This holiday season, celebrate with a classic… a Brazilian classic. At Fogo de Chão {836 1 Street, Miami Beach; 305.672.0011}, sip on a well-made version of one of South America’s best-known cocktails, the Caipirinha, and then use the recipe below to go home and make it for yourself.
Here’s how you do it:
Cut one whole lime in half and remove the core. Slice the lime thinly against the direction of the core. Place the sliced lime in a rocks glass and add two tablespoons of white sugar. Muddle the lime and sugar together to extract the natural juice of the lime. Fill glass to the brim with ice, and add two ounces Cachaça. Cap the glass with a bar shaker and shake thoroughly to make sure the sugar dissolves evenly. Pour the mixture back into the rocks glass. Garnish the Caipirinha with a lime wheel or stick of sugar cane—whichever you prefer.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Art Week 2017 is just days away! And The Mandarin Oriental, Miami can’t wait to take part. In honor of Miami’s hottest week-long celebration of the season, this Brickell Key hotel will host a special event—Voices, He[ARTS] + Brilliance—on Wednesday, December 6. In partnership with everyone’s favorite diamond company, Harry Winston, Land Rover, and Desmond Mason (a NBA athlete-turned-artist!) this charity event will feature the culinary stylings of Executive Chef Diego Oka of La Mar by Gastón Acurio {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell Key; 305.913.8358}, who will team up with Michelin-Star Chef Curtis Duffy and Award-Winning Chef Clay Conley, previously of Azul.
So… what can guests expect? The evening will kick-off at 7 p.m. with a two-hour cocktail party, and endless Patron Silver Tequila and Taittinger Champagne, at MO Bar + Lounge. While you sip, sway to the tunes by live jazz duo, The Fox Brothers, and peruse and bid on Desmond Mason’s latest art collection during an exclusive preview. Adding to the evening, Desmond will also conduct a live art installation on a 2018 Range Rover Velar, which guests can bid on while he works. After the cocktail party has ended, guests will hit the Miami Bayfront Dining Room for a five-course, wine-pairing feast with wine pairings specially-created by Executive Chef Diego Oka and Chef Clay Conley.
Tickets for this event are priced at $175 per person for the cocktail party, and $350 per person for the cocktail party and dinner. All proceeds will benefit the Voices For Children Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money to help ensure that abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Miami-Dade County get the appropriate court-appointed Guardian ad Litem, financial assistance, and other resources that meet their health, education, and social needs. All tickets for the event can be purchased here.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Kinilaw from Pao by Paul Qui
serves 5
Ingredients
Coconut dressing:
100 g Maeploy coconut milk
35 g coconut vinegar
7.5 g ginger, grated
Salt, Baleine fine sea salt
Extra virgin olive oil, Valderrama arbequina
Kinilaw:
Kampachi (yellowtail)
Red onion, rinsed and sliced
Thai chilies, fresh and sliced
Cilantro, with stems and sliced
Murray River sea salt
Black Pepper, fresh cracked
5.6 oz Yuzu Juice
6 oz olive oil
Green onion thinly sliced
Method
For the coconut dressing: Add coconut vinegar to the coconut milk, a little at a time. Add ginger little by little, making sure it’s distributed evenly. Add salt and olive oil to taste.
To serve: In a small mixing bowl, add red onions, Thai chili, yuzu juice, and coconut milk dressing. Mix. Place on the bottom of the bowl. Arrange the kampachi slices on top of the dressing and season with sea salt, cilantro stems, Thai chili, black pepper, and red and green onions. Serve chilled.
Enjoy!
There’s a new chef in town (well, sort of), and his name is Vijayudu Veena—or “Chef Vijay” for short. While he’s been a part of The Setai, Miami Beach family for nearly a decade, as of this month, he now reigns as Executive Chef of all hotel culinary operations, including The Ocean Grill, The Lobby Bar, The Courtyard, and of course, the hotel’s signature restaurant, Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}.
Coming to us from Hyderabad, India, Chef Vijay has developed a reputation for bringing the rich flavors and cooking techniques of his childhood to the sunny shores of Miami Beach. And before he came to The Setai, he mastered those flavors through a series of educational programs and chef roles at some of the world’s top luxury hotels. In addition to earning a Bachelor of Culinary Arts from Osmania University, in India, and an advanced degree from the Institute Hotelier Cesar Ritz, in Switzerland, Chef Vijay has been a chef at both the JW Marriott in Mumbai and The Lausanne Palace and Spa in Switzerland.
