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Together with Shaker & Spoon, the nation’s leading subscription cocktail kit service, Santa Teresa 1796 has joined forces with one of Miami’s most beloved restaurants to help bartenders whose livelihoods have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Cafe La Trova in Little Havana was one of the buzziest spots in South Florida before the pandemic caused restaurants and bars across the city to shut down. Helmed by Tales of the Cocktail Bartender of the Year Julio Cabrera, its bar program featured riffs on classics like daiquiris, mojitos, and more.   

In partnership with Santa Teresa 1796 and Shaker & Spoon, Cabrera has helped curate a kit that will allow cocktail enthusiasts to recreate his delicious rum- and coffee-spiked spin on the old fashioned in the comfort of their homes. It comes with all the ingredients necessary to stir up the perfect sip, including super-premium Venezuelan rum, decadent chocolate bitters, an espresso-based cafecito syrup, orange oil, coffee beans, and a jigger. All you need to do is combine the rum, bitters, and syrup together, give them a good stir, and top your creation with a spritz of orange oil and grated coffeehouse beans. What’s more, the kit comes with enough ingredients to yield eight old fashioned cocktails, so you can keep sipping all week long and then some. 

The La Trova Old Fashioned

The best part about this limited-edition kit is that Shaker & Spoon is donating 100% of the proceeds from the sales to the USBG Bartender Emergency Assistance Program. The program aims to help qualified bartenders, bar servers, and barbacks who have encountered financial hardship because of catastrophic or unforeseen life events — like the coronavirus pandemic. If you want to purchase your own cocktail kit, they’re available on ReserveBar for a limited-time special price of $48 (that’s the same price as a bottle of  Santa Teresa 1796 rum).

According to a recent survey by Bacardi, 30% of Americans claim they plan to purchase ready-to-drink cocktails or canned spirits and mixers to elevate socially-distanced get-togethers this summer. Outdoor drinking is also up, as 43% of Americans claim they plan to spend more time socializing and sipping drinks outside this summer compared to last year. Convenient, portable, and easy to put together, cocktails kits like this one by Santa Teresa 1796 are perfect for private use or small group gatherings. They also make the ultimate gift for the mixology buff or cocktail connoisseur in your life.

By Amanda M., Contributing Writer

If you’re a pizza lover, you won’t want to miss this list of must-try pizza spots in Miami. From Brickell to Dadeland and plenty of neighborhoods in between, here are ten South Florida restaurants serving up perfection by the pie.

Harry’s Pizzeria

With locations in Coconut Grove and Miami’s Design District, Harry’s Pizzeria is a great choice if you’re looking for tasty pies made with fresh local flavors and ingredients. Their classic cheese and Margherita pies are crowd-pleasers, but we also love their short rib pizza with caramelized onion, and their Cubano pie, topped with slow-roasted pork, fontina, gruyere, and a croqueta.

Details: 2996 McFarlane Road, Miami (Coconut Grove), and 3918 N Miami Avenue Miami (Design District). For more information, visit www.harryspizzeria.com.

Old Greg’s

When the pandemic hit, chef Greg Tetzner started baking square pies in his home under the name “Old Greg’s” — until fellow chef Brad Kilgore tried one and fell in love. Now Tetzner bakes his naturally leavened pies from the kitchen of Kilgore’s Kaido. They’re so delicious, everyone in Miami is talking about them. Try a bite, and you’ll see exactly what all the buzz is about. You can order all that cheesy, flavorful goodness online here. 

Details: 151 NE 41st St #217, Miami, FL 33137. For more information, call +1 866-653-4734 or visit www.oldgregspizza.com.

Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza

Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza has locations in South Beach, Brickell, Wynwood, and even Naples on the west coast. No matter which location you visit or order from, expect pies that are so delicious you’re going to want thirds. If you like a little sweet with your savory, try the pineapple-peppered Bahamas or Hawaiana pizzas. And the Star Luca pizza (filled with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, spicy salami, and tangy tomato sauce) is legendary. 

Details: For more information, visit www.mistero1.com.

Frankie’s Pizza

For half a century, this family-owned gem has delivered freshly baked crave-worthy pies to patrons who know great pizza. It’s earned a laundry list of accolades, including making it into Bon Appetit’s list of Top 8 Gourmet Pizza Shops in America twice, being named Best Pizza in South Florida by South Florida Magazine, Best Pizza in Miami by the New Times and Miami Metro Magazine, and more. The menu is fuss-free — you can choose up to five toppings for your pie and tack on an order of garlic rolls. 

Details: 9118 Bird Road, Miami. For more information, call 305-221-0221 or visit www.frankiespizzaonline.com.

Andiamo

If you’re a fan of thin-crust pizza, check out Andiamo. Their pies are baked in a brick oven and come in with a head-spinning assortment of toppings. Our favorites include the Brooklyn Special, loaded with pepperoni, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, tomato sauce and mozzarella, the pancetta- and gouda-topped Bella Bambina, and the meaty Godfather. 

Details: 5600 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami. For more information, call 305-762-5751 or visit www.andiamopizzamiami.com.

Lucali

For authentic Brooklyn-style brick-oven pizza, head to Lucali. They use locally sourced ingredients for their mouthwatering pies, plus some special toppings from across the Atlantic — like imported Italian artichoke hearts that add an insane punch of flavor no matter what you pair them with. The signature specials here are also great, especially the meatball sandwich and the ravioli. Save room for some mini cannolis or a big slice of Nutella pie.

Details: 1930 Bay Rd, Miami Beach. For more information, call 305-695-4441 or visit www.lucali.com.

Sardinia

This Miami Beach mainstay is known for its down-home Italian dishes, but the pizzas that come of the kitchen here are just as impressive. Topped with decadent cream, shitake mushrooms, prosciutto, and arugula, the Bianca pie is a dream, but you also can’t go wrong with the classic Margherita.

Details: 1801 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach. For more information, call 305-531-2228 or visit www.sardinia-ristorante.com.

Crust

Helmed by chef/owner Klime Kovaceski and his wife Anita, CRUST Restaurant has won plenty of national acclaim (it’s made OpenTable’s 100 Best Restaurants in America list twice, and has taken the #1 restaurant slot on TripAdvisor four years in a row). The pizza menu is broken into two sections based on sauce preference — red and white — and every pie lives up to the hype.

Details: 668 NW 5th St. Miami. For more information, call 305-371-7065 or visit www.crust-usa.com.

Casola’s

Though its origins trace to Boston, Casola’s has been a Miami institution for more than 15 years. News Time Magazine ranked them #1 for their traditional thin crust pizza, and their hearty Italian dinners and savory meatball subs have kept locals coming back over and over again. Anything you order here is good, but pizza lovers should definitely opt for one of the specialty pies, like the Portuguesa, the Old Mexicana, or the fan-favorite Casola’s.

Details: 2437 SW 17th Ave, Miami. For more information, call 305-858-0090 or visit www.casolas.com.

The Brick Miami

At The Brick Miami, it’s all about what’s in season. Menu items vary depending on the time of year and what ingredients are at their peak, but you can always count on the food being delicious. If it’s available, definitely try the brick oven Margherita pizza or the spicy chicken pizza if you like your pie with a little extra heat — it comes topped with homemade hot sauce and a drizzle of cool ranch. 

Details: 8955 SW 72nd Pl, Kendall. For more information, call 786-814-5909 or visit www.thebrickmiami.com.

By Amanda M., Contributing Writer

A good salad is not boring. A simple Caesar or an elaborate creation can tempt the palate with the right mix of flavors and textures. You can get salty, sweet, savory, tender and crunchy all in one bite. A salad is a light, refreshing choice especially during these hot summer days and humid nights. Here are 5 places with amazing salads that are worth adding to your takeout/delivery rotation so you can feel good about supporting local restaurants and eating healthy. 

Plant Miami

Plant Miami, a food haven located in The Sacred Space Miami, is committed to conscious cuisine made to nourish your body and soul. The plant-based menu honors their farm-to-chef concept and creates dishes that are 100 percent vegan, kosher, gluten-free and organic. The Kale and Avocado Salad has grapefruit and sunflower seeds with an herb-and-spice togarashi dressing and is garnished with locally harvested microgreens and edible flowers. Each salad on the menu contains a superfood ingredient packed with immune-boosting antioxidants, taking “You are what you eat” to a new level.

Pickup and delivery only; 105 NE 24th Street, Miami (Wynwood); (305) 814-5365; sacredspacemiami.com

Seaspice

Seaspice prides itself on the freshest selection of sea-to-table fare and they have a to-die-for raw bar to prove it. The chilled Maine Lobster Salad is a signature dish that exemplifies their mastery of elevated cuisine. Fresh Maine lobster is tossed in a creamy ahi amarillo sauce, served with a crisp citrus butter lettuce, balanced with Hass avocado and finished with Osetra caviar. The menu also features elegant appetizers, wood-fired casseroles and entrées of both the sea and land variety served al fresco with swoon-worthy views of the Miami River. 

Dine-in, takeout, and delivery available; 422 Northwest North River Drive, Miami; (305) 440-4200, seaspice.com

Pura Vida

Pura Vida’s goal is to offer fresh, simple, sustainable, and locally sourced food in a space that feels like home. The Poke Salad is a summer favorite – a blend of sweet and spicy flavors that is as nutritious as it is delicious. Wild-caught ahi tuna high in Omega 3s is mixed with crunchy green cabbage and crisp kale that are sources of Vitamins C, K and other antioxidants. Quinoa, cucumber, scallion, micro cilantro, sunflower and sesame seeds round out the dish and it is dressed with homemade poke sauce. It’s pure life in every bite.

Outdoor dining, takeout and delivery at all locations; South Beach: 110 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; Edgewater: 1756 N. Bayshore Drive, Miami; Design District: 3818 NE 1st Avenue; (305) 535-4142; puravidamiami.com

Malibu Farm

The sound of the ocean and panoramic views await at Malibu Farm Miami Beach. Located inside Eden Roc Miami Beach, this California-chic restaurant overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and epitomizes the laid-back luxury of a beach getaway. The Chicken Tortilla salad is a flavorful nod to the spirit of Mexican heritage that permeates California culture while sourcing some of its ingredients – the romaine, frisée, cherry tomatoes and green beans – from local Florida vendors. Topped off with corn, black bean, jalapeño jack cheese, salsa dressing and tortilla strips, it’s a little taste of Cali right here in SoFlo. 

Dine-in and takeout available; delivery starting in August; 4525 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; (305) 674-5579; edenrochotelmiami.com

Whisk

Whisk has plentiful menus and daily lunch and dinner specials with comfort foods to satisfy. The popular Marinated Shrimp & Avocado Salad has plump shrimp marinated in homemade cilantro vinaigrette dressing and grilled to perfection. The skewer is served atop mixed greens with just-right avocado, red and green peppers, fresh cilantro, shallots, toasted cashews, and finished with a cilantro-ginger vinaigrette. It’s not the only salad to choose from – Skirt Steak Salad, Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Organic Spinach Salad, and Roasted Turkey & Dried Cranberry Salad are other delectable options with dressings made fresh every morning.

Outdoor seating, takeout and delivery available; 7382 SW 56th Avenue, South Miami; (786) 268-8350; whiskgourmet.com

By Estefania Garcia, Contributing Writer

There is a stigma to plant-based food. Sure, it’s nutritious and good for you, but it tastes terrible. But Delicious Raw’s menu proves that taste, texture and flavor profiles need not be sacrificed in order to be healthy.

When Flemming Madsen founded the company at its first location in Naples, Fla., in 2013, he wanted to create something that was health-focused but had a broader appeal.

He and his team first spent a lot of time developing a drink menu, finding combinations that tasted really good and kept customers coming back for more. With a growing demand, they started working on a food menu that was unique to Delicious Raw and only used natural and unprocessed ingredients and nothing artificial in the making.

“We looked into high-end cuisine and worked with chefs experienced in those techniques and with farm-to-table expertise.”

They ended up with items that are both sophisticated and complex in taste and texture. Original and popular dishes, and some of Madsen’s personal favorites, include the vegan burger topped with scratch-made pickles, smoked aioli and truffle-infused garlic dijon; lentil meatballs simmered in a bold San Marzano tomato basil sauce; and the Buddha Bowl with house-made vegan sweet potato pasta, zesty fiesta corn salad, savory marinated portobello mushrooms, tangy kale slaw, roasted candy stripe beets, spiced chickpeas, and Buddha dressing.

