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Eating News – Part 2

places to eat in miami beach
Izzy’s Atlantic blue cod with asparagus puree, russet potatoes, mint, and crunchy green apple slices.

 

Eating News, Part 2 has a deserved revisit (new menu, checking out top menu items missed last time) to Izzy’s Fish & Oyster, April 5 a night not to be missed for serious gourmets and wine lovers at Pied a Terre,  a new Italian restaurant in Coral Gables landmark hotel St.Michel, and a new place for coffee near the Tower Theater. Click here for Part 1.

Want an exciting low calorie, fresh seafood dinner and vegetables that will have you craving more? Plus, an added bonus of reasonable prices and a casual, neighborhood eatery atmosphere? Then Izzy’s Fish & Oyster  is in your future. Even if  you have been there, it’s worth a return trip to this as we did, to try some of their new menu items and “oldies and goodies” that you may have missed.  Start with the sugar snap pea salad. The peas, which are cut in small pieces, look like pasta. They are at once crunchy yet tender, crowned with grated grana padano cheese, mint, and dressed with a vinaigrette made with of-the-moment almonds, Marcona. The dish, discovered by owner Jamie DeRosa and his wife Amy on trips in New England, tasted like a spring day and was beautiful to behold.

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Izzy’s spring sugar snap pea salad

Another top choice was the local grower Teena’s Pride heirloom tomato salad, different from all others I’ve had. The tomatoes rested on a bed of pureed goat cheese and garnished with Spanish capers and spicy greens. All were lightly covered in a shallot sherry dressing with a touch of honey. Both dishes are good portions and could feed two.

places to eat in miami beach
Izzy’s Heirloom tomato salad on a bed of pureed goat cheese and garnished with Spanish capers and spicy greens

The standout in entrees is the Atlantic blue cod, a fish that one seldom finds on restaurant menus here and should. This dish was like a meal in one, the fish accompanied by asparagus puree, russet potatoes, mint, and crunchy green apple slices. It was delicate, refined, and tasty.

Mr. W had the beer battered fish n’ chips made with cod and Narragansett beer that were fresh out of the fryer, crispy on the outside, tender inside, and satisfying. They come with a choice of waffle fries or coleslaw, tartar sauce and malt vinegar. Another good choice.

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Fish n’ Chips at Izzy’s

Starters are $11 to $14 and entrees 19 to $29. For meat lovers there’s also a burger with gruyere, bacon, onion jam on a potato roll and a new menu item, a 10 ounce flat iron steak with creamy corn and local tomatoes. Can’t wait to go back. Izzy’s Fish & Oyster,

423 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, Fl 33139

 

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Pied à Terre

For you serious gourmets and wine lovers, April 5 brings a night not to be missed at one of the top restaurants in Miami — Pied a Terre. Audrey Braccini, Wine Maker of Domaine Ferret and Antoine Collet from Kobrand Wine and Spirits
will present featured wines including Domaine Ferret, Chateau des Jacques, and Champagne Taittinger. Here’s the menu in all its glory:

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Champagne Celebration

SEABASS CEVICHE
Pouilly-Fuisse, Domaine Ferret, 2014

BLACK TRUFFLE CELERY RISOTTO…WITHOUT RICE!!!!!
Parmigiano Reggiano
Pouilly-Fuisse, Hors Classe, Tournant de Pouilly, Domaine Ferret

MAINE LOBSTER “BACK FROM THE BAHAMAS”
Fresh Live Lobster from Maine, Pineapple, Caribbean Rum, Sweet Potato, Snow Pea
Pouilly-Fuisse Tete de Cru Le Clos, Domaine Ferret

FILET OF WILD VENISON “DIANE SAUCE” OUR WAY
Green Cabbage, Cranberries
Chateau des Jacques, Morgon 2013

CONTEMPORARY ILE FLOTTANTE
Crème Anglaise and fresh mixed Berries
Champagne Taittinger Brut

The price per person is $125 (tax and tip additional). For reservations call 305-531-4533 and specify your interest in the wine dinner. Pied a Terre is in the Cadet Hotel, 1701 james Avenue, Miami Beach.

Zucca Miami
Zucca

 

Coral Gables’ landmark Hotel St. Michel has an attractive new restaurant and bar – ZUCCA, 162 Alcazar Avenue, open for lunch and dinner (T.786-580-3731.) The restaurant, from Venezuela’s leading Da Silva Hospitality Group  with 30 hotels and restaurants there, features Italian cuisine from all regions of Italy, a chef that hails from Casa Tua,  and exclusive mixology by the bar-masters of Cocktail Cartel.

zucca
Nonna’s Mule signature cocktail at Zucca

Be sure to start off with their yummy signature cocktail, Nonna’s Mule, that’s not only a work of art, but also, totally refreshing and tasty. It features ginger, Gra’it, watermelon, lemongrass, Q grapefruit soda and dehydrated lime. It’s served in a copper pot with crushed ice and edible flowers.  In a welcome touch, at the start of the dining experience, guests are presented with a selection of antipasti. These light bites include several variations of hand-crafted, traditionally-prepared Mozzarella from the restaurant’s Mozzarella Bar, such as Mozzarella di Bufala and Bocconcini, as well as fresh cheeses like Burrata and Stracciatella.

zucca miami
Charcuterie board at Zucca

My favorite dishes  included house made tagliatelle with funghi porcini, perfectly al dente and rich with a generous amount of truffle oil. Another fave was the veal milanese served on the bone. It was pounded so it’s thin, then lightly covered in bread crumbs with clarified butter and fried in olive oil. It’s accompanied by wild arugula and tomato. A classic Italian dish that should be on all menus.

zucca miami
Veal milanese with arugula and tomato

Of course there’s the traditional Bistecca alla Fiorentina – a 32 oz. T-bone steak, dry-aged for 21 days and served with two sides of the guest’s choice. Do try the olive oil which was exceptionally good and nutty (as you know, all olive oils aren’t created equal). Simone Mua, the chef said it’s from Capri.  Prices for appetizers average $15 and for entrees $20-30.

La colada
La Colada

Next time you go to the Tower Theater on Calle Ocho, check out La Colada down the block for one of their 20 varieties of Cuban coffee.Sit at the counter and while you’re there you may want to team it up with one of their homemade chocolates and check out the selection of fedora hats. They also sell their own brand of coffee.

 

Karen Escalera

Karen Escalera

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