Saturday, December 21, 2024
Search

Write for Us | Advertise with Us | Contact Us

MENU
mobile-logo
Home / 2020 / September

9:00 am
Restaurant Features
0

Today is International Coffee Day! Power up with a piping hot cuppa at one of these Miami coffeeshops. In addition to frothy, caffeinated creations that are as beautiful as they are delicious, you’ll also find some great deals available today only, plus a spiked coffee recipe you can make at home. Sip, sip, hooray!

Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar

Photo: Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar; The Louis Collection

For just one day, you can enjoy a cup of European coffee for just $1 at this Miracle Mile and Miami Beach mainstay. Pair your freshly made cup with one (or several) of Crema Gourmet’s amazing baked goods — like creamy, decadent carrot cake, flaky chocolate croissants, or pillowy chocolate chip pancakes. Hurry, though — this deal is good only on September 29.

Details: Crema Gourmet Espresso Bar is located at 169 Miracle Mile r40, Coral Gables and 1601 Washington Ave #120, Miami Beach. For more information, visit here.

Suite Habana Cafe

Modeled after a traditional Cuban paladar, Suite Habana Cafe has been named one of Miami’s best coffee shops by publications including Eater, Miami New Times, and CN Traveler. Fittingly, International Coffee Day also marks Suite Habana Cafe’s second birthday. Help them celebrate by dropping by for an iced coffee and one of their famous Cafe Bombom paletas (made in collaboration with Cielito Artisan Pops), or their signature Double Oat Milk Cortado.

Details: Suite Habana Cafe is located at 2609 North Miami Ave, Miami. For more information, visit here.

XO Espresso Bar

XO Espresso Bar at The Lincoln Eatery Food Hall serves up all kinds of classic, handcrafted coffee drinks using locally sourced beans, including lattes, cappuccinos, and more. But today we’re crushing on their crave-worthy Cold Brew Coconut Horchata, an iced latte that’s sweet, cinnamony, and infused with the perfect jolt of caffeine. It’s the definition of “indulgence” and the perfect way to treat yourself on a Tuesday. If you swing by today between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., you’ll enjoy acoustic beats by Jose Conde, a free reusable XO cup, and a free Steeped Coffee bag.

Details: XO Espresso Bar is located at 723 Lincoln Ln N, Miami Beach. For more information, visit here.

Stir up some Haitian coffee at home

Photo: Raoul Beltrame

Working from home and want to prepare the perfect coffee-infused cocktail to kick off happy hour? Try this recipe from Rhum Barbancourt. Handcrafted using pure sugar cane juice and fermentation and distillation processes that haven’t changed in 150 years, this delicious Haitian rum complements rich coffee flavors. You don’t have to be a master bartender to mix this drink either — it’s as easy to make as a regular cup of Joe.

Ingredients

1 ounce of Rhum Barbancourt 3 Star, aged 4 years

1 ounce of coffee liqueur

Sugar (to taste)

Coffee to top

Directions

Pour the Rhum Barbancourt 3 Star, coffee liqueur, and sugar into a mug. Fill with coffee and stir gently. Top with a bit of whipped cream or add more sugar if you want it a bit sweeter.

9:15 am
Restaurant Features Tips and Trends
0

As the country transitions into fall, we can’t think of a better way to settle into the season than with a hearty pasta dish and the perfect wine pairing. Head to these four local Italian eateries to carb up with carbonaras, cannelloni, lasagnas, and more. 

Riviera Foccacia Italiana

Specializing in Ligurian cuisine, Riviera Foccacia Italiana is best-known for its — you guessed it — focaccia bread. But if you’re craving a great pasta dish, don’t miss the pansoti, a dumpling stuffed with chards, spinach, ricotta cheese, and spices and served with a walnut sauce that’s perfect for autumn. The linguini al pesto is also a winner, made with Riviera’s signature pesto Genovese. 

Details: Riviera Foccacia Italiana is located at 3252 NE Buena Vista Blvd Suite 110, Miami. For more information, call (786) 220-6251.

Tutto Pasta

Publications like The Miami Herald and Zagat have applauded the dishes made at this Miami mainstay. Made fresh every day in an open kitchen, their pasta is legendary. Right now, we’re loving their pear and gorgonzola ravioli (it comes in a cream sauce with a hint of truffle oil), their oven-baked lasagna, and their creamy, bacony fettuccine alla carbonara. 

Details: Tutto Pasta is located at 1751 SW 3rd Ave, Miami. For more information, call (305) 857-0709. 

Farfalle 

This downtown Miami spot is a favorite among execs at lunchtime, but we think it’s a great option for a low-key Italian-inspired date night, too. Pasta lovers can choose from a wide range of options, like classic cacio e pepe, handmade tagliatelle tossed in savory Bolognese ragu, and rigatoni served with three types of mushroom, truffle oil, and creamy tomato sauce. Their wine list is also extensive — ask your waiter for a recommendation.

Details: Farfalle is located at 333 SE 2nd St, Miami. For more information, call (786) 359-4104. 

Ristorante Fratelli Milano

Savor a taste of Milan right here in Miami at Fratelli, where twin brother Chefs Roberto and Emanuele Bearzi serve up authentic flavors from il bel paesi. Their homemade gnocchetti is incredible, served in your choice of tomato, pink, or cream sauce. And if you like lamb, try the cavatelli al ragu d’Agnello, served with goat cheese and mint — it’s the perfect cool-weather dish. 

Details: Ristorante Fratelli Milano is located at 213 SE 1st St, Miami. For more information, call (786) 349-3727. 

10:23 am
Restaurant Features Tips and Trends
0

Calling all meat lovers — in case you didn’t know it, today is National Cheeseburger Day. To celebrate one of our favorite savory comfort foods, we’re shining a spotlight on these must-try Miami masterpieces. 

Le Chick 

The menu at Le Chick is all about elevated comfort food, so of course, their burgers hit the spot. In honor of National Cheeseburger Day, they’ll be serving up a limited-edition burger served on a pretzel bun with garlic aioli and red onion jam. If you miss this exclusive item, you can still treat yourself to their signature Royale with Cheese (a double-patty creation drizzled with the house sauce) and the Double Dirty burger, which comes with bacon and a fried egg. 

Details: Le Chick is located at 310 NW 24th Street, Miami. For more information, call (786) 216-7086. 

PINCHO

A winner of multiple awards for its burgers, PINCHO has premiered a new meaty miracle that will become a permanent fixture on the menu. The All American Cheeseburger spotlights PINCHO’s signature patty piled with lettuce, tomatoes, American cheese, and PINCHO’s secret sauce. It will be offered at a discounted price of $5 all day today, accompanied by a side of classic fries. Get it at any PINCHO location in Miami or Broward. 

Details: PINCHO has eight locations in Miami and Broward; you can view a full list here. 

Cantina Beach

If you want to sink your teeth into a burger with a Mexican twist, head to Cantina Beach at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. Their signature Cantina Burger comes topped with Chihuahua cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and fried pickled red onions. Savor it at a discounted price of $10 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. today only. 

Details: Cantina Beach is located at 455 Grand Bay Drive, Key Biscayne. For more information, call (305) 365-4500. 

11:12 am
Restaurant Features Tips and Trends
0

At-home happy hours are more a thing now than ever before, but you don’t need to become an expert bartender to elevate your socially distant drink sessions. These three Miami spots offer delicious libations for takeout. They come in generous serving sizes, too, so you can raise a glass (or several) with your roommates or significant other. 

Esotico 

This tiki-chic watering hole was one of the first places in Miami to offer batched cocktails to go. The menu includes a head-spinning selection to choose from, like the gin- and passion fruit-forward Saturn, a smoky-sweet mezcal-infused Paloma, and a riff on the iconic Mai Tai. Takeaway cocktails range from single-serve pours to three-liter servings, all bottled or pouched for easy pickup. You can browse the menu and order online here. 

Details: Esotico is located at 1600 NE 1st Avenue, Miami. For more information, call 305-800-TIKI. 

The Mighty

A favorite among locals and hands-down the best spot for craft beer and stiff drinks on Coral Way, The Mighty recently revamped its cocktail menu. Drinks available for takeout include a new cucumber martini infused with St-Germain and rosemary, a strawberry margarita with spiced with muddled jalapenos, a savory old fashioned with applewood smoked bacon, and the signature Mighty Juice, a secret house blend of fresh fruits and spirits. Order single servings or choose between 16- and 32-ounce jars. You can even opt for a party back of two 32-ounce cocktail jars (that’s a total of 12 drink servings). Browse the menu and order online here. 

Details: The Mighty is located at 2224 Coral Way, Miami. For more information, call 305-570-4311. 

Coyo Taco 

If you’re craving Mexican-inspired drinks for your next stay-at-home drinking session, Coyo Taco has you covered. Their takeout menu includes homemade michelada mix with Tajin for garnishing, Modelo by the bottle or six-pack, and half- or full-gallon serving sizes of their signature margarita. Some locations also offer bottles of tequila, mezcal and wine for pickup. You can browse each location’s menu and order online here. 

Details: Coyo Taco has locations in Wynwood, Brickell, Coral Gables, and Palm Beach. For more information, visit www.coyo-taco.com. 

1:27 pm
Restaurant Features
0

Grace Della is the founder of Miami Culinary Tours, the first company in Florida to conduct food tours and experiences. It’s also the highest-rated tour company in Miami and one of Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Cultural Experiences in the World. Despite having won a slew of awards, including Best Tour Operator at the 2019 Summit for Cultural and Heritage Tourism and Best Award Winner in 2020 by Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice, Grace’s passion project has been hit hard by the pandemic. She sat down with DiningOut to talk about what’s changed for her and her team over the past few months, and how they’ve pivoted to adapt to this new normal.

How did the pandemic impact you and your business?

Grace: We were the first tour company in Miami to close our doors on March 16 to make sure we had time to adjust our tours to the new normal. At that time, nobody knew as much as we know now, so [we felt] it was the right thing to do for our tour guides’ and guests’ safety. 

Miami Culinary Tours was the first tour operator in Florida to pass the SanSee screening and receive a certification for hygiene and safety. You also received the Safe Travel Stamp from the World Travel & Tourism Council for your health and hygiene protocols. What did this involve, and what do the certification and stamp mean?

Grace: Miami Culinary Tours was scored based on an extensive set of new regulations for conducting tours and qualified for the hygiene and safety certification. In short, it was based on our ability to communicate all the new safety guidelines clearly to tour guests and guides. [We also] reworked our tour routes to minimize risk and exposure, and had to commit to operational [protocols] such as reducing our refund window policy. 

Just to give you a little bit of background on the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), they represent the global private sector of Travel and Tourism, with a mission to ensure the sector is seamless, secure, safe, inclusive, and sustainable. We obtained the Safe Travel Stamp by following a set of directions. Eligible companies such as hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, attractions, short-term rentals, car rentals, outdoor shopping, transportation, and airports can use the stamp once they’ve implemented the health and hygiene protocols outlined by WTTC. We did, so we received the stamp. One of the things they required was to not use the wording “social distancing,” but “physical distancing,” as “social distancing” [implies] the opposite of being social. 

How did you pivot your business during the pandemic?

Grace: We pivoted to online experiences. We were the first ones in Miami approved by Airbnb to conduct a Cuban cocktail class after a tough rehearsal, but we passed! Airbnb received probably a million or more submissions, so that was a great accomplishment to be selected. To date, we have conducted about 120+ virtual classes. We offer an array of online experiences — you can see the many options here.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome, and how have you learned from these challenges?

