Art Basel has come and gone and Christmas and New Year’s are just weeks away (stay tuned for guides to each), but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate good food and friends in between! Here are some happenings taking place this month as we prepare to say farewell to 2015.
Palmeiras Beach Club at Grove Isle
When: Now open!
Where: Palmeiras Beach Club at Grove Isle {4 Grove Isle Drive; 305.858.8300}
What: Grove Isle, the pristine island located just a quarter mile from Coconut Grove, welcomes Palmeiras Beach Club, a new restaurant, beach club, boutique hotel, and spa concept by hospitality gurus Sami Kohen and Jacques Wulffaert. The main dining room, helmed by renowned Venezualen Chef Alfredo Alvarez (who helped open Seasalt & Pepper) presents a Mediterranean menu with dishes evocative of the Spanish, French, Italian, and Greek coasts. The restored property also features a 20-room hotel, a marina, tennis courts, the Taittinger Lounge and Beach Club, a private Perrier-Jouët Chef’s Table for up to 20 guests, a Patron Tequila Lounge, and more.
Jack Frost Happy Hour at Conrad Miami
When: Through December 30
Where: The Bar @ LvL25 at Conrad Miami {1395 Brickell Avenue, Brickell; 305.503.6500}
What: Celebrate the holidays with friends and colleagues with a special Winter Wonderland happy hour taking place all month long. Enjoy special cocktails and holiday quick bites as glittering snow falls over The Bar every 30 minutes!
Share the Spirit at the Biltmore
When: Every Tuesday and Wednesday through December 31
Where: The Biltmore Palme d’Or {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.445.3200}
What: Bring an unwrapped toy for a child and open the treasures of Palme d’Or’s exquisite tasting menu created by Michelin-starred Chef Gregory Pugin. Discover the flavors of France every in our four-course, prix-fixe menu for just $62 per person. In addition, Maître D’ Gregory Zarzycki invites you to bring your favorite bottle of wine or Champagne, and he will waive the corkage fee of $30 for up to two bottles per couple. All gifts will be donated to Miami Children’s Hospital through Radio Lollipop.
Slow Food Miami’s Snail Social Happy Hour
When: Tuesday, December 8, 6-8pm
Where: The Wynwood Yard {56 Northwest 29th Street, Wynwood}
What: Slow Food Miami, the local 100-percent volunteer nonprofit dedicated to planting a fresher future will hold its fourth Snail Social at The Wynwood Yard, a vibrant new pop-up that houses four exciting new food concepts: Della Test Kitchen, featuring a menu of customizable, globally inspired plant-based bowls; Myumi a traditional omakase sushi experience; Arabian Knife, offering Middle Eastern dishes; and Vibe 305, featuring Americana-inspired dishes curated by consulting chef Bradley Kilgore. Thyme, the full bar at the Wynwood Yard will offer attendees a complimentary glass of wine in addition to several drink specials.
Cellar 1954 Wine & Dinner Series featuring StripSteak and Moet & Chandon
When: Thursday, December 10 at 8pm
Where: Stripsteak at the Fontainebleau {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.535.3283}
What: Paying homage to its storied past is commonplace at the Fontainebleau, so it makes sense that the Cellar 1954 Wine & Dinner Series (named after the year the hotel opened), which pair the world’s most prestigious wines and winemakers with the award-winning cuisine of the hotel’s restaurants, have been a huge success. The series continues at this month StripSteak by Michael Mina with a decadent five-course menu prepared by Chef de Cuisine Derrick Roberts complemented by beverages from Moët & Chandon.
Jaya Opens at The Setai
When: Friday, December 11
Where: The Setai, Miami Beach {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.520.6400}
What: The award-winning Setai hotel unveils its newest restaurant concept, Jaya, a bold and modern Asian-inspired restaurant. The restaurant is a partnership with Chef Mathias Gervais, who announced the new concept shortly after winning Food Network’s hit cooking show “Chopped.” Jaya is a sure win, too, thanks to its vibrant menu inspired by regional dishes of Japan, China, India, Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand. Jaya, which means “victory” in Sanskrit, was chosen to honor The Setai’s renowned interior designer, Jaya Ibrahim, and the hotel’s first decade of successful Asian-inspired hospitality. Menu highlights include the Egg Steam Bun with poached egg, bacon, cucumber relish, and caramel ginger; the Pork Bao Bun with grilled peach, cilantro, and Chinese barbecue; and the Thali Platter (pictured above), a traditional Indian dish with chicken, fish, and okra.
Segafredo Bayside Grand Opening Celebration
When: Wednesday, December 16, 7-10pm
Where: Segafredo Bayside at Bayside Marketplace {401 Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown; 786.420.2496}
What: From the same people who brought you Segafredo Espresso L’Originale on Lincoln Road comes Segafredo Bayside, a state-of-the-art kiosk with a full self-contained kitchen and an expansive bar at Bayside Marketplace in Downtown Miami. The restaurant is celebrating its grand opening with a party that’s open to the public with complimentary prosecco and a live show by Spam Allstars. The 580-square-foot kiosk and 2,500-square-foot outdoor space features the signature Segafredo red-and-black tabletops, its branded color red throughout in addition to an extensive craft cocktail menu with favorites such as the Aperol Spritz and the Pimm’s Cup.
—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor