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Home / Posts Tagged "merrick park"

2:04 pm
Restaurant Features
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Halloween is creeping up on us faster than you can say “trick or treat” five times fast. Here’s a breakdown of this weekend’s top events.

Friday, October 30

biltmore halloweenFrom 8pm-midnight, the Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3230} hosts its annual Halloween party featuring an open bar, buffet dinner, and entertainment. Don’t miss out on the costume contest with great prizes for most creative (must be handmade), spookiest, and best couple. Members $100; nonmembers $125; RSVP required.

Starting at 8pm, Piripi {320 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.448.2423} will shut down San Lorenzo Avenue for its Noche de Duende Masquerade Bash featuring flamenco, tapas, cocktails, live music, and more. The night will also include cocktail specials and a bewitching hour-inspired prix-fixe dinner menu. Tickets: General admission $25; VIP $50; click here to purchase.

STK HalloweenFrom 7-10pm, STK Miami {2311 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.604.6988} will host a themed night featuring a two-hour open bar “Boos and Booze” package for just $50. Engage in the enchanting magic of Halloween and dress to impress, with prizes awarded to the best costumes and a special performance by Nu Deco Ensemble’s Peter White.

Saturday, October 31

From 11am-5pm, join Brasserie Azur {3252 Northeast First Avenue, Midtown; 786.800.9993} for Halloween brunch, featuring $25 unlimited mimosas for two hours. Bring the kids from for games, face-painting, balloons, cotton candy, a live magic show, and more. Then, head over to sister restaurant Villa Azur {309 23rd Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8688} for an adults-only Halloween party featuring music by DJ Stephan M.

12087214_673408396128529_2116532048617010515_oGet ready for a night of DJs, drinks, food trunks, and $500 costume contest at Hallowyn, Wynwood’s FREE Halloween block party. The event kicks off at 7pm at the Mana Production Lot {318 Northwest 23rd Street}. Throughout the night, a 240-inch jumbo screen LED TV will be playing  the best Halloween videos of all time, including a special screening of ”The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 10pm.

Segafredo HalloweenFrom 5pm-2am, Lenox Avenue will be closed for Segafredo Espresso l’Originale’s {1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.673.0047} 15th annual Halloween party. Two remote bars will be set up in addition to Segafredo’s permanent inside bar, and a fantastic lineup of DJs is scheduled to play. A limited food menu will also be available.

Also on Lincoln Road, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833} will offer a special four-course prix-fixe dinner, where guests can delight in a selection of the restaurant’s finest dishes while admiring the costumes, trick-or-treaters, and holiday fanfare along Lincoln Road. Outdoor tables are $110 per person; inside tables $65 per person.

Hyde Beach HalloweenFrom 7pm-midnight Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails {111 South Surf Road, Hallandale Beach; 954.699.0901} is getting into the Halloween spirit by offering guests FREE access to its Haunted Beach Bar, located on the first floor. Enjoy ghoulish sounds by DJ YSL while watching scary movies right on the sand. A popcorn cart, massive candy bar, and specialty drinks will also be available all night long.

Morton’s The Steakhouse {multiple locations} is offering a three-course dinner for just $35 featuring entrée selections such as 6oz Filet Mignon, Honey-Chile Glazed Salmon, and Chicken Bianco. The restaurant will also offer an extended happy hour from 5pm-close.

The Oceanaire Seafood Room {900 South Miami Avenue, Brickell; 305.372.8862} is offering a three-course dinner for two PLUS a bottle of wine for just $60. They are also serving happy hour all night in the bar.

basement halloween 2015Starting at 11pm, Basement at the Miami Beach EDITION {2901 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.641.7119} will host its first-annual Halloween party, “Into the Jungle,” featuring DJs Cosmo Baker, Brett Sylvia, and DJ Spiff. Tickets are $20; click here to purchase.

Seaspice {422 Northwest North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200} gears up to celebrate Halloween with a two-day event around the theme “Dia de los Muertos.” On Saturday, the hot spot will transform into a goulish haven on the river for its invitation-only Day of the Dead Halloween Ball, with Modern Garden serving as an offering altar filled with flowers to honor those who have passed. Guests will indulge in Champagne, specialty cocktails, and delicious bites throughout the evening.

Sunday, November 1

But the Halloween fun doesn’t stop there! On Sunday, November 1, from noon-6pm the celebration continues at Seaspice with LVMH and Veuve Cliquot for Dia de los Muertos Sunday brunch, featuring live music, photo booths, makeup artists, models, Champagne, giveaways, and more.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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2:07 pm
Restaurant Features
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Chef Angelina Bastidas

The Village of Merrick Park’s newest eatery Piripi {320 San Lorenzo Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.448.2423} opened its doors in March with a bang. Already, it’s stirring the pot by introducing a brand-new executive chef: Angelina Bastidas.

At only 25 years old, Bastidas has had more than her fair share of culinary experience. She was still a student at Le Cordon Bleu when she began her career at Wish with Marco Ferraro (a Jean-Georges protégée). She then honed her skills in a number of Miami’s top dining destinations before taking on the position of chef de cuisine at South Beach’s popular Tongue & Cheek, where she was selected by Zagat Miami as one of the 30 Under 30 Miami Rock Stars Redefining the Industry.

Just weeks into her new position at Piripi, we had the opportunity to talk with Chef Bastidas about her background, her inspiration, what changes she has in store for the new menus, and even her guilty pleasures.

1. Tell us a bit about your history.
I am originally from the Bronx, but I was raised in Miami and my background is Dominican-Colombian. I have been interested in food since I was a young girl—I grew up with it as part of our family culture. As soon as I graduated high school, I enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu, and after two weeks, I started working in the kitchen at Wish. I’ve also worked at Area 31, The Bazaar by José Andrés, The Biltmore Palme d’Or, and Tongue & Cheek.

2. What drew you to Piripi?
As soon as I heard there was a restaurant opening named Piripi, I was intrigued. To me, it’s a word that perfectly describes Miami (“piripi” is Spanish for “tipsy”). I remember the first time I walked into the restaurant; I was really impressed with the space itself—it’s beautiful and immense—and I guess I felt a little “piripi” myself just walking in the door.

3. Tell us about the new menus. What are some changes you’re making?
We are introducing new brunch, lunch, and kids’ menus, and at some point, a happy hour menu. We have such a great bar, I’d love to see some dishes suited just for dining there. I am also restructuring the dinner menu; there will be a mix of new dishes, plus re-creations of some that are already on the menu. New dishes that I’m excited about are the Chistorra Piripi, the Roasted Beet Salad, and the classic Shrimp al Ajillo. In the future, I also plan on expanding the charcuterie menu, where we can feature housemade meats, torchons, terrines, etc.

4. What is your personal favorite menu item?
My personal favorite has to be the Chistorra Piripi. It’s probably going to be the biggest hit for Piripi yet. It has crispy potatoes, poached egg, and pan-fried chistorra with a Manchego espuma that melts in your mouth!

5. What might surprise visitors about Pirpi if they are coming in for the first time?
I think the first thing guests notice when they walk in has to be the extravagant artwork over the bar. I also think that some of the new dishes and composed plates we are presenting will surprise visitors—even those who are regulars. We are not changing the cuisine, we are reinventing it. At our core, we are still a Spanish restaurant, but we are ready to have fun with our food, with different textures and flavors.

6. How does Miami play a part when creating menu items, selecting ingredients, etc.?
Our location in Miami always defines my menus. I love to embrace what’s local and in season—that’s key to how I create my menus.

7. What Miami chefs or celebrity chefs do you admire?
Florida chefs I admire would have to be Norman Van Aken, Lindsay Autry, and Jeremy Ford. Celebrity chefs I admire are Curtis Duffy, Emeril Lagasse, and Daniel Barber.

8. Do you have a favorite cooking show on TV?
If I had to pick, it would probably have to be “Kitchen Nightmares.” Although it gives me major anxiety, it helps me improve on “cleanliness!”

9. Do you have a favorite food or guilty food pleasure?
My go-to has to be Hershey’s Pie. It relieves me from all the stress I deal with at work.

10. What do you love most about working at Piripi so far?
Working with the Piripi family has been a pleasure. Everyone is committed to doing their best and working as a team. When you’re around great energy, the workflow is just so much smoother.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

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