Grace: One of the biggest challenges was making the decision on where to start cutting costs when money was not coming in, so first we took inventory. We had to lower the paid marketing campaigns we had been running for the last 10 years. We decided not to cut them all the way, as we wanted to make sure we stayed on locals’ minds. Many of our clients are locals who took our tours over and over. I always had the hope that things would come back, as the travel industry is resilient! I started working day and night on trying to stay current by not losing contact with our restaurant partners and always helping them by posting on blogs, giving them exposure on our social media [channels], and helping in any way possible. 

Are you operating tours again?

Grace: Yes, we are open! This coming weekend is Labor Day weekend and we are already sold out, which came as a nice surprise but one that was so needed and welcome by everyone at Miami Culinary Tours!

How do you think the pandemic will impact Miami’s culinary scene in the long run? 

Grace: I am known for being extremely positive. I think the culinary scene in Miami will always be evolving and getting better and better with more diversity in our cuisine. I think that because people have been inside for so long, restaurants will benefit from [customers] wanting to be out and social again, much like the good old times!

What does this mean for business owners like you, whose work depends heavily on Miami’s restaurant scene? 

Grace: There will be changes, but with many businesses closing new ones will come up. We are already seeing that several chefs and entrepreneurs are opening restaurants even in the midst of this situation. As we have repeat clients, we always add new restaurants or different dishes to our tours to keep things exciting. All of the new additions per neighborhood will bring new tastings to our tours and expose these businesses to our tour attendees.

You can learn more about Miami Culinary Tours here.  

1:02 pm
Restaurant Features Tips and Trends
0

Summer’s last long weekend is finally here. Whether you’re celebrating beachside with your family and loved ones or hosting a socially distant get together in your backyard, the last thing you should have to worry about is whipping up a meal. This year has given us enough to stress about, so opt for effortless entertaining by ordering takeout from these South Florida restaurants.

Phuc Yea

If you choose to dine onsite, you’ll get to indulge in Phuc Yea’s famous Oyster Brunch, featuring $1 East Coast oysters, $2 West Coast oysters, and $8 shooters on Sunday, September 6. If you’d rather order in, you can feast on tasty summer-perfect options like sweet and tangy coconut ginger chicken, refreshing green papaya salad, smoked salmon summer rolls, Phuc Yea’s special pho, and more. Order a 16-ounce serving of lychee limeade boba tea as the perfect outdoor sip.

Details: Phuc Yea is located at 7100 Biscayne Blvd, Miami. For more information, call  (305) 602-3710.

Jaguar Restaurant

Celebrate Labor Day with all your favorite Pan-Latin flavors from Jaguar Restaurant. Start with their cool and light tiradito Lima, made with fresh tuna, nuevo sauce, and aji amarillo criolla. Follow that up with the ultimate backyard comfort foods — cheeseburgers with chipotle ketchup or tacos stuffed with chopped flank steak, grilled mahi, or pulled pork. Pair your meal with Jaguar’s homemade natural lemonade or ask about their to-go cocktail pitchers.

Details: Jaguar Restaurant is located at 3067 Grand Ave, Miami. For more information, call (305) 444-0216.

Shuckers Waterfront Grill

If you’re planning to spend the long weekend on your boat, this North Bay Village gem launched a new Sail Away Menu you can order right to the dock by calling ahead. For those celebrating shoreside, you’ll have an extensive menu of options to choose from. Think shrimp Po’ Boy sandwiches, dolphin fingers, steamed clams, burgers, fish sandwiches, Shuckers’ famous wings, and more. Catering to a group? Ask about their to-go platters and cocktail options.

Details: Shuckers Waterfront Grill is located at 1819 79th Street Causeway, North Bay Village. For more information, call (305) 866-1570.

3:42 pm
Restaurant Features Tips and Trends
0

As if we needed another reason to crack open a cold one, National Beer Lover’s Day is coming up Monday, September 7. Gather all your brew baes and bros and raise a pint at one of these Miami beer gardens.

The Butcher Shop Beer Garden & Grill

Celebrating nearly a decade in Wynwood, The Butcher Shop is one of Miami’s best spots to go for beer (and delicious food). Grab a seat at a picnic table beneath the string lights in their outdoor beer garden and taste your way through a rotating selection of local, foreign and domestic brews, plus some popular staples. Pair every sip with awesome bites like confit chicken wings, brisket pierogies, and housemade sausages on pretzel buns. Prefer to stay in? Order your favorite beers and bites to go.

Details: The Butcher Shop Beer Garden & Grill is located at 165 NW 23rd St, Miami. For more information, call (305) 846-9120.

Fritz & Frans Bierhaus

Nestled along Merrick Way in Coral Gables, Fritz & Frans serves up authentic German and Austrian cuisine, like käsespätzle, wiener schnitzel, and heringsschmaus — to mention a head-spinning selection of beer. On weekdays from 5-7 p.m., you can take advantage of happy hour specials like half-liter pours for $5 and bar bites for $6-$10 (we’re talking bierhaus wings, BBQ sliders, bratwurst sandwiches, and giant pretzels).

Details: Fritz & Frans Bierhaus is located at 60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables. For more information, call (305) 774-1883.

Concrete Beach Brewery

You’ll find several breweries in Wynwood, and while any one of them would be a great pick to celebrate National Beer Lover’s Day, we’re showing some extra love to Concrete Beach Brewery this week. The brewery recently announced their Social Hall would remain permanently closed, but you can still order some of their delicious brews to go until Saturday, September 5 from 2-7 p.m. to enjoy at home on Monday. Order a six-pack of your favorite brew online here.

Details: Concrete Beach Brewery is located at 325 NW 24th St, Miami. For more information, call (305) 796-2727.

1:10 pm
Restaurant Features Tips and Trends
0

Today is World Coconut Day, and we can’t think of a better excuse to indulge in a sweet, tropical cocktail. While there’s nothing wrong with a traditional piña colada, The Setai, Kush and Esotico are slinging some seriously creative coconut-infused drinks we know you’ll love. 

Kush by Spillover

Kush by Spillover in Coconut Grove makes a mean hand-shaken virgin pina colada, but we’re obsessed with their Cocolito. It’s a spin on a classic mojito that spotlights tasty coconut spiked with Caribbean rum, Coco Lopez, tart lime, and cool mint. Head there between 5-7 p.m. to take advantage of their killer happy hour. 

Details: Kush by Spillover is located at 2911 Grand Ave, Suite 400D, Coconut Grove. For more information, call (305) 456-5723. 

Esotico

Known for its Instagram-worthy tiki cocktails, Esotico never disappoints when it comes to unforgettable drinks. For World Coconut Day, you’ve got several options to choose from. Order up a Kama’iana, made with Diplomatico Planas rum, J.M. Blanc Rhum, and tropical fruits and served in a young coconut. Or opt for the Keko Pupule, also known as a Painkiller  — it fuses coconut cream, orange, and pineapple juices with Cruzan Black Strap rum and secret spices. 

Details: Esotico is located at 1600 NE 1st Ave #102, Miami. For more information, call (305) 800-8454. 

The Setai

Every drink on the menu at Ocean Grill at The Setai is perfect for pool- or beachside lounging, but for World Coconut Day we’ve got our eye on their coconut cocktails. The Coco Walker is for whiskey fans, softened with just the right touch of coco cream, while the Coco Melon mixes rum and watermelon juice for a spiked and fruity refresher. And if you like a little bit of sweetness, the Coco Vanilla blends vanilla vodka and pineapple juice. Each comes served in a branded coconut. 

Details: The Setai is located at 2001 Collins Ave, Miami Beach. For more information, call (305) 520-6000. 

1:36 pm
Culinary Personalities Restaurant Features
0

It’s been a crazy year for Chef Niven Patel. In the past few months, he’s become a new father to twins, opened a brand new restaurant, and made the difficult decision to shut down one of his beloved Ghee locations due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs, he sat down with us to discuss how the pandemic has changed his perspective as a chef and restaurateur, what he hopes to accomplish with his new concept, Mamey, and his predictions on where Miami’s dining scene is headed.

You recently closed the Design District location of Ghee. What was that like emotionally, and how did you make the decision to shut down that location? 

Chef: It’s just these times we’re living in. Emotionally, it really hurt because six months prior to the pandemic happening we were finally kind of hitting our stride at that location. The pandemic hit that area specifically really hard. We dropped in sales like 90%, so we just weren’t able to keep it open. But I am in talks with the landlord right now on maybe trying to figure out a way to bring it back at the beginning of next year, so there’s still a little hope that might happen. 

During all this, you were still preparing to open your new concept Mamey. What made you decide to move forward with opening a new restaurant in the midst of the pandemic? What was that process like?

Chef: [It’s] like an emotional roller coaster, right? Our Dadeland location of Ghee is still down, but it was looking a lot more promising down in South Miami versus a lot of other parts of Miami. So when we decided to open Mamey, I felt good because we have a lot of really well-established neighborhoods around us here that are [busy] year-round; [they’re] not as reliant on tourism. So I felt good that the neighborhoods around us would support us. At the same time, I think the people in our neighborhoods, like in the Gables, or South Miami, are kind of fatigued with just ordering from the same places. So it’ll be kind of a fresh new thing, a fresh beginning, here at Mamay, for sure. 

For Mamey, you changed your approach to the menu to be more takeout-friendly. How did that work?

Chef: Now when you think about takeout, it’s more about the packaging, and how it looks when it’s been moved around in the bag or in the car, and back to your home. So those are all [things] we had to take in — seeing how the integrity of the food holds up throughout the whole process. If you do it right, it also helps the bottom line and revenue, because, with dining rooms at 50% capacity, there’s only so much revenue that you can capitalize on. So this actually creates another business model where, if you do it right, you can kind of keep it around even once the pandemic is over. 

Do you think takeout will continue to play a more important role in the future? 

Chef: 100%. I think it’s opened up a lot of eyes [to the fact] that there was a void in good takeout, and a lot of restaurants are pivoting toward that and doing a really good job with it. 

In your opinion, how does the future of Miami’s dining scene look as a whole?

Chef: It’s looking promising, I would say. Since we opened up Mamey…we kind of opened up blind. We didn’t know what the customer’s reaction was going to be and it has been promising, honestly. The diner is back, is getting back. I wouldn’t say [the scene is] anywhere close to what it used to be, but people want to go out, people want to socialize, they want to get back to a little bit of normalcy. So our key here at Mamey is, how do we manage expectations and also do it all safely? People want to get back to normal so they kind of let their guard down. It’s just making sure they still understand all our safety protocols. I look at restaurants as little escapes. If you choose to dine out right now, you are choosing to escape all the craziness that’s going on around us. We’re trying to create an environment where you can escape safely, and that’s going to be the important thing in the short term. I think long term, keeping those safety protocols and just adjusting on a daily basis. 

What’s the silver lining?

Chef: Our industry is in shambles, honestly. I guess the silver lining is it has kind of really magnified where the holes of our industry are and how we can tackle them and make them more sustainable in the long term. 

You recently had twins. What’s it been like managing restaurants and raising babies during a pandemic?

Chef: Crazy, right? So it all goes back to safety. They’re nine weeks old right now and I have to be at the restaurant…some of the guests know about my twins and my whole team obviously knows about them, so it’s pleasant — everyone’s ultra-safe around me because they don’t want me to get anything and translate it to the kids. But it’s been crazy because as a restaurateur/chef, I wanna take them out. I wanna go support restaurants. But I know I cannot take them out. So my wife’s kind of going crazy at home because they’ve been cooped up in the house for like two and a half months. Our scope of going out to the pediatrician and that’s about it. It’s been challenging but honestly…this morning one of my daughters was just cuddling with me, and that’s what makes it all worth it, right? 

Amanda M., Contributing Writer