Buddha Bowl

Finally, Madsen wanted Delicious Raw to “have that aspect where you meet interesting people, that has an inviting atmosphere that encourages you to sit and enjoy the moment. When you go to a restaurant it shouldn’t just be to refuel.”

What started as a juice bar has now expanded into four locations in Naples, one in Davie, and the Miami Beach location in Sunset Harbor opened in 2018. Locations in Aventura and Wynwood are opening in the future.

But the health-conscious brand ethos of not sacrificing quality in order to have an impact goes beyond their product.

As a local business in Miami Beach, they became founding members of the Plastic Free Miami Beach (#PlasticFreeMB) campaign, which aims to showcase businesses that have taken action to reduce plastics from their establishment and to help organizations learn and implement best practices in the area of environmental stewardship.

By Estefania Garcia, Contributing Writer

If you’re trying to practice social distancing by ordering in and enjoying great meals at home, there are plenty of options to choose from right now. No matter what kind of cuisine you’re craving, Miami offers options that please every palate. To help simplify the search for amazing eats you can order in, we’ve rounded up a list of 8 great local spots offering takeout, so you can bring a bit of South Florida’s incredible food scene to the comfort of your home. 

Boia De 

Photo/David Bley

Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi’s James Beard Award-nominated Miami restaurant has revamped its takeout options to include items off Boia De’s current dinner menu, like succulent lamb ribs with peaches, pappardelle with savory rabbit, rosemary and tomato, tagliolini nero with King Crab, truffle and herbs, and more. You’ll also find two takeout-only sandwich specials during dinner hours, which spotlight a Muffuletta and an eggplant parm sandwich. On Saturdays from 12 p.m. on, don’t miss Boia De’s famous La Pollita fried chicken sandwich. 

Details: Boia De is located at 5205 NE 2nd Ave., Miami. To order, visit here.

Bakan

Order in from Bakan and make it Mexican night with creamy housemade guacamole, refreshing aguachiles with shrimp and mango, tasty tacos filled with cochinita pibil, and craveworthy queso fundido, made with cheeses from Oaxaca and Chihuahua.

Details: Bakan is located at 2801 NW 2nd Ave., Miami. Call 305-396-7080 to order for takeout, or visit UberEats for delivery.

Sardinia Enoteca Ristorante

While this Italian favorite has opened up its beautiful terrace and is offering a stellar happy hour weekdays from 5-7 p.m. and Miami Spice menus, you can also order tasty Italian dishes for delivery (in Miami Beach and Venetian and Sunset Islands) and curbside pickup. Our favorites include savory polpettine, tender chicken parm, refreshing caprese salad, and hearty pappardelle with veal bolognese ragu.

Details: Sardinia is located at 1801 Purdy Ave, Miami Beach. To order, call 305-531-2228 or visit here

Prime 112

Myles Chefetz’s acclaimed steakhouse is now offering its complete menu — with signature items like their 20-ounce NY strip steak and 30-ounce bone-in ribeye — for free delivery and takeout every day from 5:30-10 p.m. If you’d like to hone your cooking skills this summer, you can also order Prime 112’s quality steaks, meats and fish at wholesale prices — the list is updated daily via the restaurant’s Instagram account, @PrimeOneTwelve. 

Details: Prime 112 is located at 112 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach. To order, call 305-532-8112.

Osaka Nikkei Miami

If you’re in the mood for mouthwatering Nikkei cuisine, it doesn’t get better than Osaka. The Brickell hotspot is offering exclusive takeout and delivery menus created by Osaka’s talented chefs for those looking to enjoy fresh ceviches, steaming Nikkei Donburis, and more at home.

Details: Osaka Nikkei is located at 1300 Brickell Avenue, Miami. To order, visit here.

Barbarella

Photo/The Naughty Fork

Recently debuted by the team behind Miami 33 Kitchen and Rare Burger, Barbarella serves up Mediterranean-inspired dishes by Chef Sebastian Fernandez and his family. The menu here is all about simple techniques, seasonal high-quality ingredients, and lots of love. Bring a little bit of the Med home to your dining table by ordering Barbarella’s Miami Spice lunch for takeout or delivery — it includes tasty choices like pan con tomate garnished with anchovy, bolognese pasta made with homemade pappardelle and drizzled in truffle oil, and decadent desserts selected daily by the chef himself. 

Details: Barbarella is located at 7535 North Kendall Dr. Unit #2380, Miami. To place an order, call 786-542-5661 or order via DoorDash or UberEats. The Miami Spice lunch menu is available daily from 12-3 p.m.

Big Pink

This Miami Beach “diner” (though it’s so much more than that) is iconic among locals and tourists. It’s also the perfect option with you feel like you just need to treat yourself to something decadent — like thick-cut chicken parm fries, crispy loaded potato skins, skillet baked chili mac, big-as-your-face burgers, and homemade fried Oreos. Order your favorite feel-good items for free delivery or pick-up by calling directly, or order via your go-to delivery apps. 

Details: Big Pink is located at 157 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. To order, call 305-531-0888.

Bulla Gastrobar

Take your tastebuds on a trip to Spain with Bulla’s fan-favorite patatas bravas, flavorful pollo al chilindron, and more, all available for takeout and delivery — or put on your chef’s hat and whip up a delicious paella for the whole family with Bulla’s paella-making kit. Right now, Bulla is also offering a pick-two menu section for just $14.95, plus the option to add on sangria for $25 (though you’ll have to pick it up). If you place your order for takeout directly with the restaurant, you’ll enjoy 15% off regular menu items. 

Details: Bulla Gastrobar has locations in Coral Gables (2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables) and Doral (5335 NW 87th Ave c102, Doral). To place an order in Coral Gables, call 786-810-6215. To place an order in Doral, call 305-260-6543.

By Amanda M., Contributing Writer

Tomorrow is National Tequila Day, so we’ve put together five ways to get your drink on, Miami style. Head to a restaurant to sip tequila-infused cocktails outdoors, or craft your own high-proof concoctions at home — there’s no wrong way to savor this tasty spirit. Cheers!

Nikki Beach

To celebrate National Tequila Day, Nikki Beach will debut a “Taco and Tequila” special spotlighting a brand new dish — gluten-free tempura shrimp tacos that are so tasty they’re addictive. And they pair perfectly with Nikki Beach’s cucumber jalapeño margarita, available for just $10. Head to this iconic beach club and savor all that flavor with your toes in the sand.

Details: Nikki Beach is located at 1 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. For reservations, call 305-538-1111.

Jaguar Restaurant

Jaguar Restaurant’s “Outdoor Habitat” is a great spot to celebrate National Tequila Day, and their margaritas are among the best in Coconut Grove. Start with a classic, then go herbal with a cilantro-spiked riff. Or pick up a homemade margarita pitcher to bring back to your place — it’s available in two sizes serving up to five glasses. Don’t miss out on happy hour specials, like 50% off drinks and $5 bar bites weekdays from 3-6 p.m.

Details: Jaguar Restaurant is located at 3067 Grand Avenue, Miami. For reservations, call 305-444-0216.

Baby Jane

Photo/Sofia Perazzo

If you visit Baby Jane on National Tequila Day, you’ll enjoy a new happy hour special on the terrace from 4-7 p.m. You’ll get to build your own margarita starting at just $7, choosing your favorite tequila, citrus, sweetness level, fresh fruit and herbs, and garnishes. If you really want to level up your cocktail, add a Grand Marnier float for a dollar extra. You can also enjoy one of Baby Jane’s crafted and bottled cocktails to enjoy onsite or to go, like their Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita for $14.

Details: Baby Jane is located at 500 Brickell Ave #105e, Miami. For reservations or orders, call 786-623-3555.

Coyo Taco

On July 24, streetfood favorite Coyo Taco will offer $7 Red Bull frozen margaritas and $5 Coyo Margaritas (you can also purchase these buy the gallon for $39.99 and by the half-gallon for $24.00). If you’d like to order your goodies to go, use the delivery service available on CoyoTaco.com.

Details: Coyo Taco has locations in Wynwood, Brickell, Coral Gables and Palm Beach. Find out more or place an order here.

Kiki On The River

Photo/Paul Stoppi

Infuse National Tequila Day with a little bit of Med-inspired glam at Kiki On The River. The luxe waterfront restaurant and lounge has teamed up with Don Julio to celebrate the holiday, offering guests $18 margaritas on their stunning terrace all day. You’ll get to choose from multiple flavors, including raspberry, lychee, pear, guava, and spicy mango.

Details: Kiki On The River is located at 450 NW North River Drive, Miami. For reservations, call 786-502-3243.

Craft your own spicy jalapeno margarita with La Adelita

Quarantine has made many of us better bartenders, so why not use National Tequila Day to continue brushing up on your shaking and straining skills? We’re crazy about La Adelita, a portfolio of five incredible premium tequilas from a collab of top-notch distillers and wine and spirit artisans. Harvested in the highlands of Jalisco, each expression is delicious, but we recommend their reposado for this hot and tasty margarita.

Ingredients: 

  • 1 slice of red jalapeno or chili pepper
  • 3 sprigs of cilantro leaves
  • 2 ounces of La Adelita Reposado tequila
  • ½ ounce of agave syrup
  • 1 ounce of lemon juice
  • Salt and a slice of chili pepper to garnish

Directions:  

Muddle the chili slices and cilantro in a shaker, add the other ingredients, shake with ice and fine strain into an ice-filled tumbler.

By Amanda M., Contributing Writer

 

The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has partnered with the City of Miami and the Miami Parking Authority (MPA) to develop a program to help local restaurants continue serving guests while complying with new regulations that prohibit indoor dining. It’s called the ‘sidewalk cafe permit program,’ and it’s transforming city parking spaces and sidewalks into additional outdoor dining areas to benefit restaurants with limited or no outdoor dining capacity. 

As part of the project, the DDA is helping restaurants navigate the permitting process while providing required protection. They’re also footing the bill for umbrellas, chairs, tables, and other outdoor furniture so that restaurants can safely start serving guests right away. So far, nearly a dozen restaurants have opted to participate in the program, including Casa Tua, Vinaigrette, Rakija Grill, and Cafe Bastille, to name a few. Many more are expected to sign up in the coming days. 

The sidewalk cafe permit project is just one of several initiatives the Miami DDA has spearheaded during the pandemic. They’re also behind the “Go Local, Go Direct” campaign to boost business in the neighborhood, and they recently launched the Small Business Reopening Microgrant, offering businesses reimbursements for costs related to reopening safely.

“Restaurants are the lifeblood of Downtown Miami’s appeal as one of the world’s most desirable places to live, work, and visit,” says Christina Crespi, Executive Director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority. “Faced with incredibly difficult circumstances amid the pandemic, many of our Downtown restaurants continue to adjust their operations with the goal of serving our residents and sustaining their businesses. Now, with the launch of the Miami DDA’s new outdoor dining initiative, restaurants are able to reclaim the public right-of-way to expand their outdoor operations and safely serve our community.”

By Amanda M., Contributing Writer

The iconic Ocean Drive restaurant may not be open yet for outdoor dining, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy its famous seafood paella at home. For more than three decades A Fish Called Avalon has been the place to take in all the action from its sought-after tables. For now, you can indulge its savory flavors at home until the vibrant street that’s booming with Latin music and salty breezes can welcome us all back again.

ORZO SEAFOOD PAELLA (FOR TWO)

INGREDIENTS

8 oz orzo

4 oz calamari, sliced

1 lb Maine lobster

6 large mussels, cleaned and washed

4 large shrimp, cleaned and deveined

2 jumbo sea scallops

8 oz clam juice

4 oz chardonnay

2 tbs fresh chopped basil

2 tbs chopped shallots

3 oz fresh baby spinach

One whole tomato, cut into wedges and roasted with olive oil

¼-cup diced carrots

1 tbs chopped garlic

2 tbs olive oil

Pinch of saffron

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cook the orzo, al dente, and set aside.
  3. Place the lobster in a paella pan and set aside.
  4. Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat.
  5. Add the olive oil, garlic, shallots, basil and all of the seafood into the preheated pan and sauté for one minute.
  6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Add the remaining ingredients and stir for one minute.
  8. Place into the paella pan with the lobster and bake for 8 minutes.
  9. Serve over orzo.

If you haven’t already, it’s now time to fine-tune your mixology skills. Miami’s internationally famed Osaka Cocina Nikkei, which also has several outposts in South America and will soon hop across the pond to London, is here to help you with these two unique cocktail recipes. Boasting inventive flavors that merge two seemingly different but really complementary cultures, its Japanese-Peruvian menu features dishes like tuna ceviche, salmon tiradito and duck confit gyozas. Its cocktail menu is just as interesting with recipes that mix unusual, but exciting ingredients. Try these out at home to impress your roommate, partner or family, and let us know which one is your favorite.

Mr. Osaka

Ingredients

1.75 oz rum

0.25 oz citrus bitter

1 oz naranjilla (lulo) mix 

0.5 oz passion fruit juice

0.75 basil syrup 

2 oz tonic water

1 bunch of rosemary

1 unit of banana leaves

7 cubes of ice

Procedure

Put all of the ingredients except the tonic water into a Boston shaker with ice and shake gently. 

Serve with a double strain into the glass. 

Cover the glass with a banana leaf, then fill with rosemary smoke.

Fakku U

Ingredients

1.75 oz scotch

0.25 oz house shrub

0.50 oz kumquat – Andean mint syrup

2 dash cacao bitter

1 dash orange bitter

1 dash liquid salt

6 oz ice

6 oz big ice cube

1 unit dehydrated mint

Procedure

Add all of the ingredients into a mixing glass and stir. Place the large ice cube in an Old Fashioned glass and add cocktail. Place dehydrated mint branch on top of ice and serve. 

Flame branch with torch. 

By Christie Galeano-Demott

MK Takeaways is a family-owned food service concept delivering fresh, made-from-scratch, chef-prepared meals. Owned and operated by Michael and Karen Stanley, this local business serves South Florida’s Tri-County every week, Monday through Friday.

With Michael’s fifteen years of restaurant experience and Karen’s business savvy, the Miami-born hospitality mavens are ready to entice your taste buds with their creations. The MK Takeaways menu has been in development for years and centers around dishes that embrace flavor and comfort. Overflowing with options, the rotating, seasonally inspired menu boasts classic American dishes with touches from the Mediterranean.

Photo/RMStudio Corp

Available in single servings or for families of four to six, all dishes are started in their Sunrise kitchen where professional chefs prepare and place each dish into quality packaging that guarantees everything arrives fresh, holds up to high heat in residential ovens, and can stay refrigerated for up to six days from delivery. Once your delivery arrives, all you have to do is pop it into your oven or follow the dish’s preparation instructions. It’s really the best of both worlds – the ease of restaurant ordering and the quality of home cooking.


The menu is organized, as it would be at a restaurant, into starters, soups, salads, entrees, sandwiches, and desserts. Starters include a Mediterranean Salad including a feta & artichoke salad, tabbouleh, hummus and more; Spinach & Artichoke Dip with homemade tortilla chips; Grilled Chicken Wings tossed in Asian BBQ, Lime Chipotle, Honey Garlic or Rosemary Jalapeno sauce. Sandwiches include the Bayou Spicy Chicken Sandwich with remoulade slaw; Salmon Burger with chipotle aioli and the vegetarian-friendly Quinoa Burger to name a few. Entrée highlights feature the Oh My Cod Beer Battered Fish & Chips; Broccoli Rabe & Sausage Orecchiette with lemon basil sauce and pecorino; and BBQ Baby Back Ribs with tamarind BBQ, roasted beets and kale apple slaw. Sides include Charred Broccolini; Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes; Cottage Fries and Coleslaw, among others. And don’t forget desserts like the Sea Salt Brownies, Dulce de Leche Pot de Creme, Vanilla Panna Cotta, and a Seasonal Fruit Tart.

Photo/RMStudio Corp


Access the menu and order here: www.mktakeaways.com. If you love it, become part of the MK Takeaways loyalty program and receive a variety of incentives. You can also order through a variety of delivery services including Postmates, Seamless, Grubhub and Uber Eats.

The MK Takeaways commissary kitchen is located at 12691 West Sunrise Blvd in Sunrise, Florida. Telephone: (954) 669-1366; www.mktakeaways.com. Follow MK Takeaways on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @mktakeaways.

By Christie Galeano-DeMott