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Call Me Gaby {22 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.531.4800}

Who is Gaby? It’s not just one woman, but all women who are elegant, strong, stylish, talented, and of course, show no mercy in the kitchen—especially when it comes to Pinsa Romana-style pizza! At Call Me Gaby, located in the South of Fifth neighborhood, owners Cathy and Anthony take you on a journey where a taste of Italy meets the South of France. The cozy and romantic décor with light wood, rustic furniture, and striped umbrellas truly capture the essence of the French Riviera. And, the charm doesn’t stop with the ambience, but rather is carried over to their signature dishes where the ingredients are mostly imported from Italy.

At Call Me Gaby, it’s all about the dough—incredibly fulfilling and delicious, yet won’t leave you feeling overly stuffed! How is that possible? Well, the dough undergoes a 72 hour leavening process as part of a centuries old tradition. The end result of this process is an incredibly light, airy, easy to digest, and mouthwatering dough that’s not only used for their Pinsa, but even their homemade focaccia and decadent dessert pizzas!

As you enjoy the crispy and fresh-out-of-the-oven focaccia, sip on your favorite Italian wine or pair it with a signature cocktail, such as the Gaby Margarita, a lychee martini, or the Black Forest Manhattan made with Rye whiskey infused with berries, sweet vermouth, and chocolate bitters.

Fresh out of the oven Focaccia

When it comes to the menu at Call Me Gaby, leave your passport behind, but fasten your seatbelt for a tastebud trip to Italy! Start your meal with the kitchen’s take on an antipasti served in a mason jar or with the refreshing watermelon salad served in the rind topped with goat cheese, mint, lemon zest, and pistachio crumble. Authentic is the word that comes to mind when describing the fare at Call Me Gaby and that rings true for one Italian favorite—the meatballs. As the Pot of Meatballs is placed on the table the fragrant smell of the homemade dish with whipped ricotta and chives follows, and you won’t be able to refrain from saying, “mmm!”

And, the “mmm” moments continue with Call Me Gaby’s homemade pastas and acclaimed pizzas. The girl-powered pizza shop, names all its pies after strong women. Find pizzas like the Andrea, made with Fig jam, fresh stracciatella, speck Alto Adige, and fresh rosemary; The Carla, made with mortadella, basil pesto, and pistachio crumble; or the Barbara, made with pumpkin cream, pancetta, smoked mozzarella, and shaved Pecorino-Romano. These are just a few of the adventurous and creative Pinsa pies on offer.

And of course, there are classic pizzas on the menu like the Romana with San Marzano tomatoes, anchovies, capers, black olives, and imported extra virgin olive oil; and the Diavola with San Marzano tomatoes, Fior di Latte, calabrese salami, and extra virgin olive oil.

After dinner, head to the lounge area for dessert and a nightcap. Whether you’re looking for a classic dessert like the tiramisù, the chocolate lava cake, or a dessert pizza, it’s sure to be nothing short of deliciously elegant. In the words of CoCo Chanel, “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” This is what Call Me Gaby is all about. Is it a coincidence that the French fashion designer’s first name was Gaby? We think not!

By Loren Gutentag, contributing writer

Birrificio Anelo Poretti

When it comes to good Italian classics, few do it better in Miami than the South of Fifth Staple, TiramesU {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.532.4538}. And on August 31st, this restaurant will wrap up Summer 2016 in style by hosting an Italian-inspired, beer-pairing dinner with none other than Varese-based brewing company, Birrificio Angelo Poretti. Priced at just $65 per person, this five-course feast is filling up fast, so see what food Chef Fabrizio Pintus has in store below and make your reservation(s) now.

