Restaurant Reviews

On SoBe Time

It's that time of the year again, people: Time to drink, time to eat...

Wait – it's always that time of the year for me, but come Feb. 25-28, it'll all be more special since it's time for the annual tradition that is the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, a.k.a. the must-attend event of the season (this week).

For almost 10 years now, "SoBe" has been a true celebration that brings to town thousands of thirsty and hungry guests ready to spend their money on the weekend's hard-to-get tickets (no to mention in and around town), as well as a Who's Who from the culinary world. It's a more laidback type of affair, where celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Paula Deen, and our own Michelle Bernstein are actually hosting events in more than just name.

You can rub elbows with them, see them in action, and, even better, witness some firsthand teaching going on at many of the beachside parties on schedule.

SoBe, which began as a one-day event known as the Florida Extravaganza held at Florida International University's Biscayne Bay Campus, has come so far from its early days. It's a learning experience for more than 900 of my fellow Panthers working as student associates – check out the blogs some of them have kept in the days leading up to the big weekend.

And that's just swell, don't you think.

Indeed, the festival has more than exceeded expectations in its short history, and grown into the place to be in winter. That it has achieved the success we all see while benefiting FIU – last year, the festival brought in $2 million for programs in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management – really is but another reason to raise a glass and toast.

SoBe is a win-win for both the city and FIU students, who gain invaluable hands-on experience working side-by-side with some of their idols. Michael Schwartz, the driving force behind Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, sees the educational benefits of the production, which requires attention to details such as permitting, deliveries, food preparations, and even the construction of a mini-city right on the beach for the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village.

"It's a great experience for them," said Schwartz, who on Feb. 27 will co-host the Wine + Dine + Design event with a few other Design District powerhouses, "and I usually end up learning a thing or two also."

Pour yourself a glass, already – and don't say I never ever gave you good reason to celebrate.

SoBe's highlights

The festival's success, of course, comes from the summation of its parts, which includes fan favorites such as the Amstel Light Burger Bash, the Perrier-Jouët BubbleQ, the Best of the Best, and the two-day Grand Tasting on Feb. 27-28.

Speaking of the BubbleQ, which I heart: This year the event will feature Sweet Street Desserts, a company based in Pennsylvania whose products I will be neighborly enough to try repeatedly.

This year's Tribute Dinner Honoring Daniel Boulud, at the Loews on Feb. 27, promises to be simply irresistible, and worth splurging on the $525 ticket – although I hope you got one in time since the event is sold out.

Among the A-List chefs who will be preparing the meal of meals at SoBe in 2010 are Michael Laiskonis and Eric Ripert from Le Bernardin, Nobu Matsuhisa, and Claude Troisgros from Blue Door at the Delano.

Oh, and in an effort to educate kids of all ages – but the little ones in particular – SoBe introduced the South Beach Diet-presented Fun & Fit as a Family program a few years ago. Featuring the Kellogg's Kidz Kitchen, this event brings the whole family out for a day of education and fun at Jungle Island. Also scheduled for the weekend, this is one the most family- and budget-friendly events (at $20 in advance) on schedule.

So there you go: We're on SoBe time now. Hope to see you around, y'all!




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch. You can totally follow him on Twitter @moviemartin.

South Beach
Food & Wine
Festival
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Try This SUGARCANE

I'm going to start this one like I would a movie review on my blog, OK.

Yeah, that was a shameless plug. Deal with it, honey.

From the creators of SushiSamba dromo comes...SUGARCANE raw bar grill, the new It spot in Midtown Miami.

This new restaurant, which just opened like, a moment ago, has a motto that couldn't be more perfect: "Kick Back, Eat Well and Stay Awhile."

That's exactly what you'll do and what you'll want to do there – for the place was stunningly designed keeping in mind the spirit of "favela chic." Fun and relaxed, indeed, SUGARCANE's is a beautiful and raw space...colorful, comfy, and lively. Having been there for dinner, I can only imagine what the restaurant looks like during the day – I bet its huge east-facing windows allow the most gorgeous Miami sunlight to do wonders for it.

The tapas-rich menu is what you want to know about, though.

Since the goal is to help you have a grand ol' time with friends – yeah, you definitely should stop by with a party of at least six because, y know, the more the merrier – the plates there are small yet eclectically flavorful, and the drinks freshly muddled and refreshing (Mellow Mellon, how I loved ya!).

In other words, our kind of thing, right?

So let's see, I've tried the crispy sweetbreads ($9), which reminded me of like, chicken fried steak, but with an unexpected capers-and-orange-and-arugula kick. And I don't have to tell you how much I loved the bacon-wrapped dates ($8) – that bacon was cooked exquisitely, and I want the chef to come to my house and make it for me every Sunday morning, darn it! teach me how to do make it just like that.

If you're a potato fan you'll heart the $8 Yukon gold potatoes, which come with an inviting organic fried egg on top. Follow with the $9 veal meatballs, which are bathed in jerez demi, and you have yourself a full meal right there. It's a beyond-satisfying combination.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg because you have to try at least three items from the robata section of the menu (basically, items that have been prepared on a grill).

A crowd-pleaser among adventurous foodies will be the octopus ($9) served with ají panca. Trust me, it's not spicy at all too spicy...you can handle it. But keep a tall glass of water nearby (and I don't mean a date).

The Korean-style beef short ribs ($9) are also a good option, natch, although I found 'em, like RA Sushi's (which I told you about a couple of posts ago), a bit tougher than expected. Still, they were quite tasty and rather enjoyable once I accepted their texture.

Oh, and ever since I went to Blue Sea I've been on a mushroom fix, so do try the $9 seasonal mushroom plate, which you should douse in the phenomenal homemade soy sauce. Who knew mushrooms could be so...enough, y' know.

From the crudos section I tried the fluke (kombu with white grapes, amazu, and red shiso; $13). This is a dish that comes alive in your mouth – the flavor profile is all over the place, I think, because of the grape, which gives it a smooth finish. It's a must-try.

The kampachi (with pickled hon-shimeji, serrano, and the house soy; $16) was pretty gorgeous, too. Take my advice and don't share this one. It's that good.

On my next visit I will make it a point to try more of the sushi rolls, in particular the SUGARCANE roll, which has lobster in it, and revisit the tapas – I simply must have the Kobe beef sliders.

OMG, I almost forgot. You what I had that just blew me away? Chicken.

Yeah, chicken – a whole roasted organic chicken with fingerling potatoes, mushrooms (there they are again!), and truffle oil. Seriously, the best chicken I have had in a looong time. Trust.

SUGARCANE raw bar grill is located at 3250 N.E. 1st Ave. in Midtown Miami. The restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday, from 11:30 a.m.-midnight; 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. on Thursday and Sunday; and from 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information and reservations, call 786.369.0353.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch. You can totally follow him on Twitter @moviemartin.

Sugar Cane
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Great Blue Sea

The Delano and I have something in common.

We love both Madonna.

The still-quite-It hotel's Blue Sea – you know...that swank 18-seat restaurant that's right in the lobby – and yours truly are both celebrating a decade in Miami this year.

I recently was invited to stop by and sample the delicious new menu Blue Sea's phenomenal chefs have cooked up to celebrate the landmark anniversary, which automatically shot the hot spot to the top of my list for 2010, btw.

For realsies – I totally intend to go to there for dinner at least every...few months (cheap it ain't...but it's not like it'll break the bank, either).

And not just for the food, but also for its effortlessly elegant, fun ambience. I mean, this really is the perfect place to come with a large party, sit at a beautiful 25-foot long table, and have a dinner party with your dearest and nearest.

That you can then head outside and have a drink (or two or three) by the pool, or play large-scale chess in the garden, or go to The Florida Room, is a bonus.

But back to the food.

Start with their white miso soup, natch, which comes in a larger-than-usual bowl and has shimeji mushrooms – my new faves. Miso is one of my go-to soups for when I'm sick or feeling particular cold in Miami. I tried it during the cold snap we just had, so believe me when I tell you it did the trick but double-good.

I was rather fond and partial to the $14 hamachi usuzukuri, one of Blue Sea's new zen-sai (appetizers), which features a fantastic aged balsamic drizzle. I so want to try to imitate that at home. It's topped with melon and ginger ice, and it's super-refreshing, and super-loveable. Without a doubt, it's the kind of dish you can have for an app and an entrée.

Another stellar app is the spiced cream tuna tataki ($12). It's slightly seared tuna, chopped, dressed, and served "up" over wakame seaweed with house-made sesame crisps – sweet dreams are made of this, if you'll allow me a lyrical ref. It's a playful presentation for a dish that just explodes with flavor in your mouth.

From the new maki rolls, which are as appetizing as they're pretty to look at, I adored the kinoko roll (pictured here; $12 for five pieces). It just struck me as a manly, refined dish – of Japanese mushrooms wrapped in white soy topped with crispy enokis and truffle oil – and it crunches when you bite into it, so fun. It's a vegan vegetarian option, but it packs a wallop.

The Mexican roll ($8 for half a portion, $14 for a full plate) was another standout. It's made with scallop, shrimp ceviche with avocado, red onions, jalapeño, and pico the gallo. This one's gonna be a hit when the weather warms up, y' know.

Oh, and there's something for the meat lovers: a tasty, and slightly spicy roll of (American) Wagyu tartare with cornichons and wasabi rolled in crunchy rice. That'll run ya $12 for half a portion, and $21 for a full plate, so be sure you enjoy the tartare.

As I mentioned before, I'm definitely diving back into Blue Sea's menu because I need want to try the Cuban roll – it has pork belly crisps!

Blue Sea is open Monday through Thursday, from 7 p.m.-midnight, and Friday and Saturday, from noon-7p.m. The restaurant's at the Delano Hotel – you know where that is! – and you can call 305.672.2000 for a reservation.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch. You can totally follow him on Twitter @moviemartin.

Blue
Sea
Review
by
Martin
Haro

My Sushi's at RA!

One of the first few columns I wrote earlier this year was about sushi, which I heart with a passion (he said without a hint of irony).

My favorite after-work place for sushi definitely is South Miami's RA Sushi, located a hop and skip away from Sunset Place – a terribly convenient spot since I often go the movie theater there for this, don't you know, don't you know.

RA's the s---, and as I've said before, the menu's not only delicious but a bargain. For instance, the Viva Las Vegas Roll (still my favorite item) is like, less than $15, and the Yellow Monkey Roll's barely more than $10.

The restaurant recently launched a new lunch, dinner, sushi, and beverage menu – adding variety and keeping things interesting is the spice of life, after all. And at RA, that's the name of the game.

While, I'm still a fan, I was wee bit disappointed in the new grilled short ribs, which you know I live for, if you keep up with my eating and my talking about it, so imagine my disappointment. I really was expecting them to melt off my fork, but the meat, which tasted quite yummy having been marinated and basted in a lovely sweet and tangy yakiniku sauce, was a bit...well, tough. The problem is with texture, not with taste, and I'm confident it can be solved.

I did, however, love that the dish is paired with wasabi mashed potatoes, which were fan-frakkin'-tastic – and of course, the $7.50 price. It's a small dish...but if they perfected it, it could hit the spot time and again.

They've also introduced a Kaisen ceviche, a Japanese-style ceviche with scallops and cooked shrimp and squid, served chilled and mixed, and smartly, in a spring roll shell with tomato, avocado, and salsa. It's truly like a flavor celebration in your mouth, one that at $9.50 shan't break the bank.

A great new entrée is the (breaded) pork katsu with wasabi mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and Asian barbecue dipping sauce ($13.75). Heaven tastes like that, I'm sure.

Of course, you go to RA for the sushi, and the new "RA"llipop sushi roll hits all the right notes. I mean, it's a tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and spicy tuna mix, with lettuce, asparagus, and cucumber, wrapped in lobok (i.e., Asian radish), served skewered with a garlic ponzu sauce ($15). And it's a fun dish full of whimsy! (Really, just look at it pictured here.) What more could you want, right.

There's also a bunch of new RA tapas plates of thinly sliced sashimi – my fave! – served with organic micro green, featuring all the usual sashimi suspects (yellowtail! tuna! salmon!) that should make 'em one of your favorites.

And at $7.50 a pop, I'm sure they will be.

So go on over and try RA Sushi, already. All they want is you, and I can promise all you'll want afterward is a repeat.

RA Sushi is located at 5829 S.W. 73rd St. in South Miami. For more information, call 305.341.0092.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch. You can totally follow him on Twitter @moviemartin.

RA
Sushi
Review
by
Martin
Haro

A Very Miami Thanksgiving

This week, I give thanks.

This – [signaling with all five fingers toward this column] doesn't just happen. I have a small army of publicists, most of whom I call my friends, who have been kind enough to include me in their sought-after lists and helped me carve myself a little space in Miami from which I'm able to write about this, that, and the other.

So this column is dedicated to them, and their hot spots, natch, some of which may come in handy this Thanksgiving. From north to south, I got you covered.

Let's start in Sunny Isles at the Newport Beach Hotel & Resort's Kitchen 305, which will offer a Jamaican jerk turkey with a pineapple and golden raisin chutney at the buffet table, for $24.95, and a $99 all-the-trimmings turkey takeout special that...tad ah!...gives back to the community.

For each pre-order, Kitchen 305 will donate a turkey to a local homeless shelter – so keep that in mind. Actually, just stop reading now, you lazy bum.

Je. L'a. Dore!

Closer to South Beach, 41st Street's Rare Steakhouse will allow you to customize your Thanksgiving dinner with selections of parve appetizers and desserts, but you can always go for the (kosher) one-night-only special of turkey with gravy, candied sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce for $32.

SushiSamba dromo's turkey day's specials include a $14 appetizer of – OMFG! – braised short rib gyozas (that sounds good enough for me to change my plans) with pumpkin puree, red shiso leaf, and smoked ginger soy, a $24 entrée of Plainview Farms Turkey T-Bone with sweet potato-brown sugar fries (yum!), bacon – bacon! – escarole, and a cranberry teriyaki glaze, and for dessert, a $10 Pumpkin Cinnamon Bread Pudding with maple syrup ice cream, roast pecans and a candied shiso leaf.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Well, let's head back north again, to Café Prima Pasta, which will offer a prix fixe Argentinean-Italian fusion dinner that includes an app, a stuffed turkey entrée, and, natch, dessert, as well as a Bellini and coffee.

If you're more of a traditionalist, location-wise, then China Grill should be more up your alley.

Both FTL and MIA's China Grills will serve family-style T-day specials in addition to their regular sharing menu.

Both will feature roasted turkey two ways – traditional roasted and dark meat crispy spring rolls – with turkey pan gravy, crispy onions, sweet potato mash, and (my least favorite in any Thanksgiving menu) stuffing, for $38.

The SoBe location will also put forth a $79 char gilled porterhouse for two with wasabi mashed and sweet soy glaze.

Meanwhile, Blue Door at Delano will be offering a $59 four-course T-day menu that will include an amuse of sweet potato & lobster croquettes, followed by choice of app between blue crab & pumpkin soup, or duck confit citrus salad.

And for the main event, what else but a traditional roasted turkey...or a rosemary-crusted prime rib with truffled mashed potatoes – OK then, my mouth is watering now – followed by a tasting trio of holiday treats.

Finally, Asia de Cuba will be offering its regular menu, as well as family-style Thanksgiving specials such as mojo-marinated "Pavochon" (turkey with pork?) with boniato & scallion mash, mofongo stuffing, and wok-sauteed longbeans; or achiote-rubbed roast pork loin with togarashi dusted maduros, Cuba black beans, jasmine rice, and pineapple lychee salsa. Both are priced at $38.

Oh, and if you're going to a party, you should bring something sweet, so try Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee's new, yummy fall flavors, including rum raisin, spicy pumpkin, and vanilla-maple-walnut ($2.75 per fantastic cupcake, or $33 for a baker's dozen).

Of course, this being the holiday season, reservations are encouraged, so holla (you can find all the numbers in the links).




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch. You can totally follow him on Twitter @moviemartin.

Thanksgiving
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Splendor in the Grass

Hello, I'm back.

I decided after telling you about Café Prima Pasta a few weeks ago that A) I would emulate the fall TV season and take a brief hiatus between new columns, and that B) I would conduct a little experiment to find out how many people actually would miss my food write-ups up in here.

I'm glad to report that a few people noticed my absence, and thus I give them and all of yous...Grass Restaurant & Lounge.

