluke, Lechon, Aged Peking Duck, and for dessert, a Frozen Tainori Chocolate Yule Log. This dinner is available on Christmas Day. It is priced at $125 per person.
Lobster Bar Sea Grille
This Christmas Eve, let Lobster Bar Sea Grille {404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.377.2675} do all the work. Sitting right in South of Fifth, this sea-inspired restaurant will offer a three-course, pre-fixe “Celebration Menu” with plates like Lobster Stuffed Lobster, Pristine Whole European Fish, Filet Mignon, King Crab, and more. This dinner is available on Christmas Eve. It is priced at $46 per person.
Market at EDITION
Dine at Market at EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600} on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and you’ll get an Italian market-inspired feast of Butternut Squash Soup, Lamb Chop, Oysters, Snow Crab, Crispy Spiced French Toast, Lobster Eggs Benedict, and a Yule Log with Candy Cane Ice Cream or Maple Pecan Pie for dessert. Sunday Brunch is available on Christmas Eve, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is priced at $68 per person. An a la carte dinner is available on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Strand Bar & Grill
The Strand Bar & Grill {6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.514.7474}, which opened just this past November at Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, serves up Executive Chef Stephen Ullrich’s seasonal, ingredient-driven menu of carefully-considered new American fare. On both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, get a special three-course menu that includes plates like Chestnut Soup with Black Truffle, Belgian Endive Salad, Gnocchi with leeks and caviar, Venison with red cabbage and root vegetables, Duck with carrot-foie gras puree, Pecan Pie Bread Pudding with bourbon vanilla ice cream and pecan brittle, and more. This dinner is available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, during normal operating hours. It is priced at $89 per person, and comes with an optional wine pairing for an additional $39 per person. Reduced valet parking is available for $10.
Sakura 736
Celebrate “Noche Buena” on December 24 at Sakura 736 {736 1 Street, Miami Beach; 786.607.0199}. In honor of this special day, this Japanese-Peruvian restaurant will serve a traditional, four-course Peruvian feast, complete with a Christmas Turkey and all the trimmings, as well as the restaurant’s a la carte menu. This feast will be available on Christmas Eve only. It is priced at $75 per person.
Jaya at The Setai
Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899} has two options for you to celebrate Christmas this year, and it involves both a Holiday Champagne Brunch and a dinner. The Holiday Champagne Brunch will include exclusive holiday dishes (like Gammon Ham and Free-Range Organic Turkey!), as well as an extensive array of fresh seafood, food stations for kids, Jaya’s signature Indian-Asian inspired cuisine, endless mimosas, desserts, glasses overflowing with Roederer Champagne, a live jazz band, and special appearances by Mrs. Claus on Christmas Eve and Santa Claus on Christmas Day. At night, come back either day for a five-course feast! In addition to signature Jaya at The Setai dishes, this feast will include a prix-fixe menu of special dishes like Butternut Squash Risotto, Wagyu Filet Mignon, or Christmas Turkey. The Holiday Champagne Brunch will be available on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is priced at $125 per adult and $63 per child, ages 5 to 12. The dinner will be available on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. It is priced at $110 per adult and $55 per child, ages 5 to 12.

 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Craving a lunch that won’t add to your holiday weight gain? Check out the Miami must-try spots below. (We even tell you what to eat while you’re there.)
The Strand Bar & Grill
Open for lunch daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Helmed by Executive Chef Stephen Ullrich, most recently from Tom Colicchio’s Beachcraft, The Strand Bar & Grill {6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.514.7474} sits in the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. When you go, expect a seasonal, ingredient-driven menu of thoughtful, New American fare that includes dishes made with South Florida’s organic community in mind. Ingredients are sourced from local boutique farms, and that includes the cocktails: like the A Beet Up Mule, which is made with beet-infused Veev Acai and fresh lime juice.
What you’re getting: Kampachi Crudo with asparagus, yuzu, radish and rice crisp
The Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach
Open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Overlooking Biscayne Bay, The Lido Bayside Grill {40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.245.0880} is a Mediterranean spot perfect for any meal of the day (including happy hour!). The vibes are relaxed, the views are beautiful, and the food is inspired by the Mediterranean diet, with everything from green juice and fruit smoothies, to Avocado Toast, Roasted Veggie Buddha, Grilled Fish Tacos, and even Mini Cheeseburgers made with organic beef.
What you’re getting: chilled Living “Lasagna” with squash, cashew cheese, nuts, and vegetarian sausage
Artisan Beach House
Open for lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sitting in the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Artisan Beach House {10295 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour; 305.455.5460} is an idyllic oceanfront restaurant with globally-inspired plates filled with what’s fresh and local. One way to see this? In its fabulous (albeit, small) salad list; there’s everything from a Charred Kale or Local Greens salad, to a Florida Heirloom Tomatoes salad with local burrata.
What you’re getting: Smashed Beets salad with greens, pumpkin seeds, Humboldt fog, pumpernickel, and white balsamic
Sawa Restaurant & Bar
Open for lunch daily starting at 11 a.m.
As if the Shops of Merrick Park weren’t attractive enough, Sawa Restaurant & Lounge {360 San Lorenzo Avenue #1500, Coral Gables; 305.447.6555} gives you another reason to go there. Named after a word that means “togetherness” in Arabic and “harmony” in Japanese, this restaurant fuses Mediterranean and Japanese ingredients and cooking styles. The result? An eclectic menu of meat, vegetarian, and seafood tapas, kebabs, sushi, salads, soup, and more in a chic, lounge-like atmosphere.
What you’re getting: an Ahi Tuna Burger with avocado, arugula, and aji amarillo

