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Linguine with Citrus Pesto and Shrimp
From Riviera Focacceria Italiana

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

  • 7 oz linguine pasta
  • 4 Tbsp coarse marine salt
  • 2 oz pistachios
  • lemon zest, medium-sized lemon
  • 1 medium-sized orange
  • 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • pinch of salt
  • 10 large shrimp, deveined and peeled
  • 1 garlic clove
  • pink peppercorns

METHOD

In a large pot, boil pasta in water. Add coarse marine salt while pasta is boiling. Cook pasta according to box instructions. Toast pistachios in a hot pan for a few minutes, then set aside to cool. Peel the orange and put it in a blender with the toasted pistachios, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt to create a citrus pesto. Set aside.

In a sauté pan, add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. When hot, add peeled garlic clove and cook until brown. Discard the garlic and add the shrimp. Cook for approximately 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the citrus pesto. Drain the linguine and toss in the pan with the citrus pesto and the shrimp until well coated. Arrange on a plate and sprinkle with crushed pink peppercorns.


Scallops with Aji Amarillo Potatoes and Huacatay BBQ
From Lido Bayside Grill at The Standard Spa and Hotel

Serves 3-4

INGREDIENTS

Aji Amarillo Potatoes:

  • 6 Yukon gold potatoes (about 2lbs)
  • 3 Tbsp aji amarillo paste
  • 1/2 lb butter
  • 1 tsp salt

Huacatay BBQ:

  • 2/3 c huacatay paste
  • 1-1/2 c agave
  • 5 Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp squid ink

Scallops:

  • 12-14 scallops
  • 1-2 Tbsp grapeseed oil
  • salt and white pepper to taste

METHOD

For the potatoes:
Peel, then boil potatoes until soft. While the potatoes are boiling, mix aji amarillo paste, butter, and salt in food processor until thoroughly combined. Once potatoes are fully cooked, drain and push though a sieve or ricer. Fold together puréed potatoes and mixture from the food processor.

For the barbecue:
Blend all of the ingredients on high.

For the scallops:
Pat raw scallops dry on an absorbent towel. Place a sauté pan over medium-high heat with 1-2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil; pan should be hot enough that smoke is beginning to rise from it. Season scallops with salt and white pepper to taste and place carefully into the sauté pan. Sear scallops until golden brown on each side (about 2 minutes per side). Serve with mashed potatoes and barbecue sauce.


Seared Sea Scallops and Caviar Butter
From Morton’s The Steakhouse

Serves 1

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 oz unsalted butter
  • 2 oz oyster mushrooms
  • 3 oz fresh sweet corn kernels, shaved off the cob
  • 1 oz red bell pepper, diced 1/4-inch cubes
  • 2 tsp fresh tarragon leaves
  • 2 oz cooked lobster meat
  • 1-1/2 oz baby arugula
  • 1 Tbsp clarified butter (or olive oil)
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
  • 4 U-10 sea scallops
  • 1/4 tsp Hackleback caviar
  • 1/8 tsp micro-greens (or fresh chives)

METHOD

In a sauté pan over medium heat, melt 1 ounce unsalted butter and add the oyster mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms until lightly browned. Add the corn, peppers, tarragon, and lobster meat. Sauté the mixture for 2 minutes or until hot. Remove from heat and add the baby arugula and mix together.

Season the scallops with kosher salt and pepper. In another sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the clarified butter. Once the pan is hot, add the scallops to the pan and cook until golden brown (approximately 2 minutes on each side). The scallops should be nicely browned and crisp on the outside and slightly opaque in the middle. (If you prefer the scallops cooked further, place in a hot oven until desired doneness.) Remove the scallops from the pan and place on a paper towel. Note: the scallops will leach liquid while resting. To plate, arrange the sweet corn and lobster mixture on a plate, place scallops on top of the mixture. In a small bowl, combine 1 ounce melted unsalted butter and caviar and lightly mix. Pour the caviar sauce on the plate around the corn and lobster mix. Garnish with micro-greens and serve.


Mushroom Bistek
From Pao by Paul Qui

Serves 1

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 pearl onions
  • 4 pickled chilis, sliced
  • 1 tsp charred onion powder (thinly sliced onions, baked until black, then blended into a powder)
  • lime zest
  • mustard flowers (or other bitter greens)

Poaching Oil:

  • 12 large portobello mushrooms
  • 4 bottles rice bran oil
  • 3 Fresno peppers, cut into fourths
  • 1 small ginger bulb, peeled and diced
  • 15 cloves of garlic
  • 1 white onion, sliced
  • 3 bay leaves
  • handful thyme sprigs
  • 1 stalk lemongrass
  • 2 Tbsp whole black peppercorns
  • 2 Tbsp coriander seed
  • zest from 3 lemons

Ponzu-Brown Butter Sauce:

  • 4 oz brown butter
  • 4 oz vegan ponzu
  • 1 oz fresh lime juice
  • pinch of yuzu kosho
  • 10 cracks of fresh black pepper

METHOD

For poaching oil:
In a deep six-inch pan, combine all ingredients except mushrooms. Place the pan across two burners on very low heat. Clean the mushrooms and add to the pan, making sure the oil covers the mushrooms completely. Cook until mushrooms are tender inside (about 20-30 minutes, or when a skewer can go through the middle without resistance). Remove the mushrooms and store the oil. (Oil can be used two more times.)

For the sauce:
In a small pot, combine all the ingredients and heat up. Serve hot, and stir well before serving.

To serve:
Take two cooked mushrooms and slice at an angle. Fan the mushroom slices out on a plate, and pour 3 tablespoons of hot ponzu-brown butter sauce on top. Finish with some charred pearl onion layers, pickled chili slices, lime zest, and a sprinkle of charred onion powder. Garnish with mustard flowers.

By DiningOut Staff

mother's day

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8. Have you made your dining plans yet? Below, the only guide you’ll need to decide where to treat mom on her special day. Be sure to make reservations as soon as possible!

Adena Grill & Wine Bar {900 Silks Run, Hallandale Beach; 954.464.2333}
From 11am-4pm, the elegant steakhouse at Gulfstream Park will host a very special Mother’s Day brunch buffet featuring a variety of gourmet stations serving both breakfast and lunch options. Breakfast offerings include a home-baked bread station with homemade waffles, pancakes, bagels, and more, as well as a custom omelet and fresh fruit station. Lunch options will feature shellfish, sushi, and pasta stations, plus a meat-carving station and various entrées. $49 per adults; $20 for children 10. Adena’s regular à la carte dinner menu will be available from 4-10pm.

Apeiro Kitchen & Bar {3252 Northeast First Avenue, Midtown; 786.800.5389}
The acclaimed Delray Beach restaurant that recently opened in Midtown invites guests to Mother’s Day brunch from 11am-4pm. Specials include Stracciatella with pickled cantaloupe, watermelon, and crispy prosciutto; Bouillabaisse of mussels, clams, shrimp, octopus, and tomato broth atop cuttlefish capellini; and Rib-Eye with roasted fennel, fingerling potatoes, and saba reduction.

The Bazaar by José Andrés {SLS South Beach, 1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.2999}
Visit The Bazaar from 11am-2:30pm for “The Brunch Table,” which will include a selection of Spanish cured meats and cheese, Iberico porchetta, smoked salmon, caviar selection, fresh fruits, pastries, and assorted yogurt parfaits. Guests can also choose one à la carte entrée, like the Huevos a la Cubana, Olive Oil Mini Pancakes, SLS Eggs Benedicto, Wild Alaskan Salmon Veracruzana, and more. Top off the meal with a choice of dessert. $75 per adult; $35 per child.

The Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200}
From May 6-8, the Biltmore’s signature French restaurant, Palme d’Or invites guests and their mothers to a spectacular six-course tasting menu with a complimentary glass of Champagne to toast the occasion. In addition, don’t miss out on the Biltmore’s Sunday Champagne brunch, an extravagant buffet that takes place every week in the hotel’s courtyard with delicacies such as caviar, smoked salmon, shellfish, carved meats, fresh omelettes, pasta, sushi, and more.

Café des Arts {22 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.534.2555}
South of Fifth’s Café des Arts’ has a new chef, Patrick Kirschner, who is offering a special Mother’s Day seafood tower for two paired with a bottle of rosé for only $60. In addition, all moms will receive a $20 gift card, so they can come back and try any of the other dishes they crave.

Cleo {The Redbury Hotel, 1776 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.534.2536}
Along with its nightly menu, Cleo at The Redbury will be offering a special prix-fixe Mother’s Day menu. All mothers who opt for the prix-fixe menu will receive a complimentary glass of prosecco with strawberries. $65 per person. Click here for full menu.

db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown; 305.421.8800}
Treat mom to a bubbly Sunday brunch at Daniel Boulud’s downtown Miami eatery. Chef Clark Bowen is serving up a seasonal three-course prix-fixe menu from 11am-3pm along with a bottle of Moët & Chandon to share for every two guests. $70 per person; $50 per person without Champagne; $35 for children 12 and under. Click here for full menu.

Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails {111 South Surf Road, Hallandale Beach; 954.699.0901}
Along with views of the Atlantic and beats by DJ YSL, this Hallandale Beach hot spot will be offering a brunch buffet that will include a complimentary mimosa or Bellini that will perfectly pair with its Blueberry Pancakes, Fried Chicken and Waffles, an omelette from the omelette station, and more. $45 per adult; $18 for children 5-12; free for children under 4.

Katsuya {SLS South Beach, 1701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.455.2995}
Join Katsuya for Mother’s Day dinner, where all moms will receive a complimentary Champagne cocktail. Enjoy bites such as the Crispy Rice with spicy tuna; the Hamachi Sizzle Roll, an array of options from the robata bar, and more. After dinner, all moms will receive complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries to end their night on a sweet note.

La Mar by Gastón Acurio {Mandarin Oriental Miami, 500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8358}
Mandarin Oriental’s signature Peruvian restaurant will be offering a special Mother’s Day brunch from noon-3:30pm featuring unlimited Champagne and brunch cocktails and savory entrées such as Egg-topped Lomo Saltado and Pescado Chorrillana. An elaborate seafood station with cebiches, causas, tiraditos, and Peruvian-style sushi rolls, as well an anticucho grill providing skewers, empanadas, sliders, and whole fish will also be available. $85 per adult; $35 for children ages 6 to 12.

Midtown Oyster Bar {3301 Northeast First Avenue, Midtown; 786.220.2070}
Chef Pierluigi Angioi has created Mother’s Day deals on several signature dishes, including a beautifully plated Whole Branzino, Oysters Rockefeller, and Seafood Paella. In addition, the restaurant is offering bottomless Syltbar sparking rosé for $25 per person, along with $7 Bloody Marys, $5 mimosas, and amazing select wines by the glass for $6. Not to mention, select oysters will be half-off all day long.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833}
In addition to its regular dinner menu, Lincoln Road’s upscale Northern Italian eatery is celebrating Mother’s Day with special à la carte dishes such as Insalata Mista Di Crostacei (seafood salad with Maine lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, and lemon dressing), Paccheri con Polpo (pasta with octopus, cherry tomato, Taggiasca olives, and light red sauce; Filleto Di Manzo (seared filet mignon wrapped with prosciutto); and more.

The Restaurant at The Raleigh {1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.612.1163}
The Raleigh Miami Beach is offering an à la carte menu from noon-4pm. The Restaurant will also be featuring a raw bar that will include multiple varieties of oysters, king crab legs, poached lobster, and shrimp cocktail with assorted accompaniments and sauces. Every mother will receive a complimentary glass of rosé and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Riviera Focacceria Italiana {3252 Northeast Buena Vista Boulevard, Midtown; 786.220.6251}
Midtown Miami’s authentic Ligurian restaurant is launching its weekly Sunday brunch on Mother’s Day. Look for menu items such as the Polpettone Faglioni e Patate, a unique vegetable “meatloaf” with eggs, Parmesan, string beans, and potatoes, and a traditional home-cooked Frittata. Order either one with the restaurant’s new Basil Bellini, a refreshing cocktail of prosecco, peach purée, a touch of housemade basil syrup, and ground local sweet basil.

Scarpetta {Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.535.3283}
From 11am-3pm, Fontainebleau’s signature Italian restaurant will host an Italian-inspired buffet with countless options from an ample spread of Italian meats and cheeses, a frittata action station, live-action carving station, fresh seafood, a pasta station, and a cornucopia of desserts. $75 per adult; $37.50 per child under 12; free for children under four.

The Setai Hotel {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899}
South Beach’s exclusive Setai Hotel always offers a lavish jazz brunch every Sunday, and Mother’s Day is no exception. From 11:30am-3pm, experience a delightful buffet with all the brunch staples you could imagine, along with limitless Louis Roederer Champagne and Bloody Marys while listening to the sounds of live jazz.

TiramesU {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.532.4538}
South Beach’s landmark restaurant is celebrating Mother’s Day with bottomless mimosas for just $25 per person. In addition, Chef Fabrizio Pintus will serve an à la carte menu with selections such as Tartare di Tonno, served between layers of pane carasau, a crispy flatbread from Sardinia; Grigliata di Pesce, an assortment of grilled scallops, head-on prawns, salmon, and tuna; and Ravioli with spring vegetables, ricotta, and sage butter sauce.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

riviera focacceria italiana

If you didn’t know it was there, you might miss it. Sandwiched between two other small eateries in the Shops at Midtown Miami, lies a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

While there are hundreds of Italian restaurants that dot the Greater Miami area, Riviera Focacceria Italiana {3252 Northeast Buena Vista Boulevard, Suite 1100, Midtown; 768.220.6251} is one of only a handful that specializes in authentic cuisine from Liguria, a crescent-shaped coastal region in northwest Italy, bordering the southeastern tip of France to the west and Tuscany to the east.

Owner Fabio Domenichini, who hails from the Ligurian capital of Genoa, greeted us warmly in his thick Italian accent and sat us on the patio out front. Unlike other restaurants in Midtown with tables spilling out onto the pedestrian-crowded sidewalks, Riviera’s patio is quaint and private.

Wine is a must at this rustic, no-frills eatery, and rows of bottles line the back wall. As we settled in with our beautifully crisp white from Sardinia, we were greeted by our friendly server who placed a tin of freshly baked focaccia bread on the table.

riviera focacceria italiana

Focaccia al Formaggi

You’ll be tempted to fill up on the delicious focaccia—it is, after all, where Riviera Focacceria gets its name. But you haven’t really experienced this Ligurian specialty until you taste the restaurant’s signature Focaccia al Formaggi: thin sheets of delicate, flaky dough blanketing a layer of melt-in-your-mouth Stracchino cheese (air-freighted in weekly from Italy), served piping hot in the pan it’s cooked in. Trust us when we say you’ve never tried anything like it.

riviera focacceria italiana

Pansoti al Pesto di Maggiorana

This could have easily been our full meal, but Fabio warned us to “not to eat it all,” so we could save room for what was to come: the creamy Pansoti al Pesto di Maggiorana, a ravioli-like pasta (handmade from scratch) with marjoram, pine cuts, Parmesan pesto, and a touch of butter; and the Tonna alla Ligure, a tuna fillet seared on one side and topped with capers, pine nuts, parsley, and Taggiasca olives gremolata spread over a chickpea purée. Both exquisite.

riviera focacceria italiana

Tonna alla Ligure

As we sipped up the last of our wine, we studied the dessert menu. We learned that the Panna Cotta al Vino Rosso is a must-try, but our server also let us know that a special chocolate mousse with strawberry sorbet was available that night. If this close-your-eyes-to-savor-each-bite dessert is any indications of the others, then it’s safe to say there’s not a bad one in the bunch. And if you’re too full for dessert, you can always wrap one up to-go. All desserts, along with olive oil, cheeses, homemade pastas, sauces, and focaccias, can be purchased at the market on premises.

riviera focacceria italiana

Specialty Chocolate Mousse Dessert

So the next time you’re at the Shops at Midtown, be on the lookout for this tiny slice of Liguria. It might not be the trendy place to see and be seen, but you may just find your new go-to Italian eatery.

—Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor