Around Miami : dining

Texas de Brazil

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:24:00 GMT

Things are getting even beefier on South Beach. The latest arrival in the battle of the steakhouses is Texas de Brazil, located on the water at Miami Beach Marina. Loosen your top belt loop, grab your knife and fork and get ready as waiters in gaucho garb roam table to table carving up an array of sizzling meats, including Angus beef, lamb, pork chicken and Brazilian sausage. Non-meat eaters can enjoy fresh lobster or shrimp or the vast salad bar, which offers more than 50 seasonal selections. Texas de Brazil’s elegant interior decor features an octagonal shaped wine cabinet at the entrance, marble counters, ruby red walls and a soaring ceiling with iron chandeliers. Take out and catering services will be available soon, and there’s a covered parking lot across the street in addition to valet service. Reservations: (305) 695-7702.

Ready, set, eat!

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:13:00 GMT

I’m making dinner reservations for August. Sound strange? Not really.

August kicks off Miami Spice Restaurant Month, and folks who are familiar with this annual citywide dining promotion like to plan ahead. This is the time to check out Miami’s hottest restaurants – and still have money left over to pay the babysitter.

During August and September, the Miami Spice promotion lets you savor fantastic three-course meals for just $22 for lunch and $35 for dinner. Think about it – three courses for just $22! These are some of the best chefs in the country. Are you hungry yet?

The Miami Spice restaurants are an all-star roster of top chefs and Zagat-rated dining establishments. Some new, some old – all dishing out tantalizing cuisine at prices that won’t scare your date – whether it’s a Man Date, First Date, Blind Date or plain ol’ Dinner Date.

Old favorites include Chef Allen’s, Mark’s South Beach, Azul, China Grill, Blue Door at Delano and Christy’s. Spice newcomers include Table 8, South Beach; David Bouley Evolution; Food Gang; Michael's Genuine Food & Drink; The Oceanaire Seafood Room; GNU Restaurant & Lounge and several more places that I simply can’t wait to try.

Every year at this time, my office pals and I start chatting about our favorite restaurants. We plot, we plan, we compare notes.

“I want to go back to Azul. Remember how good it was when we went last summer?”

“Oooh, the Caesar salad at Christy’s… It’s as delicious as their steaks!”

“We ate and Chef Allen’s and the dessert was to-die-for!”

“Who has a birthday coming up? We need an excuse to take a long lunch during Miami Spice Month.”

And so on.

For lunch, we venture to places close to the office. For dinner, we make plans with friends and significant others who really appreciate fine dining. Don’t waste a Miami Spice meal on your Aunt Mabel who’s back on Pritikin. It’s much too special for her.

This year’s presenting sponsor is American Express. If you’re a cardholder, you can get advance reservations at the participating restaurants. Another cool thing: several of the Miami Spice restaurants offer special food and wine events, including themed dinners, wine tastings and cooking classes. At Talula’s Forks & Corks Fridays, you can sample four-course wine dinners with catchy themes like Tuscan Nights, Vino Latino and Tour d’France. On Tuesday nights, Chef Allen’s offers cooking demonstrations using exotic spices from Southeast Asia, North Africa, the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Like my cubicle-mates, you should appreciate Miami Spice Restaurant Month for the culinary gift that it is. Many of us (myself included) get too busy at certain times of the year to make time for the finer things in life. In Miami, summer brings a more relaxed pace – and eating out offers a few distinct advantages over busier seasons. On South Beach, nobody’s barreling at you 90 mph trying to steal a parking space. On the mainland, there’s no snooty Maitre d’ telling you how impossibly booked they are for the next 12 weeks. Valet lines? Nothing like Boat Show weekend, that's for sure.

So now’s the time to get gussied up and get out on the town. Browse the Miami Spice menus, pick a few favorites and get ready indulge yourself.

Remember to tip well.

For information, visit www.ilovemiamispice.com

French Twist

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:11:00 GMT

At least four of my closest friends are vacationing in France this summer. And with a list of home improvements as big as the Eiffel Tower, you can guess where I’ll be. Right in my own backyard, that’s where.

So today’s blog is devoted to all things French. The only catch is that they are all right here in Miami. No expensive plane flights or feeling Euro-poor for me. I plan to savor the flavor of France without even packing a bag.

Let’s start with cuisine. Miami’s French restaurants may not compete in number with say, Italian, Cuban or Argentine parrillada joints, but they do exist. And they will make you happy. When I’m craving a big ol’ plate of steak and frites, I head for Brasserie Les Halles in Coral Gables. The waiters are unfailingly pleasant and the ambience makes you feel as if you’re at a bistro along Boulevard St. Germain. Menu items include brasserie standards like coq au vin, poulet roti (roast chicken), cassoulet and a decent crème brulee. Another plus: they are nice to children. This is something that always elicits a generous tip from moi.

My favorite French hang is pricey, but still cheaper than a night in Paris. La Goulue is an upscale new bistro located in the equally upscale Bal Harbour Shops. Need a fromage fix? This is your place. The bread is crusty, the house rosé rocks, and the waiters are only slightly less haughty than the mall’s shopkeepers. The food here, quite simply, has captured my stomach in a big way. I pine for La Goulue’s lobster and cheese croque monsieur, their heavenly pesto-smothered escargot, seductive salads and sinful lemon tarte. La Goulue means “the glutton” – and it is easy to turn into one here. I don’t mind forking over the big bucks for food like this. You may even spot a celeb or two. I saw Shaq stroll by on Valentine’s Day. He was carrying a jewelry bag (perhaps with some nice ice?) for lucky Mrs. Shaq.

If it’s French culture you crave, then it’s Alliance Francaise to the rescue. This French cultural center offers language courses, films, concerts, wine tastings and other special events throughout the year. Alliance Francaise is located close to downtown Miami, and is great place to meet other Francophiles.

Fête de la Musique, a worldwide celebration of summer held each year on June 21st, originated in France. This year, Miami’s Fête de la Musique will take place at Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and will feature a world music concert and other fun activities. Fête de la Musique is sponsored by the French Consulate, which is an excellent local resource for information about France, including visas, passports, studying and working abroad and more.

If creating a delightfully French home environment is your goal, I can recommend two places. Country French, on Red Road in South Miami, is a beautiful home decor store offering French table linens, candles, soaps, fragrances, antique furniture and knick-knacks. A new store just opened on MacFarlane Road in Coconut Grove called the French Way (or something similar). From my drive-by peeks in their window, I've seen candles, lavender sachets, jacquard linens, olive oil and other cool stuff for Francophiles. You can’t miss the store – it’s catty-corner from CocoWalk, the Grove’s big outdoor mall. Now try saying “catty-corner from CocoWalk” ten times fast…

Some final French tips before I sign off: check out the newly opened Cefalo’s Wine Cellar & Spirits to sample flights of French wine; try getting a table at Café Pastis in South Miami (I have never been able to – the place is packed around the clock and friends rave about it); stop in for a bite at Le Bouchon du Grove (another extremely popular bistro in the heart of Coconut Grove); engage in multi-course haute cuisine heaven at La Palme d’Or, the Biltmore Hotel’s très élégante (and expensive) French restaurant. And for Bastille Day fun this July 14th, head over to Les Halles or Hotel Sofitel and hoist a glass of Champagne.

One final thing, if you decide to go to La Goulue, please take me with you!

Kon Chau

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:59:00 GMT

The alternative to pricier Tropical Chinese, Kon Chau offers no-frills dim sum all day long. Tucked away in a strip mall off Bird Road, patrons check off their orders from printed lists and the dim sum comes straight from the kitchen (rather than being pushed around in steaming carts). Items start at $1 and you can also order regular menu items. Kon Chau, 8376 Bird Rd., Miami, FL 33155; tel: (305) 553-7799.

Directions: Take Bird Rd. west to 83rd Ave. The restaurant is between 83rd and 84th avenues on the south side of the road, in the Lucky’s Oriental Market shopping center.

El Rey de Las Fritas

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:57:00 GMT

This Little Havana diner is famous for its “Cuban hamburger”, a small hamburger patty (slightly bigger than a slider) subtly spiced and served with a mountain of fried shoestring potatoes on top and a squirt of special sauce. The special sauce tastes vaguely like sloppy joe sauce, but it’s the crispy fried potatoes that make everyone clamor for more. Service is quick, and there are other tasty Cuban dishes on the menu -- but once you try a frita, nothing else will matter. El Rey de Las Fritas, 1821 SW 8th St., Little Havana; tel: (305) 858-4223.

Coral Gables Farmers Market

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:51:00 GMT

This popular outdoor farmer's market takes place every Saturday from mid January through March and features produce, gardening workshops, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, gourmet foods, baked goods, trees and plants. The market is located in front of Coral Gables City Hall, at 405 Biltmore Way. Dont forget to bring your own plastic (or cloth) bags to carry home all that fabulous Florida produce!

Mahogany Grille

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:49:00 GMT

This Neo-Soul Food restaurant in North Miami is winning lots of local raves, including a recent mention in The Miami Herald for their awesome buttermilk biscuits. Formerly Ruby's and Jean's Soul Food Cuisine, which was a cafeteria-style dining establishment, the new Mahogany Grille is a hip, elegant eatery serving up mouthwatering dishes that include Jerk Chicken Wings, Soulful St. Louis Ribs, Shrimp & Grits, Creole Barbecue Prawns, Fried Chicken and Bahamian Conch Fritters. For reservations or information, call (305) 626-8100.

Miami for Free

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:12:00 GMT

Okay, so you’re down to your last few dollars but your vacation isn’t over for two more days. What’s a free-wheeling (but broke) fun seeker to do? Not to worry. You can have an absolutely fabulous time in Miami for mere peanuts. In Miami and Miami Beach, good places to eat, fun things to do and getting from Point A to Point B don’t have to break the bank.

Let’s start with the basics: cheap eats. In Miami, this translates into two words: Cuban food. One of the great things about living here is the hearty, soul satisfying starchiness of Cuban favorites like chicken with yellow rice (arroz con pollo), fried pork chunks with rice and black beans (masas de puerco) or savory shredded beef (ropa vieja). Cuban food is available 24/7, and every Miami neighborhood has its Latin cafetería -- a small restaurant with a little window to grab a quick cup o’ joe (un cafecito in local parlance) and a pastry or two. Tip: if you plunk down more than $7 for a heaping plate of meat with rice and beans (including a side dish of plantains or delicious, garlicky yuca), you’ve spent too much. Local favorites include two chains, La Carreta and Latin American Restaurant; the venerable (and 24-hour) Versailles on Calle Ocho; and Puerto Sagua (7th Street and Collins Avenue) in Miami Beach.

Cheap eats on South Beach include Big Pink at 157 Collins Avenue, where salads, sandwiches and breakfast are served in huge portions that make doggie bags a necessity. On Washington Avenue, Dogma Grill sells delicious hot dogs with the works for just a few bucks. Pizza Rustica has several locations (including Washington Avenue and Lincoln Road) where you can get a slice for $3.

There are lots of ways to have fun for free in this town. For cheap entertainment on South Beach, do what you did in your kiddie bathtub: watch a boat float. At South Pointe Park, on South Beach’s southern tip, you can watch cruise ships sailing out to sea. This is truly a magical site, with birds flying around, the sun about to set and these giant floating hotels gliding by effortlessly. Get there around 3:30 since most of the ships sail between 4 and 5 o’clock.

Want some culture? Take a tour of Miami’s Art in Public Places. Fabulous sculptures, murals and more can be found throughout the city, including at Miami International Airport, public parks, Metrorail stations, Miami-Dade College and the Port of Miami.

Going to the beach is still free, though parking may set you back a few quarters. Visit the historic 1825 lighthouse at Bill Baggs State Park on Key Biscayne and bring a picnic lunch. (Park admission is $5 per vehicle.) Or spread your towel on a smooth spot and check out the many different types of folks who stroll the sands of South Beach. It’s free and never boring! In Coral Gables, you can swim in a gorgeous (and historic) rock quarry with waterfalls, grottoes and caves at Venetian Pool. From November to March, adults pay $6.25 and kids (ages 3-12) cost $3.25. In North Beach, at Collins Avenue and 73rd Street, there’s a family friendly beach with shady palm trees, a public parking lot and lots of inexpensive cafes and fast food restaurants.

More cheap fun: hang out at any of the outdoor mega-malls around town. Top spots include CocoWalk in Coconut Grove, Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami and Lincoln Road on South Beach. Weekend nights are prime for people-watching.

Gallery walks are some of the best free fun to be found in this city. The Design District, Wynwood Arts & Entertainment District, North Miami, Espanola Way and Coral Gables all have gallery nights once a month. (Some even put out free wine and cheese to gnosh on.) Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays) offer free fun Latin style, at this gallery open-house on Calle Ocho in the heart of Little Havana. Viernes Culturales happens on the last Friday of the month. For a complete listing of Miami-area gallery walks, visit www.ArtCircuits.com.

If you’ve got the kids in tow, there are several free museum happenings worth checking out. Among them is Free Fridays at Miami Children’s Museum, where children are invited to explore and enjoy interactive exhibits and bilingual activities with no admission charge. This happens every third Friday evening of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

During Free Second Saturdays at the Miami Art Museum, MAM's gallery teachers lead fun-filled, educational, hands-on activities for families and kids of all ages on the Second Saturday of each month – with free admission all day. And the Historical Museum of Southern Florida puts a lively spin on several centuries of Florida history during Second Saturday Family Fun Days – where museum teachers offer fun-filled, hands-on activities for families and kids of all ages – with free admission.

Public transportation can be fun as well as cheap. You can visit 22 points of interest for 25 cents on the colorful South Beach Local – a handy new bus service that runs every 12 to 15 minutes and operates until 1 a.m. every day of the week. Stops include Lincoln Road Mall, Art Deco Historic District, the Holocaust Memorial and Wolfsonian-FIU -- which offers free tours of its fascinating collection of modern design and propaganda art every Friday at 6 p.m.

In Downtown Miami, life finally gives you a free ride (and a bird’s eye view of all the new condos going up) on the Metromover, which is the automated rail system that loops through downtown’s business and shopping district. Warning: Kids really love doing this, so you may find yourself circling the business district and listening to the robot voice calling out the stations until the cows come home (or buy themselves condos downtown, like everybody else is doing).

All it takes is a little know-how to work your way around this city on a budget. There are plenty of good reasons not to take out a cash advance while on vacation. You can eat well, see the sights, take a dip in the ocean and discover that some of the best things in Miami really are free!

World Markets

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:09:00 GMT

We may not have the scads of ethnic eateries that Manhattan boasts, but Miami certainly holds its own when it comes to the greatest of all melting-pot meeting places – ethnic grocery stores. Here’s a sampling of places to shop, eat, hangout and get a taste of the many cultures that add spice to Miami life.

BRAZILIAN

Carnaval DeliMarket, 5818 South Dixie Hwy., Miami, FL 33143; tel: (305) 226-1717
Tucked along a side street next to the mammoth Sunset Place shopping mall, this Brazilian market offers the staples, sauces and sweet treats of the homeland. You’ll find dende (palm oil), canned hearts of palm, bacalao (dried codfish), coconut milk, guava paste and the popular maté soda. A small food counter serves incredibly addictive cheese buns, called pao de queijo, along with sandwiches, empanadas and freshly brewed Brazilian coffee.

INDIAN

Indian Grocery, 2342 Douglas Rd., Coral Gables, FL 33134; (305) 448-5869
This inconspicuous little food market, across from Sears at the intersection of Coral Way and Douglas Road, offers a Taj Mahal full of Indian spices and staples. The friendly owners are happy to answer your questions and offer helpful suggestions for any Indian cooking dilemmas. They stock frozen Indian food, coconut oil, chutneys, sweetmeats, and large bags of lentils, rice, garbanzo beans, hot and mild curry powders, mustard seed, coriander and numerous other spices. Tip: Ask for some of their freshly made samosas. (They disappear quickly.)

ITALIAN

Laurenzo’s Italian Supermarket, 16385 W. Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33160; tel: (305) 945-6381
Laurenzo’s is a must-stop destination if you’re looking for freshly made pasta, homemade pastries, fine produce, meats and fish, imported Italian food products and one of the most well-rounded wine collections in Miami. This North Miami market also has a small cafeteria-style restaurant that serves up manicotti, lasagna, chicken parmesan and other soul-satisfying Italian fare. Laurenzo's is a slice of Little Italy in multicultural Miami.

JAPANESE

Sushi Chef, 3100 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33127; tel: (305) 444-9286
This tiny spot is a longtime favorite for those who know that fresh is all that matters when it comes to sushi. Sashimi platters, bento boxes, soba salads, maki rolls and crunchy tempura will make your tummy happy. Desserts – usually not a strong suit of sushi joints - are well worth ordering. Sushi Chef is also stocked with an assortment of Asian groceries, including rice vinegars, noodles, wasabi paste, miso and much more.

LATIN AMERICAN

El Palacio de Los Jugos, 5721 W. Flagler St, Miami, FL 33144; tel: (305) 262-0070
Even though it’s located smack dab next to a loud and crazy Miami intersection, this bustling Cuban fruit market and sandwich shop is a popular local hangout. Juice Palace (translated for you gringos) offers freshly squeezed orange juice as well as fresh coconut milk, mango, papaya, pineapple and guanabana juice. You can eat well on a budget here. El Palacio serves up simple, country-style Cuban dishes including tamales, roast pork, chicharrones (fried pork rind), vaca frita (tender, shredded beef in tomato sauce) and picadillo (a tasty mix of ground beef, tomato, olives, onions and green peppers). Grab a seat at one of the picnic tables, ignore the blaring traffic horns and start practicing your español.

Sedano's Supermarket, 1263 W. Flagler St., Miami, FL 33135; tel: (305) 324-1687
Sedano's has one of the best selections of Cuban foods in Miami. At this supermarket chain, you’ll find fresh Cuban bread, meringues (melt-in-your-mouth puffs of sugar and egg white), Cuban crackers (Gilda is a popular brand), Latin spices and seasonings, rice and beans, frozen tropical fruit pulp (great for smoothies) and everything you need to prepare a Cuban meal or have your Miami friends prepare one for you. Like all respectable Cuban establishments, Sedanos has a take-out window where you can grab a cafecito and some pastelitos (pastries) and make new friends.

MIDDLE EASTERN

Daily Bread, 2400 SW 27th St., Miami, FL; tel: (305) 856-0363
Located along busy US1 just behind the Metrorail track, Daily Bread is always crowded with downtown folks grabbing a quick lunch or locals savoring a cup of Turkish-style coffee and baklava. This grocery and restaurant offers a full range of Greek and Middle Eastern foods, including fresh baked pita bread, refrigerators full of baba ganoush, hummus, kibbe, taboulleh, filo dough, pickled turnips and more. Explore the isles for other fun items like orange flower water and rose water (used as flavorings in Lebanese pastries), hookah pipes, Turkish Delight candies and brass coffee pots.

SPANISH

Delicias De Espana, 4016 SW 57th Ave., Miami, FL 33155; tel: (305) 669-4485

This Spanish grocery and restaurant has expanded into the retail space of three other storefronts – a sign that the food is fresh and the locals have found a home away from home. If you’ve never been to Spain, a visit here will make you feel like you just flew to Madrid. Grab a table and order a fat slice of tortilla (an omelet made with buttery onions sautéed in olive oil and served at room temperature) and café con leche. Delicious prepared salads, Serrano ham sandwiches, giant wedges of manchego cheese, imported Spanish canned foods and a wine collection that knows no bounds make Delicias De Espana the hottest spot on the block.

Miami Spice Restaurant Month

carolynk — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:05:00 GMT

It’s August, and for those of us who are “in the know,” it’s time to chow down in style.

August is Miami Spice Restaurant Month -- a special summer dining promotion created by the Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and sponsored by Campo Viejo Wine. During August and September, Miami’s top restaurants offer special three-course menus (appetizer, entrée and dessert) at reduced prices. For just $20.07, you can have a three-course lunch. For $30.07, you can enjoy a three-course dinner. Beverages, tax and gratuity are extra. For those of us with caviar tastes and a beer budget, Miami Spice Month is a very good thing.

This is the time of year when locals like me finally make plans to try out a certain fancy restaurant that we’ve been hearing raves about. Because, quite frankly, why pay any more for a gourmet meal than you have to?

More than 70 restaurants are participating in the 6th Annual Miami Spice Restaurant Month. This year, I’m making reservations at Fifty Restaurant & Lounge, a new spot on Ocean Drive whose chef, Rolando Cruz-Taura, is known for whipping up some really creative New American-style dishes. Another place that has caught my eye is Ginger Grove at the Mayfair House Hotel & Spa, which features a Pan-Asian menu that sounds absolutely scrumptious. Carmen the Restaurant, in Coral Gables, is also on my personal wish list, not only for the fabulous meal I know I’ll have there, but because it’s close to my house. (Saves on babysitter time and gas!)

I wish that I could go to every single restaurant on the list, but, as the English poet William Marvel (and Captain Jack Sparrow in the latest Pirates of the Caribbean) said, “Had we but world enough, and time….”

The best way to take advantage of Miami Spice Restaurant Month is to visit the web site, check out the various menus offered by participating restaurants, and read the fine print. (Restaurants offer their Miami Spice menus on different days of the week. Some offer dinner only, others lunch only.) So plan ahead and figure out which restaurants you really want to try. Make reservations for the days (or evenings) when the Miami Spice menu is offered, and get ready to enjoy gourmet food served at prices you can only take advantage of if you're “in the know.”

Isn’t it great to be in the know?