Oishi Thai
Open for lunch daily starting at Noon
Sushi is one of the healthiest meals around, and the team at Oishi Thai {14841 Biscayne Boulevard, North Miami Beach; 305.947.4338} makes some of the best in Miami. The brainchild of self-taught chef Piyarat Potha Arreeratn, or “Chef Bee,” of NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005} and Khong River House, Oishi Thai serves simple sushi dishes that let the quality of the fish and Chef Bee’s talent speak for themselves.
What you’re getting: a Daimyo Maki Roll with tuna, hamachi, salmon, scallions, asparagus, avocado, I/O masago, and sesame seeds
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

With the triumphant return of Nobu {4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.3232} to Miami Beach in late 2016, Magic City diners once again got to experience the quality, sophistication and top-of-the-line sushi of famed Chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa’s namesake restaurants. And starting TONIGHT, the latest U.S. location of the sushi empire will also play host to the first-ever “World of Nobu” event in North America—an exclusive culinary journey with Chef Nobu himself and 40 Nobu executive chefs from around the world.
Here’s what Nobu lovers can expect to find at this inaugural, three-day Miami Beach extravaganza:
Wednesday, December 13: “Nobu Through the Decades”
During tonight’s invite-only event, Miami’s finest and visiting VIP guests will get a taste of Nobu from the very beginning—literally. This interactive dinner will start with cocktails at 7 p.m., followed by a dinner on the Nobu restaurant patio at 8 p.m. The dinner will showcase classic Nobu dishes from the beginning of the restaurant’s history all the way to today.
Thursday, December 14: “One Night Stand”
This is a one-time-only, private dining experience curated by none other than Chef Nobu and Nobu Miami’s executive chef, Chef Thomas Buckley. This ultra-luxurious dinner, which was designed for eight guests only, will take place in Nobu’s private Teppan room and include a customized sushi bar treatment, a main course, and dessert. How were those eight, extremely special guests chosen, you ask? They paid $2,000 a person to attend.
Friday, December 15: “Taste of Nobu”
For the grand finale, “Taste of Nobu” invites guests to dine for a cause. Starting at 8 p.m. at Nobu Miami, this event will bring together chefs from 38 Nobu restaurants in the U.S, the Caribbean, and Mexico, each of whom will offer a private tasting table reflecting his or her respective Nobu location. It will be an extravagant evening of canapés, sake, and champagne, and guests can bid on a silent auction with everything from items signed by Chef Nobu himself to a two-night stay at Nobu Hotel Miami Beach. Even when the event is over, the night is still young; so from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., guests can hit the after-party on Nobu Terrace, where they can enjoy late-night bites, cocktails, a DJ, and a “meet and greet” with Chef Nobu and 40 other Nobu chefs. The best part? All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. General Admission tickets are priced at $200 per person. VIP tickets are priced at $250 per person, and include early access to the event at 7 p.m.
For more information about this three-day “World of Nobu” event, or to purchase a ticket to “Taste of Nobu,” click here.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Here’s what’s going on in Miami this week:

Friday, December 15: Taste of Nobu
Starting at 8 p.m. at Nobu {4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.3232}, this indulgent event will celebrate Chef Nobu’s famed fare by bringing together chefs from Nobu locations all over the U.S, the Caribbean, and Mexico. During the night, each chef will offer a private tasting table reflecting his or her respective Nobu location. It will be an extravagant evening of canapés, sake, champagne, and a silent auction with everything from items signed by Chef Nobu himself to a two-night stay at Nobu Hotel Miami Beach. From 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., join the after-party on Nobu Terrace, where you can enjoy late-night bites, cocktails, a DJ, and a “meet and greet” with Chef Nobu and 40 other Nobu chefs. General Admission tickets are priced at $200 per person. VIP tickets are priced at $250 per person, and include early access to the event at 7 p.m. All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Every Tuesday: Lobster Tuesday
On Tuesdays, head to Cibo Wine Bar South Beach {200 South Pointe Drive, Miami Beach; 305.987.6060} for three lobster dishes, each priced at just $25. Get your fresh lobster three ways: as linguini with lobster, whole grilled lobster, or Lobster Thermidor with Vecchia-Romagna brandy cream, Tuscan kale, and blistered cherry tomatoes.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: Late Night Social Hour
Head to American English Kitchen + Bar {1900 Harrison Street, Hollywood; 954.589.0200} late on Thursdays for food and drink specials you can’t ignore. While there, get discounted bar bites like Pork Belly on Sourdough Biscuits, Charred Octopus, and Potato ‘Beignets.’ Then, wash it all down with red sangria, wine, craft beer, and specialty cocktails for just $4 to $8 apiece. Late Night Social Hour runs from 9 p.m. to close.

Every Sunday: Brunch
For a lavish Sunday Brunch, head to Lobster Bar Sea Grille {404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.377.2675}, between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and get a three-course feast for just $49 per person. The deal includes bottomless Bloody Marys, mimosas, bellinis, prosecco, and Santorinis, as well as a pre-fixe menu with plates like Parfait Santé with homemade granola, Lobster Bar Lobster Bisque au cognac, Poulet Cajun N.O. with hand-cut French fries, Whole Butter Braised Lobster “Benedict” on brioche toast, “Lobster Stuffed Lobster” with drawn butter and lemon, and more.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor