Lee Klein I had to take precious time from my Thursday afternoon in order to make it first-hand-official for loyal readers of Short Order (and I mean both of you): The 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau has arrived. First I had to mill about, just outside the gates of Casa Casuarina (on…
I’m going to wrap up this short little porthole into Costa Rican cuisine talking a little bit about everything — probably in a very rambling, tangential sort of way. Just a fair warning. Native fruit is definitely one of the more unique aspects of eating in Costa Rica. You’ve got…
Ever since news broke that a Port St. Lucie man beat his girlfriend with a sandwich, we’ve been waiting…waiting…to learn exactly what was his weapon of choice. The Port St. Lucie Police Department is not about to give such clues away. But whatever the sandwich in question was, it failed…
John Hood Seventy-eighth Street east of Biscayne was like a rock concert parking lot last night, albeit a rock concert full of sophisticates. I’m talking a mob scene the likes that block hasn’t seen since forever. And while the crowd in question wasn’t really there to hear their favorite band,…
Baby wants Amarone Always planning ahead, I am, and this year you can skip the chocolate-covered chocolates on Valentine’s Day and buy me tickets to Vinitaly instead. I know it seems like our favorite romantic occasion is months and months away, to say nothing of the MAJOR PRESENT HOLIDAY we…
One of Costa Rica’s many beach-side sodas, shaded from the hot coastal sun by an umbrella of tall trees. Yesterday I talked a little bit about Costa Rica’s plato tipical, casado – and more specifically, rice and beans. Now, when you’re producing rice and beans in such quantities as to…
Andreas (from Germany), Matt (Alabama) and Raoul (New York) started up MixMyGranola from a Miami warehouse not quite four months ago. The idea is simple: A website where you can custom-make your own granola mix with a few clicks and then have it shipped to your home. Andreas explains that…
A decade ago this month, chef Gary Robins inaugurated Wish Restaurant in The Hotel with a brash and brilliant haute vegetarian menu. The public didn’t bite; Robins went on to achieve fame and acclaim in New York City. Andrea Curto took over the South Beach spot, made Wish come true,…
A view of Volcan Arenal from a hiking trail that traverses old lava flow from its 1992 eruption. Arenal is the third most active volcano in the world. We hiked through rainforests and gasped at volcanoes, lounged on white sand beaches and wound our way around perilous mountain passes. Oh…
The 2009 Zagat Miami/South Florida Guide was just released — the Miami portion edited by New Times contributor Bill Citara. Here are some impressions: Michy’s On Top For Food With 28 Rating You can’t argue with this — or, more to the point, you can argue with this, and every…
You haven’t quite missed the bargains this year: Dine Out Fort Lauderdale has been extended until December 14th for 22 of the restaurants originally participating. Among them, Cero (they have a new chef, Toby Joseph has left to go to Bova Prime); Four Rivers, and 3030 Ocean; Lola’s on Harrison…
Of course, you could just hire a waitress and a scullery maid, but in this economy, who has the extra dough? If you’re starting to melt down at the thought of serving 20 people on Thanksgiving from nothing but the hot plate and a microwave in your crappy apartment kitchen,…
Lee Klein Sheila Lukins came to the Miami Book Fair to talk about her new cookbook, Ten: All The Foods We Love…And 10 Recipes For Each. It’s a nifty concept that covers steaks, stews, burgers, roasted chickens, chops, chocolate — 32 categories in all. I sat down with Sheila at…
Sandy Skoglund, “The Cocktail Party” Got 100 people coming for a holiday shindig? Stupidest idea you EVER had, right? Believe it, we’ve been there. But four of Palm Beach’s top chefs are taking pity this season and throwing a bash at Cafe Boulud that might help prevent us from totally…
This man loves Mac’s Club Deuce. (Reason No. 293 why we love this man.) Better Than: Pounding cheap beers between a soul-crushing double on the saute station. The evidence, plainly, is undeniable: the best-selling books, the top-rated Travel Channel Show, the Top Chef judging gigs. Hell, even the playbills posted…
Elyse Wanshel Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain at the Miami Book Fair International Thursday night. Although former junkie/gutter chef, Anthony Bourdain claims that his life is “all rainbows and unicorns” ever since the birth of his baby daughter, many of his random comments during last night’s “Evening With” talk with…
I just love ethics questions, and lucky for me, there’s an unending supply of morality dramas in the food biz. Like, for instance, is it ethical to put “grouper” on your menu when all you’ve got in the deep freezer is panga or swai, as dozens of restaurants in South…
Michelle Bernstein had wanted to name her upcoming Design District restaurant “Buena Vista”, as it is located in the historic Buena Vista Post Office, and would also fit the Spanish nature of the place. Alas, there is already a Buena Vista Cafe, so Michelle has decided to call her tapas…
‘Tis the season for South Beach restaurants to bloom like so many poinsettia at Christmas. The neighborhood south of Fifth Street is going to get especially crowded with new eateries during the coming weeks and months. Topping our Pavlovian anticipations is Au Pied de Cochon, which will debut at the…
John Currin, Thanksgiving, 2003 I’ve volunteered to do Thanksgiving again this year, complete with Heritage bird, and though there’s a part of me that really gets off on shoving my butter-coated fist into a turkey cavity this isn’t a job I’d really wish on anybody. It’s just too messy, too…
Bengal’s contemporary two-level space is lovely. Walls of pastel mint green are minimally adorned with brightly colored sconces that illuminate the restaurant at night; during lunchtime, a soothing natural light comes in courtesy of floor-to-ceiling storefront windows. Tables on terrazzo floors are topped with white linen over maroon undercloths that…
Salman Rushdie will be in town to close up the Miami Book Fair, but his ex-wife Padma Lakshmi will be on television across the nation tonight hosting the season premier of “Top Chef: New York.” We’ve already introduced you to constant Jeff McInnis, dubbed “hot chef of our dreams” in…
