See also, Transplant Chefs: Julie Frans’, of Essensia, San Diego Roots.On August 16, a fragrant green garden, home to six different types of basil, four different types of mint and lemon verbena, balm and grass will serve as the palate-piquing starting point for a five-course, seasonal dinner highlighting local produce…
In addition to the usual taco or meatball hero, the good truckers at BTTR are inviting you to take a bite out of crime this evening, when the City of North Miami and Johnson & Wales University hosts National Night Out.Every year, thousands of communities around the United States and…
When Ralph Pagano left STK Miami to head food and beverage operations at Gulfstream Park, it seemed like a match made in heaven. At the time, Pagano told our sister blog, Clean Plate Charlie, that he only moved to south Florida for the racetrack.But a gambling man can never turn…
We’d like to say Saturday’s Inaugural Burger, Beer and Balls Bash at Miami Circle went off without a hitch, but we’d be lying. The food was delicious as promised, but the event itself marred by poor organization. There were no port-a-potties and not enough garbage cans, seats or water. There…
Panther Coffee’s Joel Pollock is on the move with a second location in the works in a rising South Beach enclave — and now plans for another coffee-roasting space in Wynwood. “I’ll be vague, but we do have another roasting machine we’re going to hook up. It’s going to be…
In February of this year, chef Juan Chipoco and his sous chef Luis Hoyos of CVI.CHE 105 opened a Peruvian rotisserie chicken restaurant right next door on NE 3rd Avenue in downtown Miami. Pollos & Jarras by Juan Chipoco is the (full) name of the two-level, 6,000 square-foot venue. The…
When Michael Jacobs, chef for the Miami Heat players, announced the two competitors for the first round of the Fill the Grill Challenge at the Coral Gables Whole Foods Market, one of the contestants asked for a slight change in title.”Just call me Jim. Robyn’s the chef around here,” said…
Worried you’ll have nothing to do this Saturday afternoon after a week’s worth of hard work? Swing by the Inaugural Burger, Beer and Balls Bash presented by Taste of Brickell Food and Wine Festival at the historic Miami Circle, 401 Brickell Ave., next to The Icon Brickell, from 4 to…
For socially conscious foodies, seeking out homegrown deliciousness just got easier. The Coral Gables Museum’s Artisan Food Fest on August 11 will showcase a tasty assortment of handcrafted goodies, all authentically artisan (unlike some products we might mention).This free event will feature more than a dozen purveyors of gourmet edibles, all boasting…
There are no more than ten seats inside Spaghetto on Miami Beach, but that’s about to change. The owners, Italian investors, have a trio of new stores planned and a cadre of companies designed to spread the sauce around South Florida, and who knows where else. The fast-casual pasta joint…
The aroma of café cubano wafts through the air at the corner of Sixth Street and Euclid Avenue in South Beach. It is coming from the take-out window of Las Olas Cafe, where for years the locals have lined up each morning for their steamy cups of coffee, empanadas, freshly…
I drove past the Delicias de España on the corner of Bird Road and 57th Avenue in Coral Gables for more than three years without even noticing it. Yet a nearby job forced me onto that awful stretch of road almost daily and not long after I wanted to know…
Many people I know who go to extremes in the world of health have been driven there by extremely negative or toxic experiences. Alessandrina Lerner is no exception. A French expat, Lerner was handed over to the care of the state at the age of 14 when her alcoholic father…
Toscana Divino in Brickell: Regional Italian Fare on a Fashionable Stage
When diners enter Toscana Divino, they’re greeted with a rehearsed welcome from behind a sleek hostess stand, as the staff bellows, “Buona sera!” Lustrous wooden tables are adorned with fuchsia flowers and colorful handmade Tuscan glassware. Dark-gray shelves, highlighted by subdued LED strips, showcase stylish designer handbags and contemporary artwork…
See also “Artisan Food: If It’s Made for the Masses, Can It Be Called Artisan?”Artisan is the new organic — the of-the-minute foodie terminology that means next to nothing as far as the actual food is concerned. After all, there’s nothing to stop your average corporate suit from slapping the…
Lolita lights up Nemo’s staid old space.Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar: South Beach cantina is all about fun, but food is more than an afterthoughtLolita Cocina & Tequila Bar has closed. The restaurant bar, which was known for its selection of over 100 tequilas, border town bordello decor, and complimentary…
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ is set to open soon at Mary Brickell Village, bringing the popular New York City mini-chain to South Florida. Jim Goldman, one of the principals, showed me around the restaurant. The floors were being worked on, so we chatted outside for a while.It was during that chat…
The Dining Room closed its petite South Beach venue last week and has decided to move in with relatives until it finds a place of its own. Sort of. Vesper Brasserie in the Shelbourne Hotel will be giving its space up to The Dining Room, which starting tomorrow evening will…
Miami Restaurant Openings & Closings June, 2012The big news in July regrettably revolved around closings: Sra. Martinez said adios in the Design District, David’s Cafe II shut down its Lincoln Road branch, and Jamie DeRosa and Geoffrey Zakarian are now both gone from Tudor House, which sort of ends that…
Want access to our Best Of picks from your smartphone? Download our free Best Of app for the iPhone or Android phone from the App Store or Google Play. Don’t forget to check out the full Best of Miami® 2012 online at bestof.voiceplaces.com.Unlike their meatier namesakes, veggie burgers are a…
See also Julie Frans’ San Diego Roots and Matthew Oetting of BLT Steak: From NYC to MIA.As Miami makes its culinary mark, chefs of every stripe are making their way to the Magic City – and not just via other U.S. destinations. European talent is also finding its way to…
