When Antonio Braschi opened Costa Med Bistro + Wine {260 Crandon Boulevard, Suite #46, Key Biscayne; 305.361.7575} and Kazumi {260 Crandon Boulevard #16, Key Biscayne; 305.361.2675}, both right next to each other, he revived the dining scene in Key Biscayne for good. And because we love both spots, we wanted to sit down with the restaurateur to find out exactly how he did it.
Here’s what Mr. Braschi had to say:
How did your career in the restaurant industry begin?
It’s what I studied in school! After school, I worked for Carnival Crystal Palace Resort & Casino in Nassau, The Condado Plaza in Puerto Rico, and the Eurobuilding Hotel & Suites in Caracas. After I finished my career in the hotel business in the mid 1990s, I moved on to the restaurant industry. I started as a salesman for a food service company, knocking on doors at catering homes, kitchens, hotels, etc. I eventually became a partner in the company.
What made you want to open Costa Med?
That food service company took off nicely, but the politics in Venezuela made it harder. I wanted to open the food service company here, but it was an uphill battle. We needed a lot of investment and I couldn’t find anyone to do it with me. So, I purchased a little coffee shop that I turned into a restaurant, Costa Med.
Costa Med is turning 15 in May. How has it changed over the years?
It was a little hole-in-the-wall when I first bought it, and it had orange plastic chairs and those display refrigerators in the front. In 2007, I remodeled it into a fine-dining establishment. It was originally an Argentinian restaurant! We moved into the Mediterranean arena, and now we serve food from France, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and more. I thought it was more fun to do things from all over than sticking with one type of food. This way, you can have more fun with it and take advantage of what’s in season.
Let’s move on to Kazumi. What made you want to open an Asian concept after a Mediterranean one?
As the restaurant industry was growing in Venezuela, we started to bring in almost every item that you need for making sushi. So I knew it was something interesting. Plus, I’m a Capricorn. We like to climb the difficult areas. I’m always thinking about how I can do better and how I can grow. In 2012, I started to build out for Kazumi. It took over a year to accomplish, and it wasn’t easy, but it opened in February 2014 and it’s been rocking ever since. Then, in late 2015, not too long after, I remodeled Costa Med and expanded it. It went from antique fine dining to an ambiance that’s contemporary and urban, and doubled the amount of seats. I kept the menu the same, though. We’re always tweaking the menu here and there, depending on what’s in season, but for the most part, it’s the same. It’s that good.
What’s the secret behind your dishes?
My ingredients and my staff! I try to buy my fish whole. It’s the only way you know you’re getting the right fish and its fresh. When you buy a fillet, you don’t know what you’re really getting or where you’re getting it from. I’m like that with fruit, too; I can’t just order it to be delivered. I have to go there and see, touch, and taste the produce to know what ingredients I’m getting. Plus, my staff has been with me for many years. Three of the guys at Kazumi came with me from Costa Med. I think that’s so important–if two different people make the same recipe, it will still taste different. You need consistency in the restaurant business; and because of my staff, we’re able to have this.
Why Key Biscayne?
Young people in Key Biscayne had nowhere to go except a pizza joint. Kazumi was aimed at young people, but it’s actually been good for everyone. I have 18 and 80 year olds dining at the same time. It’s fast, it’s healthy, it’s shareable and it’s a lot of fun.
What’s next for Antonio Braschi?
I’m already scouting a new location for a new venture; I don’t know what it will be yet. It depends what I find and what the need is in that area! For example, if there are seven Italian spots where I find a good location, I won’t put a Costa Med there. I don’t want to bump heads with other restaurants. I like quality over quantity.
Rapid-fire questions:

• Your go-to meal to make at home: I’m not a good cook. I’m great at washing dishes. I am fortunate to have my wife, who likes to cook and cooks well. She was taught by her mother and aunt who are from Naples, Italy. I don’t try to compete with her. I just do the dirty work!
• Your favorite at-home dinner: My favorite food is a very well-made Lebanese meal. My grandparents are from Lebanon, so it resonates with me.
• Your favorite weekend activity in Miami: I have two teenagers, so I do what the family wants to do. We like to go out to eat, go shopping, go to the beach, and hangout with family and friends. We live right on the ocean in Key Biscayne, where people want to go on vacation, so that makes it easy for us to find plenty of things to do. There’s never a boring weekend. Sometimes you want one so you can rest!
• Your favorite thing on the Kazumi menu: I always go for sushi or sashimi because the fish is the freshest. I love the Unagi.
• Your favorite thing on the Costa Med menu: By far, it’s going to be the Steak Tartare because it reminds me of a Lebanese dish called Kibbeh.
• Your go-to nightcap: I love very silky California cabernets or more complex pinot noirs, like a Burgundy. But definitely red wine. I love wines over cocktails.
• Your dream job if you weren’t in the restaurant industry: I would probably still have to be in the hospitality industry in some way. I’m too much of a people person. I like to serve! If I could go back in time, though, I would have loved to be a doctor. There’s something about the whole thing that excites me and I’d still get to help people.
• The best piece of advice you’ve ever received: Work hard. Everyday, you might have a lot of setbacks; but you have to be like a boxer. Put Vaseline on your face so punches slip by. Do that every morning and get out there. Sometimes it feels like the whole world is out to get you, but you have to be smarter. Aim for the best! You might not be perfect, but at the end, you’ll be rewarded. If you always work hard, are responsible, learn, and go the extra mile, it’s hard not to get noticed.

Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

It’s time for a Miami date night! Treat yourself, and your special someone, to a romantic dinner at one of these five restaurants:
Café Roval
Occupying a historic coral pump house in upper east side Miami, Café Roval {5808 NE 4 Court, Miami, Morningside; 786.953.7850} was practically designed for lovers. Its modern farm-to-table menu aside—think Stracciatella with avocado, tomato, and sumac; Crispy Squash Blossoms with fenugreek and curry; cheese and charcuterie plates; and mains like NY Strip steaks with salt-roasted potatoes, romesco, and bordelaise—jazz music is always playing, and the cocktail and wine list is on point. What really causes the spark, however, is the ambiance. Grab a table outside at dusk, by the Buddha pond and torchlit gardens, and you’ll forget you’re even in Miami.
Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante
Here, wine surrounds you… literally. The walls are filled with floor-to-ceiling wine shelves, and to go with all that free-flowing vino, there are plates like make-your-own cheese and charcuterie on garnished wooden boards, Sausage & Broccoli Rabe Pizza, Rabbit with Brussels sprouts and bacon, and a salt-crusted Sea Bass. The kitchen is run by Sardinian chef and Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante {1801 Purdy Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.2228} co-owner, Pietro Vardeu, so it’s kind of like having a date night in Italy.
The Strand Bar & Grill
The Strand Bar & Grill {6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.514.7474} at the Carillon Miami promises good-for-you-good American fare in a beautiful, oceanfront setting. The menu is inspired by what’s in season, and many of the dishes pay a nod to South Florida’s organic community. Grab a seat on the terrace, which has endless views of the Atlantic Ocean, and pair cocktails like A Beet Up Mule with plates like Sea Scallops with Jerusalem artichoke, pomegranate, Brussels sprouts, and black truffle; Kampachi Crudo with asparagus, yuzu, radish, and rice crisp; and one of our favorites, the Lamb Trio, which serves lamb loin, lamb belly, and merguez sausage with smoked yogurt, za’atar, confit tomato, and a cucumber gremolata. We have the recipe for that last one here!
Seaspice
Dining at Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami;  305.440.4200} isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience! And it’s one you want to share with someone you love. Sitting right on the Miami River, this haute, trendy restaurant and lounge is decked out in natural woods and soft white fabrics, boasts a see-and-be-seen crowd (many of whom arrive by yacht), and at night, serves a Mediterranean menu under the stars. You and your love can start by sharing a Truffle Brie Tart with black truffle and mascarpone or Burrata with crispy kataifi and olive tapenade, and move onto Maine Lobster Pizzetta and Salt-Crusted Market Fish flambéed tableside with black truffle risotto. To end on a sweet note, split the Guanaja Chocolate Cremoso with cocoa nib crumble, seaweed “snow,” and toasted rice mousse. Pro tip: Make a reservation at table #86 or #87, and you’ve snagged the most romantic table at the restaurant. Both sit right on the river and have dim lighting and direct views of the Downtown Miami skyline.
Old Lisbon
This Portuguese restaurant is a classic for a reason. At Old Lisbon {1698 SW 22 Street, Miami; 305.854.0039}, the flavors and aroma of Portugal make you feel like you’ve hopped on a honeymoon to the country itself. Grab a seat in the modern-rustic dining room, and watch your dishes—like the 10-ounce Bitoque Bife topped with an egg and served with rice and fried potatoes, sautéed Meat from Porco to Alentejana with clams, potatoes, and pickles, in a white-wine garlic sauce, and a lightly-breaded Bacalhau à Old Lisbon with mashed potatoes, olive oil, garlic, and onions—prepared by a top-notch team in an open kitchen. Don’t worry, the wine list is top notch, too. At the back of the dining area, guests will find an impressive wine room stocked with Portuguese, Spanish, and other Mediterranean wines, as well as chilled Portuguese pilsners.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Miami Spice is finally here! Created by The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), this annual two-month promotion—which runs from August 1, to September 30, 2018—gives diners prix-fixe menus at 200+ of Miami’s top restaurants. Included in this promotion? Three-course lunches starting at just $23 per person.

And to kick-off Spice season, we’ve narrowed down some of our favorite lunch deals in town. Here are five restaurants where you can find them:
Ariete: This Coconut Grove stunner took everyone’s breath away when it opened its doors in 2016. Helmed by one of Miami’s best chefs, Michael Beltran, the New-American-meets-New-World Ariete {3540 Main Highway, Coconut Grove; 305.640.5862} is known for its inviting, but intimate atmosphere and creative plates. Go for lunch and start with appetizers like Brussels Sprouts and Burrata with melao and tasajo or Wood Grilled Chicken Wings with fish sauce caramel, and move on to entrées like the Chug Burger or Fish Milanese with tomato ragout and bib lettuce. For the cherry on top of a great meal, end with the Ariete Flan with candy cap mushrooms and Sambuca-flavored crema or the Ariete House Turtle Cookie with butterscotch and chocolate chunks.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio: There’s nothing celebrity chef Gastón Acurio can’t do, and the same goes for Executive Chef Diego Oka, who runs his namesake Peruvian restaurant in Miami, La Mar by Gaston Acurio {500 Brickell Bay Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8358}. Known for its beautiful views of both Biscayne Bay and the Downtown Miami skyline, go here for a Miami Spice lunch that includes the Trio Sampler with cebiche carretillero, causa salad, and anticucho corazón, the Shrimp Locro with kabocha squash stew and queso fresco, Tallarines Verdes with anticucho skirt steak, and a dessert of Chicha Morada Paletas.
Artisan Beach House: Part of the Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Artisan Beach House {10295 Collins Avenue, Bal Harbour; 305.455.5460} is popular for its fresher-than-fresh seafood and sweeping views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. During Miami Spice, go for lunch and indulge in Shakshuka Hummus with grilled naan bread and roasted tomato tapenade, Cobia Ceviche with aji amarillo leche de tigre and grilled homestead corn, Black Pepper Linguini with oven-roasted cauliflower, Grilled Salmon with smoked farro and bok choy, and Blueberry Crumble Cheesecake with orange gelée and chantilly cream.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana: Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833} has been an Italian staple on Lincoln Road since 2006. During the day, lunch on Lincoln Road is more than a meal—it’s an all-day activity. Through the end of September, opt for a three-course meal of authentic Italian fare: like Caprese with Buffalo mozzarella with multicolor tomatoes, Rigatoni alla Boscaiola with Parma ham and porcini mushrooms, Dentice alla Griglia with grilled red snapper filet and a lemon caper sauce, and for dessert, homemade gelato.

Hakkasan: Everyone who’s anyone knows about Hakkasan {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.276.1388}, whether it’s for its nightclub in Las Vegas or its haute Cantonese cuisine right here at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Go with a guest and enjoy a family-style dim sum menu for a minimum of two people. Start with the Dim Sum Basket—it comes complete with Chinese-chive shrimp dumplings, black rice and vegetable dumplings and spicy beef dumplings with lotus root shumai—as well as family-style plates like Grilled Honey Char Shui and Braised Beef Shin Platter, Sautéed Pak Choi with garlic sauce, and Braised Diced Soy Chicken with noodles. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the Mango Custard with Kalamanzi gel and yuzu meringue or the Chocolate Cake with a sesame cremeux.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Miami Spice is finally here! Created by The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), this annual two-month promotion—which runs from August 1, to September 30, 2018—gives diners prix-fixe menus at 200+ of Miami’s top restaurants. Included in this promotion? Three-course dinners for just $39 per person.
And to kick-off the season, we’ve narrowed down some of the best dinner deals you have to try. Here are five restaurants where you can find them:
Jaya at The Setai: Get a five-star, pan-Asian feast at Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.520.6000}! Sitting in The Setai, Miami Beach, a Miami Spice dinner here will have you indulging in plates like Steamed Wagyu Brisket Bao with a Korean BBQ brisket, Thai Ceviche, Scottish Salmon with a ginger scallion slaw (find the recipe here!), Chickpea and Vegetables, and more. For dessert, prepare your taste buds for pure joy: like Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding, Peach Crisp with blueberries and an oatmeal rumble, or Passionfruit & Coconut with mint mango.
Villa Azur: Go to this sexy French restaurant for dinner and expect to see-and-be-seen. During Miami Spice, head to Villa Azur {309 23 Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8688} and you’ll get a taste of just what makes Executive Chef Philippe Ruiz so special: like Wild Mushroom and Truffle Tartelettes, Soft Organic Egg with Seared Foie Gras and Truffle Pecorino Cheese, Octopus Carpaccio, a Crisp Short Rib “Bonbon” with cauliflower purée, and Villa Azur’s signature dessert, Nutella Mousse.
AZABU Miami Beach: It’s AZABU Miami Beach’s {161 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 786.276.0520} debut Miami Spice, and this Michelin-star concept is making sure it leaves a good first impression. Open for dinner, the Miami Spice menu includes plates like: Japanese Wagyu Tataki Truffle Ponzu, Grilled Octopus with Coriander Mayo, Branzino with Umami Butter, Chirashi Sushi Bowl, and Yuzu Key Lime Pie. As a bonus, diners will get a FREE chef’s choice starter of the day to start their meal.  
El Cielo: At El Cielo {31 SE 5th Street, Brickell; 305.755.8840}, dinner is an experience; and when you go, you won’t know what to expect. During Miami Spice, guests can expect fan favorite dishes from the restaurant’s 12- or 15-course menus, like Potato Milhoja, Farmer’s Chicken and Colombian Atollado Rice, Grilled Salmon, Colombian Dulce de Leche, and Compressed Mango with Chocolate Hazelnut Ganache—to name just a few.
Novikov Miami: This Chinese-Japanese staple from London has made its way to Miami! Do dinner at Novikov Miami {300 South Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami; 305.489.1000}, and you’re in for a treat. During Spice, feast on Saffron Sweet Corn Dumplings, Mixed Vegetable Tempura with Novikov-style Tenshuyo, Wok Salmon with Black Bean Sauce, or Marinated Grilled Hanger Steak with chili, garlic and yuzu. Then, finish with a decadent dessert like Key Lime Tapioca or Umeshu Black Forest Cake.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Here is this week’s Miami food news:

Thursday, August 9: Tapas Thursday at Palat Miami
Head to Palat Miami {4702 NE 2 Avenue, Upper Buena Vista; 786.953.7577} and take advantage of Tapas Thursday, where you can get select small plates like Manchego, Shishito Peppers, Fried Zucchini, Hummus, Eggplant Caponata Crostini, and more for just $6 each.
Friday, August 10: National S’mores Day at Kiki on the River
In honor of National S’mores Day, Kiki on the River {450 NW North River Drive, Miami; 786.502.3243} will treat Miami diners with $9 S’mores all day long. Here’s how it works: Guests will “DIY” and roast their own marshmallows on a table top with imported chocolate sauce, graham crackers, and a personal fire. This deal will run from Noon to 7:30 p.m.
Every Wednesday – Saturday: “Beat the Clock” Happy Hour at R House
Every week, R House {2727 NW 2 Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201} offers a “Beat the Clock” Happy Hour, where the price you pay for food and drinks depends on when you order. Stop by for a bite at 3 p.m., and pay just $3 for any food and drink. Get there at 4 p.m. and pay just $4 for any food and drink items, and so on and so forth. Enjoy!
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

August is here! And that means so is Miami’s greatest foodie season: the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s 17th-annual Miami Spice Restaurant Program. From now through September 30, 2018, Miami’s top restaurants—from Miami Beach, Brickell, Downtown Miami and Coral Gables, to South Miami, Wynwood, Sunny Isles and even Bal Harbour—will offer three-course $23 brunch and lunch menus and $39 dinner menus. And with over 200 restaurants participating in 2018, believe us when we say: the options are endless.

To help you narrow down what restaurants you should try, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Miami Spice deals. Try them for yourself, and tell us what you think!

Best Miami Spice Brunch Deals
Best Miami Spice Lunch Deals
Best Miami Spice Dinner Deals

NOTE: Alcohol, tax, tip, and service charges are excluded. Program sponsors include Chandon California, Fiji Water, Terrazas de los Andes, and Stella Artois. For more information about Miami Spice, or to see a full list of participating restaurants, Miami Spice menus, and special events, visit www.iLoveMiamiSpice.com.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor

Miami Spice is finally here! Created by The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), this annual two-month promotion—which will run from today, August 1, to September 30, 2018—gives diners prix-fixe menus at 200+ of Miami’s top restaurants. Included in this promotion? Three-course weekend brunches for just $23 per person.
And to kick-off the season, we’ve narrowed down the best brunch deals of the bunch. Here are our top five restaurants to go to for your Miami Spice 2018 brunch:
Seaspice: On a beautiful day in Miami, there’s nowhere better to see-and-be-seen for brunch than haute, trendy Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami;  305.440.4200}. Whether you arrive by car or yacht, go during Miami Spice and start your Instagram-worthy brunch with appetizers like Summer Corn Chowder with basil pesto or King Crab Croquettes with a parsley aioli. For the main, choose from quinoa-and-hemp-seed Power Waffle & Acai Berry with marcona almonds and hazelnut butter, braised Short Rib Benedict on country toast with truffle hollandaise, Seaspice Lobster Benedict with potato hash and chive hollandaise, the Wagyu Burger with English cheddar and crispy potatoes, and more. And because every Sunday should be a little sweeter, finish it off with a Carrot Pistachio Parfait with carrot cake, pistachio cheesecake, pineapple, and oat crumble.
Stubborn Seed: The brainchild of Top Chef winner, Jeremy Ford, Stubborn Seed {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.322.5211} has brought a mind-blowing creativity in food to Miami that South Florida hasn’t seen before. Sitting in South of Fifth, every meal here feels like a special occasion. During Miami Spice, go for brunch and get this celebrity chef-level meal for a steal. Here’s a preview of what you can indulge in: Ricotta with charred sourdough and a citrus marmalade, 18-Minute Biscuits with cracked black pepper and onion jam, Roasted Cauliflower with sunny-side eggs and spicy crumbs, Chai Waffles with whipped espresso cream and spiced syrup, and Snicker Doodle Cookies with brown butter, valrhona gianduja, and cinnamon.
Coco Bambu: This seafood-centric chain first opened in Brazil in 2001, and just last fall, debuted in the U.S. when it opened a location in Miami Beach. Today,Coco Bambu {955 Alton Road, Miami Beach; 786.348.0770} is considered the largest seafood chain in all of America. Start with a Caesar Salad, Caprese Avocado Toast, Fish Soup, or Cheese Bread with Guava Spread, and move onto entrees like an Omelette, Herb-Crusted Salmon, or Churrasco with a side of roasted salmon. Finish it all up with the Truffle Chocolate Cake with Nutella, a creamy Sweet Tapioca Crepe served warm, or Baked Cocada with Vanilla Ice Cream.
CORSAIR Kitchen & Bar: Corsair Kitchen & Bar {19999 West Country Club Drive, Aventura; 786.279.6800} is a modern, American-inspired kitchen and bar at the sparkling Turnberry Isle Miami. Go here for good food and a good view—this sophisticated, but casual spot overlooks the resort’s acclaimed championship golf courses. For the Miami Spice deal, both appetizers and desserts are unlimited and come from a buffet. For the main dish, the a la carte options also seem endless: there’s the Brunch Bowl with strawberry, agave nectar, and açai; Eggs Benedict on an English muffin, with corn beef, potatoes, and a 63° egg; brioche French Toast with candied pecans and cinnamon whipped cream; Mac n’ Cheese with gnocchi, spinach, white wine butter, and prosciutto; a meatball Sandwich on a house roll with jalapeño jack cheese spicy mayo and jicama slaw, and more. Added bonus? Free valet.
Upland: This California cuisine-inspired collaboration between celebrated chef Justin Smillie and renowned restaurateur Stephen Starr is not to be missed. A mainstay in Miami Beach’s chic South of Fifth, Upland {49 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.602.9998} has a Miami Spice brunch that’s worth every (tiny) penny. Start with Avocado Toast with espelette and lemon or Wood-Roasted Beets with whipped feta, and move on to the Avocado Omelette with salsa fresca and cotija, Bucatini Cacio e Pepe with pecorino romano and black pepper, or Chilaquiles with skirt steak and farm eggs on a tortilla. Finish it up with a California Dreamsicle—a blood orange-yogurt twist with chocolate crunchies—and you’ll be slipping into a happy food coma in no time.
For more information about which restaurants are participating, or to get a sneak peek at their Miami Spice menus, check out the Miami Spice website.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor