National Oysters on a Half Shell Day is coming this Friday, March 31—and here in seaside Miami, that’s something we celebrate. Here are our top five places to get oysters on a half shell this Friday:
db Bistro Moderne
Downtown Miami’s classic Daniel Boulud spot, db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}, has an oyster special you can’t refuse. Seven days a week, this spot offers an extended daily Oyster Hour, one where guests can enjoy a rotating selection of artisanal oysters for just $1 apiece. For added luxury, pair the oysters with a glass of Francois Montand Blanc de Blancs Brut, which is priced at just $9. This offer is available in the Bar & Lounge only, and takes place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
NaiYaRa
Sitting in charming Sunset Harbor, Chef Bee’s ever-popular NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005} does oysters Asian-style. Go during happy hour, and you’ll get two Kumamotos oysters with nahm jim talay sauce and crispy shallots. Happy hour at NaiYaRa takes place Monday through Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
River Seafood Oyster Bar
At this Brickell seafood spot, get Oyster Shooters with lemon-thyme vodka for $10, or take your pick of seasonal oysters on the restaurant’s everyday menu. Priced at $3 apiece, River Seafood Oyster Bar {650 S Miami Ave, Brickell; 305.530.1915} has Malpeque, Kumamoto, Little Island, Wellfleet, Peter’s Point, Island Creek Oysters and more.
Midtown Oyster Bar
Located in Midtown Miami, Midtown Oyster Bar {3301 NE 1st Avenue, Suite 103-1, Midtown Miami; 786.220.2070} has a daily selection of oysters, as well as Oysters Rockefeller. The latter of the two is a tasty dish baked with herbs, bacon, spinach, and Parmesan cheese.
Seaspice
Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}, one of Miami’s trendiest waterfront lounges, is where the city’s finest go to see and be seen. If you’re craving some oysters, hop on your yacht and sail on over—the restaurant has a daily selection of West and East Coast Oysters that are worth anchoring for.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Is there anything better than dinner and a show? With all that Miami offers, this classic date night is often overlooked. Lucky for us, the city’s own billion-dollar, over-the-top, hotel-meets-arts-complex, the Faena Miami Beach, is bringing it back… in a way that’s truly Miami, of course.
If you’re in the mood for a new kind of date night, grab your honey, head to the hotel, and start your evening with an imaginative dinner at Los Fuegos or PAO by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5600}. Different from most meat-centric menus in Miami, Los Fuegos celebrates the South American culinary art of live-fire cooking, serving up Wood Oven Empanadas filled with hand-cut Prime filet, Sturgeon Caviar Potato, and to share, Meat ‘Parrillada’ with skirt steak, bone-in ribeye, chorizo, morcilla, charred kale, and domino potato–all with the careful touch of a gaucho. Equally impressive but entirely different, PAO by Paul Qui puts an innovative, extravagant twist on Asian cuisine, teasing our palates with tastes like Unicorn with sea urchin and grilled sweet corn pudding, East Side King Fried Chicken with sweet chili sauce and roasted banana ketchup, and Crispy Fried Leche Flan with pomegranate caramel and chocolate sauce.
As for C’est Rouge!, there are two kinds of performances: those that include a Dinner Show and those that do not. Before non-Dinner Show performances of C’est Rouge!–which take place at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays, respectively–head to Los Fuegos or PAO by Paul Qui and get a three-course meal for just $100 per person, excluding tax and tip. Then, when you’re done, cap off your night with a sensual show. Putting on a show-stopping performance within the walls of the circular Faena Theater, C’est Rouge! promises talented dancers and acrobats clad in everything from Laurent Mercier to Christian Louboutin, seductive vignettes, a live septet band rocking Latin American and Jazz rhythms, a transcendent light show, and much, much more. It’s beautiful, it’s transformative, and it makes for a date night in the Magic City that is both delicious and, you know, magical.
For more information about C’est Rouge!, click here. Reservations for this pre-show dinner are required. 
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Spring is beautiful… and when done right, so is brunch. During this cheery season, combine the two with some of our favorite Sunday brunches in Miami. (Fun fact: They ALL involve mimosas.)
