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Don’t know where to celebrate America’s birthday? Don’t worry. We do! This weekend, head to the restaurants below and pay homage to Uncle Sam with some fun, tasty drinks–and like all of our favorite events here at DiningOut Miami–lots of delicious food.

The Restaurant at The Raleigh/The Raleigh Hotel: On July 3 and 4, SBE’s iconic The Raleigh Hotel {1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.534.6300} will host an All-American Cookout with American-style grub like: grilled oysters with charred scallion and yuzu vinaigrette; Alaskan king crab legs with a lemon garlic aïoli; grilled St Louis ribs with kimchee barbecue, pickled coleslaw, and grilled sweet corn; and a Wagyu beef “Hot Dog ‘Everything’ Bun” with sauerkraut relish, beer mustard, and dirty chips. The party will continue for two full days, and will include family games like giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, ping pong, and corn hole, all with poolside ‘Americana’ tunes playing in the background. Adding to the festivities, $25 beer buckets and Red Bull + Ketel One buckets will be available, along with a live raw bar sitting right next to the grill. If that’s not freedom, we don’t know what is.

SOHO Bay Restaurant: On Sunday, July 3 from 11am-4pm, celebrate Fourth of July one day early with a brunch day party at SOHO Bay Restaurant {520 West Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.498.4644}. For just $29 per person, guests can feast on all-you-can-eat West Indian curries, Escovich fish, jerk chicken, jerk and roast pork, Ackee and saltfish, Callaoo, salt fish fritters, balmy, fried dumplings, soups, salads, and much more. Drinks aren’t included, but bottomless mimosas are available for just another $25 per person. The magical Biscayne Bay views and beats by Jazzy T? Those luxuries are free.

A Fish Called Avalon: On Monday, July 4, A Fish Called Avalon {700 Ocean Drive, South Beach; 305.532.1727} invites patrons to drink to America with a special wine deal: five glasses of select American wines for just $35. Taking place from 6-11pm, guests can pair their wine with tasty finger foods, all while watching the fireworks over the beach.

Bagatelle Miami Beach: At Bagatelle Miami Beach {220 21st Street, Miami Beach; 305.704.3900}, celebrate Independence Day like the French do–early and with a boozy brunch. To toast to the (American) red, white, and blue, enjoy French favorites like le pain perdu, a barbecue pulled pork “The Piggy” sandwich, spicy crab Benedict, Chateaubriand for two or three, a truffle-oil pizza, and more; all while being entertained by DJ Gotta.

Rusty Pelican: Want fireworks with a view? The Rusty Pelican {3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne; 305.361.3818} has got it. To celebrate the day, this iconic Key Biscayne spot will have an American-style buffet with hearty entrées like brisket barbecue sliders, chicken wings, hot dogs, its signature mac ‘n’ cheese, potato salad, and more; all for $52.70.

KLIMA Restaurant and Bar: The brainchild of duo Pablo Fernández-Valdés and Yago Giner, KLIMA Restaurant and Bar {210 23rd Street, Miami Beach; 786.453.2779} gives diners near and far a taste of authentic Barcelona. Sitting in the heart of the historic district in Miami Beach, head there on the Fourth for a tasty, three-course American-inspired menu of dishes like pork ribs with a pimenton glaze, a prime beef burger, Key lime pie, and more. A vegetarian prix-fixe menu is also available, and the whole meal costs just $39 per person.

By Jennifer Agress

DIRT MIAMI - Food

Want to get social? Do it at DIRT {232 Fifth Street, Miami Beach; 305.763.8548}! On Tuesday, July 12, everyone’s favorite Miami Beach-based health-conscious haunt will host the next “Snail Social” happy hour by Slow Food Miami–a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering awareness of good, clean, sustainable, and fair food in South Florida. This happy hour will take place from 6pm to 8pm, and is open to the public.

Helmed by Chef Nicole Votano, DIRT’s delicious, seasonal vegan, vegetarian, paleo, and gluten-free menus make it the perfect spot to host one of the ever-popular Snail Socials. DIRT is committed to sustainable food practices and environmentalism–with locally sourced produce from Sun Fresh Farm & Ranch, Seed to Sprout, Harpke Family Farms, Zak the Baker, Local Roots, and Jojo Tea–proving time and time again that amazing food can actually be healthy.

So, what’s on the menu at this Snail Social? Available during happy hour, DIRT invites attendees to feast on the following farm-to-table Snail of Approval small bites:

Tortilla Española made with Florida potatoes, melted leeks, and velvety Sun Fresh Farm & Ranch eggs, sided by a smoky aioli.

Local Roots Melon Salad with sugar cube muskmelon, crimson watermelon, nuoc mam, and toasted peanuts, all topped with freshly picked cilantro and mint

Jojo Tea Matcha Mango Cakes 

Mini Blueberry and Peach Crostatas

Taking place the second Tuesday of every month, Slow Food Miami’s “Snail Social” events consistently feature different guest chefs and restaurants in the greater Miami area. To celebrate the cause, on July 12, DIRT invites all guests who attend to stay after the event has ended, and enjoy 20-percent off their meal.

Want to eat clean? See you at DIRT!

By Jennifer Agress

BLT Steak at Betsy South Beach

Easter Sunday is less than a week away! Do you know what your plans are? In addition to the restaurants included in our Easter roundupBLT Steak at The Betsy-South Beach {1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach; 305.673.0044} is offering a gourmet three-course brunch for just $40 per person from 11am-4pm. Executive Chef Laurent Tourondel (the “LT” of BLT) has created a delectable menu with enticing selections all to be enjoyed in the beautiful dining area of the storied beachfront hotel’s main floor.

For appetizers, choose the Sweet Pea and Avocado Soup or the Porcini-Crusted Lamb Carpaccio; for the main course, choose the Lake Meadow Farms Eggs en Cocotte or the BLT Short Rib Sliders; and for dessert, choose the Banana Kuchen or the Challah Bread Pudding. And, of course, there will be plenty of the restaurant’s famous Popovers to go around.

—Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor

stripsteak

The Cellar 1954 Wine & Dinner Series, which pairs the world’s most prestigious wines and winemakers with Fontainebleau Miami Beach’s award-winning cuisine, continues this month on Tuesday, March 15, at StripSteak by Michael Mina {4440 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.512.8002}, the hotel’s signature steakhouse.

The four-course dinner, prepared by StripSteak’s Chef de Cuisine Derrick Roberts, will feature wines from Sonoma’s Adobe Road Winery, with owner Kevin Buckler as host for the evening.

Buckler, a professional race car driver and racing team owner, founded the winery in 1995 with his wife Debra. He spends countless hours in the vineyard and the winery perfecting the flavor of each wine.

The evening’s menu:

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres
Beausoliel Oysters
Caviar, green apple, and white ponzu

Salmon Crudo
Pickled cucumber and ginger-soy dressing

Tomato Ricotta Arancini
Basil and aged Parmesan

Paired with Adobe Road 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

Appetizer
Roasted Baby Beets
Pomegranate, mango, goat cheese, and walnut vinaigrette

Paired with Adobe Road 2012 Redline Red Wine Blend

Entrée
Wood-Grilled Angus Tenderloin
Globe carrots, maitake mushroom, and Bordelaise

Paired with Adobe Road 2011 Knights Valley Cabernet and Adobe Road 2011 Beckstoffer Cabernet

Dessert
Pistachio Mousse
Sour cherry compote and spice ice cream

Paired with Adobe Road 2009 Zinfandel

Cost is $190 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by clicking here.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

ART_7161

One of the newest additions to South Beach’s exploding South of Fifth dining scene is Café des Arts {22 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.534.2555}, a quaint yet eclectic space that locals—and us—just can’t seem to get enough of. We attended the official grand opening celebration in early February, only to return a week later for dinner.

cafe des artsNot surprisingly, Café des Arts has an emphasis on art, and the fun pop art on the walls—not to mention the silver Mickey Mouse statue at the entrance—will make you feel as though you’re dining in Wynwood. Like a revolving art gallery, the walls are updated every so often to reflect the artist of the moment. (In fact, in just a week in between our visits, the wall art had already been swapped out for new, equally exciting, pieces.)

cafe des arts

The restaurant’s sparkling patio is the prime seating area, although the interior, which features stone floors and plush black-leather seats is equally cozy. Heat lamps and tents currently keep things warm and protected from the elements, while fans will surely be in place come summer. The vibe is quiet and quaint—a perfect date-night spot—unless you show up on Monday night, when a celebration ensues for Food Fashion Art, a weekly event honoring the current featured artist.

cafe des arts
We were fortunate enough to dine on a beautifully clear evening, which set the perfect tone for the feast for the senses that ensued. A work of art in itself, the menu is a blend of Mediterranean influences, with plenty of offerings from which to choose. We started with the Tomato and Burrata; the simple presentation was no match for the incredible flavor of the fresh heirloom tomatoes and succulent Burrata, which were seasoned with little more than olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We also had the equally delicate Red Tuna Tartare.

Cafe des Arts
We were tempted to order the Truffle Pizza, which completely wowed us at the grand opening, but we fought the urge in favor of treating our palates to something new. Instead, we ordered the Shrimp and Scallops Linguini, which was topped with a saffron cream sauce, and the Wagyu Rib-Eye Steak (a signature dish), a 12-ounce slab of juicy meat served with a wasabi Japanese sauce and spinach. Needless to say, we were sufficiently stuffed.

cafe des arts
To finish off a lovely evening, we were presented with a dessert tray featuring a number of appetizing sweets. We settled on the cheesecake. Absolutely divine.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Bazi Bar

On Wednesday, March 9, at 8pm, Bazi {1200 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.695.0101} will host its inaugural Kaiseki dinner, an exclusive monthly dinner series taking place at the new modern Asian-inspired eatery located at the Marlin Hotel in South Beach.

Kaiseki traditionally consists of small, artistically arranged dishes that foster a harmonious balance between taste, texture, and aesthetic. This one-of-a-kind experience will feature 10 to 12 courses by acclaimed Executive Chef Michael Pirolo, a James Beard Award semi-finalist, who will showcase seasonal ingredients from the decadent to the exotic. Every course will be paired with unique libations ranging from sake to Asian teas, courtesy of Bazi’s Beverage Director William Rivas.

The dinners will be held in the intimate Bazi Bar and are limited to just eight seats. Price is $150 per person (including tax and tip). To reserve your spot, email [email protected].

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village Featuring MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations - 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

The past few days have been a whirlwind—a dizzying series of daytime beach festivities, nighttime tastings, late-night soirees, chef meet-and-greets, cooking demonstrations, intimate dinners, burgers, pasta, barbecue, and, of course, lots and lots of free-flowing wine.

Here’s a look back on some of our favorite highlights from South Beach Wine and Food Fest 2016.

Thursday

Giada De Laurentiis

Sobefest kicked off for us on Thursday evening with Barila’s Italian Bites on the Beach hosted by the one and only Giada De Laurentiis. The walk-around tasting event under the stars on the sand featured dozens of chefs presenting their favorite Italian dishes. The deliciousness that ensued set the tone for some of the amazing things to come.

Image courtesy of Robert Sullivan Photography

Image courtesy of Robert Sullivan Photography

The Italian feast came to a close at 10pm, just in time for us to switch locations—and (in respect to food) continents—for Tacos After Dark at the Loews Miami Beach, presented by the Mexico City tourism board and hosted by Aarón Sánchez of “Chopped” fame. A highlight of this event was our chat with acclaimed Mexican Chef Enrique Olvera, considered one of the best Mexican chefs in the world. (Check back for our 10 Questions feature with the chef later this week.)

Image courtesy of Robert Sullivan Photography

Image courtesy of Robert Sullivan Photography

Friday

Amstel Light Burger Bash Presented By Schweid & Sons Hosted By Rachael Ray - 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival Presented By FOOD & WINE

Things started heating up on Friday night with several signature SOBEWFF events, including the Amstel Light Burger Bash presented by Schweid & Sons and hosted by Rachael Ray. The winners of the evening were Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who won the coveted People’s Choice Award for his Menchi Katsu Burger, and Miami food truck favorite Jersey Dawg’s Classic Slider, which won the judges’ Very Best Burger Award. In Addition, Boston burger masters Kathy Sidell and David Daniels of MET Back Bay wowed celebrity guest judge Andrew Zimmern to take home Red Robin’s Best of the Bash Award for its Jacques Burger.

Red Robin, Andrew Zimmer

Photo courtesy of Brian Blanco/AP Images for Red Robin

Also on Friday evening was Wine Spectator’s Best of the Best at Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The upscale event featured 60 of the nation’s top chefs showcasing their top dishes to pair with over 100 different wines, all of which were rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s scale.

wine spectator best of the best

Saturday

Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village Featuring MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations - 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

The tasting events continued Saturday at the Grand Tasting Village, an endless display of wine, food, and fun spanning several blocks on the sand, with the picture-perfect ocean as a backdrop. Cooking demonstrations were led by Rachael Ray, Neil Patrick Harris, Guy Fieri, and many other famous faces.

Meatopia Presented By Creekstone Farms Sponsored By Thrillist Hosted By Michael Symon - 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

Saturday night, the tents in front of the Delano were once again hopping for the second-annual Meatopia, presented by Creekstone Farms and hosted by Food Network’s Michael Symon. Fire department employees were kept on hand just in case at this smoky, open-flame affair, where some of the nation’s top chefs cooked up their meatiest dishes for hundreds of carnivorous festival-goers. Each guest was given a red token to vote for their favorite bite of the evening. Miami Beach’s own Quality Meats took home the coveted People’s Choice for its thick and juicy House-Cured Slab Bacon.

Meatopia Presented By Creekstone Farms Sponsored By Thrillist Hosted By Michael Symon - 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

Sunday

Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village featuring MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations - 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

In true SOBEFEST fashion, the Grand Tasting Village did not disappoint on the final festival day, with revelers soaking up their last chance of the weekend to eat and imbibe. Food Network and Cooking Channel personalities, including Tia Mowry and Tiffany (Amber) Theissan took the stage all afternoon long presenting some of their favorite dishes to an eager crowd.

Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village featuring MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations - 2016 Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE

In all, the 2016 South Beach Wine and Food Festival was a huge success! The only downside is that now we have to wait an entire year for it to come again.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

The Restaurant_Courtyard

Just a few weeks ago, the award-winning Setai Hotel debuted Jaya {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}, a brand-new restaurant concept by Executive Chef Mathias Gervais of “Chopped” fame. Taking the place of what was previously The Restaurant at The Setai, Jaya introduces an entirely new approach to Asian cuisine. DiningOut had the opportunity to dine at the revamped restaurant, and we couldn’t have been more impressed by the quality of food and service.

The Restaurant at setai jaya

Chef Gervais, along with Executive Sous Chef Vijayudu “Vijay” Veena, have collaborated to create a mouthwatering menu full of authentic dishes from Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and India, all served family-style. The menu is comprehensive, but not intimidating, and our server guided us with some stellar recommendations.

We started off the evening with drinks from the specialty cocktail menu: the Cucumber Martini and the Setai Cosmo, both equally delicious! For appetizers, we tried the Shrimp Maki, an avocado-wrapped roll with shrimp, puffed rice, salmon roe, and blood orange; and the Wagyu Tataki, with leeks, pickled daikon, and crispy garlic wrapped in the beef sausage-style. And, of course, we couldn’t pass on beginning with the famous Naan Bread, a simple yet flavorful Setai staple that stole the show.

jaya at the setai

Shrimp Maki

We continued the meal with the Peking Duck (also a longtime Setai menu favorite), served with steamed pancakes (to make your own wrap) and a deliciously sweet plum sauce, and the Hanger Steak Ssam, which was served with red kimchee, ginger, scallions, mint, and lettuce with a green chile relish. Everything that we tried was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor.

jaya at the seat

Hanger Steak Ssam and Peking Duck

Of course, no meal is complete without dessert. We opted for the sampler, which came with four equally impressive bite-sized treats.

image19

Jaya, which means “victory” in Sanskrit, was chosen to honor The Setai’s distinguished interior designer, Jaya Ibrahim, who recently passed away. The concept is part of the hotel’s culinary re-launch, as it celebrates a decade of unmatched success in Miami Beach and luxurious Asian hospitality. While the name, menu, and overall concept of the restaurant have certainly changed, you can still expect the same impeccable service, caliber of standout dishes, and the sophisticated yet laid-back ambience for which The Setai is known.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Burrata Soft Serve 2 - photo credit Dominique Ansel Kitchen

Acclaimed French pastry Chef Dominique Ansel (of his eponymous New York City bakery) is heading to SoBe for Art Basel to launch a special pop-up experience at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 888.625.7500}.

From noon to midnight on Wednesday, December 2, the award-winning chef will set up an exclusive soft serve ice cream window featuring delicious frozen treats–perfect for Art Baselers looking for a midday refresher or late-night dessert.

Featured flavors include: Caramel Stout (chocolate “caviar” with sea salt brownie) and Burrata Soft Serve (balsamic caramel with confit strawberry and micro-basil). Each super-creamy flavor is made with fresh milk (as opposed to a mix or a powder) and is served in a homemade, hand-rolled honey tuile cone.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Katsuya Sushi Bar Chefs

Art Basel Miami Beach (aka Miami Art Week) is upon us and we couldn’t be more thrilled! The glitz and glamour that descends upon our great city for one week only in December is a can’t-miss opportunity to mingle with artists, art connoisseurs, and celebrities alike. And, lucky for the food lovers out there, this also means ample opportunities to dine at some of the city’s hottest restaurants.

In honor of Art Basel, from December 3-6, Katsuya South Beach {1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.2995} at the SLS Hotel (which is typically only open for dinner) is rolling out a special limited-edition lunch menu. Available from 11:30am-3pm, the special menu will feature a number of Katsuya favorites, including the Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño, thinly sliced with ponzu and jalapeño; Whitefish Sashimi with Crispy Onion, thinly sliced and seared with momiji ponzu and light crispy onion; and a selection of signature robata bar items and sushi rolls. The restaurant will resume its normal dinner service and menu starting at 5pm.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor