Foodie events, new restaurant openings in Miami , a pick for a happy hour that’s seven days a week in South Beach, cool gift idea for foodies (Valentine’s Day perhaps?), the best lettuce ever with quite a story, and more in Eating News for January.
The annual Coral Gables Tour of Kitchens is back for its 13th year on March 5, 2022. Enjoy a self-guided tour of select homes and kitchens in Coral Gables while indulging in bites and sips from local restaurants and spirits brands. Choose to tour by bike joining a group, Mercedes Benz van or limo. For more information, click here https://gablesfoundation.org/tok/ .
Get your sweet tooth ready for Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s chocolate festival. Chocolate lovers will be sure to learn something new through exploring the life cycle of a cacao plant in Fairchild’s very own Rainforest. Throughout the day, celebrate the art of chocolate though lectures on cooking with the unique ingredient and demonstrations from Miami’s master chefs and chocolatiers. Did I mention there will also be a cupcakes and cocktails parings throughout the weekend plus special activities for kids?
To complete the sweet weekend, the community will be able to explore a savory bites village, the bounty of the gardens and explore unique culinary creations that utilize the star of the show, chocolate! Dates: January 15 & 16, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden 10901 Old Cutler Road,Coral Gables 33156. For more information click here.
Michelin star chef Atsushi Okawara is the new head sushi chef at The Den at Azabu Miami Beach in their hidden omakase room. He hails most recently from Kenzo Estates in Napa Valley and other top spots. Speaking of Azabu, I recently checked out their daily Kanpai happy hour offered seven days a week from 6 pm. to 8 p.m. It offers a large selection of 15 light bites and good value, especially for South Beach. You can choose to sit inside in an attractive, classic style space or outdoors on an appealing, spacious terrace.
Our favorite dishes were the seaweed salad; roasted brussels sprouts that were both sweet and salty, seasoned with chili strips and spicy soy sauce, topped with bonito flakes; spicy tuna roll with Yuzu Daikon, spicy mayo, sesame seeds, jalapeño, Sriracha sauce; a good sized robata yellowtail collar that was super fresh and served with ponzi sauce; and vegetable tempura with the chef’s selections of the day. House wine, a good pour, is $7; sake $7-10; beer, $5; and signature cocktails $9-$10. Valet and street parking. https://azabuglobal.com/
Light Bites
Malibu Farm at the Eden Roc Hotel is now Ocean Social with a new menu featuring dishes like lobster pizza, ceviche and roasted branzino.
South Beach favorite Sushi Garage in Sunset Harbor has opened a new outpost in Cocowalk in Coconut Grove (there’s also one on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale).It’s open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner and happy hour from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 3015 Grand Avenue, Coconut Grove
Seriously delicious organic lettuce that also comes with an interesting story. It’s the product of aquaculture and hydroponics and is grown in the Redlands by Organic Aqua Fresh, Inc.. There are four varieties — including a unique red leaf butterhead (a fave), red leaf, green leaf, and butterhead. You buy the lettuce “live” as it has soil on the roots. Put it in water and it lasts for up to a week. It’s sold at the farmer’s markets in Miami Springs and Coral Gables on Saturday, Vizcaya Village on Sunday and soon to come, Legions Market. They’ll be expanding soon into growing more vegetables and herbs. Watch for a larger post with their greatly expanded list of products, fascinating story and images in the spring.
And more new restaurant openings in Miami, as the beat goes on in Coconut Grove. Replacing Tigertail and Mary is new upscale and buzzy all day deli and restaurant Sadelle’s. It’s from the team who brought us Carbone and Z’s Club. Dishes include a variety of eggs benedict ($26 to $45), burgers, chopped salads and my favorite innovation – a bagel tower with a selection of smoked and cured fish and caviar. It’s open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m 3321 Mary Street, Coconut Grove
The group behind big hit MILA right off LIncoln Road Mall has a new opening coming up — V by MILA, set to open around March 2022, (pronounced ‘Five by MILA’) is a 7,900 sq ft venue located below the original MILA restaurant. It encompasses an omakase dining experience, a members-only salon and mixology bar, and a large lounge area with a DJ, all designed to offer guests a multi-sensory experience based on the five senses. 1636 Meridian Avenue, South Beach
The new offerings at the relaunched brunch at Mi’Italia caught my eye. Chef Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth’s take on Northern and Southern Italian breakfast dishes include Carbonara Breakfast Frittata, Prosciutto Eggs Benedict and the Italian Sun Omelet, Brunch is available Saturday & Sunday from 12pm – 4pm. 5958 South Dixie Highway, South Miami.
Prize for the best omakase sushi box presentation goes to Bubusan in Time Out Market Miami. Congrats! 1601 Drexel Avenue, Miami Beach (off of LIncoln Road Mall).
More new restaurant openings in Miami
As we know, Miami is very HOT, so no surprise are High profile openings on the way including Avra Estiatorio, a New York hot spot, coming to the Estates at Acqualina; Pastis, also from New York, to Wynwood;and David Grutman’s revival of The Forge and a Trader Joe’s in Edgewater.
A cool new food gift idea I discovered for foodies are themed food clubs of the month. From the website Amazing Clubs, there’s everything from bagels, bacon, cupcakes, cheesecake and jam and jelly to honey and even dog treats . I gave the gift of honey of the month. The two artisanal varieties came and the verdict was a big thumbs up.
