Say Happy Valentine’s Day with a holiday-themed doughnut from the Salty Donut’s one-day-only pop-up inside the Hyatt Centric South Beach (1600 Collins Ave.). Miami’s first artisanal doughnut shop, which pops up every weekend inside a small courtyard in Wynwood (29 NW 24th St.), is adding a second location for the sweet-filled holiday. …
Rip Esselstyn is a lot of things: son to legendary heart surgeon Caldwell Esselstyn; former firefighter; professional triathlete, New York Times bestselling author, manly man — and plant-pusher. His first book, a runaway bestseller called The Engine 2 Diet, was all about how he introduced his Austin ladder company to a…
The fried chicken sandwich is shockingly simple but perfect. No wonder more and more are popping up across Miami and America. In mid-January, Shake Shack began serving its version, aptly named the Chick’n Shack, across the nation. Restaurateur John Kunkel’s 50 Eggs Inc.’s fast-casual concept place Spring Chicken opened the…
February 14 is right around the corner, and in the age of Tinder and digital dating, classic gestures can go a long way. Combine that with the universal love of all things sweet, and the annual Valentine’s Day gift dilemma practically solves itself. Whether they’re decadent mini cupcakes or silky-smooth…
A description of Wynwood’s 2-month-old Beaker & Gray reads like a hipster checklist. There’s pork belly, sous vide cooking, and exposed brick walls. The soundtrack bounces from ’80s hits to the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Gimme the Loot.” When the 120-seater’s owners, Brian Nasajon and Ben Potts, who respectively oversee the kitchen…
Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Carnival, Shrove Tuesday — there are a lot of different names for tomorrow, February 9. The holiday marks the last day of revelry before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. While its roots may be firmly planted in Christianity, some say the holiday is even older, with…
Velvet Creme, an iconic Miami doughnut shop which planned to reopen in Little River this month, has abruptly switched their location. Robert Taylor, one of the founding partners, says the store will most likely open in downtown Miami Shores in the late spring to early summer. “Basically we nixed the…
Pincho Factory is poised to become the next big fast casual chain. The brand started as an eatery in Westchester in 2010, after Nedal Ahmad and his cousins Otto Othman, and Nizar Ahmad, decided that their barbecue creations should go public. The restaurant quickly grew steam after word got out of the…
A handful of food halls all located within a stone’s throw of Biscayne Boulevard in Miami proper are in the works, though it’ll be at least a year before any open. Conway Commercial Real Estate and Urban Atlantic Group (Disclosure: I rent shared office space from the two) are planning…
When executive chef Blair Wilson thinks about brunch, he pictures a menu that’s approachable, relatable, and utterly delicious. Fancy, over the top creations are nice, but Wilson believes embracing the simplicity in the meal is most important. “I think people get carried away,” he says, “By trying to outdo the next…
As plant-based nutrition rises to the forefront in the field of preventative medicine, hospitals are starting to give food the attention it deserves. Rather than the jello-and-gruel cliche that’s been sitcom fodder for decades, facilities across the country are focusing on fruits and veggies as a healing tool. Baptist Health…
Landry’s, Inc., the giant restaurant company that owns over 500 different eateries under 40 different brands like Morton’s The Steakhouse, McCormick & Schmick’s, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and Rainforest Cafe, has finished an internal investigation of widespread credit card fraud. In December 2015, Landry’s issued a press release acknowledging there…
As a teen, Patrick Morey spent his free time as a busboy for local hotels — a way to earn extra cash and get an inside look into the hospitality world. More than 30 years later, Morey is now running them, as he was recently appointed food and beverage director…
To David Bonilla, a kava bar is much more than a business. “It’s more about a lifestyle and creating a community of like minded people, ” the Awa Kava Lounge partner says. The lounge (3930 NW 2nd Ave., Miami) soft opened a few months ago in an old 1940’s house in Buena…
The finalists have just been announced for the fifth annual Johnson & Wales University’s Zest Awards which celebrate excellence in South Florida’s culinary arts scene. This year, the Zest awards will honor Miami’s leaders in the local food scene in nine categories at a private reception at Johnson & Wales University’s…
Conventional profiteroles can be among the most uplifting desserts. Just one bite of the dressed-up cream puffs drizzled with chocolate sauce conjures fond childhood memories or romantic sojourns in Paris. At Le Zoo in Bal Harbour Shops, executive pastry chef Kelli Payne’s profiteroles are guaranteed to stir your emotions too,…
Just one month into the new year and already Miami’s restaurant landscape is changing. Ariete, the Coconut Grove restaurant by Michael Beltran and Jason Odio, opened to much buzz in Coconut Grove. Ariete will be joined by several more Grove restaurants including Glass & Vine, The Spillover, and Spasso, making a…
Stephen Starr, the Philadelphia-based restaurateur, opened his French brasserie Le Zoo in November. Three months later, he was ready to launch brunch. The weekend soiree takes the eatery’s best regular menu items, adds a few American-style plates, and weaves in some unexpected offerings along the way, creating a tasty meal…
Trust & Co., a chef-driven neighborhood bar and restaurant that draws its name from the trust and integrity of the early 20th century is now open in Coral Gables. Located at 2 Aragon Ave., in the former Azurcar Cuban space, the concept for Trust & Co. was developed by Jerry…
Despite the muggy air and falling rain, a full-on backyard block party was happening inside Spring Chicken’s grand opening celebration. A live band belted ’90s hits, checkerboard cloths covered the tables, and waitresses in cutoffs and cowboy boots floated through the crowd with bite-sized samples of the Southern-inspired menu. Spring…
While Miami restaurants are gearing up for Valentine’s Day dinners, French 27 softly opened with romantic dining and French fare in SoFi. The restaurant takes over the old Porfirio’s space at 850 Commerce St. The dining room, already a stunning structure, has been transformed into a sea of fresh red…
Ramen fans in Coral Gables can look forward to a steaming bowl of goodness once Ichimi opens this Friday, January 29. Ichimi, Japanese for “dedicated to”, will feature modern takes on traditional ramen, gyoza, and izakaya dishes, while still paying respect to classical Japanese styles. The 2,000 square foot restaurant,…