Here’s what’s on the menu at TiramesU’s August 31st Birrificio Angelo Poretti dinner:

Aperitivo: Gamberie Fiori Di Zuvva in Tempura
Shrimp and zucchini flowers in tempura, paired with Birrificio Angelo Poretti 10 Hops Bollicine

Antipasto: Carpaccio di Salmone agli Agrumi
Marinated salmon, fennel orange salad and 4 HOPS sorbet, paired with Birrificio Angelo Poretti 4 Hops

Primo Piatto: White Lasagna
Sausage, chestnut, spinach and 5 HOPS jus, paired with Birrificio Angelo Poretti 5 Hops

Secondo Piatto: Petto D’Anatra
Kale, mango chutney, rapes and 6 HOPS reduction, paired with Birrificio Angelo Poretti 6 Hops

Dessert: Parfait Speziato ai 6 Luppoli
Spices 6 HOPS parfait and warm raspberries sauce, paired with Birrificio Angelo Poretti 10 Hops Rosé

Drooling yet? We know we are. This dinner will take place on August 31st at 8:30 p.m. Make your reservation now by calling 305.532.4538 or sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Happy Dining!

By Jennifer Agress | 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

Tiramesu

The latest news from Miami Beach’s exploding South of Fifth neighborhood is the reopening of TiramesU {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.532.4538}, a South Beach staple for over 25 years. The restaurant debuted in 1988 on Ocean Drive and later moved to a prime location on Lincoln Road, where it reigned for 17 years. The Italian restaurant caused a stir when it closed its doors in April of last year, announcing that it would soon reopen in the SoFi district. And now, after a seemingly endless hiatus, the restaurant has finally reemerged under the new managing ownership of Valeria Longoni.

tiramesu

The brand-new location, situated on the unassuming corner of First Street and Washington Avenue, is an open space featuring a bustling bar adjacent to an intimate dining area. Italian interior designer Francesco Fregonese pays homage to the old setting in subtle details while infusing the new space with contemporary touches. A horizontal window along the back wall gives diners a peek into the inner workings of the kitchen. Cool blues, beige walls, and a dark-gray quartz bar create a slightly nautical feel, while elegant chandeliers and candelabras create a warm and cozy ambience.

Tiramesu

For the new and improved space, Italian-born and trained Chef Fabrizio Pintus introduces a new and improved modern Italian menu featuring traditional dishes with unexpected (albeit very much welcomed) twists. We started with the Burrata, which instead of being served with sliced tomatoes, was served atop a bed of pappa al pomodoro, a thick tomato paste prepared with finely chopped tomatoes.

Tiramesu

Burrata

Although the pastas are labeled under “primi piatti,” they are large and hearty enough to enjoy as a main course. We settled on the Rigatoni, served with eggplant, tomato sauce, pine nuts, and dry ricotta cheese, and the Fettuccini, which is actually kale fettuccini served with a rabbit ragoût.

rigatoni

Rigatoni

tiramesu

Fettuccini

Standout second piatti include the Filetto di Manzo, an ounce sterling beef tenderloin with smoked eggplant and rosemary jus; and the Branzino, Mediterranean sea bass with saffron cauliflower and asparagus.

Tiramesu_0926152966

Filetto di Manzo

Beautifully presented, each plate constituted a surprising kaleidoscope of colors and textures, yielding simple yet astoundingly flavorful dishes. Be sure to pair any dish with a glass of fine wine from the extensive wine list or a specialty drink from the creative cocktail menu.

tiramesu

And, of course, no visit to TiramesU would be complete without trying the restaurant’s namesake dessert. We recommend the Tiramisù Sampler trio featuring a selection of both unique and traditional flavors, including chocolate, espresso, strawberry, red pepper, and mixed berries.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

Courtesy of Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau – MiamiandBeaches.com

It’s hard to believe that it’s already more than halfway through July. Time sure does fly! But that means it’s almost time for one of our favorite times of the year: Miami Spice. During August and September, nearly 200 restaurants throughout Miami will be offering special three-course prix-fixe menus at unbeatable prices (lunch is $23 per person; dinner is $39 per person). We’ll be posting some of our favorite participating restaurants in the upcoming weeks, so be sure to check back regularly. Can’t wait ’til August? The following three events are kicking off the two-month Spice a tad early.

Miami Spice Mash-Up Series
When:
Thursday, July 23, 7pm
Where: Dolce Italian {The Gale Miami Beach, 1690 Collins Avenue}
What: Chefs Paolo Dorigato and Cesar Zapata from Bravo’s “Best New Restaurant” will team up to create an exclusive dinner featuring two of the summer’s most popular Spice destinations: Dolce Italian and The Federal Miami. Dinner includes a complimentary pour of Stella Artois and one complimentary glass each of Terrazas Reserva Chardonnay and Terrazas Reserva Malbec
Cost: $65 per person. Click here to reserve seats.

South of Spice
When:
Tuesday, July 28, 6pm
Where: South of Fifth. Participating restaurants include Cibo Wine Bar {200 South Pointe Drive}, TiramesU {101 Washington Avenue}, Red Ginger {736 First Street}, and more.
What: Miami Beach’s bourgeoning SoFi neighborhood kicks off Miami Spice with a cool “restaurant-hopping” event featuring the area’s top dining destinations. Ticket holders can venture between participating eateries for a sneak taste of their Miami Spice menus, which will be paired with various wines and cocktails.
Cost: $45 per person. Click here for tickets.

Iron Fork Miami Spice Kickoff Event
When:
Thursday, July 30, 7pm
Where: Hyatt Regency Downtown Miami {400 Southeast Second Avenue}
What: The annual Iron Fork kickoff event features two of Miami’s finest chefs—Eileen Andrade of FINKA Table & Tap and Dena Marino of MC Kitchen—will go “pot-to-pot” in a culinary showdown overseen by famed Chef Allen Susser. Each competitor will receive a basket of ingredients to create an innovative dish to be judged by a panel of local celebrity chefs. In addition, Midtown Oyster Bar will present a Shuck It Oyster Competition, where chefs from select Miami Spice restaurants will be timed to see who can shuck a dozen oysters the fastest.
Cost: $50 per person; $85 for VIP. Click here for tickets.

By Sherri Balefsky | Miami Editor

“Out with the old, in with the new,” is how the saying goes. But in the case of the three restaurants below, it’s more like, “Out with the old, in with the improved.” Here, a look at three highly anticipated restaurant openings for the summer:

PB Station

PB Station {121 Southeast First Street, Downtown; 305.532.7555}
Pubbelly “goes new American” this summer with the opening of PB Station, the first dining concept outside Miami Beach’s city limits for the Pubbelly Boys’ (Jose Mendin, Andreas Schreiner, and Sergio Navarro of Pubbelly, Pubbelly Sushi, and L’Echon Brasserie fame).

Located on the ground level of the new Langford Hotel in Downtown Miami, PB Station will be led by Executive Chef Guillermo Concha, who will offer original dishes inspired by the restaurant group’s former concepts PB Steak and PB Fish such as the Ceviche Taquitos, Steak Tartare Sliders, and French Onion Soup Dumplings, plus carefully selected à la carte steak and poultry cuts, with seafood selections varying daily based on what is fresh and local.

Tiramesu

TiramesU {101 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach}
The latest buzz in Miami Beach’s exploding South of Fifth neighborhood is the highly anticipated reopening of TiramesU, the 25-plus-year-old establishment that has been a South Beach staple since its inception.

The restaurant made its debut in 1988 on Ocean Drive and later moved to a prime location on Lincoln Road, where it reigned for 17 years. The Italian restaurant caused a stir when it closed its doors in April of last year, announcing that it would soon reopen in the SoFi district. And now, after a seemingly forever hiatus, the time has finally come for it to reemerge bigger and better than ever.

Chef Fabrizio Pintus, who has been at the helm of the kitchen since 2010, will resume his role as executive chef, offering up a new and improved menu featuring the same authentic Italian flavors with a fun, contemporary twist.

CENA by michy

CENA by Michy {6927 Biscayne Boulevard, Midtown; 305 759 2001}
Unlike TiramesU, which is essentially an old restaurant in a new location, CENA by Michy is a new restaurant in an old location. After a 10-month closure and a total renovation, James Beard Award-winning Chef Michelle Bernstein’s landmark eatery Michy has reopened its doors, but with an entirely new name, look, menu, and spirit.

CENA by Michy has shucked the original incarnation’s bright colors and cottage-chic décor for a clean, white color palette complemented by dark chrome starburst chandeliers. The menu is approachable yet adventurous, boasting soul-pleasing favorites as well as an array of dishes inspired by what Bernstein says are her current culinary obsessions. The menu will feature nightly selections from the restaurant’s new rotisserie and has already been praised for its innovative and Latin-inspired flavors for which Bernstein is known.

By Sherri Balefsky | Online Editor