Sunday Champagne Brunch at The Biltmore
Everything about The Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200} is over-the-top–and we’re not complaining! At its Sunday Champagne Brunch, head to the lavish courtyard and feast on an extravagant buffet with caviar, smoked salmon, shellfish, carved meats, fresh omelets, pastas, sushi, a wall of desserts, and more. Perfect for Miami’s finest foodies, this brunch also pairs delicious food with bottomless champagne, Bellini’s, and live entertainment. Brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday, with the last seating at 2 p.m. It costs $90 per adult and $45 per child.
Sunday Sauce Brunch Party at R House
During this brunch fête at R House {2727 NW 2nd Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201}, start with all-you-can-eat appetizers like Mac and Cheese, Grilled Linguiça Pork Sausage, and Scramble with bacon, and move on to one entree of your choice; from Banana Pecan French Toast and Fried Chicken and Biscuit with Gravy, to Short Rib Sliders and Chipotle-Rubbed Pork Ribs. Pair it all with bottomless mimosas, bottomless pitchers of Bye Joe Sangria, and live performances from local DJs, and you’re in for one happy Sunday, indeed. Brunch runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday. It costs $40 per adult for brunch and $25 per adult for  bottomless drinks, or $60 for both.
Sunday Asado Brunch at Los Fuegos
Argentinian grillmaster Francis Mallmann knows a thing or two about the revered art of South American live-fire cooking; in fact, he might be the expert on it. Now, Miami’s finest foodies can head to Los Fuegos {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach;786.655.5600}, at the Faena Miami Beach, every Sunday and taste for themselves just what makes this culinary art such a treat. 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 brunch version is just as cherished, but in true Faena fashion, a little more extravagant. Spread across a four-course meal, you can 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-filled Pancakes, and more. Sunday Asado Brunch runs from Noon to 4 p.m. every week. 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.
Italian Bubbles & Brunch at Cibo Wine Bar
With two locations in Miami, one in Coral Gables and one in South of Fifth, the chic-meets-delicious Cibo Wine Bar serves up the type of Italian fare South Florida’s finest crave. Stop by on Sunday for the Italian Bubbles + Brunch, which promises everything from an antipasti bar and fresh-made pastas, to just-tossed wood oven pizzas, salads, carved and deli meats, seafood, decadent desserts, and tables upon tables of other Italian specialties. Invite your girlfriends, lover, friends, or colleagues, pair it all with your choice of rosé or Prosecco, and like the Italians, live la dolce vita. Brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. It is priced at $35 per person.
Sunday Brunch at LT Steak & Seafood
Located in one of Ocean Drive’s most charming hotels, The Betsy, LT Steak & Seafood {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.531.6100} offers an a la carte Sunday brunch that promises to be as tasty as its surrounding Art Deco hotel is beautiful. Some of our favorite brunch dishes include: Brioche French Toast with orange-plantain marmalade, almond cream, and whipped mascarpone; Avocado & Green Pea Toast with feta and a poached egg on 7-grain bread; and Crispy Black Grouper Tacos with chili aioli, cabbage slaw, and spicy-lime salsa. Throw a mimosa into the mix and you’ll be booking a hotel room in no time.
Brunch at Brasserie Azur
At Brasserie Azur {3252 NE 1st Avenue, Midtown; 786.800.9993}, brunch isn’t just about food; it’s about fun. There’s plenty of wine, a foosball table, and of course… delicious cuisine. The Truffle Pizzetta with truffle mascarpone and mozzarella cheese is not to be missed, as are the Les Pancakes with Nutella and maple syrup, the Short Ribs Taco, the Steak Frites, and you know, everything else on the menu. Brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Dishes are a la carte. Bottomless mimosas and bottomless Prosecco are priced at $25 and $35 per adult, respectively, per two-hour period.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Now that spring has sprung, so has Daylight Savings time–meaning we have an extra hour of sunlight to cap off our day with a cocktail. Don’t know where to go? Try one of the hot Miami restaurants listed below. They have some of our favorite happy hours!
Swine Southern Table & Bar
Taking place Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., happy hour at Swine Southern Table & Bar {2415 Ponce De Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables; 786.360.6433} offers $4 beers, $5 wines, and $7 specialty cocktails. Want something to munch on while you drink? Get $2 off any plate from the “Share” menu.
Pisco y Nazca
Go “loca” at Hora Loca at Pisco y Nazca {8405 Mills Drive, Kendall; 305.630.3844}, where all house wines, beer, and liquor are half off from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m daily.
