New dining and entertainment in Miami options including waterfront, big news about Zuma, Yours Truly tested food and wine products you’ll want to know about, and restaurant openings here and on the way, all in Eating News for August ’21, Part 2. For Part 1, click here.

Zuma has started a major revamp this month of its decor and menu offerings in honor of its 10th anniversary. It has closed its indoor space until mid-October. Never fear, though, Zuma lovers. During this time Zuma Alfresco will launch on their waterfront terrace. While the transformation takes place indoors, “Zuma Alfresco” will be fully operational from Sunday – Thursday (6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.) and Friday – Saturday (6:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.). The outdoor concept will be offering the full menu and their famed brunch on Saturday (11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.) and Sunday (11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.). Zuma Miami,270 Biscayne Boulevard Way EPIC Hotel, 33131 T.305-577-0277.

CHICA, a celebration of Latin flavors by celebrity Chef Lorena Garcia, is now offering up a combo Miami loves — good food and entertainment called CHICA NIGHTS. Every Friday and Saturday night, from 9:00 PM to close, expect  different live musicians, dancers, DJ’s, saxophone players, fire dancers, and sometimes even aerialist performers! CHICA, 5556 NE 4th Ct, Miami, 33137   For my earlier review of CHICA, click here.

And for more entertainment in Miami, Shuckers Waterfront Grill (1819 79th Street Causeway) is debuting their new Rock the Dock live music series. Guests will enjoy live entertainment with sunset views every Tuesday through Thursday from 6 to 9 pm. Expect solo performers, duos, and trios of a variety of music genres. T.305-866-1570.

New Food and Beverage Products You’ll Want to Know About:

What a great idea, elegant single serve bottles of fine French wine. Enjoy them yourself or it’s a perfect hostess gift. The story:  Le Grand Verre is an award-winning, single serve, ethically-made, patented, and predominantly female produced boutique wine collection of France.Envisioned by three French wine-loving friends, Nicolas Deffrennes (Founder), Régis Fanget (Brand and Artistic Director), and Valérian Déjours (Chief Operating Officer), the trio dreamt up LGV with one mission: to embody the culture and experience of tasting premium French wines without the need to open an entire bottle. The eclectic assortment of red, white, and rosé wines comes in tall, slim bottles, a welcome departure from the canned wine offerings. Marquis selections include

Le Grand Verre Château Peyredon, a Haut-Medoc Crus Bourgeois blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with fruit picked from vines over 100 years old. It is crafted with world famous oenologist Hubert de Bouard, the winemaker and owner of Château Angelus, one of the four most prestigious Saint-Émilion estates. Another cult classic is Le Grand Verre Château Val D’Arenc, an organically certified Bandol rosé blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Cinsault . This is one of the very few rosés to consistently rate above 90 points by critics. We tried the Bandol (a rose), Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and Mr. W, who worked as a sommelier early in his career, gave them solid marks. A package of four 6.3 ounce bottles range in price from $20 to $30. To find out more and purchase the wines click here  and here. 

If you like Dutch gouda cheese, you’ll like Old Amsterdam Aged Gouda (sold as The Classic), the number one selling aged gouda in Holland.  It  is aged for a minimum of eight months and has a perfect balance between sweet and savory and a dense, smooth texture..And if you want to take your gouda up another notch, try the Old Amsterdam Extra AgedGouda, known as The Reserve.

This very special cheese is aged for a minimum of 18 months and has a multitude of deep, rich flavors with bourbon, caramel, and pecan undertones and a firm, crumbly texture. They’re now on the menu for my tapas menu for dinner parties. The products are from   third-generation 100 percent family-owned and run Westland Cheese Company. They pitch them as ideal for cheeseburgers which sounds good, but I prefer to taste all their goodness naked, just with thin wafer crackers for non competing flavors. Old Amsterdam cheeses are sold at Trader Joe’s, Aldi and online at www.oldamsterdam.com and also on www.norseland.com.

Ever wonder why French butter is considered the best? Which one or ones to buy? Find out all about it including how to make compound butters with recipes. Check out the article on Time to Travel, a blog written by a talented colleague Irene S. Levine .  Click here. Here in Miami it’s sold at Marky’s and Laubry:

• French Butter from Isigny AOC – Unsalted – 4.4 oz. – Buy at Marky’s Gourmet Store (markys.com)
• French Butter Churn ‘Beurre de Baratte’ AOC – Unsalted – 8.8 oz. – Buy at Marky’s Gourmet Store (markys.com)
• French Butter w/Normandy Cream AOC – Unsalted – 8.8 oz. – Buy at Marky’s Gourmet Store (markys.com)
• Beurre D’Isigny AOP French Unsalted Butter Basket – Buy at Marky’s Gourmet Store (markys.com)
• Beurre d’Isigny 82 % Salted 250g – LAUBRY – Finest Foods

Light Bites:

The lifestyle and entertainment company behind Byblos, INK Entertainment, has plans for five new restaurants and bars throughout Miami-Dade with the first one just opened. Called Meet Dalia, it’s at the newly remodeled art-deco property at 640 Ocean Drive.  The menu  features an innovative take on Mediterranean cuisine with classics like a flaky branzino en croute, mezze, short rib moussaka, ground lamb dumplings, the essential raw bar, and chocolate baklava. Guests can watch the preparation from the vast views of an open kitchen. For more information, visit meetdaliamiami.com and follow on IG @meetdaliamiami. That will be followed by Meet Mia with a menu of northern Italian cuisine in September.

My new friends at Baklava Bakery told me about an exciting new food destination underway, Julia & Henry’s in downtown Miami at the site of the historic Walgreen’s. They’ll be there, in the three story food hall along with a rooftop restaurant and lounge, speakeasy and karaoke bar. No date yet on opening.