As he begins this new adventure, we wanted to catch up with Chef Vijay to see what we can expect from The Setai with him at the helm. Here’s what he had to say:
What’s your favorite dish on the Jaya menu? What makes it so good?
Peking Duck. I like the way the dish has kept its classic taste and preparation, but still adapts to The Setai style, in terms of presentation. With the pancakes, scallions, and plum sauce, the “do it your own way” approach really helps guests interact with one another and underscores our family-style philosophy of dining.
What’s your secret cooking trick?
I can’t give away all of my secrets, but one of them is how I prepare spices. I dry-roast them first and then blend them together. The proportions change, and when they do, they create almost a completely different seasoning. By smell, one cannot tell exactly what it is.
Your must-have kitchen tool is…
Here at Jaya, it’s the wok.
Who taught you how to cook?
There are many influences to my cooking, including my parents, mentors, and chefs I’ve worked with. They’ve all helped me become the chef I am today.
What’s the best piece of chef advice you’ve ever been given? Who gave it to you?
A wise chef once told me, “Nothing is impossible. We can always push to make things happen.”
When you aren’t working, what’s your favorite dish to make at home and why?
I actually don’t cook at home that much. I like to go out to eat and try new things, but I do enjoy making a good curry.
Is there anything new you want to do at The Setai now that you’re Executive Chef? If so, what?
I’m very excited to give my take on the entire dining program, especially at our Beach Trailer. I want to make it more approachable and truly view the menu from a guest perspective. I’m also excited for the upcoming Jaya menu—I’m reworking it for the season and reinforcing that Southeast Asian concept.
What’s your guilty-pleasure snack?
Pistachio Biscotti made by our Pastry Chef Kimberly Pearson.
Who is the biggest fan of your cooking?
I would have to say our repeat guests; the guests that have supported our dishes over the years, and especially those who ask for specific items from seasons past. I like when someone asks for a dish that I’ve made in the past and try to recreate it if it’s not on the menu that season.
During your time at The Setai over the past decade, have you seen any change in the Miami dining scene? What do you love most about it today?
There have been so many changes, in terms of the dining options on the Miami scene. Places like the Design District, Wynwood, and Brickell have really taken the opportunity to experiment with technique and more elaborate dishes for the palate. I enjoy going out and exploring all of them.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Pan-Seared Florida Fish from Wynwood Kitchen & Bar
serves two
Ingredients
Fish:
4 filets fresh fish, typically snapper
Corn Salsa:
8 ears of corn, roasted and with niblets removed
4 oz red onion, diced
1 lb red peppers, diced
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
3/4 c olive oil
2 lemons, juiced
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Method
For the corn salsa: Combine corn, onion, peppers, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
For the fish: Pan-sear the fish filets, skin side down first. Flip the fish onto the flesh. Cook lightly.
To serve: Plate the snapper over a spoonful of corn salsa. Serve.
Private Dining Room at Big Easy Winebar & Grill
Holiday season is upon us—so you know what that means! It’s party time. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas lunch for your colleagues, a private Thanksgiving dinner for family and friends, a late-night Basel wine party, or some other special occasion, these Miami restaurants have the ambiance and flavor your next private event needs.
Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room
Floating 25 floors above Brickell Avenue, in the Conrad Miami, Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room {1395 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.503.6500} serves up globally-inspired dishes like Pan Seared Branzino with eggplant caponata, Short Rib Pappardelle with horseradish cream, and Confit Pork Tenderloin with roasted candy cane beets, along with a wine list you can’t ignore. For a little more exclusivity, reserve the restaurant’s intimate wine attic, which can accommodate eight to ten guests. With walls lined by 200+ vintages and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sparkling Brickell Avenue skyline, it’s good for corporate gatherings, wine-pairing lunches and dinners, rehearsal dinners, birthdays, and pretty much anything worth celebrating.
Seaspice
It’s hard to beat the allure of Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}. Think about it: you can show up in a yacht, you’re surrounded by Miami’s most fashionable and beautiful people, and the delicate, globally-influenced cuisine is perfect. Even when you’re done eating, stay awhile—at Seaspice, you can drink some bubbly and enjoy the views (we’re not just talking about the Miami River) all day and night long. With its indoor and outdoor dining options, live entertainment, customizable menus, and all-around beautiful surroundings, Seaspice is the perfect place to host your next holiday party or private dinner.
Joe’s Stone Crab
Joe’s Stone Crab {11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.0365} isn’t just a seafood restaurant; it’s a Miami Beach icon. Perfect for groups big or small, this South of Fifth staple has rooms that can accommodate groups of 16+, or you can buyout the whole restaurant for parties of up to 450 guests. Special prix-fixe menus are available for private dining, and there are three private rooms (Jesse’s Room, Gigi’s Room, and JoAnn’s room), depending on what your event needs. Events are typically scheduled for a minimum of two hours and fifteen minutes, and any additional time costs $500 per thirty-minute period.
Mr. Chow
Hailed as the celebrity go-to in Miami for haute Asian cuisine, dining at Mr. Chow {2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.1695} is a real experience, one with nightly noodle shows, an A-list location on Collins Avenue, and dazzling décor—including a 125-foot gold-leaf and Swarovski crystal chandelier designed by the owner of the Mr. Chow empire, Michael Chow, himself. Here, a private dining room can accommodate up to 55 diners comfortably, or the restaurant can be bought out to host a holiday event for up to 250 guests.
The River Seafood & Oyster Bar
Sitting in the heart of Brickell, The River Seafood & Oyster Bar {650 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.530.1915} is a casual, trendy spot where you can get a modern twist on classic seafood. Here, the seafood is as fresh as you can get it, from ice-packed, hand-shucked cold water oysters and organic Irish salmon and branzino, to sardines from Spain, cold-water fish caught in Alaska, and more. With its comfortable “living room” feel, this restaurant is perfect for an intimate gathering. It has a private dining room that can seat up to 25 people.
Cafe Avanti
Family-owned and -operated, Cafe Avanti {732 W 41 Street, Miami Beach; 305.538.4400} is where you go for “real-deal” Italian and top-notch service on Miami Beach. Its wood floors and exposed brick gives this restaurant a decidedly “cozy feel,” and the authentic northern Italian cuisine is made with a French flair. Depending on the size of your party, there are private dining spaces available for groups of 16 to 80 people.
Scarpetta
The brainchild of celebrity chef and restaurateur Scott Conant, Scarpetta {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4660}, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, is known for its A-list diners, upscale vibes, and of course, that perfectly-knotted bowl of spaghetti. The ideal restaurant for private events of any size, you can rent out the Main Dining Room to accommodate up to 110 seated guests, the Poolview Terrace for seated events of up to 70, the Oceanview Terrace for seated events for up to 55 guests, or the Cocktail Lounge for up to 60. Both outdoor terraces come together to form an L-shape, which guests can rent as one for a private event that boasts both pool area and dazzling Miami Beach views.
Big Easy Winebar & Grill
Locals and tourists alike can experience the flavors of the Western Cape region of South Africa at Big Easy Winebar & Grill {701 South Miami Avenue, Suite 339, Brickell; 786.814.5955}, the result of a partnership between Grove Bay Hospitality Group and pro-golfer Ernie “The Big Easy” Els. Go here for haute South African cuisine and a wine program straight from Ernie Els’ vineyards in Stellenbosch, in the Western Cape region of South Africa. Adorned in reclaimed wood floors, marbled stone, and earth-toned fabrics, and accented with clay pottery and rich, buttery-leather chairs, the restaurant’s private dining room can be used for both formal and informal, personal or business occasions for up to 75 guests.
Cantina La Veinte
Designed by Mexican architectural firm Niz + Chauvet, Cantina La Veinte {495 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 786.623.6135} pays homage to the Mexican Art Deco style while maintaining the distinct décor of a traditional Mexican cantina. When you walk in, it’s hard to miss the restaurant’s striking, floor-to-ceiling black onyx bar with antiqued mirrors or the geometric, black-and-gold chandelier that looks like its straight out of The Great Gatsby. Walk downstairs and you’ll find an outdoor patio, looking right out onto Brickell Key, that can fit a private dinner for up to 105. This covered al fresco dining area is divided by lush, plant-covered walls, has an outdoor cooling system to keep diners comfortable, and for ambiance, even boasts frosted-glass windows etched with Cantina’s symbols of maize and agave.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Macaroni & Cheese from Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
serves many, as a side
Ingredients
Pasta:
6 ounces torchio pasta
Mornay Sauce:
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 c all-purpose flour
2 c whole milk
2 oz cream cheese
2 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
2 oz white cheddar cheese, grated
2 oz cheddar cheese, grated
1/8 tsp paprika
Hot sauce, to taste
Dijon mustard, to taste
Kosher salt, to taste
Topping:
1/4 c cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 tsp bread crumbs, toasted
1/8 tsp chives, minced
Method
For the pasta: Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Begin preparing the mornay sauce, and while you do, cook the pasta in salted, boiling water until al dente. Drain the pasta.
For the mornay sauce: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, whisking constantly. When the butter and flour blends completely, add the milk, whisking rapidly. Continue whisking until the mixture is thickened. Add in all four cheeses. Stir over low heat until the cheese melts, and when it does, remove the mixture from heat. Add the paprika and season with salt, hot sauce, and dijon mustard, to taste.
For the macaroni and cheese: Toss the pasta in the mornay sauce over medium heat, until coated fully. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top and cook together in the oven for 45 minutes.
To serve: Remove the macaroni and cheese from the oven and let it cool slightly. Sprinkle with chives and breadcrumbs immediately before serving.
With all the gluttony that event season in Miami brings, give your body a break and enjoy a healthy smoothie. As always, The Standard Spa, Miami Beach {40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.1717} has just the drink you’re looking for—and it just happens to be its signature one, too. Try The Standard Smoothie, and when you love it, go home and make one for yourself. We’ve got the recipe, below!
Combine 3 cups frozen strawberries, 1 1/2 whole bananas, 1 1/2 tablespoons Greek yogurt, and 1/4 cup honey in a blender. Blend until the fruit is puréed. If needed to increase or reduce thickness, slowly add in water (no more than 1/4 cup!) or ice and blend some more. Serve in your favorite glass.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Thanksgiving Brunch at The Setai
Happy Thanksgiving! Here are nine restaurants in Miami where you can give thanks (and feast) in style.
Matador Room
Celebrate Thanksgiving 2017 at Matador Room {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600}, at The Miami Beach EDITION, where you can get fall-inspired dishes at special prices. The $9 Roasted Pumpkin Soup with spiced pecans and crispy mushrooms will put you in the fall mood in no time, while the $28 Roasted Turkey with Cornbread Stuffing, cranberry salsa, and chipotle gravy will let the spirit of Thanksgiving set in. Matador Room will be open from 6 p.m. to Midnight on Thanksgiving Day.
Market at EDITION
The Miami Beach EDITION’s more relaxed, Mediterranean-inspired spot, Market at EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600}, will have a Thanksgiving feast like no other. Priced at $55 per adult and $33 per child, this three-course menu starts with appetizers like Butternut Squash Soup or Roasted Beet Salad with fresh goat cheese and crispy shallots, and moves on to mains like Slowly Cooked Salmon, Truffle Mashed Potato and Truffle Vinaigrette or Roasted Organic Turkey, Confit Leg, Potato Purée & Cranberry Relish. Plump up those plates with sides like Chestnut Stuffing and Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Smoked Bacon & Chili, and finish with Gingersnap Cookies, Orange Cranberry Cheesecake, or Pumpkin Ice Cream with Bourbon Caramel & Spiced Pecans. Pair it all with select bottles of red and white wines for just $49 per bottle, and you’ll get an instant food coma. (Just like you’re supposed to on Thanksgiving Day!) Market at EDITION will be open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
StripSteak by Michael Mina
At the Fontainebleau’s modern American steakhouse, StripSteak by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4780}, guests can get a Thanksgiving feast for $75++ per person, excluding tax and gratuity. A total steal, this feast will include everything from Butternut Squash Cavatelli and Black Truffle Frisée Salad with green apple, celery, chervil, and a 63° farm egg, to a family-style American Turkey Dinner with rosemary-roasted turkey breast, Beaujolais braised turkey legs, country stuffing, butter-whipped golden potatoes, crispy Brussels sprouts with Florida orange, and more. For dessert, a slice of Chocolate Pumpkin Pie with crème fraiche ice cream will wrap up your Thanksgiving meal nicely. StripSteak by Michael Mina will be open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann
Head to Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5610} for a multi-course feast that fuses Mallmann’s signature and special holiday dishes. Expect dishes like Cordero ‘7 Horas’ with pumpkin and potatoes ‘al rescoldo,’ Hanging Turkey Salad topped with sweet potato chutney and green apple, and more. Guests can order from the restaurant’s limited a la carte menu, or get a prix-fixe menu for $95 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann will be open for dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Jaya at The Setai
This Thanksgiving, feast at Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899} twice: They’re hosting a special holiday brunch and dinner. Go there during the day for the restaurant’s famous Thanksgiving Day buffet with classic holiday meats like Turkey, Roasted Honey-Glazed Lamb Leg, Truffle Roasted Chicken, and Creekstone Strip Loin, as well as seafood options like Alaskan King Crab legs, Oysters, and Little Neck Clams. Of course, some of the standout Asian-inspired dishes will be there, too, like Indonesian Beef Rendang, Indian Lamb Vindaloo, and Traditional Pad Thai. To get everyone in the spirit, Jaya at The Setai will be covered in seasonal decorations, and brunch will feature both live Jazz and unlimited glasses of Louis Roederer champagne. Worried about the kids? Don’t be! A kids club with activities will be available during brunch, as well, to make sure they have fun while you feast. If you don’t make it to brunch, hit up Jaya for Thanksgiving dinner—some of its special holiday dishes will be on the menu, a la carte. Jaya at The Setai will be open for brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The a la carte dinner will start later that night, and the restaurant will accept reservations for seatings between 6 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
LT Steak & Seafood
At LT Steak & Seafood {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.673.0044}, in The Betsy South Beach, you can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal created by famed chef and restaurateur Laurent Tourondel and Executive Chef Daniel Ganem. Priced at $85 per person, choose one appetizer, main course, side dish, and dessert from a prix-fixe menu of dishes like Calabaza Gnudi with Parmesano Reggiano crema and crispy sage, Duck Rillette with smoked cherry mustardo and a frisee salad, Chamomile Tea-Brined Ashley Farms Turkey with Iberico ham lardo and a pork sausage-jalapeño cornbread stuffing, 60-Day Dry-Aged Prime Rib with daube sauce, Pumpkin Spice Mascarpone Dome Mousse, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie, a Cranberry-Granny Smith Apple Crostata, and more.
Fontana at The Biltmore
This year, Fontana at The Biltmore {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 855.969.3219} will host a four-course Thanksgiving dinner based on the haute flavors of Italy. On the menu? Chef de Cuisine Giuseppe Galazzi’s Antipasto di Crostacei Tiepidi with roasted scampi and sea scallops over broccoli rapini, Risotto con Zucca e Gamberi with shrimp and roasted pumpkin, baked Cannellone di Ossobuco con Bechamel al Tarfuto with stuffed braised veal shank and a light truffle béchamel, and Il Tacchino Arrostito with slow-roasted organic turkey, sweet potato soufflé, sausage stuffing wrapped in savory cabbage, cranberry sauce, pan gravy, and French beans, to name a few. For dessert, diners have two options: a pecan pie with mascarpone mousse and vanilla sauce or a pumpkin cheesecake with cinnamon Chantilly and toasted pumpkin seeds. This entire menu is available for $85 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Fontana at The Biltmore will be open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Pao by Paul Qui
Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner under the stars next week at Pao by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5630}, which will be held on the restaurant’s idyllic oceanview terrace. Here, celebrated chef Paul Qui will whip up an Asian-fusion feast inspired by the holidays, with dishes like Roasted Squash Salad with Iberico, blis maple vinaigrette, and goat feta cheese, or Deep Fried Turkey with Japanese sweet potato purée and charred corn ragout. Guests can order from the restaurant’s limited a la carte menu, or get a prix-fixe menu for $95 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Pao by Paul Qui will be open for dinner from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Palme d’Or
In honor of the tasty holiday, another Biltmore must-try, the French fine-dining restaurant Palme d’Or {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200}, will host a five-course Thanksgiving dinner of its own. Priced at just $125 per person, Executive Chef Gregory Pugin will serve a tasting menu with plates like Le Caviar d’Oscietra (a foie gras terrine with exotic fruits), Le Crab Royal d’Alaska with celery purée and a mussel emulsion, fragola pasta with Parmesan, La Truffe Blanche with white truffle gnocchi and roasted sweetbread, seared Alaskan black cod drenched in curcuma oil, a turkey degustation with butter squash and parsnip, and carrot cake with a pumpkin cremeux, carrot caramel, cream cheese, and ice cream. Palme d’Or will be open for dinner from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Yardbird Southern Table and Bar
If you don’t want to cook the bird this year, leave it to the masters: Yardbird Southern Table and Bar {1600 Lenox Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.538.5220}. In fact, this rave-worthy southern-style, South Beach eatery has a whole farm-to-table Thanksgiving menu with everyone’s homestyle favorites. For appetizers, revel in Parsnip Potato Soup with roasted garlic and pomegranate relish or Butternut Sage Ravioli with chive blossoms and sunflower seeds. Then, for the main meal, get The Yardbird Turkey Plate with giblet gravy and cranberry, and don’t skimp on the sides. (Options like Sweet Potato Casserole with marshmallow flambe, Crispy Brussels Sprouts with cornbread croutons and bacon, or Mama’s Biscuit Stuffing with melted leeks will make it hard to, anyway.) You can’t have a Thanksgiving feast without dessert, so spring for the Bourbon Pecan Pie or the restaurant’s famous Peach Cobbler. Yardbird Southern Table & Bar will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Prices for each dish range from $16 to $25 each. Reservations are recommended, and can be made by calling 305.538.5220 or clicking here.
Seaspice
This year, celebrate Thanksgiving with a view at Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}, which sits right on the Miami River. Whether you come by yacht or car, choose dishes from the haute restaurant and lounge’s globally-inspired a la carte menu or, just for the holiday, opt for the “Thanksgiving A La Carte Specials” menu. On the latter of the two, you’ll find fall-inspired dishes like Autumn Soup, Fall Harvest Salad, Seared Foie, Turkey Roulade, and Sweet Potato Mousse. Seaspice will be open from Noon to Midnight on Thanksgiving Day.
Villa Azur
Have a French-Mediterranean Thanksgiving this year at Villa Azur {309 23 Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8688}, where you can fuse this traditional holiday with an all-out fête at the sexy restaurant and lounge’s lavish Thursday Night Dinner Party. While live musicians, costumed dancers, Miami’s finest, and sparkler-lit bottles of Veuve Clicquot whirl past you, indulge in Villa Azur’s new Thanksgiving dish, the $42 Roasted Whole Maine Lobster with sweet corn ragout, caramelized pumpkin, and Black Sea salt. Villa Azur will open for dinner on Thanksgiving Day starting at 6:30 p.m.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Pesto Causa at La Mar by Gastón Acurio
Craving something new this season? Read below for six Miami restaurants with new lunch, dinner, drink, and brunch menus you’re sure to love.
Hakkasan
Go to Hakkasan {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.276.1388} for a new menu of drinks designed to complement the Cantonese restaurant’s contemporary Chinese cuisine. The Sunset in Chateau is made with Lemongrass Vodka, thyme syrup, lemon juice, sparkling wine, and hibiscus drop, while 400 Rabbits is made with muddled basil, pineapple juice, yellow pepper juice, lemon juice, Yellow Chartreuse, and Mezcal. For something that’s equal parts strong and sweet, get the Mah-Teh Fizz; it pours gin and whiskey over a siphoned mix of ginger juice, lemon juice, honey and passion fruit syrups, mate, and shiso leaves. Hakkasan is open for dinner Sunday through Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, from 6 p.m. to Midnight. It is open for its famous Dim Sum Lunch on Saturday and Sunday, from Noon to 3 p.m.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio
La Mar by Gastón Acurio {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell Key; 305.913.8358} is celebrating three years of service, and in honor of this milestone, Executive Chef Diego Oka has come up with new lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch menus with globally-inspired Peruvian cuisine that we just can’t resist. Infused with the flavors of Mexico, Italy, and Asia, these menus aren’t like anything diners have ever had before.
If you’re there on your lunch break, try La Mar’s Express Lunch Menu, which offers three courses of Cebiche Chipotle made with the fish of the day, Smoked Trout with a huacatay vinaigrette, and braised Chicha Morada Brisket with creamy lima bean stew for just $25. If you go for dinner, try the restaurant’s new sharing plates. Start with Carretillero or A Paltado cebiches, and move on to tiraditos like Quemado, which combines the catch of the day with grilled calamari, octopus, kiuri, cherry heirloom tomatoes, smoked Peruvian peppers, and leche de tigre. The new Salad causa with aji Amarillo causa, roasted beets, asparagus, sunchokes, and huancaina is not to be missed, and neither is the Pesto causa with green potato causa, octopus tartare, avocado, piquillo peppers, and a Peruvian black ‘botijo’ olive aioli. If you’re craving something meaty, try the Florida Wagyu “Bacon” anticucho with Nikkei anticuchera sauce, sesame, and chives, or the Paiche Charapa (the largest fish in the Amazon River) roasted in banana leaves and served with mango chalaca. Other specialties include: Parihuela Soup in a hot stone bowl, Churrasco a Los Pobre with fried banana, and a steamed Branzino Chifa with soy sauce, ginger, Chinese wine, sesame oil, vegetables, and chaufa rice.
As if that’s not enticing enough, no one can resist brunch. Every Sunday, brunch lovers will get unlimited Piper Hiedsieck champagne, Pisco Sours, mimosas and Bloody Mary’s, as well as an elaborate buffet. New this season? Buffet plates like Pescado Escabeche, which tops the catch of the day with cannellini beans and quail egg, or Tallarines Verdes with Beef Milanese, which is made of housemade spaghetti, Peruvian pesto sauce, Milanese, fried egg, huancaina sauce, and Estofado de Pollo. La Mar’s Express Lunch Menu will be available Monday through Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Patrons are supposed to be in and out in 45 minutes. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. nightly. Brunch runs from Noon to 3:30 p.m. every Sunday, and is priced at $95 per person.
NaiYaRa
Helmed by Executive Chef Piyarat Potha Arreeratn (or “Chef Bee” for short!), NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005} is one of Miami’s most popular Thai spots. Just in time for its two-year anniversary this December, the low-key restaurant has changed up his offerings with new menu items inspired by Thai street food. Starters added to the menu include plates like Tempura Shishito Peppers, Sweet Chili BBQ Ribs, and Tuna Tostones, while Whole Branzino stuffed with basil and lemongrass or slow-roasted Pork Leg with Asian five-spice and steamed buns form the perfect entrees. For dessert, end the night on a sweet note with Sweet Roti, a pan-fried Thai flatbread covered in condensed milk, cinnamon crumble, and green tea ice cream. NaiYaRa is open for dinner nightly from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Scarpetta by Scott Conant
Want to take a tasty trip to Italy? Head to Scarpetta {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}, and you can sip your way there. Inspired by beautiful Italy, Scarpetta has come up with three new cocktails that aren’t to be missed. The Palermo is made with Montenegro Amaro, Gin, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup, and soursop purée, while the Venezia is made with rum, Averna Amaro, Cynar Amaro, Benedictine, and Peychaud’s and Angostura Bitters. The last addition to the menu, the Eclisse, blends Bourbon, Averna Amaro, Montenegro Amaro, and Grand Marnier with Bitter Truth Orange Bitters. Scarpetta is open for dinner Sunday through Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, from 6 p.m. to Midnight.
Seaspice
For a lunch special you can’t deny, head to Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200} and order its new, three-course Executive Lunch Menu for just $25 per person. Start with appetizers like Butternut Squash Soup or the Winter Plant Bowl with roasted butternut squash, black barley, tatsoi spinach, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seed oil, pecan brittle, and a creamy cashew balsamic. When it’s time for your main, choose between Shrimp Linguini, Crispy Skin Chicken Breast, 1855 Prime Churrasco, or a Pan Seared Black Grouper Fillet with navy bean, sage and bacon succotash and butternut squash gnocchi. This affordable lunch menu even includes dessert, so get the Cheese Souffle or the Orange Blossom Cake (made with Kumquat marmalade, sable and black berry) and call it a day. The Executive Lunch Menu is available Tuesday through Friday, from Noon to 3:30 p.m. Each course can be paired with white, red, and rosé wines by the glass for $10 each.
StripSteak by Michael Mina
Another Fontainebleau mainstay, StripSteak by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4780} has come up with a new menu of classic cocktails with a modern twist. Try Ants on a Log—it has a subtle mix of White Rum infused with lemon and anise, espresso, crème de cacao, and Clément Mahina Coco. If you want to get a taste of the hotel’s early days, order the Goldfinger or Poodle Room. The first is made with vodka, FEW Spirits Breakfast Gin, Tempus Fugit Kina L’Aero d’Or, Lustau East India Solera Sherry, Lustau Manzanilla Sherry, Bitter Truth Olive Bitters and fleur de sel solution; and the last mixes vodka with lemon juice, strawberry-coriander syrup, egg whites, and a rich mint syrup. StripSteak by Michael Mina is open for dinner Sunday through Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, from 6 p.m. to Midnight.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor