National Burger Month is halfway over, but at Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.674.4636}, the party’s only just getting started. Like it did last year, throughout the month of May, this favorite “backyard” restaurant at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach is debuting a new burger every week, each of which are inspired (and designed!) by a local Miami celebrity. Making this month-long party even more delicious, 15 percent of every celebrity burger bought will benefit the charity of the related celebrity’s choice.
So, who’s on tap for National Burger Month 2018?
The first week of May kicked off with The P&B Juicy Lucy by none other than the man himself, famed chef and restaurateur Michael Mina. A fan favorite at the 2018 Food Network and Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s “Heineken Light Burger Bash”—and benefiting No Kid Hungry—this burger tops a butchers-blend beef patty with smoked mozzarella, tomato confit, lettuce, and basil aioli, and stuffs it all in a crusty garlic-pepperoni bun. That was followed by another name everyone knows: rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer, Flo-Rida. His Flo-Rida Burger covered a 9-oz. dry-aged blue cheese patty with heirloom tomatoes, spinach, blue cheese dressing, mango chutney, and fresh avocado, and a portion of his proceeds went towards Big Dreams For Kids.
Now at the halfway point, this week’s celebrity burger was the brainchild of three-time Emmy Award-winning chef, radio, and television personality, James Tahhan, who is most known as co-host of Telemundo’s Un Nuevo Dia. A native of Venezuela, Chef Tahhan incorporated his roots into The James burger, which is made up of an 8-oz. dry-aged patty, queso fresco, guasacaca sauce, lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, roasted poblanos, and a fried egg on a brioche bun. Available from Monday, May 14, to Sunday, May 20, 15 percent of every burger sold will benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Finally, Miami burger lovers can get excited for next week’s collaboration with DJ IRIE, who will round out National Burger Month with his own The IRIE burger. Proceeds from this burger—which has a crispy chicken patty, a jalapeño and green chili cheese sauce, fresh guacamole, lettuce, and tomatoes—will benefit The Irie Foundation, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of South Florida’s at-risk youth. This final burger will be available from Monday, May 21, to Thursday, May 31.  
All celebrity burgers offered during National Burger Month are priced at $25. Pizza & Burger by Michael Mina is open daily for dinner, from 5 p.m. to Midnight, and opens for lunch at Noon on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor