Chef "Uri Buri" brings Israeli food to Miami
Chef "Uri Buri" brings Israeli food to Miami

It was another of those lovely Miami nights….no humidity, a warm soft breeze and walking into the barely 2-month-old Café Roval just off Biscayne and 54th felt like I had traveled many days to this green oasis of coral, wood, lush vegetation and small pools and ponds.  But, the feature on Café Roval is a whole other story saved for a later date, as last night, Café Roval and it’s chef, Peter Fred, played host to internationally acclaimed, Israeli Chef and Hotelier, Uri Jeremias of Uri Buri in Acre.

Uri Jeremias, most recognizable for his long flowing white beard, is a bit of an old soul, who not only shared with us his menu of 8 courses of authentic Israeli cuisine, but his wise thoughts on relationships, the current state of the world and offered hope for a future of living together peacefully in these complicated times.

It was an evening of food and friends with a dash of philosophy, and I am not sure which I enjoyed most.

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#SOBEWFFEllen BowenMiami Beach, MiamiComment
Saturday Sweets: Mina's Mediterraneo on 79th St.
Saturday Sweets: Mina's Mediterraneo on 79th St.

Tucked away just off of 79th and Biscayne, right before the Causeway, you stumble upon Mina’s Mediterraneo.  This cute, much larger than expected, Mediterranean spot is owned and operated by Yasmine Kotb.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Yasmine moved to Houston, Texas at the age of four. Having spent many summers as a child with her grandparents in Cairo, Yasmine had the chance to experience exotic Mediterranean dishes and ingredients, giving her a passion for the culture at an early age that she always carried with her. Everything at Mina’s is made using family recipes, including the delicious desserts.

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Saturday SweetsAmber Love BondMiamiComment
Up the Miami River for Brunch at Seaspice
Up the Miami River for Brunch at Seaspice

The Miami River, which runs for over 5 miles from Biscayne Bay, thru the middle of Downtown and basically up to Miami International Airport is one of Miami’s least respected waterways but “going up the river” makes for a wonderful boating excursion.

With this past week’s Miami International Boat Show in town, it seemed appropriate to mention the classic Miami River seafood restaurants, Garcia’s and Casablanca and to feature the weekend brunch at one of the hippest destinations on the Miami River, Seaspice. Seaspice’s riverside weekend brunch, which includes a new Saturday "family-approved" brunch featuring live music from “around the world”, in addition to it’s already popular Sunday brunch, gives guests a win-win weekend experience all around.

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Ellen BowenMiamiComment
South Beach Wine + Food Festival : MIAbites picks for #SOBEWFF
South Beach Wine + Food Festival : MIAbites picks for #SOBEWFF

Countdown to #SOBEWFF! February is our favorite month in Miami as the South Beach Wine and Food Festival and it’s over 65, 000 guests take over Miami Beach and surrounding Miami venues from February 22-26 for 4+ days of Food, Wine, Fun and maybe even a little sun in between all of the over 85 different events and seminars.

Now in its 16th year and hosted by Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Florida International University (FIU), the Festival benefits FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center. To date, the Festival has raised more than $24 million for the school.

So, where to begin?  Here are MIAbites picks for best 12 SOBEWFF events with a focus on some of the amazing local chef talent and local venues featured this year in collaboration with many of your favorite Food Network stars. Many events sell out quickly, so check availability and buy your tickets online at www.sobefest.com.  ( Pro Tip- Many of the below events have limited discount tickets available on both Gilt City and Groupon.) 

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Events, #SOBEWFFMIAbites TeamMiami Beach, MiamiComment
Geoffrey Zakarian returns to Florida with Point Royal at The Diplomat
Geoffrey Zakarian returns to Florida with Point Royal at The Diplomat

Geoffrey Zakarian wears many hats.  Chef, restaurateur, TV host, Chopped Judge, City Harvest supporter and cookbook author, but hospitality is his favorite role.  He enjoys being in the kitchen training and working with the chefs, but it is the front of the house where everything happens.

“ Any good thing in the kitchen can be ruined by the house not being right ”, he shared with me when we met last at the opening at his stylish Greenwich CT restaurant, The National. 

That passion for making sure the “house is right” was very apparent at Saturday night’s media preview of Zakarian’s Coastal American restaurant, Point Royal at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood.  Dressed fashionably in his signature blazer and tie, Zakarian worked the room, greeting old friends, chatting with the local bloggers and press and hanging out at the bar sipping a Plymouth gin cocktail and posing for pictures and obviously enjoying the opportunity to talk about food, his concept for Point Royal and being part of a huge hotel format.

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Ellen BowenHollywood, Broward, Fort Lauderdale, MiamiComment
Saturday Sweets: Special Desserts for Valentine's Day
Saturday Sweets: Special Desserts for Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is sneaking up on us – how is it already mid-February?! Whether you’re single or attached, there’s lots of sweet deals out there making this coming Tuesday something to look forward to. While I’m a firm believer in having chocolate every day, there’s something a little extra special about Valentine’s Day.