Café Roval
At Café Roval {5808 NE 4th Court, Miami; 786.953.7850}, take advantage of Daylight Savings time and pair your happy hour drinks with enchanting sunset views. If you can find one, grab a seat on the back patio, overlooking the Shangri-La gardens, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. daily. Then, “beat the clock” with ascending happy hour specials like beers, wines, and cocktails that are $5 at 5 p.m., $6 at 6 p.m., and so on and so forth.
NaiYaRa
Every day of the week (even on Saturdays and Sundays!), enjoy your booze and bites with Chef Bee from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005}, in Sunset Harbor. During this time, everything on the happy hour menu is $7–from Pinot Noir sangria and Asian-inspired Tom Kha-Piña mezcal cocktails, to whitefish tacos with fresh catch of the day, mango, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, and yuzu.
Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard
Overlooking Biscayne Bay from The Standard Spa, Miami Beach hotel, Lido Bayside Grill {40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.245.0880} is a Magic City staple. Centered around organic, healthy-ish plates–like Artichoke Frites, anyone?–come for the food, but stay for the “Sundowners” sunset happy hour. It takes place Monday through Friday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and has $3 beers, $5 wines and Prosecco, and $7 well drinks and Kelvin Frosé. Food ranges from $4 to $12 (the latter being the half-dozen oysters!), and includes plates like Fancy Nachos, Guacamole, Vegetable Fritters, Chicken Empanadas, and more.
Market at EDITION
In Miami, Whispering Angel Rosé never goes out of style! Get it during happy hour at Market at EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4500} for just $10 a glass, then pair it with fresh oysters for just $2 apiece. Happy hour at Market at EDITION runs from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina
At Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4636}, Social Hour takes place daily from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can buy one specialty cocktail and get the second one for $1, get half-off beers on tap, and sip on select wines for $5 a glass.

Spris
This Lincoln Road pizza spot always guarantees a good time. Head to Spris {731 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.673.2020} everyday, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and “beat the clock” with daily food specials that costs the same numerical value as the time you place your order. Get there right at 5:30? Get select pizzas and Italian dishes for just $5.30. Put in your order at 6? Get them for $6 apiece. On top of that, beer pitchers and bottles of wine are half-off the whole time.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

It seems like just yesterday that Nobu Eden Roc Miami Beach (and with it, the famed Nobu restaurant) first graced our Miami Beach shores; but somehow, it feels like a lifetime since Miami foodies first heard about the hotel’s soon-to-come second restaurant: the wildly-acclaimed Malibu Farm {4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.0000}. The brainchild of beloved chef and Swedish transplant, Helene Henderson, this Malibu restaurant and A-list hangout is popular for its California-style, farm-to-fork food and beachfront vibes. And like its original, the second outpost, which will sit beachside at the Nobu Eden Roc Hotel Miami Beach, will impress diners with its delicate fusion of Scandinavian fare and local, Florida ingredients. Lucky for us Miamians, we’ll get a chance to taste this hot new spot very soon–the much-anticipated Malibu Farm Miami will finally open to the public in April 2017.

So what’s so special about the food? In short, everything. By combining her Swedish roots with California’s fresh, healthy eating, each item on the menu is seasonal, organic and prepared with little-to-no fuss. Different from its Malibu sister, the Miami edition of the restaurant will have a wood-burning oven, and from it, we can expect delights like zucchini-, cauliflower- or regular-dough pizzas, topped with indulgent flavors like local calahoo spinach, Miami Smokers’ bacon, and even organic eggs. If you want something a little more filling, the grass-fed Beef Sirloin with chile cherry tomatoes and açai bowls is sure to please, while lighter options like pea and pesto couscous, Swedish pancakes, smoked salmon, ricotta scrambled eggs or vegan, gluten-free granola never disappoint. No matter what you order, for Helene Henderson, it’s all about making food that makes us feel good inside and out. Pair it with something from the drink menu–like a Bloody Mary, wine, frosé, or one of the  organic and agave-based handcrafted cocktails, like the Smoke with mezcal shishito, chipotle agave, and fresh-squeezed lime juice–and you’ll see what we mean.

Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Here is this week’s Miami food news:

CITI Taste of Tennis Returns to Miami TONIGHT!
Tonight, Monday, March 20, CITI Taste of Tennis will kick-off the Miami Open with food, fun and your favorite tennis stars at Brickell’s W Miami. While the guests dine, dance and mingle with A-list athletes—a list that (in the past) has included Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, and John Isner, to name a few—chefs like Clark Bowen (db Bistro Moderne), Helene Henderson (Malibu Farm), John Iatrellis (Lure Fishbar), Alex Diaz (Tamarina), and more will whip up some of their best bites poolside. Famed tennis duo and twins, Bob and Mike “The Bryan Bros” Bryan, and James Beard Award-Winning Chef Michelle Bernstein will headline the event, and to add a twist to their week, all tennis pros in attendance will take a minute to Serve Up a little something off the court: food.
TONIGHT: TATEL Miami Throws Hot Grand Opening Soirée
Did someone say Enrique Iglesias?! Miami’s favorite Spanish singer will take our breath away with his new restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach: TATEL Miami. Created by Enrique and global superstar Rafael Nadal, this Spanish restaurant will offer a mix of traditional Spanish cuisine along with contemporary versions of the classics, like Tortilla Trufada, Croquetas de Leche Fresca, Gallega-style Octopus, Spanish desserts, and the restaurant’s signature dish, the Milanesa de Ternera San Román con Huevo y Trufa. Ensuring it’s extra delicious, Executive Chef Nicolas Mazier, former Executive Chef of NOBU Miami, will helm the kitchen. The restaurant launches with an invite-only party TONIGHT, and opens to the public officially tomorrow, March 21.
DASHI Miami Comes to RYC
Perched right on the Miami River, everyone’s favorite see-and-be-seen spot, River Yacht Club (RYC), is excited to introduce Dashi: a progressive Japanese dining destination. Opening to the public on Friday, March 24, Dashi, which will have seating for up to 80 and will sit in a Japanese-style “jewel box,” will exist as a standalone restaurant within River Yacht Club. There will be two large communal tables, a full bar with shimmering bottles of Japanese whiskey and sakes, and floor-to-ceiling windows, perfect for taking in the idyllic views outside. Chef Shuji Hiyakawa—a protégé of Iron Chef Masahuru Morimoto, a descendant of three generations of Udon makers, and past Executive Chef of Kuro—will oversee the kitchen, which will serve up a la carte specialties like Ocean Scallops with Russian osetra caviar and yuzu, Beef Tataki with soy onion and myoga, Sea Bass Miso with fennel and hoba, Spicy Seafood Udon, Beef Udon with braised short rib, Sushi, and more. Dashi will open to the public on Friday, March 24, and will serve dinner Tuesday through Sunday, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Celebrity Chef Helene Henderson, of Malibu Farms, Hosts Slow Food Miami’s 6th-Annual Tasting Party
This Friday, March 24, Helene Henderson—Chef/Owner of Malibu Farm {4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.0000} and author of Malibu Farm Cookbook: Recipes from the California Coast—will host Slow Food Miami’s 6th-Annual “Snail of Approval” Tasting Party. Affectionately dubbed Miami’s “Freshest Night Out,” this evening under the stars will bring together dozens of the Miami’s best chefs, local growers, and producers for a night of tasting and honoring Miami’s food scene. Taking place at the Nobu Eden Roc Miami Beach, this soirée will have tunes by Michael Casola from JetSet Sounds and drinks by Twenty-One Wine & Spirits. This event will take place on Friday, March 24, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Advanced tickets for the event are priced at $85 per person until noon on March 23, and tickets at the door are priced at $100 per person. All tickets can be purchased here, and all event proceeds will go towards Slow Food Miami’s Edible Garden Program, which creates student–centered organic vegetable gardens, introduces students to the pleasures of good, clean food, and teaches basic garden skills.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Brought to us by the same chefs behind Triciclo, one of Madrid’s most popular restaurants, TANDEM by Triciclo is coming to Miami this April. Designed to be a teaser for Miami’s new European market concept, FIREHOUSE MRKT–which will open with a Triciclo restaurant and other market food shops this September–TANDEM by Triciclo is a three-part collaborative dinner series that will feature the culinary talents of Triciclo’s Javier Goya and Javier Mayor. Adding to its allure, it will also include select chefs who will be a part of FIREHOUSE MRKT once it opens to the public.
Taking up space in Miami’s historic Fire Station No. 2, FIREHOUSE MRKT will be a 5,000 square-foot walk-around market with five fun areas: two main restaurants serving fish and meat, a station for fruits and vegetables, bakery cafes, Salumeria, and a “despensa,” or tapas bar. But because that won’t be open until September, the team behind Triciclo wanted to give Miami’s finest foodies a way to watch, and participate in, its development; so it launched the TANDEM dinner series, set to take place in the raw FIREHOUSE MRKT space itself, so diners could start to get a feel for what it’ll all be about.
