Italian Soul Food Simmers at Scarpetta

Executive chef Scott Conant and his restaurant Scarpetta recently docked at the Fontainebleau fresh from the flagship eatery’s spectacularly successful launch last year in New York. Conant had previously made his name at that city’s L’Impero and Alto, and Scarpetta simmers with a similar Italian soul food ethic — along…

Yambo — Carne Asada — $5.50 Meal

Yambo, winner of Miami New Times’ “Best Nicaraguan Restaurant 2007,” is a great, cheap 24-hour joint. A recent $5.50 lunch consisted of grilled meat, rice and beans, sweet plantains, salad, and queso Nica. The New York Times Magazine lauded Yambo in a 2004 article by Richard Lourie. He said,…

Deal Finder — Free Appetizer at Moshi 2

Don’t be embarrassed to take a coupon with you to dinner. It’s 2009; all signs in the media point to spend, but your wallet is telling you to save. Compromise. Short Order supports your quest to use web-based deals as a means of making yourself feel all right about spending…

The Taco That Ate Wellington

Restaurants are scaling back plans for expansion. That new carpet for the foyer has been put on hold, and the chipped plates will just have to last another year. So it’s nice to see one Florida company planning to open 12 new locations this year: According to today’s Orlando Sentinel,…

The Inspector Keeps It Clean in March

Jeff Weinsier’s got the dirt on the restaurant business. As winner of New Times’ Best TV News Reporter 2007, he continues to uphold the true ideals of journalism by serving his community through his reports on WPLG 10 that publicize the findings of local health inspection reports.We feel like he’s…

Behind the Line: Pascal’s on Ponce

Chef Pascal Oudin – Image by Jacob Katel Pascal’s on Ponce, winner of three New Times Best of Miami’s and more national accolades than you can swing a cleaver at, is still going strong after all these years. Chef Pascal Oudin says in his distinct French-accented English, “We’re celebrating our…

Adopt-a-Taco

Celebrations begin at 5:30 p.m. April 16 for the grand opening of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill’s Midtown Miami location (3201 N. Miami Ave.). Free beer samples from Dos XX will be on tap. There will be complimentary hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and, tacos, and a mariachi band promises to be on…

Coupon Collector — Two Free Glasses of Homemade Sangria

Feeling broke? Don’t worry, Short Order’s got your back. Today we’re bringing you deals from Canela Cafe, home of “Latin Soul Food, Latin Fusion, and Spanish Cuisine.” Click This Link for three money-saving, deal-making coupons that’ll keep your stomach full and your wallet happy, print them out from your computer,…

Recession Session — Free Mojitos at the Double Grand

Like free drinks? The Double Grand is giving you complimentary mojitos today and every Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.Will Renuart and Strickly B will be playing “old school, new school and everything in between.” Gourmet Chinese and sushi by Tony Chan’s Water Club will be cooked up in what…

Christy’s Restaurant Coral Gables – Kitchen Pictures

Christy’s Restaurant is THE fine dining Coral Gables institution where rich and powerful politicians, ceo’s and celebrities have talked business over lunch and dinner for 30 years. Christy’s has stood at the same location under the same ownership making it one of the longest-running establishments to do so in Dade…

Would You Buy Your Blueberry Muffins At Benihana?

This coming Sunday, March 22nd, Taste Bakery And Cafe will open a second South Beach venue at 900 Jefferson Avenue, one block from Lincoln Road. Expect the same menu of breakfast pastries, salads and sandwiches as the Alton Road location, but with the addition of gelato and sushi. Just wondering:…

Feeling 1 Bleu at The Regent Bal Harbour

Norman, Allen, or Mark? Fifteen years ago, this was the main — the only? — restaurant-oriented debate likely to take place in Miami. The comparison would generally start with who among Van Aken, Susser, or Militello was the best chef, and would end on the question of whose eponymous establishment…

Cielo Cafe — Poolside Casual for Cheap

Just west of Soyka and south of Churchill’s in the heart of the Mimo district, at the D Place apartment community a casual poolside concept called Cielo Cafe cranks out a cheap, quality, full-range menu seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  …

Fair Trade, Certified Organic, Vegan Triple Combo

Contains:- 1 Fair Trade Certified Organic Coffee.- 1 Earthcake Vegan Cupcake- 1 Alternative Baking Company CookieAvailable at: Sweat RecordsCost: Around $8, depending upon how you like your coffeeAsk for: The Vegan Triple ComboTastes: Realer than “the real thing.”Full Disclosure :I food-shop at gas stations.Click here for SWEAT website and more…

Dr. Spice Cures Fat With Cane Juice

Dr. Spice of Dr. Spice Inc., based in Miami Gardens, is a natural curologist who can help you “if you don’t like to get too fat.” He touts the medicinal properties of his famous guarapo, fresh sugar cane juice, as a cure-all for various gastric, kidney, and weight problems. His…

Paellas R Us Got That Supersize

Paellas R Us from MiamiNewTimes.com on Vimeo.Paellas R Us do just what they say, and they do it in a big way. Check out this monster seafood paella they hooked up with shrimp, scallops, mussels, and Spanish sausage for Calle Ocho. They were serving $5 plates that came with a…

Good Latin Food for People Without Jobs

Comida Latina from MiamiNewTimes.com on Vimeo.The raucous atmosphere of this year’s Calle Ocho Festival belied a recessionary undercurrent. Sure the party was on and bangin’, but as the Herald reports, seven fewer blocks were blocked off from street traffic than previous years, and as the video above evidences, spending was…

El Cristo Restaurant Serves Up Calle Ocho

EL CRISTO from Miami New Times on Vimeo.Though Little Havana is full of restaurants, yesterday’s Calle Ocho festival saw many of Eighth Street’s eateries closed for the party. El Cristo was wide open for business — including a vendor tent out in front of the establishment serving roast chicken, fried…

Asadero Colombiano at Calle Ocho

Asadero Colombiano from Miami New Times on Vimeo.The Calle Ocho Festival 2009 took to the streets of Miami with what seemed like a crowd of 10 million drinking, dancing, party animals of all ages. They were hungry too. One of the many food vendors was Rancho Mateo Restaurant — Asadero…

A Cacao Concerto

On Saturday, March 21, Cacao Restaurant in Coral Gables will hold a symphonic celebration following the Miami Symphony Orchestra’s performance at Guzman Concert Hall earlier that evening. Guests will have a chance to mingle with world-renowned Miami Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor Maestro Eduardo Marturet while sipping wine and…

A Cut Above

Executive chef Sean Brasel tried a Lincoln Road meatery once before: KISS Steakhouse, located in the Albion Hotel, opened and closed in 2002. The restaurant’s failure probably had more to do with the scantily clad go-go dancers gyrating on Plexiglas stages above the tables than the food’s quality: The steaks,…

Thai Spring Rolls at the Asian Culture Festival

Thai Spring Rolls from Miami New Times on Vimeo.This past weekend, the Dade County Parks and Rec and Thai-American Association sponsored the annual Asian Culture Festival, now in its 20th year at Homestead’s Fruit & Spice Park.  It gave fairgoers the unique opportunity to experience the cultures of Asia through…