Here’s where I think you should get your fix on this sweet day full of love:

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Saturday SweetsAmber Love BondMiamiComment
A Taste of Baja at Lolo's Surf Cantina
A Taste of Baja at Lolo's Surf Cantina

Lolo’s Surf Cantina in the Stanton Marriott on Ocean Drive is the newest spot to celebrate and enjoy the food of our Southern neighbors in Mexico…. before The Wall gets built.

Chef Richard Ampudia of Cafe Habana and La Esquina in New York has brought a piece of Baja California to Miami Beach’s SoFi neighborhood. With a clientele who’s sophisticated and a beach that's only steps away, SoFi felt like the ideal location for his newest outpost.

“I think Mexican Coastal food is a perfect fit for the city and its laid-back, healthy lifestyle,” Chef Ampudia said.

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Restaurants, Taco TuesdayMIAbites TeamMiami Beach, Miami, South of Fifth, South BeachComment
Saturday Sweets: Celebrate World Nutella Day in Miami
Saturday Sweets: Celebrate World Nutella Day in Miami

My favorite food holiday of the year (I’m sure I say that about a few of them #sorrynotsorry) – World Nutella Day is, Sunday February 5th. While most people will be focused on the fact that it’s Super Bowl Sunday, I’ll be happily eating all the Nutella I can. In honor of this delicious “chocolatey“ hazelnut holiday, here are some spots you can celebrate along with me.

Sweetness Bakeshop, Mini Chocolate Nutella Mousse Cake

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Nutella Sundae

Pubbelly Sushi, Nutella Brownie

Big Easy, Nutella Bread Pudding

Boca’s House, Nutella Milkshake

The Salty Donut, Nutella Donut

Bertoni Café Brickell, Nutella Pancakes

Bakehouse Brasserie, Nutella Croissant

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Saturday SweetsAmber Love BondMiami Beach, MiamiComment
Private Party Pairs Foodies and Scotch Lovers at Cypress Tavern
Private Party Pairs Foodies and Scotch Lovers at Cypress Tavern

Britain’s Winston Churchill was known for his quick wit.  The story is told that he was once confronted about his heavy drinking: 

“Prime Minister, people say that you’ve drunk enough alcohol to fill a room.”

“Ah,” Churchill replied gazing up towards the ceiling,  “So much to do, and so little time.”

Churchill himself might have been impressed this past Saturday night if he had been lucky enough to score an invitation to a gourmet Scotch tasting at Michael Schwartz’ Cypress Tavern. 

Organized by Gilt City, an affiliate of the online retailer, Schwartz teamed up with famed Scotch distiller, The Macallan to pair five of their distinct single malts with a number of his signature dishes. 

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EventsMIAbites TeamDesign District, MiamiComment
Saturday Sweets: Epicure Gourmet Market & Cafe Is Doing Desserts Right
Saturday Sweets: Epicure Gourmet Market & Cafe Is Doing Desserts Right

If you don’t live on Miami Beach, there’s a chance you have never been to Epicure Gourmet Market on 17th and Alton, and that my friends, is definitely a big miss. 

 Epicure Gourmet Market opened in 1945 as a Prime meat butcher shop. It was owned by the Thal Brothers and grew into one of the finest gourmet markets in South Florida with a second location in Sunny Isles. Epicure has an on-site bakery, award winning cheeses, a wine cellar, specialty grocery items, and an executive chef creating hot foods in a deli case every day.

Of course this is Saturday Sweets, so today’s feature highlights that on-site bakery. Less than a year ago, the bakery was taken over by Pastry Chef Christopher Jennings after the previous chef of 15 or so years retired. Chef Jennings, or CJ as he prefers to be called, decided it was time to revamp the bakery and give the desserts some more modern life. I stopped by to see if his treats were really worth the hype I’ve been hearing.

Spoiler alert: They are.

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Saturday SweetsAmber Love BondMiami BeachComment
Italian "Sunday Gravy" at Jack’s Miami for $25-
Italian "Sunday Gravy" at Jack’s Miami for $25-

I admit it.  I am not Italian, but growing up in the Bronx I have fond memories of visits to Arthur Avenue for fresh pasta, mozzarella, sausages, meatballs and crusty loaves of bread or for that special Sunday red sauce dinner at Dominick's.

So imagine the smile on my face when I discovered "Sunday Gravy" at Jack’s Miami on the border of Edgewater and Wynwood.   In a converted bungalow on NE 2nd Ave, Jack’s offers a welcoming family-friendly ambiance, with chalkboard specials, a cozy bar, indoor and outdoor seating and black and white photos of many “Jacks” from Jack Nicholson to Jack Klugman.

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Ellen BowenWynwood, Edgewater, MiamiComment
Miami Local Eats: Favorite “go to” spots from MIAbites Contributors
Miami Local Eats: Favorite “go to” spots from MIAbites Contributors

So much has been written recently about the exciting growth of the Miami food scene. The talented chefs, creative use of ingredients and fresh local produce, upscale ethnic flavors and emerging neighborhoods have garnered much praise and numerous James Beard nominations. 

But how about where we live?  How about that good meal for under $100 per person? MIAbites is proud to feature our favorite local spots “down the street or around the corner” from where we all live.

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MIAbites TeamMiami Lakes, Miami Shores, Coral Gables, Doral, South Miami, Miami Beach, MiamiComment