Weekly Nibble: Scarpetta Pre-Marathon menu, Australia Day BBQ at EDGE, Saffron Supper Club at Wynwood Yard, Harry's PopUp and more

Each week, MIAbites presents The Weekly Nibble, featuring upcoming Miami food events, happenings or specials for the upcoming week. Always check ahead to confirm prices and details.

Friday January 22nd and Saturday January 23rd- In preparation for the upcoming 2016 Miami Marathon on Sunday, January 24, Scarpetta, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, will offer marathon runners ( or anyone for that matter ) a special $45 “Carb-Up” 3 course prix-fixe menu. The menu is only available from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23. The three-course menu is a delicious way to power up before the big run; specially crafted to ensure runners’ muscles are fueled and energy levels are up for optimal performance. Among the menu items starter choices included are their popular creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushroom and main courses choices include their Spaghetti with tomato and basil and Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli. Scarpetta 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 877 326 7412.

Saturday January 23rd- StripSteak by Michael Mina at The Fontainebleau kickoffs off their 2016 Cellar 1954 Wine & Dinner series with a decadent five-course menu prepared by StripSteak chef de cuisine Derrick Roberts, complemented by seven different wines from Darioush. Darioush Khaledi and his wife Shahpar founded Darioush in 1997. The Darioush Estate has flourished over time and is now comprised of 120 acres in Southern Napa Valley spanning the Mount Veeder and Oak Knoll American viticultural areas. Each of the five courses will be paired with a different varietal from the label. Priced at $225 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, the luxurious evening will begin at 8 p.m. Strip Steak by Michael Mina 4441 Collins Ave. Miami Beach FL 877 326 7412.

Sunday January 24th- Aaron Brooks, Aussie native and executive chef at EDGE Steak & Bar, brings Australia Day to Brickell. Named Miami’s “Lambassador” by Meat & Livestock Australia, Chef Aaron pays homage to the land down under and its January 26th national holiday, with a week-long celebration of authentic Aussie fare. Festivities kickoff with a special poolside ‘Barbie with Chef Aaron and his ‘Mates on Sunday, January 24th from 1PM to 4PM. Chef Aaron’s ‘mates, Jose Mendin of Pubbelly Restaurant Group, Mike Pirolo of Macchialina and Bazi, Timon Balloo of SUGARCANE raw bar grill, and Jamie DeRosa, and his Chef de Cuisine William Crandall, of Izzy’s Fish & Oyster, turn up the heat for a family-friendly poolside event, featuring each of their BBQ favorites, locally crafted beer by J Wakefield Brewing, The Tank Brewing Co. Wynwood Brewing Company and Australian wines. Bring your budgie smugglers, or swimsuits, and enjoy access to the two resort style pools, celebrating winter in true Miami fashion – under the sun. Advance tickets are required and are $75 per person, $25 for children ages 6 to 12, and complimentary for those 5 and under. Tickets on Eventbrite link here http://www.eventbrite.com/e/australian-barbie-with-chef-aaron-brooks-his-mates-tickets-20634546484?aff=efbevent EDGE Steak and Bar at The Four Seasons Hotel Miami, 1435 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131 (305) 358-3535

MIAbites TeamJanuary 21, 2016Design District, Miami Beach, MiamiComment

Getting your Coffee On: Miami's Best Java Joints

MIAbites TeamJanuary 20, 2016Miami Beach, MiamiComment

Best Desserts in Miami: A Baker’s Confessions

Welcome to new MIAbites contributor, Amber Love Bond. I met Amber during Art Basel at the Dominique Ansel Ice Cream Popup shop at The Setai. While we drooled over the ice cream and Dominique, we decided it would be fun to collaborate. Amber, who has her own business making custom cakes will join MIAbites as our first "Dessert Expert". Here is her first feature on Best Desserts in Miami.

As a baker, I’m constantly surrounded by sweets. When I’m not in my kitchen, I’m enjoying desserts all over Miami. I’m the girl you can count on to stop eating halfway through the meal if it crosses my mind that I may end up too full to order dessert. My mantra – ALWAYS save room for dessert!

Here are my top five dessert obsessions in Miami:

Amber Love BondJanuary 19, 2016MiamiComment

Quality Meats meets Quality Italian: Chicken Parm Pizza and more

It’s a #FoodBloggersLife. The chance to join other like minded foodies at a hip spot on Miami Beach and spend 3 hours eating, talking about and photographing food.

You know who you are and what I mean.

