Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Home / Posts Tagged "Pao by Paul Qui"

Innovative Asian Cuisine Awaits

Geoffrey Anderson Jr., a contributing writer

At Pao By Paul Qui, it pays to be adventurous. The Asian restaurant inside Faena Miami Beach draws from an extensive list of influences, including Japanese, Spanish, and Filipino. This mix of cultures ultimately results in an unforgettable meal you’ll still be talking about well after it’s over.

First things first: Hats off to Pao for its very user-friendly menu. Other restaurants should take note of how well-organized all the items are presented. Sections on the dinner menu are separated by protein, and small (and handy) symbols denote whether you’re searching the veggie, meat or fish list. Offerings are further split between Small and Large, making it easy for parties of all sizes to make their selections – of which there are many. 

Fried Chicken

This impressive presentation extends to the actual dishes, which are sure to blow up your Instagram feed. Vegetable-forward selections like the Mushroom “bistek” (aka steak) and Filipino Spaghetti taste as good as they look, too, and oftentimes you’ll find yourself forgetting you’re not eating meat. Like we mentioned earlier, the dishes are fun as well – the spaghetti is reminiscent of the popular sweet spaghetti from Filipino fast-food joint Jollibee (except much better, obviously). If you haven’t had it before, the roasted banana-tomato sauce will make a favorable lasting impression.

Fish and meat options are just as memorable, with the kinilaw – the Filipino version of ceviche – and Key West pink shrimp being favorites in the former category: You’re enjoying super-fresh seafood complemented by flavorful elements that bring the dishes full circle. It’s a party in your mouth, and we never want it to end. On a related note: We are not fans of the sea-urchin. We see it on a menu, and we immediately think, “Nope.” But Pao’s sea urchin – dubbed the Unicorn — was different. Despite a scary, spiky presentation, the Unicorn with its grilled sweet corn pudding actually won us over. Iffy about sea urchin? Give this one a try; it might convert you as it did us.

Smoked Shortrib Asado
Smoked Shortrib Asado

If meat is more your thing, then do yourself a favor and order the fried chicken. Roasted banana ketchup and sweet chili sauce turn this dish into a force to be reckoned with. At under $20, it’s a bargain and should be a part of any Pao experience. Guests not concerned about budgets should turn their sights onto the Smoked Short Rib Asado, a 72-hour Wagyu beef accompanied by Japanese sweet potato puree. It sounds simple on paper, but your taste buds will say otherwise. Prepare to be wowed.

After such a satisfying meal, you may feel like skipping dessert. We implore you to reconsider. The pastries are unlike anything you’ve likely had in Miami. Calling them creative is an understatement: Pao’s takes on a Rice Crispy Bar, Ice Cream Sandwich and Panna Cotta need to be seen — and eaten. Another highlight: the Chai Tea Rock, which is exactly what it sounds like. There is no wrong choice here.

And that’s the beauty of Pao’s menu: It’s full of delicious choices that will keep you coming back for more.

By Geoffrey Anderson Jr., a contributing writer

If a fully tantalizing experience is what you’re looking for, check out these all-inclusive specials from the crème de la crème:

The Seventh Annual South Beach Seafood Festival

Are you ready to put your toes in the sand, get a cocktail in your hand, and enjoy some of the best seafood in Miami? This fall, the South Beach Seafood Festival returns for its seventh consecutive year. Brought to you by William Hill and presented by Jack Daniel’s, City of Miami Beach, GOYA Foods, and Baptist Health South Florida, the South Beach Seafood Festival is taking over Miami from October 22-26 to showcase some of the area’s leading chefs and culinary masterminds. Touted as one of the fastest growing festivals in Miami Beach, the beachfront event—which features over 70 different restaurants and mouthwatering eats from Florida’s freshest seafood hotspots—spans five blocks and welcomes over 14,000 seafoodies for a day of fun in the sun in South Beach style. For $49, guests can enjoy seafood dishes paired with complimentary all-day open bar service. If you choose to splurge on the VIP experience ($150) you can enter to win the Land Rover South Dade VIP Hospitality Village and enjoy VIP access to Joe’s Stone Crab Miami, plus a ton of other awesome perks. The five-day event is the perfect combination of gourmet cuisine, wine pairings, live music at three different stages, chef competitions, and seemingly endless interactive experiences, all to benefit a great cause in Miami Dade County: CI Foundation’s EAT SMART program. The South Beach Seafood Festival has become the number three top recurring event on South Beach behind Art Basel and SOBEWFF. Kick off the fun with exclusive experiences at some of South Beach’s favorite spots, such as Meat Market, The Mondrian, or the Shore Club! Tickets can be purchased for all events at SOBASEAFOODFEST.COM

Miami Spice Specials at Market at EDITION

Looking to spice up your dining options? Look no further than Market at EDITION right in the midst of Miami Spice (August 1-September 30). The EDITION hotel’s signature restaurant is pulling out all the stops for the area’s largest and longest food event of the season. Open for lunch Monday-Friday, and dinner Monday-Sunday, Market at EDITION is including fan favorites on its specialty Miami Spice three-course prix-fixe menu, including the Crispy Salmon Sushi, Angel Hair Pasta with asparagus pesto, and Mushroom and Farm Egg Pizza, just to name a few! And why stop there? Also included are signature cocktails and decadent desserts. Brought to you by Michelin-starred chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Market at EDITION is proud to participate in Miami Spice—the perfect opportunity to enjoy Miami Beach’s finest fare at a reduced price but with the same extraordinary culinary experience. EDITIONHOTELS.COM/MIAMI-BEACH/RESTAURANTS-AND-BARS

Sunday Asado at Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann

Nothing says “Sunday Funday” more than Sunday Asado at Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann. Using live fire and traditional Patagonian cooking methods, watch as award-winning chefs prepare a buffet of slow-cooked meats, locally-caught fish, seasonal vegetables, and more—right in front of excited patrons. Priced at $95 per adult, from noon-4pm, pair your brunch with bottomless mimosas, sangría, or Bloody Mary pitchers. If that’s not tempting enough, Sunday Asado guests receive complimentary passes for Faena Beach to finish the morning in total relaxation. And yes, you can bring the whole family! Children are also welcome for $45 per child (ages 10 and younger). FAENA.COM/MIAMI-BEACH/RESTAURANT/LOS-FUEGOS-BY-FRANCIS-MALLMANN

Adventurous Omakase Dinners at Pao by Paul Qui

Every month at Pao by Paul Qui, James Beard award-winning Chef Paul Qui and his culinary team whip up a one-of-a-kind omakase feast centered around a specific theme or ingredient. Set around a communal table where diners can mingle and interact, these intimate epicurean adventures aim to expose guests to flavors they’ve never tried before. Dinners start at $95 per person, with the option to upgrade the experience with a sake or Japanese whiskey pairing. Since the series launched earlier this year, editions have highlighted themes ranging from Wagyu beef and mushrooms to Texas barbecue and beyond. Sign us up! FAENA.COM/MIAMI-BEACH/RESTAURANT/PAO-BY-PAUL-QUI

The Boho Chic Rooftop Scene at Vista 

Whether you’re looking for a pre-dinner bite or the perfect ending to your night, why not head to the rooftop at Vista Miami? The two-story modern-Italian restaurant located in the Upper Buena Vista area is a trendy concept combining Italian cuisine with Miami flavor and style. With prices ranging between $9-$29, enjoy delicious bites from the rooftop’s tapas menu—think coconut ceviche, oysters, or picoteo, then top it all off with an after-dinner drink special, like a Carajillo. With live music playing and the greenery surrounding, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a tropical, boho chic dream. VISTAMIAMIRESTAURANT.COM

By DiningOut Staff

Four Miami Spice Restaurants for Couples

Jaya at The Setai

With 200-plus restaurants offering three-course dinners for just $39 per person, Miami Spice is one of the best times of year to treat your special someone to an extravagant night out on the town. But with so many great restaurants, how do you know where to go? That’s where we come in. Read below for our favorite date-worthy restaurants on the Miami Spice list.

Pao by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5630}

James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur, Paul Qui, runs a sexy Asian restaurant in the extravagant Faena Hotel—and its sultry hues, whimsical unicorn statue, and intimate ambience make it a great place for a date night. Go during Miami Spice, and you and your S.O. can enjoy a three-course meal with Kinilaw, Pao’s popular Fried Chicken with roasted banana ketchup, Mushroom Bistek, Sisig Rice with crispy pork and fried egg, and for dessert, Elderflower Peach Sorbet with almond baba and Concord grape syrup.
*Miami Spice dinner at Pao by Paul Qui will be available every Tuesday through Saturday, from August 1 through September 30.

Café Roval {5808 Northeast 4 Court, Miami; 786.953.7850}

With its coral-rock walls, antique chandeliers, torchlit patio, and cascading waterfall, the Mediterranean-inspired Café Roval is definitely one of Miami’s most romantic restaurants. During Miami Spice, treat your special someone to appetizers like barbecued cobia Kebabs with manouri cheese or Buttone with braised lamb neck and green olives, followed by Gnocchi with rabbit sausage, Whole Orata with a fava bean labneh, or a Mixed Grill Platter with urfa peppers and tarator sauce. Finish the meal with Chocolate Marsala Cake, a Macadamia Nut Tart, or a Roasted Strawberry and Coconut Sorbet, and leave with a happy heart and a full stomach.
*Miami Spice dinner at Café Roval will be available every Sunday through Thursday, from August 1 through September 30.

Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}

The Setai, Miami Beach is like an Asian temple, and inside, Jaya at The Setai serves a menu of Indian-inspired fare with Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese influences. Grab a seat in the intimate dining room, or for a real romantic ambience, opt for a candlelit table by the hotel’s courtyard zen pond. Appetizers like Hamachi with avocado mousse and Chive or Truffle Dumplings are on the menu, as well as main dishes like Faroe Island Salmon with cardamom-scented sweet potato purée, Green Curry vegetables, Lamb Masala, and a tandoor-baked Chilean Sea Bass. For a romantic ending, get the Textures of Valrhona Chocolate with milk chocolate mousse, chocolate nib crumble, white chocolate snow, and chocolate sorbet, or the Masala Chai Crème Brûlée with chai-infused custard and a spiced chantilly.
*Miami Spice dinner at Jaya at The Setai will be available every night of the week, from August 1 through September 30. 

Palme d’Or {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3189}

As if The Biltmore wasn’t alluring enough, try its signature French restaurant and you’ll never want to leave. Helmed by Michelin-star Chef Gregory Pugin, Palme d’Or serves haute French cuisine in an elegant, vintage setting. Start with appetizers like Pan-Seared Lump Crab Cake with a curry aïoli or Pate de Foie Gras with brioche chips and buttery sautéed apples. From there, move on to Roasted Duck Breast with a wild berry gastrique or the Marinated Flat Iron Steak with shishito peppers and a pink peppercorn sauce. The desserts are sure to be as sweet as your other half—think: Madagascar Vanilla Cream with soft caramel, Chocolate Fondant Cake, or a Macaroon Tart with pineapple compote and mango sauce.
*Miami Spice dinner at Palme d’Or will be available every Tuesday through Saturday, from August 1 through September 30. 

By Jennifer Agress, contributing writer

Miami’s cocktail culture is constantly evolving and has touted everything from craft concoctions to personality-driven bars with celeb chef credibility. But despite all the homemade bitters and artisanal shrubs, one thing remains the same: the bigger and more outrageous, the better; and the cocktail world is no exception. So herewith, we bring you the most over-the-top cocktail vessels we’ve seen around town—the perfect specimens to blow up your Instagram (and get you buzzed). Bottoms up!

Pao by Paul Qui {3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.655.5630}

Pao Unicorn
Horn King at Pao by Paul Qui

Pao by Paul Qui’s Unicorn Cocktail glass is used for the “Horn King” cocktail—made with Bacardi 8 Rum, luxardo maraschino cherries, passion fruit, lime, and Hamilton 151 Rum Flaming Shell. It pays homage to the $6 million Damien Hirst golden unicorn statue that lords over the dining room. Pro tip: the cup is meant for the Horn King cocktail, but you can request any drink to be served in this stylish copper glass. Stubborn Seed {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 786.322.5211}

Sweet Liberty {237 20th Street, Suite B, Miami Beach; 305.763.8217}

Industry insiders can always be found at South Beach hangout spot Sweet Liberty where “The Bear Hug,” a concoction made with Barr Hill gin, raw honey, yellow Chartreuse, fresh pressed apple cider, lemon juice, and Prosecco, is presented in a glass gummy bear jar festooned with lemon and fresh mint. It’s the perfectly refreshing and whimsical way to cool down this summer.

Kiki On The River {450 Northwest North River Drive, Miami; 786.502.3243}

Miami River hotspot Kiki on the River takes inspiration from its sea-friendly setting with the “Roman’s Conch,” a  cocktail made for 4-6 people and served inside a ceramic conch shell made with Santa Teresa 1796 Rum, Velvet Falernum, Oloroso Sherry, passion fruit, fresh lime juice, freh grapefruit juice, and bitters ($65).

By Sara Liss, contributing writer