Ready, set… play!
Fuel your day with coffee and a pastry at Chez Bon Bon
When: 8:30 a.m. (Because who doesn’t want to start game day early?)
Located right next to the left of the lobby, go here for your morning espresso and grab a buttery croissant while you’re there.
Hit the pool.
When: 9 a.m.
It’s party time! The game might not start until 1 p.m., but at the Fontainebleau, there’s plenty of fun to be had before then. Join the throngs of beautiful people and tan, take a dip in the pool, and order a mimosa (or three). It is #SundayFunday, after all.
Get that pre-game meal.
When: Noon
You’ve got that 60-minute countdown ‘til kick-off, so order some lunch before it’s too late. With your cabana, you can choose from one of two game day specials for you and up to five friends! The Touchdown Package comes with two buckets of Heineken Light and a platter of 24 chicken wings, and the MVP Package comes with a bottle of Corzo Tequila, and a BBQ platter  with chicken wings, chicken fingers, quesadillas, chips, and salsa. The Touchdown Package is priced at $550 for the group, and the MVP Package is priced at $750 for the group.
GAMETIME.
When: 1 p.m.
Who’s playing? Doesn’t matter. With your 46-inch, flat screen TV, personal butler, and lavish couches, you’ll watch… any game.
Win or lose, we booze.
When: 5 p.m.
The game is over, but you still have one more hour at the pool! If the beer or the tequila is gone, get your butler’s attention and order another round. If you’re still hungry, grab the platter of fresh fruit from your cabana fridge, where you’ll also find 10 sodas and four bottles of water. (You know, in case you need to hydrate after all that beer.)
Let’s eat.
When: 7 p.m.
A good game day calls for a solid meal—and pizza is always a good option. Finish your day at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach with dinner at Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4636}, where you can snack on a mile-high platter of The Nachos; The Lobster Dogs; The Farm Pizza with bacon, egg, and Yukon Gold Potatoes; The Bleau Burger with Point Reyes blue cheese, truffle aïoli, and crispy prosciutto; and cocktails like Train Wreck, margaritas, or the Patrón tequila-tinged Paloma 2.0. If you’re not ready to go home, keep ordering those Paloma 2.0’s. (Pizza & Burger stays open until late.)
Happy Dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Here is this week’s Miami food news:

Tuesday, October 17: South Beach Seafood Festival is BACK!
Read about it here.
Tuesday, October 17: Grower Champagne Tasting at Costa Med Bistro + Wine
All over the world, October 20 is Champagne Day; but here in Miami, we’ve turned it into a whole Champagne Week. In honor of the beloved French bubbly, this Tuesday, diners will get to enjoy a three-course Champagne pairing meal with delectable dishes prepared by the team at Costa Med Bistro + Wine {260 Crandon Boulevard, Suite #46, Key Biscayne; 305.361.7575}. All Champagnes used throughout the evening will be presented by Alessandra Esteves, DipWSET, Director of Wine Education for the Florida Wine Academy. The dinner starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are priced at $95 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the restaurant.

Thursday, October 19: Meraki Greek Bistro Benefits Victims of Hurricane Irma
This Thursday, head to Meraki Greek Bistro, in Downtown Miami, and you could help raise money for our neighbors in the Florida Keys who are still recovering from Hurricane Irma! From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., all beer and wine sales will benefit “Linked by a Dream,” a non-profit foundation devoted to helping deserving individuals near or at the poverty line. During that time, take advantage of happy hour specials, like $3 On Blue Island premium beer; $4 My Big Fat Greek Wine (Savatiano), Kretikos by Boutari (Vilana), Kleoni Greek Rose, and Νemea by Lafkioti (Agiorgitiko); and select appetizers for $5. Remember: The more you eat and drink, the more people you help. 

Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21: Live Belly Dancing at Sawa Restaurant & Lounge
Want dinner and a show? At Sawa Restaurant & Lounge {360 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.447.6555}, in the Village of Merrick Park, you’ll get it. Every Friday and Saturday night, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., diners can nosh on Mediterranean- and Japanese-fusion fare while belly dancers shake their stuff around them. This event gets popular, so dinner reservations are recommended.

Saturday, October 21: Stone Crab Festival at Semilla Eatery & Bar
Stone crab season is officially HERE! This Saturday, head to Semilla Eatery & Bar for its annual Stone Crab Festival, where you can enjoy $4 claws, cool weather, and refreshing cocktails.  

Sunday, October 22: Geoffrey Zakarian Hosts “Stone Crabs for a Cause”
This Sunday, head to Point Royal, at The Diplomat Resort & Spa, and you’ll get to chow down on all-you-can-eat stone crabs for $89 per person. Hosted by celebrity chef, restaurateur, and TV personality Geoffrey Zakarian, this one-time-only event will honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month by donating 25% of its proceeds to the Glam-A-THON™ benefiting the Broward Health Foundation’s Lillian S. Wells Women’s Health Center. Reservations for this event are recommended, and Point Royal dinner guests will receive complimentary valet for up to four hours.

Everyday: “Beat the Clock” Happy Hour at R House Wynwood
Happy hour is a must in the Magic City, and R House Wynwood {2727 NW 2 Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201} does it right. Go between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily, and you can “beat the clock” with bar bites, beer, wine, and well drinks for just $3 at 3 p.m., $4 at 4 p.m., and so on and so forth.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Looking for a new kind of date night? Look no further than Ocean Drive, where you and your special someone could dine at a Miami Beach classic, A Fish Called Avalon {700 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.532.1727}. With its dim lighting, haute surroundings, mouthwatering menu, and direct views of the Atlantic, this indoor-outdoor seafood spot was practically made for romance.
Just next month, A Fish Called Avalon is giving you a new reason to dine there. With its first a la carte, wine-pairing menu—which will be released in November—the restaurant has created a select menu of appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, each with wine pairings. Every dish comes with a four-ounce pour, but if guests sip on something they love, they can forgo other pairings and just spring for the whole bottle for the entirety of their meal. Yum!
Here’s what diners and drinkers can look forward to on the new November menu:
Appetizers
Spanish Octopus, chargrilled with white balsamic vinaigrette, $25
Pairing: Prosecco, La Marca, Italy
Bang Bang Shrimp with turmeric curry spices, a mint yogurt sauce, and cucumber pepper relish, $24
Pairing: Riesling Kabinet, Mosel Germany
Baby Greens with pear, honey-roasted pecans, heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, and a roquefort-lime dressing, $22
Pairing: Chardonnay Hartford Court, Russian River Valley
Ceviche Tasting with scallop, shrimp, calamari, and white fish ceviches, $29
Pairing: Sauvignon Blanc Bogle, California
Main Dishes
Macadamia-Crusted Snapper with spinach risotto and a raspberry beaujolais beurre blanc, $44
Pairing: Rose Miraval, Cotes de Provence FR
Free-Range Citrus Chicken with truffled sweet potato mash, sautéed haricots vert, and gorgonzola citrus beurre blanc, $35
Pairing: Merlot Alexander Valley, CA
8-Ounce Filet Mignon with leek potato mash, steamed spinach, roquefort cheese, and a cabernet reduction sauce $64
Pairing: Brunello Di Montalcino, Banfi Italy
Desserts
Chef Kal’s Cheesecake with a sugar glaze and blackberry purée, $17
Pairing: Prosecco, La Marca, Italy
Tiramisu with ladyfingers, espresso, mascarpone custard, and cocoa, $21
Pairing: Dow’s Port Wine
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Starting next week, the 5th-annual South Beach Seafood Festival will be back on the shores of Miami Beach—and it’s coming back bigger and better than ever. Sponsored by Breakthru Beverage Florida, CI Management, and a handful of partners, this festival officially kicks off stone crab season in Miami every October. Taking place at Lummus Park, this sand-in-your-toes event isn’t your typical outdoor festival. For one, it’s under the warm South Florida sun, features haute Miami Beach restaurants, raises money for child nutrition, includes 30+ open-food-and-bar stations, and has a week of food and wine events and top chef battles leading up to it. In short, this is one celebration of food you don’t want to miss.
Intrigued? We thought so. Find out everything you need to know about SOBE Seafood Festival 2017, below!
A Whole South Beach Seafood WEEK
Because why limit the fun to one day? This year, the week-long events include:

Crabs, Slabs, & Cabs (Tuesday, October 17 at 6:30 p.m.): Hosted by Jackson Family Wines and Menin Hospitality, this new event will couple Miami chefs with a Jackson Family Master of Wine for exclusive surf n’ turf-and-wine pairings. This walk-around tasting event will take place at Shelborne Miami Beach’s VIP pool deck garden. Shelborne Miami Beach is located at 1801 Collins Avenue. Tickets are priced at $100, and include goody bags, food-and-wine pairings, and more.

Cooking and Cocktails (Wednesday, October 18 at 6:30 p.m.): Join Executive Chef Sean Brasel, of Meat Market, and Celebrity Chef Fernando Desa, of GOYA, as they create a six-course, tapas-style seafood dinner at Meat Market on Lincoln Road. Each course will be paired with a Herradura cocktail that a Herradura brand ambassador and Ezra Pattek, lead mixologist of Meat Market, will help you make yourself. This sit-down event will take place at Meat Market Miami. Meat Market Miami is located at 915 Lincoln Road. Tickets are priced at $100.

An Evening At Joe’s, Presented by La Crema (Thursday, October 19 at 6:30 p.m.): This event, which takes place in Jessie’s Room at Joe’s Stone Crab, will include a five-course, wine-pairing meal by Chef Andre Bienvenu, of Joe’s Stone Crab, and Jackson Family Wines’ Master Sommelier, Thomas Price. The culmination of this night will be to taste the world’s freshest stone crab catch of 2017—which event guests will be some of the first to experience. This sit-down event will take place at Joe’s Stone Crab. Joe’s Stone Crab is located at 11 Washington Avenue. Tickets are priced at $500.

VIP #ChefShowdown (Friday, October 20 at 7 p.m.): Hosted by Cambria Winery, this competition pits Miami’s top 16 executive chefs against each other and lets the guests choose the winners. Hosted inside the Range Rover VIP Hospitality Village and GOYA Culinary Pavilion, chefs will be paired head-to-head in a total of eight different seafood battles. Guests will sample the food at each station and vote to decide this year’s champions. The event will range from Battle Crab, Battle Surf N’ Turf, and Battle Taco, to Battle Fish, Battle Shrimp, Oyster Pit Battle, the 2nd Annual Herradura Showdown, and more. Our favorite chefs to look out for include: Chef Andre Bienvenu (Joe’s Stone Crab),  Chef Santiago Gomez (Tacology), and Chef Massimo Giannattasio (Cibo Wine Bar). Adding to its allure, this event will fuse competition-level food and tropical cocktails with live entertainment. This walk-around tasting event will take place at Lummus Park. The entrance to Lummus Park will be located at 12 Street and Ocean Drive. Tickets start at $150.

The Main Event: South Beach Seafood Festival 2017
This all-day festival, brought to you by Kendall Jackson and presented by Coca-Cola and Jack Daniel’s, welcomes over 13,000 seafood lovers to the sunny shores of South Beach. Sitting right on the sand at Lummus Park, this walk-around tasting event will feature special pop-up cafés from 18 of Miami’s top chefs, open bars, wine pairings, live music, a Jack Daniel’s Beach Club, iHeart Radio djs, culinary demos, a VIP Dance Club, and more. This festival will take place on Saturday, October 21, from Noon to 7 p.m. The entrance to Lummus Park will be located at 14 Street and Ocean Drive. Those with VIP tickets will get exclusive access to the festival until 9 p.m.

Buy Tickets!
Interested in any of these events? Get your tickets here.

A Way to Give Back
This festival isn’t just delicious; it’s for a good cause, too. When you buy tickets to any South Beach Seafood Week event, a portion of proceeds will benefit the Community Initiative Foundation’s “Eat Smart” program. This program works with schools to provide healthy weekend meals and nutritional guidance to children in the Miami Beach community.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Everyone who’s anyone in Miami knows about the iconic Joe’s Stone Crab {11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.0365}. Mainly famous for its juicy, fresher-than-fresh stone crab claws, fancy butlers, dazzling dining room, prime South of Fifth location, and in-the-know takeout window, “Joe’s,” as the locals call it, is a staple here in the Magic City. Confirming its fame, this Friday, October 13, the standout seafood spot will open for its 104th—yes, you read that right—stone crab season. And even though its still four days away, Miami locals are already counting down the days.
Having first opened in the same location in 1913, Joe’s Stone Crab wasn’t always a stone crab place. In fact, owner Joe Weiss originally opened it as a casual lunch counter named “Joe’s” and didn’t even start serving his famous claws until nearly a decade later. In 1921, a Harvard University ichthyologist, or someone who specializes in the science of fish, came to Weiss with a bag full of stone crabs and asked him to find a way for people to eat them; something completely unheard of at the time. Skeptical, Joe started experimenting with the claws anyway, and even came up with his classic Joe’s Famous Mustard Sauce (get the recipe here!). After that, there was no going back. Joe’s served the very first stone crabs later that year, and has become a haven for stone crab-loving celebrities, superstars, big businessmen, politicians, world leaders, and presidents ever since.
This Friday, we here in Miami get to honor Joe’s legendary history by once again kicking-off a season that the restaurant practically created. If you want to experience it, get there early. Joe’s doesn’t take reservations, and once it opens, there will surely be a line out the door. Given its annual popularity, the owners expect to serve around 1,500 pounds of stone crabs on opening night, along with time-honored side dishes and desserts like Joe’s hashed brown potatoes, creamed spinach, and of course, the key lime pie. As any veteran stone crab-lover will tell you, it’s both a meal and an experience you won’t want to miss.
The restaurant will reopen for dinner this Friday, October 13, at 5 p.m. Lunch will reopen in the main restaurant on Tuesday, October 17, at 11:30 a.m. Joe’s Takeaway will reopen Friday, October 13, at 5 p.m., with the first breakfast being served on October 14, at 7:30 a.m. The bar will open this Friday, October 13, at 4 p.m. Limited free parking is available across the street and Joe’s offers its own valet.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

We all like to go out to eat and explore in Miami, but sometimes, we want to do it in a way that doesn’t break the bank. Fortunately for you, the Magic City has tons of standing discounts, at some of its hottest spots, designed to get you through every day of the week.
Want the inside scoop? We’ve got it. Read below for some Miami steals and deals that only the real locals know about.
The Betsy Hotel:
Head to The Betsy Hotel {1440 Ocean Drive, South Beach; 844.862.3157} on Thursdays, and you can immerse yourself in a taste of the local culture for free. At 10:30 a.m., start with Morning Culture Break, where visiting artists and creatives from the Miami community come and host “artist talks,” and move on to a 4 p.m. guided tour of The Betsy’s Art Collection with the hotel’s Visual Arts Specialist herself. From 6 to 10 p.m. that night, enjoy live jazz in the lobby as part of the hotel’s Live Music Series. All of the above are free to get into and there’s absolutely no drink minimum. All you do have to RSVP! (Pro tip: Get to the live jazz right at 6 p.m., and you’ll also be able to catch the last 30 minutes of the “Grape Escape” deal, where you can get glasses of wine for just $7 at the Lobby Bar.)
LT Steak & Seafood:
Head to LT Steak & Seafood {1440 Ocean Drive, South Beach; 844.862.3157}, Laurent Tourondel’s restaurant at The Betsy Hotel, and you’ll get a treat for all the senses. There’s free live jazz Tuesday through Saturday, from 6 to 10 p.m., and free popovers—or light, hollow bread rolls made from an egg batter—with every meal.
Cantina La Veinte:
Get ready, ladies! Every Wednesday, from 5 to 10 p.m., Cantina La Veinte {495 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 786.623.6135} gives girls free (free!) bottomless margaritas.
Café Roval:
With its rustic interior and lush, lantern-lit Japanese gardens, Café Roval {5808 NE 4 Court, Miami, Morningside; 786.953.7850} is one of the most romantic spots in town. If you want to impress your date, but don’t want to break the bank, opt for one of the Mediterranean restaurant’s set, prix-fixe menus. The cheapest one is $60 per person, but it gives you a three-course meal with standout options like Baking Bread with French feta, Lamb Meatballs with whipped ricotta, Beef Shawarma, Short Rib with garlic kale, Deboned Yellowtail Snapper with tabbouleh, Chocolate Marsala Cake, Warm Sour Cherry Strudel, and more.
Cibo Wine Bar Coral Gables:
Every Monday night, go to Cibo Wine Bar {45 MIracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.442.4925} for Monday Pizza + Peroni. Here, you can get homemade pizzas and a cold Peroni for just $10.
Ironside Pizza:
Known for its Neapolitan pizza, Ironside Pizza {7580 Northeast 4 Court, Miami; 305.531.5055} is where you go for wood-fire oven pizzas made with only the finest organic products, homemade cured meats, and mozzarella fiordilatte. Here, you can get a real taste of Italy without buying a plane ticket to get there—in fact, you don’t even have to pay for wine. Grab your friends, split a few pizzas, and BYOB your favorite bottles (plural) of vino. Ironside Pizza as no corkage fee.
Sawa Restaurant & Lounge:
You’ve heard of happy hour… but have you heard of bonus hour? At Sawa Restaurant & Lounge {360 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.447.6555}, in Village of Merrick Park, there’s happy hour Monday through Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m. But, if you sit at the bar, you can take advantage of Bonus Hour; which is that same happy hour deal, but longer. It runs seven days a week, from 4 to 8 p.m., and has all of these deals.
Joe’s Stone Crab:
Most people go to Joe’s Stone Crab {11 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.673.0365} for the full experience; they want the expensive stone crabs, the white-glove service, the dolled-up waiters buzzing around them, and the perfect glass of wine. But as the locals know, you don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars for that same quality food. For a real treat, go to Joe’s Takeaway for breakfast or lunch, where you can get much of the same food to go for $30 or less.
Salumeria 104:
From 5 to 7 p.m., go to this Midtown Miami spot for food and see if you can “beat the clock.” There are three items on the menu that apply to this deal—Spaghetti al Pomodoro, Gnocchi alla Romana, and Tagliatelle Bolognese—and what you pay depends on the time you order it. For example, if you order one of those three dishes at 5 p.m., you’ll pay five dollars for it; if you order one at 6:15 p.m., you’ll pay $6.15 for it. Last orders must be placed by 7 p.m. at Salumeria 104 {3451 NE 1 Avenue, #104, Midtown; 305.424.9588}, and the deal is available Monday through Friday, for dine-in guests only.
Happy Dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Pineapples & Pizza at Matador Bar
When: Thursday, October 26 from 9 to 11 p.m.
Every month, Matador Bar hosts its monthly live music series, Pineapples & Pizza—and the next one is happening at the end of this month. On Thursday, October 26, join the luxury-loving locals and sip and savor a one-time-only Beef Carpaccio Pizza with button mushroom, arugula and parmesan (by Chef Jean-George Vongerichten himself!) and an Absolut Elxy Pineapple cocktail paired specifically with it. While you eat, sway to the tunes of local legends, Patrick & The Swayzees. It’s a casual night of music, pizza, cocktails, and haute surroundings that you’ll be glad is coming back the following month. The pizza and pineapple cocktail pairing costs $35, and is available at Matador Bar only.   
Oysters & Rosé at Market at EDITION
When: Daily from 4 to 6 p.m.
Did somebody say happy hour?! At this Mediterranean market-inspired restaurant, get $10 Whispering Angel rosé by the glass and premium oysters for just $2 each every single day.
Love For Locals
When: October 2017
Are you a Florida local? If so, visit either Market at EDITION or Matador Room, from now through October 31, and you’ll get 15% off your meal. All residents must show a valid Florida driver’s license to get the discount.
Croquetas & Champagne at Matador Bar
When: Daily from 6 to 9 p.m.
Inspired by the ever-popular Croquetas & Champagne event at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Croquetas & Champagne hour at Matador Bar has become somewhat of a staple. Every night, head to Matador Bar for $15 glasses of Moët & Chandon champagne and two-for-$5 gourmet croquetas. The croqueta options? Truffle Cheese Croquetas with sliced beef carpaccio, and aged balsamic; Cinco Jotas Jamon Croquetas with aged manchego cheese with a smoked paprika emulsion; and Corn and Jalapeño Croquetas with a chipotle emulsion and cilantro. Yum!
Morning Coffee 2.0
When: Every Morning
Thanks to a recently-updated coffee program, Market at EDITION is putting a new spin on your morning pick-me-up. Now, head there for a rotating brew selection from Philadelphia-based La COLOMBE, which has everything from drip brew, French press, and pour-over coffee, to cold brew, Espresso, and specialty coffees, all on draft. You can drink it black, have it with milk, or punch it up with a slew of new gourmet syrups like vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, coconut, chai, and white or dark chocolate. On top of that, you can be a good and happy citizen of the world, too. Every coffee cup is now completely sustainable and eco-friendly, and you can snag a basket of pastries for your office for just $10.
Happy Dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor