When you’re craving a sweet, zesty cocktail this summer, head over to Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200} and sip on a Yellow Tail. Love it? We’re not surprised. Find out how you can make it at home, below!
Muddle basil and jalapeño in a shaker. Add 1 1/2 ounces Pisco 100, 3/4 ounce lime juice, 3/4 tablespoon sugar, and 1 ounce passion fruit juice. Shake vigorously. Strain the mixture in a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of jalapeño and a basil leaf.
It’s that time again!
Pineapples & Pizza, which takes place once a month at Matador Bar at The Miami Beach EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600}, is returning on Thursday, April 19.
Like it does every month, the April edition of this event will pair one, rotating off-menu pizza with a boozy Pineapple-inspired cocktail for a savory night your taste buds won’t forget. Admission is free, and guests are always invited to bring a friend, share a pizza, and sip a cocktail (or five) as they jam out to whatever live band is playing that night.
Next Thursday, April 19, the special pizza will be Three-Cheese Lobster and Corn Pizza and the cocktail will be Absolut Elyx Pineapple. Lucky for party goers, the live music will be provided by Miami’s own gypsy jazz-meets-hot swing band, The French Horn Collective, who will rock out the house from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. that night.
This event is open to the public. The price for one special pizza and one Absolut Elyx Pineapple combined is $35 per person.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Haru Cocktail at AZABU Miami Beach
Get ready, South Florida—Spring has officially sprung. And to get in the seasonal spirit, restaurants across the Magic City are celebrating this beautiful time of year by adding floral and fruity drinks to their cocktail menus.
To keep up with the trend, try these eight cocktails listed below. Along with being some of our favorites, they’re sure to put a spring in your step in no time!
April
Where you’ll find it: Café Roval {5808 NE 4 Court, Miami; 786.953.7850}
Why wouldn’t you drink an April during the month of April? This drink mixes SOTO sake, passion fruit purée, house-made vanilla syrup, Tabasco, and pink peppercorns.
Ladies & Gintelmen
Where you’ll find it: Mandarin Oriental, Miami {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8358}
This is MO Bar’s ultimate gin and tonic, which is influenced by Asian flavors and is made with house-blended gin, mixed botanicals, yuzu tonic, and sesame oil.
400 Rabbits
Where you’ll find it: Hakkasan {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}
This cunning combination of muddled basil, yellow Chartreuse, mezcal, and a mix of pineapple, yellow pepper, and lemon juices will get you hopping in no time.
Peachy Keen
Where you’ll find it: NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005}
Perfect for any warm Miami night, this peachy-good cocktail mixes Mandarin vodka with iced tea, white peach purée, lemon, cane syrup, and for the “cherry” on top, peach wedges soaked in vodka.
Apple Basil Smash
Where you’ll find it: Dolce Italian {1690 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.975.2550}
This drink has all the best of spring: Zu vodka, Elderflower, basil, green apple, and lime.
Haru (Spring in Tokyo)
Where you’ll find it: AZABU Miami Beach {161 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 786.276.0520}
With a name that literally translates to “spring,” this cocktail—a mix of Mizu, lemongrass shōchū, umeshu, yuzu, matcha tea, and egg whites—gives you a taste of springtime in the Far East.
Cipriani’s Famous Bellini
Where you’ll find it: Cipriani {465 Brickell Avenue, Miami; 786.329.4090}
All we know about this brunch cocktail is that it’s half Mediterranean white peach, and half Prosecco. (The exact details and ingredients are a Cipriani secret!)
Fort Aleza Cooler
Where you’ll find it: Coco Bambu Miami Beach {955 Alton Road, Miami Beach; 786.348.0770}
You’ll cool down in no time with this drink; it fuses Leblon Cachaca, mint, Coco Bambu syrup, passion fruit, and lemon juice, and tops it all with Prosecco.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Calling all winers and diners! On Tuesday, May 8, one of Miami Beach’s top hotels—The Miami Beach EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4600}—will host its second installment of Wine & Dine, a dinner series that pairs rare, exclusive wines with Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s award-winning cuisine. Taking place in the glamorous, 1950s-inspired Matador Room, the May edition of the event will feature Peter Michael Winery, of Calistoga, California.
To kick-off this delicious evening, Paul Michael, who oversees his family’s winery, will toast to the night with a welcome Champagne Reception with passed hors d’oeuvres, like Popcorn Fico and Mini Crab Toast, and glasses overflowing with Voirin-Jumel Blanc de Blanc Champagne NV. Then, as guests move into the formal dining room, he will walk guests through a menu of Matador Room’s exquisite Caribbean-, Spanish-, Latin- and South American-inspired fare, all perfectly-paired with handpicked wines from his family’s Sonoma County estate. The Champagne Reception will start at 7:30 p.m. in Matador Bar, and dinner will start at 8:15 p.m. in Matador Room.
Here’s what’s on the May Wine & Dine menu:
First Course:
White Asparagus with Mustard Sauce and Morels, paired with Peter Michael L’Apres Midi Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Second Course:
Scallops with Strawberry-Fresno Emulsion and Lemon Balm, paired with Peter Michael Belle Cote Chardonnay 2012
Third Course:
Lamb with Crunchy Garnish and Cucumber Relish, paired with Peter Michael Au Paradis Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Fourth Course:
Mesquite Grilled Rib Eye, Chilies, Garlic, and Asparagus, paired with Peter Michael Les Pavots Cabernet Blend 2006
Fifth Course:
Petit Fours
All plates will be served family-style. Tickets for this event are priced at $250++ per person, excluding tax and gratuity, and can be purchased here. Reservations are required, as seating is limited to just 32 guests.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Pla Goong from NaiYaRa
serves four
Ingredients
Spicy Shrimp Salad:
1 lb Key West Pink Shrimp, size 21/25
1 red onion
1 red bell pepper
½ c cilantro
½ c mint leaves
⅔ c lemongrass, thinly sliced
6 Kaffir lime leaves
1 scallion, for garnish
Purple cabbage, to use as a wrap
Yam Sauce:
3 Tbsp fish sauce
3 oz lime juice
2 Tbsp chili paste
1 Tbsp sugar
Method
For the shrimp salad: Fill a pot with about three quarts of water and bring it to a boil. Cook the shrimp in the water, with heads or shells on, until it starts to turn opaque, for about one minute. Peel when the shrimp have cooled off. While still warm, add the shrimp to the yam sauce (recipe below!) and gently toss. Add the sliced lemongrass, onion, red bell pepper, cilantro, mint, and Kaffir lime leaves.
For the yam sauce: In a large bowl, combine the fish sauce, lime juice, chili paste, and sugar. Adjust with any of the ingredients (including salt), according to taste.
To serve: Toss the salad again right before serving. Place it on a dish of your choosing. Garnish with scallions. Serve with purple cabbage and enjoy it as a lettuce wrap.
NaiYaRa is located at 1854 Bay Road.
Turmeric is believed to be a wellness “superfood,” and The Lido Bayside Grill {40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.245.0880} has created an Inner Glow cocktail with all the wellness you need. Want to learn how to get that “inner glow” at home? You can—just follow the recipe below.
First, you need to make turmeric-infused barrel-aged gin. To do that, place one medium chunk of diced turmeric in a bottle of barrel-aged gin. Allow it to infuse for 24 hours. Strain before serving.
Then, in a shaker filled with ice, add two ounces turmeric-infused barrel-aged gin, one ounce fresh-pressed carrot juice, 3/4 ounces fresh lemon juice, 3/4 ounce honey, and half a ginger shrub. Shake vigorously and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Garnish with fennel fronds or celery leaves. Enjoy!
If you haven’t been to Segafredo Espresso L’Originale {1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.673.0047} lately, go—it has a sparkling new cocktail for Miami drinkers to sip on a hot, South Florida day. Named the Caipiwi, try it at the restaurant and go home to make it for your friends (and yourself, of course). We’ve got the recipe, below!
In a glass, muddle three ounces fresh-cut kiwi. Add one ounce vodka, one ounce lime juice, and a 1/2 ounce sugar. Fill the glass with crushed ice and top with three ounces of Prosecco. Stir until mixed, and garnish with a lime wedge or kiwi slice. Enjoy!
Chef Rocco Carulli of R House Wynwood
Here is this week’s Miami food news:
Monday, April 9: Happy Hour in Downtown Miami!
Do happy hour at Boulud Sud {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}. Taking place every weekday night, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., you can get $9 cocktails, $8 wines-by-the-glass, $7 well drinks, $6 frozen drinks, $5 beer, and $4 tapas.
Tuesday, April 10: Slow Food Miami Presents “Snail Social” Roaming Happy Hour
Head to American Harvest’s newest location, in South Miami, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and eat good-for-you-good food for a good cause. During this edition of Slow Food Miami’s monthly “Snail Social,” guests can pay a minimum of $15 and get a welcome cocktail and passed appetizers from American Harvest. If guests choose to stay at the restaurant for dinner, they will receive a free “Bite” with the purchase of a salad, a bowl, or a skillet. All funds from Snail Social will benefit South Florida farms negatively impacted by Hurricane Irma. Buy tickets for the event here.
Wednesday, April 11: R House Cooks LIVE with Estrella Damm Gastronomy Congress
This Wednesday, tune into Facebook LIVE at 7 p.m., as Chef Rocco Carulli of R House Wynwood {2727 SW 2 Avenue, Wynwood; 305.576.0201} joins nine other Miami chefs and 3-star Michelin chef Joan Roca for the 2nd-annual Estrella Damm Gastronomy Congress. This “event” will take place on Facebook here. Throughout the night, Joan Roca will create a number of signature dishes, James Tahhan (the official chef of Telemundo and co-presenter of Un Nuevo Dia) will show up with a special surprise, and all 10 Miami chefs will showcase their cooking talents on the Estrella Damm stage and “wow” the audience with their culinary prowess. Tune in!
Saturday, April 14: 5th Annual Cheers To B!
Taking place at the Gallery of Amazing Things, Cheers to B! is a night of modern art, inspired antiques, live music, delectable dishes and creative libations designed to raise money for the B Happy program, Neurofibromatosis (NF) patients and their families, and other organizations dedicated to researching treatment and finding a cure for NF. This event will take place from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. General admission tickets are priced at $175 a person, but adults ages 21-30 can get a discounted ticket for $75 per person.
Sunday, April 15: NaiYaRa’s New Sunday Brunch
Every Sunday, pair your bottomless Bloody Marys, mimosas, bellinis, and white sangria with a new, modern Asian-fusion brunch at NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005}. Running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., this brunch invites guests to kick back, relax, and enjoy the ultimate Thai-infused brunch experience by everyone’s favorite “Chef Bee,” including plates like Fried Duck & Biscuits, Crispy Pork Belly Buns, Thai Poké, Matcha Waffle, and Eggs Benedict with Chinese 5-spice biscuits, sweet soy glazed pork belly, red curry hollandaise, and a spicy plantain hash. Brunch plates are priced a la carte, and the bottomless drink package is available for $30 per person. This brunch is available every Sunday, and on Saturdays, starting May 19.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Sunday Jazz Brunch at Jaya at The Setai
Still haven’t made those Easter plans? Check out some of the festive feasts at our favorite Miami restaurants below. All promise to make it your tastiest Easter yet.
NaiYaRa
Just like this Sunset Harbour spot has become a staple in the Magic City, we’re pretty sure it’s new out-of-the-box, Thai-inspired brunch will, too. This Sunday, April 1, NaiYaRa {1854 Bay Road, Miami Beach; 786.275.6005} invites guests to try the first installment of its first-ever weekly Sunday brunch series by none other than Chef Piyarat Potha Arreeratn, or “Chef Bee,” himself. To start, order a few appetizers! The Fried Duck & Biscuits with sweet chili sauce, Crispy Pork Belly Buns with a sweet soy glaze, or “Son-in-Law Eggs” (a Thai twist on the classic Scotch egg, with crispy hard-boiled eggs, ground chicken, crispy shallots, and tamarind sauce) are sure to be standouts. When it’s time for the main meal, enjoy eclectic dishes like Eggs Benedict with Chinese 5-spice biscuits and a spicy plantain hash, Black Sesame Pancakes with a banana brûlée, or Matcha Waffles with sweet red bean and bird chili maple syrup. The restaurant’s sushi menu will also be available, as will a sweet bottomless drinks package with Bloody Marys, mimosas, bellinis, and white sangria. Like we said: It’ll be a staple in no time. Brunch will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dishes are priced a la carte, and the bottomless package is priced at $30 per person.
Quattro Gastronomia Italiana
This Sunday, indulge in an Easter “Domenica di Pasqua” Brunch at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, 305.531.4833}. During this a la carte feast, start with antipasti like Pizza Di Tonno or a sharing plate of Italian cured meats and cheese, and move on to your primi piatti: ravioli with buffalo ricotta, spinach, and a butter sage sauce. For the secondi course, you can choose from an oven-roasted lamb leg with roasted potatoes or a 32-ounce Tomahawk steak for two with steak fries. A sweet Neapolitan cheesecake should end the meal on a sweet note, all of which will wash down nicely with any of the restaurant’s wines or handcrafted cocktails. Brunch will start at Noon. Dishes and drinks are priced a la carte.
BLT Prime
If you’re planning on celebrating Easter in Doral, the American steakhouse BLT Prime {4400 NW 87 Avenue, Doral; 305.591.6606} has a three-course, prix-fixe dinner just for you. Pick an appetizer to start—the Tuna & Salmon Tartare Duo or the BLT Wedge are both solid options—and move on to your entrée. Choose from plates like Miso Sea Bass with bok choi and bonito flakes, or Wagyu Short Rib with kimchee cucumber salad and crispy shallots, and pair it all with sides of Crayfish Mac & Cheese, Creamy Risotto with fresh black truffle, or Wok Fried Haricot Vert. Easter is all about sweets, so don’t leave without trying dessert! The Grand Marnier Crème Brûlée with almond biscotti and fresh berries, or the S’mores Chocolate Cream with salted caramel and a toasted marshmallow meringue should do the trick. This dinner is available from 6 to 11 p.m. It is priced at $95 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Valet parking will be priced at $5 with validation.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4730} knows how to throw a party, and Easter 2018 won’t be any different. On Sunday, April 1, head to Vida, the hotel’s Latin-inspired American brasserie, for a buffet with an omelet station, Eggs Benedict, pastries, a raw bar with stone crabs and shrimp, carving stations, and tables on tables of tapas and desserts. While the parents eat, kids can do what they really came to do: participate in an Easter egg hunt at the kid’s pool, a hula hoop contest, a limbo showdown, a relay race, arts and crafts, and a live dance party. Brunch will run from Noon to 4 p.m. The kids events’ will run from Noon to 2 p.m. Kids under 5 will participate from Noon to 1 p.m., and kids 6-12 will participate from 1 to 2 p.m. The buffet is priced at $68 per adult and $38 per child, excluding tax and gratuity.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio
La Mar by Gastón Acurio {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8358} is already known for its lavish brunch, and on Sunday, April 1, you can pair its endless plates of Pescado Escabeche, Lomo Saltado, Fried Egg and Estofado de Pollo, Chaufa Aeropuerto, and of course, that dessert house with a little Easter fun. While the adults sip bottomless brunch cocktails, select wines, and Taittinger Brut Champagne, kids can participate in the Grand Easter Egg Hunt on Brickell Beach (where they’ll search for the “Golden Egg”), decorate cookies, drink lemonade from the lemonade stand, visit a live petting zoo, and get a surprise visit from the animal of the hour: the Easter Bunny. Brunch will run from Noon to 3:30 p.m. It starts at $95 per person.
Boulud Sud Miami
This Easter Sunday, head to Boulud Sud Miami {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800} as it celebrates the holiday for the very first time! Starting at 10:30 a.m., every kid will get a colorful Easter basket, which they can take on the outdoor terrace and use in an egg hunt with the Easter Bunny. And while all the kids play, parents will get an Easter present of their own: a free brunch cocktail. When the egg hunt is over, gather the family and head to the dining room for a three-course, Mediterranean-inspired brunch by none other than Executive Chef Clark Bowen and Pastry Chef Saeko Nemoto. Adults can enjoy bottomless beverages and plates like Spring Agnolotti with fava beans, Eggs Benedict with crumpets and lump blue crab, Easter Leg of Lamb with creamy polenta and Nicoise olive, and a Pistachio French Toast with rose chantilly, to name a few. Meanwhile, young diners can get excited about a two-course kids menu with sweets-inspired dishes like Chocolate Chip Pancakes and an Ice Cream Sundae. Enjoy! Brunch will run from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is priced at $55 per person, and the bottomless drinks option is priced at $35 per person.
Jaya
With its live jazz and Executive Chef Vijay Veena’s delectable fare, bottomless Sunday brunch at Jaya {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.520.6000}, at The Setai, Miami Beach, is celebration enough. But go on Easter, and that lavish Far East-inspired brunch takes it one step further. While guests make their way around the buffet—an extravagant feast that includes a rotisserie station with roasted strip loin au jus and caramelized leg of lamb, a seafood station with Alaskan king crabs legs and snow crab claws, an Indian station with butter chicken and fish curry, and an Asian station with pad thai goong sod, red pork curry, gyoza, and dumplings—kids will get greeted by the Easter Bunny, himself. Of course, don’t leave without stopping by the dessert station! In addition to usual towering table of sweets, there will be Easter eggs filled with chocolate and marshmallow. Brunch will run from 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is priced at $125 per adult and $65 per child.
Market at EDITION
This Sunday, Market at EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.257.4500} will host an “Easter’s Day Breakfast Table” with fresh oysters, snapper ceviche, chia seed pudding, organic scrambled eggs, cured meats and cheeses, and more. To wash it all down, pair your holiday feast with $12 Bloody Marys or $10 Prosecco, bellinis, or mimosas. Cheers! Brunch will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is priced at $55 per person.
The Strand Bar & Grill
The Strand Bar & Grill {6801 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.514.7474} has an Easter brunch for all ages! In addition to an a la carte menu of sweet and savory plates like Bucatini Carbonara with guanciale; “Eggs in Purgatory” with baked eggs, spicy tomato sauce, white beans, feta, red onion, and migas; and Cinnamon Rolls with candied pecans, there will be a dessert buffet, and an option to add bottomless mimosas or rosé. To keep guests entertained, the jazz-, pop-, and Reggae-inspired Miami Musicians Band will perform live from 12:30 to 3 p.m., and Easter egg hunts for kids will happen every hour in the Palm Court area, right along the shore. Brunch will run from Noon to 4 p.m. Dishes are priced a la carte, the dessert buffet is priced at $12 per person, and the bottomless package is priced at $25 per person. Reduced valet parking is available for $10.
Lobster Bar Sea Grille
Sitting in dazzling South of Fifth, Lobster Bar Sea Grille {404 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.377.2675} will celebrate Easter with a haute brunch deal. In addition to its usual three-course, prix-fixe menu with Whole Butter Braised Lobster “Benedict,” Chicken Cajun Nouvelle Orleans, All Jumbo Lump “Crab Cake Benedict,” and more, every guest who’s 21+ will get a complimentary glass of Taittinger Champagne when they order a la carte caviar service for the table. And before you run off to look for Easter eggs, make sure you try Chef Carolin “Carl” Houdusse’s festive dessert creation, Chocolate Bunny “En Surprise.” As its name implies, you’ll find out what it is when you dig in! Brunch will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is priced at $59 per person and $32 for bottomless brunch cocktails.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor
Shellfish Orzo Paella from A Fish Called Avalon
serves two
Ingredients
4 oz calamari, sliced
1 lb Maine lobster, boiled and split in half
6 large mussels, cleaned and washed
4 large shrimp, cleaned and deveined
8 oz orzo, al dente
2 jumbo sea scallops
8 oz clam juice
4 oz Chardonnay
2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
2 Tbsp shallots, chopped
3 oz fresh baby spinach
1 whole tomato, cut into wedges and roasted with olive oil
1/4 c carrot, diced
1 Tbsp garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 oz Hennessy cognac
Pinch of saffron
Method
Preheat the oven to 375 ℉. Place the Maine lobster in a paella pan and set it aside. Bring a large sauté pan to medium heat. Add oil, garlic, shallots, basil, and all of the seafood. Sauté for one minute. Add Hennessy. Flambé until all the ingredients have reduced. Salt and pepper to taste, add the remaining ingredients, and stir for one minute. Place the mixture in the paella pan and put it in the oven for eight minutes. Serve, and enjoy!
A Fish Called Avalon is located at 700 Ocean Drive.