The popular indoor/outdoor Miami Design District spot has a new executive chef in one Micah Edelstein, whom Bravo fans (that means you) will recognize from Top Chef: Miami...which means: new menu items!

I stopped by Grass on a very cold cool evening recently, not the best thing to do if you want to enjoy yourself and food ('cause of the whole indoor/outdoor thing, which can be quite tricky if you're not properly bundled up), but I'm nothing if not a trouper.

Besides, a little shivering is a small price to pay for a lovely mean that's adventurous and satisfying and totally leaves-wanting-more-esque.

Oh yeah – had I not been shivering and had my meter not run out, I'd prolly still be at Grass ordering croque monsieur and croque madame like they were going out of style. Not to mention just about everything else I tried, which was a lot.

There are more than 20 featured plates on the menu, which is cheekily divided in three sections: Sexy Nibbles, Cool Couples, and Main Attractions. I had 10 plates in one sitting. Don't judge me.

My absolute favorite Sexy Nibble has got to be the $9 Long, Slow, All Night Braised Beef, four little potato cups stuffed with braised beef, served on a bed of herbed Greek yogurt and oven-crisped leeks. There may only have been four of those delicious thingies on the plate, but I loved each and every one of them.

Well, the two that I had: All the plates at Grass are meant to be shared.

I enjoyed the sweet potato chippies with house made spicy papaya ketchup ($7), which totally worked for me given the weather, but I found the $13 Tuscan sushi – prosciutto wrapped around mascarpone and gorgonzola with a dried fig on top – a bit too rich and gorgonzola-y for my taste, not to mention it reminded me I don't give a fig about figs.

The South African sosatie lamb skewers on spiced tamarind marinade ($11) were a standout, though. The flavor of the lamb, which marinates in tamarind for two days, and that of the fruit, chutney, and Greek yogurt that is served with it worked famously together.

The highlight of my meal at Grass was to be found in the Cool Couples section: The croque monsieur and croque madame duo ($16), which was served with adorable quail eggs done sunny side up, is the reason I'll be going back to Grass sooner than soon.

Also worth a repeat trip? The $15 leek and – urgh – fig braised duck potstickers, an unexpected touch of Asian cuisine.

I get why they call Edelstein the Wandering Chef – she's not afraid of taking us on a trip around the world. She's also keen on having people try something new, like the ostrich carpaccio ($17) she promised would not be tough like, at all. Which it wasn't.

Unsurprisingly, there was still room for more, so I ordered three Cool Couples, which are bigger, pricier plates in the $20+ range. Again, don't you judge me.

Ratatouille isn't something you see on a Magic City menu all that often, you see, so I had to have it (with a tender slow braised chicken, natch) – for Pixar! – and I totally hearted it.

I also tried a scallop dish that was a bit salty, an offense for which not even a beautiful frothed tomato saffron sauce could begin to make up.

Oh, and you know I asked the outside the box mac & cheese the moment I saw it on the menu.

As you can read, Grass a little bit of everything for everyone, and they do a mighty fine job at it. They have a good recipe of good food and good vibrations (I'm still loving the greenery that adorns the joint after all these years). So try it!

Grass Restaurant & Lounge is located at 28 N.E. 40th St. in Miami. For more information, call 305.573.3355




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Grass
Review
by
Martin
Haro

I Eat Like Matt Damon!

I used to hear a good friend of mine – actually, the same one who first took me to Joe Allen many years ago – rave about North Miami Beach's Café Prima Pasta, and yet I never stopped by before this year.

And I've been living here for how long now? Right?!

Almost a decade after first hearing about it, though, I can say that Prima Pasta is a new favorite of mine. It was my first choice of restaurant before going to the Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT premiere the other day.

Everything about the restaurant has come together like kismet since opening way back in 1993, from the rock star location on 71st Street (a hop and skip away from the Byron Carlyle Theater) to the oh-sooo-warm and inviting pictures-filled walls to the Italian pop that comes out of the speakers to the A-List service to the food.

No wonder Matt Damon's a fan – I saw him there the first time I stopped by (and totally gossiped about it).

Kourtney Kardashian also was spotted there not too long ago, and, in fact, I understand that other starry types, like Shakira, Lenny Kravitz, and Sly Stallone, are also fans of the restaurant.

I know celebrity endorsements are a dime a dozen, so take it from me: You cannot go wrong at Prima Pasta.

One of their bestest appetizers is a carpaccio di manzo ($12.95) they're obvs proud of – and for good reason. I've had it twice on the house's recommendation. It's a simple dish of thin slices of filet mignon, virgin olive oil, lemon, and Parm, but it's by no means pedestrian. Less is more, remember...

Now, you should know – and prolly already do – that I'm not a big veggie guy, but whenever I've had Prima Pasta's eggplant Parm it's made a (temporary) convert out of me every time.

Ditto the veggie ravioli.

I think it's their freshly made tomato sauce, which is like, totally outta control. Make that any of their sauces – they're good.

If you want to take a break from the pasta, order the branzino livornese ($23.95), which combines the Mediterranean fish with pomodoro, calamata olives, capers, and touch of white wine.

Or better yet, combine pasta and seafood an order the beyond-excellent plate o' black linguini seafood, which is my new favorite thing on the planet (I said channeling Oprah...).

Another winner's the $29.95 veal chop Arturo, grilled with fresh herb and served with a lovely porcini mushroom sauce. This dish may be a bit on the saltier side, like many an offering on the menu, but it's niente a good glass of wine can't help.

The good thing about Prima Pasta is that they have this amazing promotion from 5-6 p.m., during which time you can get a 50 percent discount – which nowadays sets the flashes in the pan from the stalwarts apart. Am I right or am I right?

Café Prima Pasta is located at 414 71st St. in North Miami Beach.

For more information, call 305.867.0106.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Cafe
Prima
Pasta
Review
by
Martin
Haro

OP

Nope, I'm not feeling sartorially nostalgic: The "OP" I'm referring to with the title of this week’s column is Aventura Mall's Ocean Prime.

If you're in the mood for a classic American supper club type of din-din, then get!

Get in your car and head up to Aventura, that is. And don't mind to the shoppers around you.

Really – never mind that this 60-40 joint is located in the new wing of a mall – it is pretty outstanding.

Case in point: The $16 "Surf and Turf" appetizer, of diver scallops and slow-braised short ribs, is sooo good I just had to have it the first time I stopped by and the second time, too.

Some items, such as the generous ginger salmon with stir-fried snap peas and soy butter sauce ($29), combine (quite nicely, I do declare – because I can) French techniques and Asian aesthetics to deliver standout flavors.

And you can never go wrong with a 10 oz. filet ($37) broiled at 1,200 degrees – pair it with black truffle macaroni & cheese and you'll redefine decadence.

Ocean Prime's described by the powers that be as "sexy, sophisticated, and fun." It so is – the bar alone, with its theatrical (and delicious) $16 Berries & Bubbles, fits that description to a T.

I know, I know: 16 bucks for a drink is a bit too much, but the B&B's worth it. And if you're a smart shopper – and you took advantage of Miami Spice – then perhaps you can splurge a bit after checking out the sales at the mall.

Ocean Prime is located at Aventura Mall near Nordstrom. For more information, call 305.931.5400.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living, contributor editor at G Culture and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Ocean
Prime
Review
by
Martin
Haro

The Sweetest Things

Everyone who's been reading the columns I've been writing for SoBeSocialClub.com knows by now that I live for dessert – so this, me shining a light on the subject, shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.

This week, I tackle the age-old question: Cupcakes – friends, or foes?

I say the former, of course, and to back it up I give you...

Exhibit A) Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee, which opened in Coral Gables just last winter.

Owned by a husband-and-wife whom I'm quite certain decided to stop making each other's lives sweet and share the wealth with the rest of the Magic City, this cupcake shop offers curbside coffee morning service until 11, as well as catering for weddings, birthdays, corporate events – anything you want.

My PR maven friend Alexis Knapp had an assortment of cupcakes sent to me – I have to say I have the bestest friends! – and lemme tell ya, I rather want to lick the interior of the mini-box in which the deliciously buttery mofos arrived.

Perhaps you could take National Coffee Day to acquaint yourself with Buttercream Cupcakes & Coffee. They'll be observing the day with free cups of fresh-brewed 100 percent Colombian coffee on Tuesday, Sept. 29, which as you should know, is a perfect day for a Celebration.

So pop in and try many one of the 18 different homemade cupcakes ($2.75 each; minis are available at $1.50 a pop – and they have $0.75 frosting shots!).

BC&C is located at 1411 Sunset Drive in Coral Gables. For more information, call 305.669.8181.

Exhibit B) would have to be Misha's Cupcakes.

I first heard about Misha Kuryla Gomez's heaven-sent of a business enterprise through FIU – we're both Golden Panthers, y' see. Funny true story: I jumped at the chance of...uh...researching that story for FIU Magazine about a full year before we actually ran it, and I did a heckuva lot of research.

One of the things I learned was that her recipe for success, which you've tasted, I'm sure (Books & Books sells Misha's Cupcakes) comes from secret variations of her mother's chocolate cake recipe and from her own vanilla cake recipe.

And, bless her hearty heart, she uses whole milk, real butter, full cream because, "If you're going to have something 'bad,' then it better be something that's really, really good."

For Misha's Cupcakes points of sale in Miami, click here (Misha's Cupcakes Café is located at 1548 South Dixie Highway in Coral Gables). For more information, call 786.200.6153.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living, contributor editor at G Culture and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Desserts
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Food and the City

I think that the relationship between a city and its restaurants is an exciting one.

Uh duh.

Think about it this way: restaurants are like lovers.

There's always an old faithful that we keep going back to, one that stands tall above the crowd, well over the few safe bets that we count on for a rainy day. That's Joe Allen for me.

And then, every so often, there's a new kid on the block that intrigues you, and you give it a taste.

The Urbanite Bistro, the Media and Entertainment District's latest addition, is that warm and inviting new kid – and it's ready to seduce you.

No longer will you have to wonder where you'll have dinner before or after going to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, or for a night of partying at The Vagabond (do people still go there?).

The UB's here now, ready to satisfy your craving for...alligator tail?

Oh yeah, this isn't your mother's cuisine they're serving, which suited me well when I tried the restaurant since I took my mom – I wanted to show her that, Look, mom...I eat all sorts of food now! So it’s cool. Alligator tail? Bring it, bitch!

The menu showcases all natural meats, game, and indigenous fish. Libations – libations...I like that word, and not just for its meaning, mind you – include a selection of 25 domestic and European craft beers, more than 30 wines (available by the glass), and innovative cocktails.

I tried a sip of the Huckleberry Kiss (ingredients: prosecco, huckleberries, splash of Cointreau, and orange twist), and lemme tell ya, I'm definitely going back for a full drink.

But, again, I digress.

I always thought that alligator meat would be chewy or tough. And it's not. The tail is actually quite tasty. It's white meat, and to be honest and clichéd, it tasted kinda like chicken.

The UB has this alligator egg roll with mango-roasted jalapeño crème ($10) that's three bites of trying-something-new heaven.

My mom, after careful consideration (because she was not about to eat alligator), tried the Moroccan lamb sliders with yellow tomato, harissa mayo and tabbouleh. She said the heat of the harissa and the freshness of the tabbouleh of the dish combined nicely, and I had a couple of bites to believe her. And at $10, this app is both delish and a bargain.

Have I ever told you about my very-OCD rule of repetition? How like, if you do something twice you must do it a third time? Well, since we'd ordered two apps, I just had to order a third – it's a rule. (Try it at your convenience.)

I wisely decided on the seared tuna ($12), which the chef seared beau-ti-fully. It's served on a divine key lime-papaya reduction, with a coconut and radish salad that I didn't touch – some things never change, after all.

Side note: The Urbanite Bistro has a burger section in its menu that was painful for me to look at and ignore. All my favorites – angus! bison! tuna! – were there, but I wasn't about to, y' know...have a burger.

For an entrée I tried the $22 organic roaster poussin, served with challah stuffing, seasonal vegetable succotash, and papaya and rum marmalade.

I liked my choice, but I didn't fully enjoy it because A) I couldn’t help but feel bad I'd ordered young chicken, and B) I like to really dig into a piece of chicken, which is hard when there's still-in-the-bone situation and your mom's watching you (manners!). I should've had the Long Island duck breast (pictured here). Oh well, there's always next time!

She ordered the short ribs ($28) – and by that I mean me by way of her. They weren't as melt-off-your-fork-y as they could've been, but she absolutely loved the pan-fried pea and curry gnocchi...so much so she put those away without letting me try one.

Dessert at The Urbanite Bistro, meanwhile, deserves a column all its very own, going on the two we tried. I, of course, had the Chocolate Chocolate ($8) because with a name like that it was just beckoning me.

My mom had the Key Lime Napoleon ($6), which she adored and I'm pretty sure she wanted to take home. Something about the phyllo crust being amazing, and "an unexpected touch of ginger which made for an all-and-all well-executed dish." Yeah – she's a regular Gail Simmons my mom.

Oh, btw, on top of the UB's great food you'll also be able to enjoy great art when you visit the restaurant.

The powers that be thought it'd be neat to showcase a couple of local artists every month, so yay for that. Click here for more information on the artists currently on display.

The Urbanite Bistro is located at 62 N.E. 14th St. in Miami. For reservations and more information, call 305.374.0662.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living, contributor editor at G Culture and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

The
Urbanite
Bistro
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Miami Spice 2009: Asia de Cuba

I'm beginning to think of Miami Spice as the mob: I keep trying to write about something else, but it keeps pulling me back.

I recently shared with you a little bit about my three favorite places to brunch, one of which was Asia de Cuba.

So there I was with my chiropractor-turned-friend, Dr. Good Touch Jay Hudson, before a Martini Tuesday at the Mondrian South Beach's lovely Sunset Lounge, ready to try ADC's Miami Spice dinner menu.

Sidebar: Can we take a moment to collectively admire the restaurant's décor?

I don't usually do this because I'd rather tell you about the delicious food – as you know now – but really, its Sleeping Beauty's Castle-inspired interior is just gorge in its whiteness and sparkly simplicity. It's made all that much killer by that whole looking-out-to-the-bay thing ADC has going on.

But back to the food, which, much like at China Grill, it's meant to be shared.

Since there were two of us, we had the option of two appetizers, one entrée, and one side dish, plus dessert.

We started with the tunapica, the restaurant's signature app. It's tuna tartare, picadillo-style, with Spanish olives, black currants, almonds, and coconut with soy-lime vinaigrette on a wonton crisp. I don't know how, but at ADC they make all these flavors work sooo well, I completely forget I'm not all that crazy about olives or currants and like, devour the tunapica.

They serve two crisps per plate, and since I'm sure you'll be in polite company when you try ADC, you'll also fight the primal urge, much like me, to just go "Grr!" at your tablemate and unapologetically eat both.

We also tried the braised beef spring roll with Cuban black bean papaya salsa, which was a bit heavy and plain. I prefer the lemongrass skewered chicken because its flavor just vibrates off the plate and dances in your mouth (perhaps it's the coconut Thai chili marinade...or the grilled pineapple and lychee).

For our entrée, we had to have the palomillo of marinated lamb that's just beyond with the plantain fried rice with avocado salad.

It doesn't get any better than the palomillo. It's so good my mouth's watering just writing about it. The lamb is pan-seared to perfection, with a fantastic sofrito of stir-fried peppers, onions, Japanese eggplant, and a watercress salad with orange oil. It's a tender, phenomenally flavored, just-juicy-enough piece of meat that leaves you wanting more.

Paired with the ridikolously good plantain fried rice, the combination makes for a winning dinner that's good anytime (especially so during Miami Spice because you'll walk away feeling like you just robbed the restaurant and got away with it – I think it's the plantains...everything tastes better with plantains...or bacon bits).

If you have room for dessert – good for you. Bravo. You don't get to choose, for the restaurant sends out a chef’s selection. (If you deviate, though, give the pineapple cheesecake a go.)

If you like eating well, then dine at Asia de Cuba double-pronto. You've only got a few weeks left of Miami Spice, so take advantage soon.

Asia de Cuba (at the Mondrian South Beach) is located at 1100 West Ave. in Miami Beach. For reservations or more information, call 305.514.1940.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living, contributor editor at G Culture and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Asia
de
Cuba
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Battle of the Brunches

Before there was Brangelina, before there was Bennifer, there was brunch, the original merger of two words to refer to two delicious somethings coming together to create something wonderful.

So this week, it's all about my three favorite places to brunch.

An oldie but goodie is, of course, the Front Porch Café on Ocean Drive.

A favorite among SoBe locals and visitors, the Front Porch has the perfect recipe for success: good food and a killer view. I've been going there, really, ever since I moved to South Beach. It was the same good friend of mine who introduced me to Joe Allen who first took me to the always-happening Front Porch, so the spot has that added sentimental value, y' know.

Now, here's the boring, silly part: For as long as I've gone there, I've always had the grilled chicken sandwich, on French, with fries and the small bowl of fruit (grapes, mangoes, and pineapples, pretty please).

I know – and I'm recommending the joint?

Well, the cool thing about the Front Porch is you go there with friends...people who do eat more than their usual fare. I know that their turkey burger is as tasty as it is healthy, for instance, and that their hummus is quite the crowd-pleaser – because I have tasted both. But nothing beats my grilled chicken sandwich, so deal with it.

The Front Porch Café (at the Penguin Hotel) is located at 1418 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach. For more information, call 305.531.8300.

Lincoln Road's Balans is a more recent discovery.

In fact, I think it was just last summer that I became obsessed with doing brunch there every Sunday. I really, really tried to make it happen among my friends, but like "fetch," it just didn't take.

This summer, though, I took a different, more successful approach: brunch dates. Which is a little counterintuitive when I think that attacking the jumbo breakfast (two eggs, bacon – you gotta have bacon! – sausage, Balans potatoes, fruit, and three mini-pancakes) they way I do may not be the most attractive thing...

But, hey, there's all that second-to-none people-watching to do. Combine that with a couple of mimosas, and it’s relax-and-go-to-town time. Oh, and at $9.50, that's quite the bang for your buck.

Balans is located at 1022 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach. For more information, call 305.534.9191, and check out their Web site for their cocktail happy hour, breakfast, and early-bird specials.

Finally, there's Asia de Cuba.

Looking out to the bay, this is the most see-and-be-seen of places to brunch, a fabulous place to take an out-of-town guest for post card-friendly Sunday meal.

The $42-per-person ADC brunch is noteworthy because guests may complement an à-la-carte entrée with a buffet spread of starters, sides, and yummy desserts, which is beautifully presented and served from the restaurant’s centerpiece communal table.

There's Caribbean-style seafood ceviche, tropical sun-ripened fruit and berries (yay, blueberries...they're good for your memory!), and Asian style cured salmon (get as much as you humanly can, people!), among others.

La pièce de résistance is, of course, that entrée I mentioned before. Do yourself a solid and order the Maine lobster and blue crab omelette. It is huge – in both the literal sense and the Paris Hilton sense.

It's got wine-ripened tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, and asparagus (and you can add manchego, if you want, for an extra five bucks) – and it's insane.

This being Asia de Cuba, though, you might want to give the Ropa Vieja a try. It's served with sweet corn and jalapeño pancakes and avocado relish, and I think I fell in love a little bit with the bite I took from not my plate.

Asia de Cuba (at the Mondrian South Beach) is located at 1100 West Ave. in Miami Beach. For reservations or more information, call 305.514.1940.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living, contributor editor at G Culture and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Brunches
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Miami Spice 2009: China Grill

Another week, another reason to heart that it's Miami Spice time.

And I gotta say, thinking up this column definitely was a stroke of genius, if I should say so myself – and I am. My latest culinary excursion recently took me for a Sunday lunch to one of South Beach's perennial best: China Grill. It's been the yummiest summer ever.

Located in one of the most colorful and distinctive buildings in town, right on Washington and Fifth, China Grill and its world cuisine are quite the experience.

I mean, for one, you have to love the restaurant's legendary atmosphere, which is so full of drama and texture and warmth (it's those hues!).

And for two, you have the food, which is pretty phenomenal.

For years, China Grill's Asian flavors and techniques have been on display on a menu that has never disappointed.

The joint's never been one of my usual haunts (it's a bit too pricey, you see), but when I've been (usually for a birthday party or something), it's delivered the goods and then some (seriously – I've never left without a you-better-believe-it-beyond-generous to-go box).

Now, usually on Sundays I've been playing volleyball. Thinking up this column earlier this summer, I also had to think up how to work on my fitness double-time – I'm no dummy. But when the team flaked recently, and a couple of the guys said we should Miami Spice instead...well, it didn't take much convincing.

Before I tell you about the food, a side note: Remember that thing I said about how you always can leave China Grill with beyond-generous to-go boxes? That's 'cause they serve family-style portions. So bring your appetites, people!

There were four of us, so we had three appetizers, two entrées, two sides, and two very yummy desserts.

We started with the crackling calamari salad with a lime miso dressing that is just the thing to have on a warm summer Sunday, I tell ya.

We followed that with the spicy beef and scallion dumplings on soy ginger sauce (you might want to use a fork to chase after those suckers – they smell so good, chopsticks will only frustrate you).

And we finished the first round with the spiced crispy pork belly. Or, I should say, I pretty much finished the first round with the spiced crispy pork belly, served with a pretty avocado salad, watermelon salad, and sweet chili sauce. I recently tried the pork belly at Michy's, so I really wanted to compare – and I have to give China Grill the win...because their portion was bigger.

But I digress.

For the entrées, we chose the sweet soy marinated skirt steak, which was cooked quite perfectly and went super-well with the wasabi mashed potatoes; and the wild mushroom profusion pasta.

Can you say too much? And too good? There was so much pasta on that plate it was a bit ridikolous, but we still went for it...and then took home a – yeah, you know it! – beyond-generous to-go box.

By dessert time, we felt as if we had actually played volleyball, but, whaddya know, we totally ate it all up, especially the chocolate cake. Like Paula Abdul. Like there was no tomorrow.

China Grill is located at 404 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. For reservations and more information, call 305.534.2211.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living, contributor editor at G Culture and associate editor ofFIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

China
Grill
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Miami Spice 2009: Red, The Steakhouse

There's something sooo special about cutting into a molten chocolate cake, I cannot even begin to tell you – but I'll get to that, I promise.

My love affair with SoFi continues this week as I tell you all about the fantastic Miami Spice dinner menu at Red, The Steakhouse, but before: a little trivia.

Which 1990s TV heartthrobs stopped by the Washington Avenue hot spot around New Year's Eve?

Oh, F it: I was going to make you guess, but I just realized that's going to take too long. It was none other than Jake Hanson and Steven Sanders themselves, Melrose Place's Grant Show and Beverly Hills, 90210's Ian Ziering.

Now, I know that, to some of you, that may not mean much, but to me! to some of us that just means Red is one cool place, so, of course, I quite literally jumped at the chance to give pay it another visit.

I'm glad I did because I could see first-hand that Red's one for the locals, especially those who live in the SoFi neighborhood, but also welcoming of all Magic City locals and visitors, each of whom pops in contrast to the restaurant's minimalist, yet rich red, black, and white décor.

But you don't want to know about that, you want to know about the food.

Red's Miami Spice dinner menu starts you off with a choice of standard salads: a wedge of iceberg with pancetta, crumbled bleu, red onions, croutons, and ranch, and the Red house salad (baby greens, candied walnuts, and goat cheese with raspberry vinaigrette).

I opted for the soup du jour, which on my jour was a lovely gazpacho.

Can you say yum-yum?

Oh, and this wasn't a lil' bowl of gazpacho. This was like, a generous, don't-ask-for-more bowl of gazpacho. Not that they wouldn't give you more. Everyone's quite kind at Red – and funny (read on for more).

For an entrée, I tried a bit of my dining partner's beyond-delicious prime filet with béarnaise-topped asparagus and whipped potatoes but had the Ashley Farms double chicken breast, also with the asparagus and the potatoes.

I'd asked my server if the chicken came on the bone, and he just said it didn't, and then did the funniest motion with his arms to show me that the chicken came with its wings. It was a cute bit, and, yes, you had to be there to get the full effect, but it set the service apart in a special way that doesn't happen everyday.

And the chicken was terrific. Col. Sanders ought to be jealous because the skin held so many flavors it was just not fair to the rest of the menu. I don't often ask for chicken because...well, because it's chicken. But I was pleasantly surprised by the seasoning and how it combined with the béarnaise.

Please say yum-yum again!

Oh, btw, you can upgrade your entrée with lobster Thermadore, but it'll cost you, which, as I've said before, kinda defeats the purpose of Miami Spice.

And now, for the grand finale.

I tried a little bit of the Tahitian vanilla bean panna cotta and tropical fruit coulis – which was yummy, but I like my vanilla bean frap-style from Starbucks. But, really, you could've put Daniel Craig looking sharp in a tux in front of me, and I still would've been all about the molten chocolate cake. (Sorry, D.C. Punish me?)

What a frakkin' rush I get from cutting into a molten chocolate cake: It's orgasmic!

Well, I can't follow that statement with anything, so know that Red's also hosting Tuesday-Friday happy hour and half-priced under-$100 bottles of wine on Wednesdays.

Red, The Steakhouse is located at 119 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. For reservations and more information, call 305.534.3688.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Red
The
Steakhouse
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Miami Spice 2009: Au Pied de Cochon

Mesdames et Messieurs, je vais vous dire un secret: J'aime bien manger et j'adore Miami Spice.

Alright, so I just lied.

In French.

It isn't a secret that I like to eat, or that I adore Miami Spice, so I recently took some time to try a lunch menu for a change, at Au Pied de Cochon in SoFi, a recently opened French restaurant about which a couple of friends have raved.

Now, I'm quite sure I understood this right when my server said so, but I still could be wrong – I got distracted once he brought mini-baguettes to the table – but evidently, Au Pied is one of the few, if not the only restaurant offering a different Miami Spice menu every single day.

This makes it ever so difficult to tell you about Miami Spice at Au Pied since I've only been there once.

But, you know what: Good for them. After all, as Ulla sang in The Producers, "Ven you got it, flaunt it," right?

On the day that I stopped by, though – after watching an early screening of Inglourious Basterds, the review of which you can read on my blog on Aug. 21 – I tried the mimosa eggs with mesclun salad for an appetizer, which was quite devil-eggy and nicely dressed.

For my entrée, it was either the seafood blanquette style on basmati rice, or the suckling pig pastille with sweet potato purée. The latter won me over since I wasn't about to pass out having sweet potatoes in any way, shape, or form. I heart me some sweet potatoes, and that purée was complètement extraordinaire.

For dessert, I chose the warm apple and raisin clafoutis with apple sorbet. Now, as a rule, I avoid raisins, so this particular dessert didn't thrill me. But it was that or the matured French cheese platter, and I'm rather not into that at all...

My friend, btw, had the croque monsieur ($11.50) sandwich – I don't know why he wanted to go against the Miami Spice grain – with the $5 pommes frites, which were amazing.

Actually, I had to fight myself to keep me from taking a humongous bite out of his croque monsieur...but there's always next time, huh.

Au Pied de Cochon is located at 81 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach.

For reservations and more information, call 305.674.1844.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Au
Pied
de
Cochon
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Packing Meat

There's something about Miami, and there's something about its steakhouses, don't you think?

Christy's, The Palm, Prime 112, Tuscan Steak, and even Kobe Club, as classic as they may be, must make room for four new delicious restaurants that have put some fresh meat in our plates – and in our bones.

The Grill on the Alley (19501 Biscayne Boulevard, Aventura 305.466.7195) brings to the Magic City a longstanding Beverly Hills tradition expertly modeled after the big-city grills of the 1930s and '40s.

The restaurant's menu is rich in protein (think prime steaks, chops, and seafood) and winning side dishes (mac and cheese – hello!) served in a setting so elegant it's hard to resist it... so never mind that the joint's – oh dear – in a mall.

I've yet to find (and not for lack of trying, mind you) a restaurant that can't deliver a delicious plate of braised short ribs – and I'm thrilled to report that The Grill didn't change that fact. Its oh-so-tasteful short ribs were cooked beautifully, and really were worth the drive north.

Closer to home, Rare Steakhouse (468 41st St., Miami Beach 305.532.7273), keeps kosher, and already is a favorite among celebrities, including former Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell and Matisyahu.

Located in the heart of Miami Beach on historic Arthur Godfrey Road, Rare serves dishes created using only the freshest, finest ingredients. Everything, and I do mean everything – from each choice meat and to each seafood offering, and every veggie, bread, and pastry – is cooked or baked fresh daily.

For an appetizer, you gotta try the three mini-sliders, followed by the aged ribeye. If you want to be contrary, go right ahead and try the Floribian chicken topped with a mango salsa and served with plantain chips. It’s finger-lickin'...you know.

Now, don't get too excited, for I don't mean anything sexual funny: Meat Market (915 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.532.0088) is SoBe's latest hot spot. The contemporary steakhouse has a neighborhood feel (hey, it's on Lincoln Road, so locals can claim it), even though its prices may not be the friendliest to wallets.

They've cooked up a menu that's decadent, rich, and outstanding. From the apps – from the always-a-treat oysters to the rice paper tuna tacos – to the desserts, everything at the MM is precise and perfect.

I'd never tried buffalo tenderloin, but I did the first time I stopped in, with the homemade tater tots, and I was sooo glad I did. What a tender, flavorful meat. And my friend who went with me thought the filet mignon was – gasp! – better than any he'd had at some of the Magic City's favorites.

Finally, there's Fogo de Chão (836 1st St., Miami Beach 305.672.0011), which is It for all who know and love to eat.

This Brazilian churrascaria offers "espeto corrido," which in Portuguese means eat until you drop "continuous service," which in turn means that throughout your (long) meal, Fogo's gaucho chefs carve succulent cuts of meat at your table, from skewers on which they have just finished slow-roasting over an open fire, preserving the individual taste of each tender cut.

The service includes a whopping 15 cuts of meat, including lamb, pork, chicken, and beef ranging from filet mignon and "picanha" (the prime part of the sirloin).

All you have to do is get there, sit down, and alternate your own two-sided disk, from green for "More food, please!" to red for "I'm on a break," and voilà, dinner will be served.

Yes, there's something about Miami. It's packing meat.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Steakhouses
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Miami Spice 2009: Smith & Wollensky

Attention bon vivants: It's time for Miami Spice, and everyone's invited to join, so come join the party – yeah! – and let's get this started.

Every year, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau organizes a celebration of food and drink for Miami locals and visitors to enjoy.

August and September are H-O-T, and this must-take-advantage-of-it event makes our dining experience that much more delicious and oh-so-memorable – especially when we go to restaurants we normally couldn't afford wouldn't – and therefore all that much funner.

Once thought of as the dog days of summer, these two months were re-invented the year after 9/11 to stimulate MIA's struggling restaurant and nightlife scene.

The idea – having the city's top restaurants offer three-course meals featuring signature dishes created by world-renowned chefs at affordable prices (lunch for $22, dinner for $35...plus drinks, tax and tip) – worked like gangbusters.

As the ninth Miami Spice gets underway on Aug. 1, I promise to try my very best to go to as many restaurants as possible, and tell you just what I'm loving so. It's a tough gig – but someone’s gotta do it...and I'm glad that someone is me.

First up on my agenda was SoFi's Smith & Wollensky.

Located waterfront at South Pointe Park, this classic steakhouse is participating in Miami Spice 2009 for lunch (Monday-Thursday, noon- 4 p.m.) and, of course, dinner (Monday-Sunday, 5 p.m.-close), which is what I recently tried.

I'd never been to S&W before so, I really went for broke with my tasting, trying the famous split pea soup (a surprise in that it made think of my mom and home), and the chilled sweet corn soup with lobster, which, this being summer, was perf.

For my main course, I just had to try to the filet mignon, which for an additional $24 you can have turned into a lovely surf-and-turf with a 1 1/4 Maine lobster. But that sort of defeats the budget-friendliness of Miami Spice, so it's up to you. If you do want to have something from the sea, though, try the miso marinated seared salmon, which I loved and can't wait to have again. L-O-V-E-D it, I tell ya.

Finally, for dessert – my favorite part of any dinner – S&W is offering a stupendous slice of cheesecake, chocolate tres leches cake, and berry cobbler. Surprisingly, I only had the cheesecake when I visited the restaurant. So I guess I have to go back and pig out try the others soon, huh.

Perhaps next time I'll go for a power lunch.

The S&W Miami Spice lunch menu is actually quite similar to the dinner one, except for the entrées column. During the daytime, you can have the Wollensky's Butcher Burger with Vermont cheddar and smoked bacon (no onions for me, thank you), beef medallions, and a chopped chicken salad.

But, I think, the best (and coolest) time to visit this joint is at dusk, you know, when all the joggers are running by in all their shirtlessness (sooo enjoyable), when Fisher Island looks its most picture perfect, or when you're most likely to sit out on the patio next to a couple that's had too much to drink and is in the midst of the most awkward break-up in the history of break-ups.

True story: She admired the "beautiful sunrise" – at 8:22 p.m.!

Only on South Beach...

Smith & Wollensky is located at 1 Washington Ave. in Miami Beach. For reservations and more information, call 305.673.2800.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Smith
&
Wollensky
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Oysters – and More! – by the River

I heart oysters, and not because they're an aphrodisiac as everyone likes to say. (I don’t think they are, btw.) I love oysters because they're just... decadent.

There's something extravagant about them, much more so than, say, caviar, which I find overrated.

And I heart rivers, too, especially the sound they make around rocky banks, so imagine my delight when I discovered The River Oyster Bar in Downtown Miami.

Yeah, yeah, the Miami River is not a rocky river, but just go along with the image.

Since opening in 2003 a stone's throw away from the Miami River, The River, as the restaurant's known, has been redefining the downtown dining experience with its fantastic food and its sophisticated setting. I tell ya, The River's mahogany bar is the downtown hot spot on any given night...

The menu's American progressive – and it is worth repeat visits.
Oysters, of course, are the star of The River. Its selection of nearly 10 varieties features North America's bestest and the freshest, natch, as well as clams and Maine lobster. But you want to know about the oysters, right? There are Canadian Blue Points ($1.75 each), Northern California Kumamotos ($2.25), and Penn Coves from Washington ($1.75).

There's small ones and big ones – just like we all like'em. Don't you just love having options?

And they're all so oystery and delicious and perfect. Now, If oysters don't really do it for you...

Know that the powers that be at The River like to keep their fans guessing, so they change the menu according to what's in season... or what they like. I once had a wild boar ragú in creamy truffle polenta and fiore sardo pecorino that was just beyond. Too bad they don't have it right now.

One of the standout dishes definitely is the corvina or mixed seafood ceviche ($11 for the small plate, $18 for the large). Prepared with all the right ingredients – cilantro, choclo (steamed corn), lime, red onion, and sweet potato – this dish even smelled authentic.

Right now, The River's featuring a plate of braised short ribs with mac & cheese that's just calling my name, so you’ll excuse me if I cut this short. Meat eaters can further rejoice with a nicely cooked skirt steak or a lamb chops with polenta. I know I would on top of everything else I mentioned before.

The River Oyster Bar is located at 650 South Miami Ave. in Miami. It is open Monday through Friday, from 11:30am to 5pm for lunch; and Monday through Thursday, from 6 p.m. to 10:30pm, Friday, from 6pm to midnight, and Saturday, from 5:30pm to midnight for dinner.

For reservations and more information, call 305.530.1915.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

The
River
Oyster
Bar
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

How About Some Sushi?

In one of her GOOP newsletters (one of my new favorite things) last winter, Gwyneth Paltrow wrote about the places in Paris she likes the most, including a restaurant called Kinugawa, where, Paltrow said, City of Lights locals and visitors can find "a lovely bowl of miso soup, [and] some beautiful sashimi."

Well, I haven't been to Paris in more than a decade, but the newsletter, which I recently re-read, got me thinking about sushi and sashimi and where in Miami we can the bestest and the freshest.

Let's start in South Miami, where RA Sushi (5829 S.W. 73rd Street, 305.341.0092) reigns supreme as the after-work hot spot. Dining at RA Sushi is an experience. Shakira thinks so – that is why she celebrated her birthday there in January . . . and her hips don't lie. This place is fun and hip and loud. And the menu is not only delicious but a bargain – for instance, the Viva Las Vegas Roll ($13) is as terrific as it is popular. Ditto the Yellow Monkey Roll ($10.25).

If the siren song of South Beach should ring in your ear, hope onto U.S. 1 and head on over to my favorite sushi place, Toni's Sushi (1208 Washington Avenue, 305.673.9368). I used to live around the corner, so I can and will vouch for its neighborhood feel, out-of-this-world Sashimi Deluxe ($30), and quite heavenly worth-every-red-penny Volcano Chocolate Soufflé ($7). I've been know to have two on more than one occasion.

If you prefer the hustle and bustle of Lincoln Road and are in the mood for a taste of not one, not two but three cuisines (Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian), then SushiSamba dromo (600 Lincoln Road, 305.673.5337) is for you.

The Japanese pub Shiso (1418 20th Street, 305.672.1119) north of Lincoln Road has quickly become a favorite among locals and visitors who cannot resist its black truffle edamame ($5) or the yellowtail tataki ($14).

Hidden away in North Miami Beach is Katana (920 71st Street, 305.864.0037), a darkly lit, must-sit-less-25, unmarked space where the food is expertly prepared right in front of you, and sent down on sushi boats floating by your table with different-color, reasonably priced plates on top. And at $1.50-$3.50 – nothing on the menu, other than certain drinks, exceeds $7, I do mean reasonably, indeed.

And then, there's Hiro's Yakko-San (17044 W. Dixie Highway, 305.947.0064). Earlier this year, Details magazine dubbed it one of the best late-night eats, calling it Miami's "top spot for post-debauchery dining." I ate there for the very first time last fall, in the wee hours after Madonna's concert at Dolphin Stadium, and I have to say Hiro's hit it... and it hit it good.

Gwyneth Paltrow will always have Paris and all of the wonders it has to offer. But we have something better: We have Miami, and it never disappoints.

The Magic City truly has some of the best sushi restaurants in the country – and now you have delicious proof.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Sushi
Restaurants
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Delic-EOS-o!

Did you know the Greek word for "new dawn" is eos?

Well, you know what they say: you learn something new everyday. . .

But Eos is also the name a new restaurant located on the 15th floor of the Viceroy at Icon Brickell in Downtown Miami, an undiscovered treasure trove of Mediterranean-inspired small plates that you simply must try.

The space itself combines a lot of the qualities Magic City restaurants strive for – it’s sexy and fresh, yet quite bold and strong, and color-rich (green and pink rule). I'd describe its sensibility as 1930s Deco-meets-1970s kitsch.

Meanwhile, the menu is a study in sophisticated (and effective!) experimentation. Flavors that you, perhaps, wouldn’t mix come together in unexpected harmony.

This combination of space and menu is a thing of whimsy, like many a dish here. A perfect example is the raw section of the menu, rich in sushi and sashimi, and ranges from $10-$14.

My new crushes? Eos' sharply cut tuna sashimi with watermelon and feta bits, and, especially, its niaragi sashimi (striped marlin) with a speck of bacon that is a stroke of genius. It was just one of the little surprises that went a long way during my meal.

Since I have more than one politically incorrect bone in my body, I just had to try the lamb tartare with caviar. It's served warmer than you'd expect, and it’s like, the size of a brownie bite, so it's not too shareable. (Said the guy, btw, who devours chocolate brownie bites from Publix not in the advised two bites.)

The fondutta ($12) I tried next was a treat if I ever had one. I'm usually not fond of nuts, but this young pecorino, hazelnuts, and thyme honey combination, beautifully presented on a cute little cast iron pot, made a convert out of me.

For the rest of my dinner, which came with a stunning lightning show courtesy of our lovely South Florida weather (the 15th floor may not attract many walk-ins, but its view can’t be beat), I tried the crispy rabbit ($13; a nod of nostalgia since I heard from the bartender that Brosia in the Miami Design District has closed after I mentioned it was the only place in town where I'd had rabbit before). It was crispy and lemon-y, and combined with mushrooms in garlic confit, a most interesting choice, if I do say so myself.

And I also had to have the smoked pork ribs ($14), which melted off my fork – always a good thing.

But la pièce de resistance of a meal at Eos is its lobster and sea urchin risotto. Oftentimes, some restaurants make a big show of their presentation of a dish, but by adding and mixing all of the risotto's delicious components (caviar, egg yolk, and fried herbs) at the table, my waiter was not only preserving the freshness and richness of the ingredients, he was also giving me a bit of a show.

And who doesn't like dinner and a show?

Eos is located at the Viceroy Miami (485 Brickell Ave). The restaurant is open seven days a week, serving breakfast from 7am-noon, lunch from noon-3pm, and dinner from 6-11pm. For reservations, call 305.503.0373.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Eos
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

I Heart Joe Allen

As we head into the 4th of July – have a good one, y'all! – I'm thinking American, and nobody does it better than Joe Allen.


Located in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood of South Beach, Joe Allen is the standard by which every restaurant in town should be judged because they really know what they're doing there.

I have to say that everyone involved with its operation (and success – you try getting a table sans reservation) shares a commitment to excellence and values the same things, chief among them a constantly surprising menu and service that's second to none.

It's cliché to say, but it is sooo true.

I've been going to Joe Allen ever since a good friend of mine took me there like, seven years ago. I've celebrated many a birthday since then there – actually, I'm quite sure I had my first legal drink at Joe Allen – and I've come to find comfort in its simple, yet elegant décor (I once thought of taking asked if I could have one of the surfer dudes affixed to the wall).

The food, of course, is the reason I constantly recommend the hot spot to friends. Yes, I call it a hot spot because Joe Allen is always It, It, It, no matter the season, no matter what flash in the pan has just opened – if you're a local you love it, and if you're from out of town you fall for it.

Its menu is chockfull of selections that are casual and unassuming, really rather diner-ish in a way... but you know, a bit pricier and definitely more upscale.

It's that comfort thing, you see, but lest you get complacent about your meal, the powers that be like to keep us guessing by changing the menu every single day. There are some regulars that soon become favorites, though, such as the steamed mussels ($16) and the yellow fin tuna tartare with seaweed salad ($17), from the appetizer column.

They say that you can tell a lot about a restaurant from their Caesar salad, so you should know Joe Allen's great. At $14, it is big enough to share à deux, so thumbs up for that, too.

From the entrées, I'm quite fond of the $26 skirt steak (hold the French fries, pass the mash with gravy, please), and of the lamb shank, which I haven't had in a while come to think about it.

One of my new obsessions is the meat loaf ($18.50), which is like a big hug.

But, c'mon, c'mon, already: Don't let me go on and on and on without telling you about the most American dish you can have this 4th: Joe Allen's amazingly juicy bacon cheeseburger with French fries ($12.50).

O.

M.

G.

That's as good as it gets, and it makes me proud to be an American guest. Lately, I've been having the bacon cheeseburger as my entrée, and I gotta say, it never gets old – and it's the only thing I'm craving this holiday.

Joe Allen is located at 1787 Purdy Ave. in Miami Beach. Reservations are strongly suggested by calling 305-531-7007.

The restaurant is open daily, from 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Brunch is served on Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.




SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Joe
Allen
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Me Want RACKS

This week, I trade the familiarity of South Beach for the untapped quaintness of North Miami Beach because, well. . . because I can, and I because want to.

I can feel you cringing now, but c'mon – it's good to get out of our comfort zones, and certainly, I'm not suggesting you do so for just about anything but for the yummyliciousness that you will find at RACKS Italian Market and Bistro.

It may be a bit of a ride, but it will be worth it. Trust.

Tucked away on 163rd Street between Collins Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard, at the Intracoastal Mall, this addition to our restaurant belt serves Italian cuisine and sells the freshest, most authentic ingredients to cook your own at home.

RACKS has all the makings of a neighborhood joint. I'll bet its "salumeria" soon will become a favorite of DIY foodies, while the brick-walled restaurant has an open-air feel to it that's hard to resist. Seriously, if they got rid of the roof, which obviously, they can't, they'd have themselves a super-lovely outdoorsy spot, but with the rain and heat we’ve been having that's, perhaps, not such a great idea.

The restaurant does boast an enviable waterfront dining experience, though, and complimentary boat dock valet service and lots of free parking, so there you go. No excuses.

But I'm not recommending RACKS for the décor, but for the food.

From the second you walk in, you can see and smell what the chefs are cooking – thank you, pretty open kitchen! – which is the best appetite-whetting prelude for what's to come.

I've tried the nice and crunchy Portobello fritti on black truffle aioli ($9), which was as generous as it was amazing; and the meatball with whipped impasata and Sunday San Marzano gravy ($11), which sounded a bit pretentious – I mean: What the what with the description? You had me at "meatball" and "gravy"! – but tasted as good as it looked in all of its oversized, challenging, yet inviting glory.

And that was just for my appetizer. (Yeah, sometimes I ask for two appetizers. Don't judge me.)

For an entrée, I just had to try the gnocchi with San Marzano, fiore di latte, and spring basil pesto ($15). And I may or may not have had a bite of my +1's pizza. (I will deny nothing. I will defend nothing.) All of which I found enjoyable. . . and made me want to loosen my pants a bit. You go to RACKS to eat, after all.

I could've stopped there, but there's never been a dessert menu I could resist, so I ordered the ginormous chocolate cake, which made me feel like such a wimp. That thing was huge (that's what he said). It so reminded me of P.F. Changs' Great Wall of Chocolate – but bigger. After one layer, I gave up, had it wrapped, took it to my office the next day, shared it with like, five people, and still had a big enough piece for myself. It was great.

So treat yourself, and find out what I'm talking about.

RACKS Italian Market and Bistro is located in North Miami Beach, at the Intracoastal Mall on 163rd Street and N.E. 36th Avenue.

Both restaurant and market are open from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday. For more information, call 305.917.7225.


SoBeSocialClub.com contributor Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it (and food) a lot, thankyouverymuch.

Racks
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro

Mad for Maya

For my first culinary excursion on behalf of SoBeSocialClub.com, I thought it would be fitting to venture into the heart of South Beach, you know, to the always-happening corner of Meridian and everyone's there, to visit (once again) my new favorite spot on Lincoln Road, Maya Tapas & Grill.

Now, unfortunately, I don't spend as much time on Lincoln Road as I used to – my schedule's no fun like that these days – but I have been back to Maya quite a few times with different people since my first visit back in April on the recommendation of a friend, and lemme tell ya som'in', it has not disappointed and we've all enjoyed it.

At first I thought it was nostalgia (Maya's located in the old Paninoteca space), but really, as boring as it may sound, I'm pretty sure it's the food and the service that keep me coming back for more. Featuring more than 30 Spanish-style tapas, the restaurant's Argentinean-influenced menu has something for everyone.

And now a confession: Once I try something and I like it, I stick with it. I become a fan, I want to set up a Facebook page in its honor, and I have people try it, too. That's how I feel about Maya's chorizo argentino ($8.95) – it's fantastic - and I don't just like it: I heart it. Oh, and its grilled jumbo diver sea scallops in a rich butter sauce ($9.95) are pretty cravalicious, too. Both are small plates, but they're hearty ones at that, and a can't-beat-it bargain.

On the cold tapas front, the ceviche of the day ($7.95) is an accomplished take on the real thing (having recently tried ceviche in Peru, the way it was intended, I've developed a new appreciation for the dish – like Madonna, it can be imitated but never duplicated).

Those are but three of the tapas you can have on your away into the night, but if you're still hungry then you should try the angel hair pomodoro and basil (simple, but classic; $11.95), or the 16 oz. asado (slowly braised and grilled short ribs with fried onions worth every penny at $21.95), or the lemon honey salmon ($16.95).

Maya, I think, is the season's option for locals (and visitors, too). Lincoln Road may be a bit of a tourist trap sometimes, but the restaurant recently launched a local appreciation program hoping to entice us in these tough economic times since it affords us 10 percent off our entire checks, $6.95 lunch specials, and B.Y.O.B. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays beginning on July 1 (a corkage fee applies). Just bring your Florida ID.

Maya Tapas & Grill is located at 809 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, and open daily for daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 9 a.m. to midnight (1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). For more information, call 305-538-0058 or go to www.mayatapasandgrill.com.


Martin Haro is a senior writer at Miami Living and associate editor of FIU Magazine. He has lived in Miami for nine years, and loves it, thankyouverymuch.

Maya
Restaurant
Review
by
Martin
Haro