The following is an excerpt from one of our favorite bloggers, Mitch & Mel Take Miami, on their visit to Pinch Kitchen. The full article can be read on their blog through the link here.

When partners John Gallo and Rene Reyes decided to open up Pinch Miami, it would turn out to be a place in which the synchronization of working together for more than 10 years (Casa Tua and Pubbelly among some of their gigs) would come to fruition. Their new American eatery located on Biscayne Boulevard, in MiMo and near one of our favorite hidden neighborhoods, El Portal, is the perfect addition to this up-and-coming area and a reflection of their magic as partners. The small, cozy spot has enough charm to swoon any cynic over and the food is equally as appealing.

At one point or another in their careers both Gallo and Reyes have worked with Asian, Italian and Spanish cuisines, hence the self-described “freestyle” dishes you’ll find at Pinch. All ingredients are locally sourced and the menu is small and precise. A win from the moment you walk in.

MIAbites TeamMarch 22, 2016MiMo/Upper East Side, MiamiComment

March Madness Oyster Slurp-fest at Mignonette

UPDATES: After today's Round one and Round Two, the FINAL March Mollusk Madness Match-up scheduled for April 4th at 6 pm. will pit the two New Orleans oyster lovers, Paula Echevarria and Steven Scharf (aka The Chowfather). Paula is the favorite to win, having slurped down 80 oysters in about 2 minutes during the first two rounds. It was shucking amazing!

Spring has sprung and March Madness is upon us and Mignonette wants in on the action! Chef Danny Serfer has stacked his bracket with the top seeded writers, local foodies and basketball experts to compete in Mignonette’s first-ever Mollusk March Madness. Mignonette will pit contestants against each other in pairs and give each a platter of shucked oysters. With 60 seconds on the clock, the slurp-fest will commence! Whichever pair has devoured the most oysters moves onto the next round, and so on.

MIAbites TeamMarch 21, 2016MiamiComment

Saturday Sweets: Bachour Bakery and Bistro in Brickell

Bachour Bakery and Bistro in Brickell, Finally!

It has been a long wait since famed pastry chef, Antonio Bachour announced in late 2014 that he was teaming up with former Eating House chef/partner Henry Hane to open Bachour Bakery and Bistro at 600 Brickell Avenue. Chef Antonio, who was a semi-finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef in this year’s James Beard awards and was just named Best Baking and Pastry Innovator at the Zest Awards hosted by Johnson and Wales University on Wednesday has been creating a buzz in the pastry world for some time now and I have been a huge fan.

I have basically been stalking the place and so was lucky enough to get a sneak peek this week of Bachour Bakery and Bistro before it opens to the public on Monday, March 21st.

Amber Love BondMarch 19, 2016MiamiComment

Bravo TV "Top Chef" Crowns Miami Chef Jeremy Ford as Season 13 Winner

MIAbites TeamMarch 18, 2016Miami BeachComment

Celebrate Miami's 2016 James Beard Semifinalists

MIAbites TeamMarch 18, 2016Miami Beach, MiamiComment

The Traymore Gin Bar Social Hours launch for Spring

MIAbites TeamMarch 17, 2016Miami BeachComment

The Vagabond's Chef Alex Chang hosts Alter's Brad Kilgore for Backyard BBQ

MIAbites TeamMarch 15, 2016MiMo/Upper East Side, MiamiComment

A New Dress Code from Zonin Prosecco

If you are a prosecco fan like me you know that finding a decent, commercially sold prosecco in the United States is difficult. Many are too sweet, too acidic, or just flat out don’t taste appealing. Casa Vinicola Zonin, Italy’s largest privately owned wine company, has been selling prosecco in the United States for years and has garnered a loyal following due to its dry, food-friendly taste.

A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be invited to Toscana Divino in Brickell for the launch of Zonin’s newest prosecco collection in which they unveiled three new, innovative prosecco blends. The new collection, entitled the Dress Code Collection, is made up of three proseccos—the white edition, the grey edition, and the black edition. Typically prosecco is made from 100% Glera grapes but this collection is interesting for the fact that these new wines are blends of Glera and various grapes and each one has a distinct flavor profile. Each bottle and flavor profile is meant to evoke different feelings from free, young, and graceful to mysterious, elegant, and charming.

MIAbites TeamMarch 15, 2016Comment

RUN, Don't Walk...to True Loaf Bakery!

MIAbites TeamMarch 14, 2016Miami BeachComment

Saturday Sweets: Sweets and Spirits Seminar at #SOBEWFF

Each year, Bank of America hosts a series of Lifestyle Seminars that gives guests a nice break away from the large sandy beach events. They are intimate and interactive pairing presentations that can be educational while being fun.

This year I decided to attend a Sweets and Spirits Seminar hosted by Rhode Island Pastry Chef Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections and Somm, Anthony Giglio. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Andrew Shotts was unable to make it but lucky for us his very talented pastry chef who works with him at Garrison Confections, Cassie Borshoff, was able to take over.

Amber Love BondMarch 12, 2016MiamiComment

Weekly Nibble: Pisco y Nazca & Bulla Collab, Sugarcane and J.Wakefield BBQ, Stripsteak Wine dinner, Izzy's Clam Bake & more

Each week, MIAbites presents the Weekly Nibble, of upcoming food events and happenings in Miami. All events are subject to change so please check ahead to confirm details.

Sunday March 13th - Les Dames d’Escoffier Miami, presents a lavish Tropical brunch from 11:00 am to 3:00pm at the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens featuring a stellar lineup of South Florida chefs, restaurants and gourmet food shops and caterers. Participants to date include Basil Park, Via Verdi, Apeiro, Le Provençal, Thierry Isambert, Chef Adrianne’s, Chef of Distinction Catering, A Fare to Remember, Cookie Pursonality, Ovations and Sugar Factory, among many others. Restaurant participants will offer delicious brunch menu items and to wash it all down, a selection of cocktails, wines and craft beers. Live jazz will enhance the event’s lovely ambiance, extraordinary raffles will be offered, and Telemundo “Un Nueva Dia” celebrity Chef James Tahan will officiate at a culinary demo. Tickets are priced at $65 per person for adults, $20 for children and free for children under 10. Tickets may be purchased via PayPal at reservations@lesdamesmiami.org or via credit card at 877-467-7725 Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, 33139. Metered parking and valet will be available.

Tuesday March 15th- StripSteak by Michael Mina hosts another of their 1954 Cellar Wine dinners featuring pairings from Adobe Road Winery. Owner Kevin Buckler will host the dinner, which features five wines from his Sonoma vineyard’s portfolio. Diners will enjoy a decadent four-course menu, prepared by StripSteak’s chef de cuisine Derrick Roberts, complemented by Adobe Road award-winning wines. Priced at $190 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, the luxurious evening will begin at 8:00 p.m. StripSteak at The Fontainebleau 4441 Collins Ave. Miami Beach FL 877.326.7412

MIAbites TeamMarch 10, 2016Miami Beach, MiamiComment

From Farm to Farmers Market to Table

I have been fascinated exploring the local Miami farmers markets and meeting the passionate farmers and learning about their growing seasons and produce. I was tipped off recently about a farm growing some unusual greens (exotic edible vegetables) near Homestead called Mr. Green Dean's Vegetable Farm.

My curiosity got the better of me and I naturally had to investigate. I gave Mr. Richardson, the owner of Mr. Green Dean's, a call and he happily gave me a tour of his farm, which was a rabbit’s paradise. For me, it was as though I was in a toy store being introduced to some cool, new toys.

Mr. Green Dean's started as an exterior flowering tree and palm landscape nursery, but with the economic down turn in 08', Mr. Green Dean (aka Dean Richardson) decided to segue from his nursery business to including unusual greens to eat. The farm is "sustainable, naturally grown" and pesticide free. Mr. Richardson uses a combination of compost and potting soil, which he believes, is the best way to control the growth of his greens. The greens are also cultivated in raised beds and covered with raised plastic tarps, which eliminates bugs and animals.

MIAbites TeamMarch 9, 2016Coral Gables, MiamiComment

Spiga: Thriving on Miami Beach for 20 years

Before there was Instagram and Snapchat, there was Twitter. Before Twitter there was Facebook and MySpace and before that there was….Word Of Mouth.

Yes, good old fashioned, “ Wow, I had a great dinner last night ”.

So it was with much respect and I admit some curiosity that I stopped into Spiga at 1228 Collins Ave. Miami Beach on a Tuesday night to see just what made the Italian restaurant survive for 20 years in South Beach, with NO Facebook page, NO Twitter or Instagram and a somewhat outdated website page.

Ellen BowenMarch 8, 2016South Beach, Miami BeachComment

Weekly Nibble: Slow Food, Kaiseki at Bazi, Power Lunch at Komodo and Coya, Brunch at KYU

Basically the only way to avoid the political ad blitz over the next week until the Florida March 15th primary is to turn off the TV and have every meal out. Choose your favorite spots or here is this week’s MIAbites Weekly Nibble for some new options for brunch, lunch and dinner. #TurnOffTheTV

Tuesday March 8th- Slow Food Miami presents round seven of its “Snail Social” roaming Happy Hour event, this time at Apeiro Kitchen & Bar, featuring rustic, yet progressive cuisine inspired by the Mediterranean. The local, 100% volunteer non-profit dedicated to planting a fresher future for our children, will hold its seventh “Snail Social” soiree at Apeiro on Tuesday, March 8 from 6PM – 8PM. Open to the public, guests can savor a complimentary cocktail and passed trays of complimentary small bites, with Happy Hour pricing on additional menu items. Executive Chef Anthony Sitek will prepare an elegant variety of small plates. Apeiro Kitchen & Bar 3252 NE 1st Avenue, Suite 101, Miami, FL 33137 (786) 800-5389

MIAbites TeamMarch 5, 2016Miami Beach, MiamiComment

One of Each at NaiYaRa: MIAbites Contributors

It was planned originally as a holiday celebration, but getting all of the MIAbites contributors together that busy time of year turned out to be impossible, so two weeks ago most of us met up at Chef Piyarat Potha Arreeratn’s (aka Chef Bee) hot new Thai restaurant NaiYaRa in Sunset Harbour for a family style dinner with menu hand-picked by Chef Bee himself.

Chef Bee selected over 17 dishes from his extensive menu.

But, no evening with Bee begins without cocktails including gin based Gaeng Kiaw and vodka and lemongrass Mekhong Mule. But it is his signature cocktail, the frozen Killer Bee, a Beefeater gin based cocktail with lemon, ginger, lemongrass with the kick of Thai chili that was the favorite.

It was a remarkable evening of constantly flowing food, with Chef Bee and his knowledgeable servers introducing each dish as they came out of the kitchen.

So instead of running through every dish, the MIAbites team collaborated on their favorite dishes so here they are:

MIAbites TeamMarch 2, 2016Miami BeachComment

SOBEWFF 2016 Wraps Up: Sun, Fun, Food & Wine

Dear Lee Schrager, do you really hit up all of the 80+ South Beach Wine and Food Festival events?

As I write this recap of less than one tenth of the events I personally attended, I can’t even imagine attending so many.

The 15th year of SOBEWFF is another one for the books; perfect weather ( although some may argue it felt cool in evenings ), amazing variety of big tented events, intimate dinners in the best restaurants in town, and informative and mouth watering seminars and tastings. And that was just the first day.

Here is quick recap of the events I attended, some with a MIAbites media pass and others that I actually bought tickets for:

MIAbites TeamFebruary 29, 2016Miami Beach, MiamiComment

The 2016 SOBEWFF Unofficial Event Guide

MIAbites TeamFebruary 24, 2016Miami BeachComment

Izzy's is Open for Lunch and Clambake Wednesdays

Having grown up in New England, my standards for authentic seafood and oyster fare are pretty discerning. Some of the best oysters are farmed right off my back yard near Copps Island, and fresh fish, lobster and lobster rolls are a mainstay from Long Island to Maine. The Classic New England Clambake of steamed clams, lobster, mussels, corn and potatoes is a summer tradition.

Izzy’s, with its white washed brick walls and wood décor feels like it belongs in a seaside town in Cape Cod. For the weekday 12-3 lunch, we opted to sit at the marble topped bar, my favorite spot to watch the action behind the counter.

Ellen BowenFebruary 23, 2016South Beach, Miami BeachComment