Kicking-off the series on April 7 and 8, the first dinner will between a collaborative feast between Mayor, Goya, and Omar Montero, the beloved Mexican chef behind Miami’s Cantina La Veinte and Copper 29, who will also debut his first taqueria at the new FIREHOUSE MRKT. Each dish in this 14-course dinner will be paired with wine or Estrella Damm beer, including standout plates like Watermelon Thai gazpacho with lime and mussels, Salpicon de Res, and Shellfish Rossejat, to name a few. 
FIREHOUSE MRKT is located at 1401 North Miami Avenue. This dinner will take place on April 7 and 8, with the remaining two parts of the series to come in Summer 2017. Tickets for the first TANDEM by Triciclo pop up are priced at $100 per person and can be purchased here. 

On Monday, March 20, CITI Taste of Tennis will once again return to Miami, and tennis fans and food lovers alike can’t wait to see what this year’s event has in store.
Taking place at the W Miami, this evening of food, fame, and A-list athletes will kick-off the Miami Open by pairing some of the world’s best tennis players with Miami’s best chefs. While the guests sip, snack, sway to the music, and mingle with some of their favorite star athletes–a list that (in the past) has included Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, and John Isner, to name a few–the chefs will whip up some of their best bites poolside. And to add a twist to their week, the tennis pros will even take a minute to Serve Up a little something off the court: food.
Headlining this year’s soirée is none other than famed tennis duo and twins, Bob and Mike “The Bryan Bros” Bryan, and James Beard Award-Winning Chef Michelle Bernstein. But those aren’t the only stars you’ll see! Read below for the full list of chefs and tennis pros you can drink and dine with at CITI Taste of Tennis 2017.
Tennis Players:
Roberto Bautista Agut
Genie Bouchard
Bob and Mike Bryan
Sorana Cirstea
Santiago Giraldo
Johanna Konta
Feliciano Lopez
Sam Querrey
Albert Ramos
Tommy Robredo
Arantxa Sanchez
Yanina Wickmayer
2017 Chef Participants:
Clark Bowen (DB Bistro Moderne)
Helene Henderson (Malibu Farms)
John Iatrellis (Lure Fishbar)
Alex Diaz (Tamarina)
Timon Balloo (Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill)
Janine Booth & Jeff McInnis (The Sarsaparilla Club)
Aaron Brooks (Edge Steak & Bar)
Thomas Buckley (Nobu)
Stuart Cameron (Byblos)
Santiago Gomez (Tacology)
Saul Ramos (Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink)
Bill Telepan (Oceana)
Cesar Vega (Sushisamba)
Dustin Ward (BLT Prime)
Cesar Zapata (Phuc Yea)
This event will take place on Monday, March 20, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The W Miami is located at 485 Brickell Avenue. Tickets are priced at $200 per person and can be purchased here.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

One of the Mandarin Oriental, Miami’s fine-dining restaurants, La Mar by Gastón Acurio {500 Brickell Key, Brickell; 305.913.3858}, is turning three… and next weekend, it’s inviting all of Miami to celebrate its milestone birthday. 
The festive weekend will kick-off on Saturday, March 18, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., when the restaurant’s recently-opened waterfront lounge, YAKU by La Mar, will offer $3 bar bites and unlimited Pisco Punch Cocktails for just $33. Then, the next day, come back for a special birthday edition of the restaurant’s ever-popular Sunday brunch. During this brunch, pair Executive Chef Diego Oka’s Peruvian specialties—like Plancha Anticuchero, Lomo Saltado and Fried Egg, Jalea Frita, and Pescado Chorillana—with fresh seafood and savory grill stations, Chaufa Aeropuerto for the table, La Mar’s famous “dessert cart,” unlimited brunch cocktails, wines, and Piper-Heidsieck champagne, and of course, live music, decorations and a one-of-a-kind birthday cake.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio hosts brunch every Sunday, from Noon to 3:30 p.m. It is priced at $85 per person. A “Premium Brunch” experience is also available for $120 per person, and includes additional a la carte dishes like King Crab Anticuchero, as well as unlimited Charles Heidsieck champagne.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor