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Lincoln Road has been a Miami Beach hotspot since it was first paved in the 1920s, heralded for its top-notch people watching and, with its lines of restaurants spilling out onto the streets, distinctly European feel. And when Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833} joined the scene in 2006, it brought a real taste of Italy to this Miami slice of European paradise.
Next time you’re craving some good ol’ Italian cuisine, grab a seat inside or on the promenade and let the team at Quattro wine and dine you until you’re full and happy. Considering the culinary team comes straight from northern Italy and the wine list is made up of 300+ bottles—all covering the different regions of Italy—that shouldn’t be too hard.
Because we love this spot so much, we sat down with Roberto Sanso, Partner and General Manager of Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, to find out just what makes this Italian mainstay so special. Here’s what he had to say:
Tell us about Quattro. What makes it stand out from other Italian restaurants in Miami?
It stands out for consistency. We’ve been open for 12 years, which in Miami, is almost a record! We don’t want people to just be impressed with the décor and the DJ. We want people to come and eat a good meal and leave feeling like “that’s what an Italian meal is,” without having to travel for 11 hours. So many restaurants here focus on the parties or how everything looks. We want the food to be the main experience; we believe when you go to a restaurant, the food is what you should remember.
And how does Executive Chef Luciano Sautto make the food so memorable?
We use the best pasta in Italy, our tomato sauce is from the south of Italy, and our Parmesan cheese is made using only Italian ingredients. We buy ingredients from the parts of Italy that are famous for those ingredients.
Speaking of food, what’s the most popular dish on the Quattro menu?
I can’t name just one—I have to name four. There’s the Parmigiana Di Melanzane In Forma, which is a baked eggplant layered with mozzarella and Parmesan; Ossobuco Alla Milanese; Vitello Tonnato Con Capperi, which has thin slices of veal, capers, and tuna from the Italian island of Favignana; and the Preparazione Casalinga Dei Ravioli Di Casa Savoia Tartufati, which is ravioli stuffed with fontina and taleggio, and drizzled with white truffle oil. They’ve been on the menu as signature dishes for the past 12 years. I think we make it better here than you’ll find in Italy. Those four dishes are things people remember.
According to your expertise, what’s the secret to good Italian cooking?
If you put too many ingredients in an Italian dish, you ruin it. You just need fresh ingredients and simple recipes.
Why is Italian food so popular?
There’s a variety of everything, and it can be healthy or not healthy. It’s up to you! I think simplicity is the key to its success; you can eat Italian everyday because it’s simple.
Why is Lincoln Road the perfect location for Quattro Miami?
There’s a European style over here and I like that. It’s the only part of Miami where people walk and enjoy the city, the weather, and the stores; that’s what I love about it. It matches the style of our restaurant.
Here in Miami, so many restaurants come and go. Why do you think Quattro has been able to stick around for so long?
In Miami, people are always looking for something new and different. In Europe, restaurants will be open for 100 years, and they’re known for doing what they do best. So we have to continue to do what we do best. It’s good to try new things, but at the end of the day, there’s a history behind the Italian tradition. Eating should be a genuine, simple thing, and your menu should always be based on what you’re good at. Food should be simple. Even when guests read the menu, they shouldn’t’ be intimidated. If someone is doing something for 100 years, it’s because they’re doing it right. Why should we want to change that? Some people tell us we are too Italian—we take it as a compliment. We want to be too Italian.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor


If you’re looking for a new twist on a Bloody Mary, this Mexican concoction from Lolo’s Surf Cantina {161 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.735.6973} is for you! Perfect for Sunday brunch, the spicy Chavela is a cross between a Bloody Mary and a margarita.
Not going out for Sunday brunch this week? Indulge at home and make it for yourself. We’ve got the recipe, below:
Mix one ounce Chavela Mexican Mix, two ounces Clamato tomato sauce, and 3/4 ounces lime juice in a tall glass. Top with Pacifico beer. Rim the glass with Tajin and a lime wedge.


Here in South Florida, in both Delray Beach and Sunset Harbor, you can feel like you’re wining and dining in Sardinia, Italy! How? By heading to one of our best Italian restaurants, Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante {1801 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.2228}.
And to make sure you do, this Sardinian stunner is offering special deals for summer 2018 that you just can’t resist. Well, the deals and the wine collection. Grab a seat outside when the sun goes down, or head inside and look around: you’ll see the restaurant’s 300+-bottle wine collection on the walls surrounding you.
50% Off Mondays
This isn’t fake news: Every Monday in summer 2018, your entire dinner (excluding drinks) is 50% OFF during dinner.
Wine Tuesdays
Red wine? White wine? Both? During Wine Tuesday, you’ll get 30% select wine labels up to $200, starting at 4 p.m.

Girls Night Out Wednesdays
It’s girls night—so join the team at Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante for $5 glasses of Zonin Prosecco or $8 splits of rosé. Cheers, ladies!
$10 Pasta Wednesdays
And speaking of Wednesdays… get some of the most authentic pasta in town for just, wait for it, $10. Pair that with an extended happy hour (it’s until Midnight at the bar!) or Girls Night Out deal, and you’ll be living la vita dolce in no time.
Scotch O’Clock Fridays
Every Friday, guests can enjoy a nice glass of scotch during Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante‘s beat-the-clock happy hour! The deal runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the price of the scotch is priced according to the time you place the order. (For example, if you order it at 6 p.m., it costs $6; if you order it at 7 p.m., it costs $7; etc.) The types of scotch on tap include: JW Black, Dewars 12, Buchanan 12, and Chivas.
Weekend Champagne Brunch
Every Saturday and Sunday, from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., don’t miss the Champagne Brunch. While there, order Traditional Eggs Benedict, Zucchini Tart stuffed with ham and pecorino, or even Spaghetti Carbonara with eggs, wild boar bacon, and pecorino. Pair is all with $50 bottles of Veuve Clicquot Brut, $85 bottles of Veuve Clicquot Rosé, or $6 mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Daily Happy Hour
There on an off day? There’s still a deal for you. Everyday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., get $3 beers, $7 cocktails and wines, and reduced-price antipasti.

Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Tasty Tuesday: Madeleines from Boulud Sud Miami

makes 12 large or 5 dozen mini
Ingredients

3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp Kosher salt
2 large eggs
1/3 c granulated sugar
1 Tbsp light brown sugar
1 Tbsp honey
2 tsp lemon or orange zest, finely-grated
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, warm and melted
Method

Whisk all-purpose flour, baking powder, and Kosher salt in a small bowl. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, honey, and the lemon or orange zest until smooth. Whisk the dry ingredients from the small bowl into the medium bowl until just incorporated, then whisk in the warm, melted unsalted butter until smooth. Transfer batter to a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
While it’s chilling, preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly coat a 12-cake regular madeleine pan or three 20-cake mini madeleine pans (depending on whether you want to make large or mini madeleines) with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Dust with flour and tap out the excess. Snip the end off a pastry  bag—or if you don’t have one, snip the corner off any resealable plastic bag—and pipe the batter into the pan. Don’t fill the pan more than 2/3 full. You may have a little batter left over, and that’s okay.
Bake madeleines until the edges are golden brown and the centers are puffed. This should take about 8-10 minutes for large madeleines and five minutes for minis. (You’ll know they’re done when they spring back lightly when gently pressed.)
To serve: Move the madeleines from the pan to a serving bowl, and dust with powdered sugar. Serve while still warm.

Boulud Sud Miami is located at 255 Biscayne Boulevard Way.

Fettuccine with Shrimp in a Mascarpone Pesto Sauce

serves many
Ingredients

1 lb dry fettuccine
1 lb black tiger shrimp
1 garlic clove, chopped
2 oz dry white wine
20 oz Italian tomatoes, crushed
3 Tbsp mascarpone cheese
6 Tbsp basil pesto
2 oz extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
Method

Add salt to a pot of water and boil. Place a large skillet on medium-to-high heat and add half of the extra virgin olive oil. Add shrimp and let it brown on each side. Add garlic and deglaze pan with white wine. Remove shrimp and set aside. Add crushed tomatoes. Let it all simmer for 10 minutes.
Once the water is boiling, add the fettuccine and stir until all pasta is submerged. Cook the fettuccine according to the packaging instructions. Add mascarpone to the sauce and let it simmer for another five minutes. Add the shrimp and half of the basil pesto for two-to-three minutes to let the shrimp finish cooking. Strain the fettuccine and add it to the sauce. Toss the fettuccine with the last ounce of extra virgin olive oil, until well combined.
To serve: Use remaining pesto for garnish and serve warm.
Cibo Wine Bar is located at 45 Miracle Mile.

Tacos & Tequila Tuesdays at Lolo’s Surf Cantina

Here is this week’s Miami food news:

Monday, June 11: Bacco Night
Head to the classic Lincoln Road Italian spot, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833}, for its acclaimed “Bacco Night”—a Monday night special where all 200+ bottles on the restaurant’s La Bucca di Bacco wine list are available for 50% off. To make sure you enjoy it to the fullest, the restaurant has even come up with a list of select dishes that pair perfectly with the vintages. This deal is available every Monday, from Noon to 11 p.m.
Tuesday, June 12: Tacos & Tequila Tuesdays
Tuesdays are for tacos! (And tequila.) Get half off all tacos, as well as $5 margaritas and $3 Ilegal Mezcal and tequila shots, when you head to Lolo’s Surf Cantina {161 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.735.6973}. This deal is available every Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Wednesday, June 13: Family Pastry Class & Tour
Bring out your inner pastry chef! At the Fontainebleau Miami Beach {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 800.548.8886}, kids and parents alike can head to the pastry kitchen and whip up a little something sweet with one of the hotel’s pastry chefs. Perfect for any skill level, families can bake, laugh, and at the end of the class, taste their creations. This class will take place every Wednesday and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Classes are priced at $20 per person, and reservations are required. Participants must be 5+ years old.

Thursday, June 14: Thursday Cibo Sociale
If you live near the Mile, walk on over to Cibo Wine Bar Coral Gables {45 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305.442.4925}, and you’ll get half-off wine, beer, and cocktails from 4 to 7 p.m. In addition to that, there will be a a live DJ and free drinks for all ladies from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This deal is available every Thursday, starting at 4 p.m.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor



Tuna Tartare from BLT Prime

Ingredients
Tuna Tartare Dressing:
1 Tbsp wasabi powder
1 Tbsp water
1 1/2 Tbsp white mirin
2 1/2 Tbsp light soy sauce
2 1/2 tsp mustard oil
2 1/2 tsp rice wine vinegar
1/2 tsp honey
2 1/2 tsp lime juice
1 c shallots, finely diced
Salt and pepper, to taste 
Crispy Shallots:
1 c shallots, finely diced
Wondra flour
Avocado:
1/2 avocado, ripe (but not mushy)
Lime juice, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Tuna:
1 c sushi-grade tuna, finely diced
Olive oil (good quality)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Micro peppercress, for garnish
Mustard oil, for garnish
Potato chips, for garnish
Method
For the dressing: In a bowl, stir together the wasabi powder and water. Whisk in the mirin, soy sauce, mustard oil, lime juice, vinegar, and honey. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
For the shallots: Toss the shallots in Wondra flour. Shake off excess. Fry in oil (at around 250°F) for 10-15 minutes until tender, but not browned. Once the shallots are soft, increase the temperature and crisp until golden brown. (This should take about five to seven minutes.) Drain. Season with salt and pepper. Place in an airtight container lined with paper towels.
For the avocado: Dice the avocado into small pieces. Season with lime juice, salt, and pepper. Place in a pastry bag.
For the tuna: Season tuna in large bowl. Add olive oil. Place in a pastry bag. 
To serve: Grease the inside of a 3” square mold with olive oil. Using a dessert pipe, pipe in some avocado and flatten. After that, pipe in some tuna and flatten. (The desired ratio should be 1/3 avocado to 2/3 tuna.) Place a thin, even layer of crispy shallots on top and flatten. Remove the mold. Shake the sauce and drizzle around the tuna. Dot with mustard oil. Top with peppercress dressed in a drop of olive oil. Serve with 3 or 4 potato chips.
BLT Prime is located at 4400 NW 87 Avenue.