Just such an evening took place this past week as a dozen local Miami food bloggers were invited to sample Quality Meats Miami Beach’s new addition to their menu…the infamous Chicken Parmesan Pizza: A 14 inch “traditional” looking cheesy pizza meant to serve 2+.

But more about that later.

That was not all the evening had to offer. Chef Patrick Rebholz along with Sommelier Lewis Starkey took the opportunity to present us with some of the top items on their extensive menu and joined us throughout the meal to discuss the preparation and presentation of the dishes. Quality Meats, based on W 58th in New York city is part of the Fourth Wall Restaurant Group. The Miami Beach location is only the second Quality Meats to open in the country and much of the carefully selected top-notch meat comes from Quality Meats in NYC.

Ellen BowenJanuary 17, 2016Miami Beach, MiamiComment

Get Thee to Threefold Cafe: Now Open for Dinner

We love Threefold Café on Giralda in Coral Gables. The all day breakfast and creative lunch and brunch menus AND Panther coffee make for an easy choice most mornings or weekends.

MIAbites even featured Threefold and the passionate owners, Nick and Teresa, a few months ago at their opening with this article by Andrew Giambarba @AndyMiami.

http://www.miabites.com/home/2015/8/11/brunch-in-miami-threefold-coral-gables/

BUT, lucky for all of us, they now offer dinner Thursday –Saturday featuring the talents of Chef Brett Pelaggi, formerly from popular Coral Gables wine bar around the corner, Uvaggio.

On opening night last Thursday, I had the pleasure of joining GourmandJ for dinner.

While we passed on the carefully curated wine list (detox after holidays still in effect), Nick encouraged us to try the digestive teas, selecting Rou Bui Oolong from China for it’s rich flavor and the digestive qualities. It was surprising how delicious a cup of hot tea actually went with the flavors of the dinner. Two other tea options are available along with Sipp Sparkling flavored waters, beer, wine and Panther’s single origin coffee.

Ellen BowenJanuary 15, 2016Coral Gables, MiamiComment

Weekly Nibble: "Burgie Awards", Le Freak at Regent Cocktail Club, Scarpetta Carb-Up Prix Fixe, Happy Hour at GK Bistronomie, Brunch at Le Zoo

Each week, MIAbites presents The Weekly Nibble, featuring upcoming Miami food events, happenings or specials for the upcoming week. Always check ahead to confirm prices and details.

Saturday January 16th - Burger Beast hosts his 7th Annual “Burgie Awards” honoring South Florida's best food vendors, restaurants and food trucks. Miami Lakes Auto Mall is bringing the 2016 Burger Beast Burgie Awards back to Magic City Casino on Saturday January 16th from 5-10 pm. The winners will be announced & receive their Awards LIVE at the Burgie Awards. Over 25 different food vendors will be on hand selling to the public a variety of great eats in addition to live music and admission is FREE. For list of food vendors visit http://theburgies.com.

Sunday, January 17th- Regent Cocktail Club will host Le Freak, a nu-disco party with Michelle Leshem and Dude Skywalker behind the decks. From 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. Guests will enjoy artisanal cocktails by Managing Partner and Head Bartender Julio Cabrera while vibing to disco house music spun by two of Miami’s own. Tucked away in the Gale South Beach, the traditional cocktail club will hang its disco ball and transform into a new school disco party for a night. Regent Cocktail Club Gale South Beach 1690 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139.

MIAbites TeamJanuary 14, 2016Wynwood, Miami Beach, MiamiComment

Harry's Pizzeria Pop up: Mexican Night with Chef Bradley Herron

MIAbites TeamJanuary 13, 2016Design DistrictComment

Cook like a Wok Star: Asian Cooking with Eleanor Hoh

The New Year is a common time to adjust our eating habits for the healthier, whether it’s on the heels of an indulgent holiday season or a future long-term commitment we make with ourselves. Serendipitously, I was recently invited to attend the cooking class of Eleanor Hoh, aka the Wok Star, who has been part of Miami’s culinary tapestry for many years, wherein I learned that I should be cooking in a wok more often.

Eleanor was born in China and educated at a boarding school in Great Britain (which is clear from her lovely accent). All those years of poor quality, bland English-style food, motivated her to learn all she could from her mother’s Asian cooking once she returned home to Hong Kong. “I cook from instinct, not from a recipe book”, is the challenge we are first presented with that evening, “my mother never measured and therefore neither do I”.

Now, like many of us, I own a wok but use it rarely and feel I am pretty good at basic stir-fry. I was wrong on all fronts I learned, after three hours with Eleanor that evening: my wok is sub par, I should cook this way more often AND my techniques needed serious updating.

MIAbites TeamJanuary 12, 2016 Comment

Miami Siam: NaiYaRa spices up dining in Sunset Harbour

Photo Credit: Javier Ramirez

It is time to announce the winner of the ‘Translate the NaiYaRa sign” contest!

To recap: Over the bar at Chef Piyaraat Potha Arreeratn’s ( aka Chef Bee ) new Thai hotspot NaiYaRa is an illuminated sign in distinctive curly-cue Thai lettering. BUT, what does it say? With over 250 entries, many guessed, “Welcome“, or “Happy” or “Eat Thai Food“. And many more had no idea…but a handful translated it correctly ( including Chef Dena Marino of MCKitchen) to say, “Miami Siam” or “Miami Thailand”. So in the spirit of the contest, the FIRST one with the correct answer was @dlopezrecio, who posted her answer on Instagram and is therefore the winning recipient of a $50 gift card to NaiYaRa. And we also learned from our post on IG that the sign was designed by @kraveart!

Hopefully most or all of you who enjoyed this fun diversion from serious world events, have had the pleasure of visiting and dining at NaiYaRa, now approaching its third week of business. The accolades are pouring in, so you better make a reservation before it becomes impossible to get in except at 5 pm ( NaiYaRa is on Open Table link here )

Generally MIAbites prefers to wait a bit to feature a new place. Miami diners are a discerning lot, and we like to give a place a couple months to iron out any issues in the kitchen, the bar, staffing or even physical layout.

But NaiYaRa feels like it has always been here…amazing space and ambiance, plenty of enthusiastic staffing , hostesses who smile , a killer drink menu, and a creative and delicious menu that delivers just the right Thai spice punch.

Ellen BowenJanuary 8, 2016Miami Beach Comment

Weekly Nibble 2016: Paella at Bulla, "Burgie Awards", M.I.A Brewing at BLTPrime, Alter & Contra NYC, and new menus at Quality Meats and Mignonette

Each week, MIAbites will feature The Weekly Nibble, highlighting "foodie" events and special promotions in Miami for the upcoming weeks. Please note that specific details, dates and prices are subject to change, so please call ahead to confirm event details.

Tuesday January 12th - Slow Food Miami will kick off the 2016 Snail Social soirées at Basil Park, the healthy-food-focused bistro helmed by Chef Tim Andriola. The event, which is open to the public, will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres between 6PM and 8PM, and select cocktails offered at special Happy Hour prices. Guest are also invited to stay for a delectable 3 course dinner ($25) featuring farm fresh dishes in keeping with Chef’s food philosophy. Basil Park 17608 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160.

Wednesday January 13th - The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce "Let’s Eat Dinner" Series is pleased to return in 2016 with the announcement that Bulla Gastrobar will host a special dinner and cooking demonstration on Wednesday, January 13 at 6 p.m. Guests are invited to learn how to make authentic Spanish paella learned at one of Spain’s most famous restaurants, El Bulli. Led by Bulla Doral’s new chef Miguel Rebolledo, who will take the helm at Bulla Gastrobar’s new Doral location in early 2016, refined his technique and culinary skills working under two of the most renowned Spanish chefs, Jose Andres and Ferran Andria, and Bulla Coral Gables’ chef Diego Solano, participants will enjoy CAVA wine and a cooking demonstration of the beloved national dish of Spain, paella. Tickets are $65 and reservations are required. Bulla 2500 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 441-0107

MIAbites TeamJanuary 7, 2016Miami Beach, MiamiComment

NaiYaRa opens in Miami Beach: ENTER OUR CONTEST!

Ellen BowenJanuary 3, 2016Miami BeachComment

Moreno's Cuba: Cuban Vibe on Miami Beach

Ellen BowenJanuary 3, 2016Miami BeachComment

The Continental by Stephen Starr launches Weekend Brunch

Stephen Starr’s celebrated Philadelphia restaurant, The Continental, brings global eclectic fare to Miami Beach, in a mid-century modern setting that nods to the era’s fascination with Tiki culture. Located adjacent to the new Aloft Hotel and across from the 1 Hotel on Collins, The Continental Miami joins the growing new restaurant scene north of 20th street in Mid-Beach.

The menu features a stronger Asian influence than its Philly counterpart, with dishes like Vietnamese spring rolls and a sizzling seafood wor bar, and plenty of Tiki-inspired cocktails and classic martinis to explore.

This new Miami Beach hotspot recently launched a weekday brunch menu, offering classic breakfast staples like the Cuban omelette and brioche French toast, as well as signature dishes like the cheesesteak egg rolls.

Unable to resist the allure of having an indulgent brunch during a weekday, I recently paid them a visit during a lazy Thursday afternoon (that I took off from work, of course!) to see what all the buzz was about.

Here’s what I had that day:

MIAbites TeamJanuary 1, 2016Miami BeachComment

PREVIEW: 33 Restaurant comes to Coconut Grove

The dining scene in Coconut Grove continues to expand, and Chef Sebastian Fernandez is poised and ready to become a big part of it with his new restaurant, 33.

The former Food and Beverage Director of Coral Reef Yacht Club and “Grovite,” Chef Sebastian Fernandez will be introducing a Peruvian influenced theme focusing on service and food quality. Dishes will have a strong emphasis on ingredients, as the menu will change depending on availability.

Their doors will officially open on Saturday, December 5th. The restaurant’s menu features Peruvian-influenced small plates with a focus on simple, clean flavors. In a welcome shift from over seasoned and over sauced dishes, Chef Fernandez values every component in his dishes, as they have no more than 5 ingredients.

MIAbites TeamDecember 22, 2015Coconut Grove, MiamiComment

New Year's in Miami: Ring in 2016 in style!

Miami has always done New Years right. Visitors and residents alike have numerous options for dining and entertainment. New Year's Eve free concerts and fireworks on South Beach, Pitbull hosting fireworks and parties at Bayfront Park, Black & Gold Parties, White & Gold Parties, a special New Year's Eve Yacht Party, countless parties at clubs and The Weeknd performing poolside at The Fontainebleau.

So here are our picks for celebrating New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. And we will continue to add updates as necessary to keep you "up to date...up to the last minute of 2015".

MIAbites TeamDecember 20, 2015Coral Gables, Miami Beach, MiamiComment

Discovering Shagbark Hickory

Allison Riley lives and works in Miami and describes herself as Southern born. Farmer's daughter. Food adventurer.

One of our favorite MIAbites contributors and qn adventurous cook, her past articles for MIAbites have included posts and recipes on Tailgating, Reclaiming Mid-Week Dinner and Lychee Season. Today's article features her experiment with the bark of the Shagbark Hickory tree. You can follow her on Twitter at @YallTasteThis or on Instagram @allisonjriley.

While visiting my family in northeast Tennessee this past summer, I discovered the Shagbark Hickory tree. I remember seeing them as a child growing up there. They grow tall and thin in the woods, and they have scraggly, thick bark that peels away from the trunk. I never gave much thought to them until my brother-in-law told me about an interview he heard on a local radio program. In the interview, a woman elaborated about the significance of the bark from these trees within the cultures of the Native Americans, primarily Cherokee, and others who settled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. They harvested the exfoliated pieces of bark, avoiding sections still attached to the trunk in order to protect the tree, and made healing teas. According to folklore, the tea served as a remedy for just about any ailment imaginable.

MIAbites TeamDecember 15, 2015Miami Comment

The 10 Best Things We Ate In Miami in 2015 via Zagat Miami

'Tis the season of the "Listicles" and MIAbites stumbled upon this excellent and mouthwatering list on Zagat Miami from Michelle Muslera @MiamiMich Blog ( and also a MIAbites contributor ) and with permission have re- posted an excerpt here for you to enjoy and reflect on your favorite dishes in 2015.

Ah…December. Time to look back at the best moments (or in our case, food) of the year. Luckily, 2015 was a pretty good one, as a list of our top 10 favorite dishes proves. Go ahead, get them one last time before January (and New Year's resolutions) come around.

MIAbites TeamDecember 14, 2015Wynwood, Miami Beach, MiamiComment

RECIPE: Almond Torte with Amarena Cherries from A Joy Wallace Catering

Talk about perfect timing! The holiday entertaining season is upon us and whether you are hosting or attending parties this is the perfect dessert recipe from A Joy Wallace Catering for a delicious Almond Torte with Amarena Cherries.

Almond Torte with Amarena Cherries Mascarpone and Dried Fruit Semifreddo

Serves 12

ALMOND TORTE

½ lb Almonds

6 Eggs

1 ¼ cup Granulated Sugar

1 tbsp Orange Zest

1 tbsp Lemon Zest

2 tsp Almond Extract

MIAbites TeamDecember 12, 2015MiamiComment