Miami Nibble: Coral Gables Restaurant Week, O.P.P., Rosé All Day, Steakhouse month, PB Burgers, and more

Each week, MIAbites features the Weekly Nibble, a curated listing of upcoming food events in and around Miami. Details are subject to change so please confirm ahead of time and make reservations as appropriate.

Thursday, June 1st- Friday, June 30th - National Steakhouse Month (Yes…that’s a thing).

Novecento, an Argentinian bistro-style restaurant boasting 12 locations in 10 cities, will offer a steak promotion that includes Picanha a la Parrilla ($50, per couple to share), a 32 oz. grilled Picanha Steak with a Chimichurri-Demi glaze and mushroom sauce, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes and Gorgonzola truffle French fries. Brickell, 1414 Brickell Ave. Miami, Florida 33131.Key Biscayne, 620 Crandon Blvd. Key Biscayne, Florida 33149 Aventura, 18831 N. Biscayne Blvd. Aventura, FL 33180 Midtown, 3201 Buena Vista Blvd. Miami, Florida 33127.

Celebrate Dad this Father’s Day on June 18th by treating him to a unique VIP Table Experience at StripSteak by Michael Mina located in the heart of the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The package includes a VIP table near the kitchen complete with a three-course prix-fixe dinner menu featuring a seafood tower, 28 oz. Dry-aged Bone-in Rib Eye and a boozy dessert. Complementing his meal is the tableside Japanese Whisky Ceremony, a signature part of the Michael Mina experience. Included also is a behind the scene tour to peruse the impressive Fontainebleau wine vault and pre-embargo cigar and rum collection. Priced at $165 per dad (excluding tax and gratuity), the package is available only once per night and must be booked 24 hours in advance. For more information, visit www.fontainebleau.com/specials/fathers-day-vip-experience-at-stripsteak Fontainebleau Miami Beach4441 Collins Avenue, on Miami Beach, FL 33140.

Events, Weekly NibbleMIAbites TeamJune 1, 2017Brickell, Events, Restaurant Week, Steak, Burgers, Miami Beach, MiamiComment

Monkitail by Michael Schulson Opens at The Diplomat Beach Resort

After an extensive expansion and multi-million dollar renovation, The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood has become a foodie destination with various outlets spearheaded by nationally recognized chefs.

Each meal I’ve had at The Diplomat has been better than the last, and my most recent experience at Monkitail was no different. Chef/Owner, Michael Schulson, is one of Philadelphia’s most successful hospitality professionals and he’s bringing his talents to Hollywood beach with his version of an izakaya, or Japanese gastropub.

Elia Gourmet: Downtown's Fresh Food Spot

Elia Gourmet opened in 2012 after owner Dimitris Harvalis realized there was a need for something healthy and delicious for residents in the Downtown Miami building where he lived.

Since then it’s become a local favorite and neighborhood gourmet go-to for delicious contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. It’s owned and operated by hospitality pros Dimitris Harvalis and Mario Harvalis, brothers originally from Athens, Greece who have 45 years of combined experience at establishments such as Prime 112, Timo, Rokbar and Opium Group. Nestled in the bottom floor of 900 Biscayne Bay, across the street from the American Airlines Arena, Elia has become the perfect place for healthy eats in Downtown Miami.

Wellness WednesdayAmber Love BondMay 30, 2017Downtown, Greek, MiamiComment

RECAP: Duck Duck Goose (Deux)

EventsMIAbites TeamMay 29, 2017Duck Duck Goose, foiegras, MiamiComment

Taste Of The Gables Returns To Kick Off Coral Gables Restaurant Week

MIAbites TeamMay 28, 2017Taste of The Gables, Coral Gables, Events, Best of, Restaurant WeekComment

Saturday Sweets: Karina Rivera Chef Protégé

Chef Antonio Bachour’s name is well known all throughout the pastry world, but coming up through the ranks is his right-hand and pastry chef, Karina Rivera.

Karina grew up in Mexico always loving sweets and knowing she wanted to be in the kitchen. She went to culinary school and once she finished, got the opportunity to do an internship at the St. Regis Bal Harbour, where she was supposed to do rounds in all the aspects of the hotel.

But, once she stepped foot into Chef Antonio’s kitchen she knew she never wanted to leave.

Saturday SweetsAmber Love BondMay 27, 2017Desserts, Pastry, Macarons, MiamiComment

South of Fifth’s Cibo Wine Bar

Cibo Wine Bar Charcuterie Platter

Cibo Wine Bar is one of the biggest Italian restaurants on all of South Beach. The 12,000 square food space is impressively large with a blend of old world rustic charm and industrial chic modernism. With six Cibo locations in Toronto and Miami/Fort Lauderdale, Liberty Entertainment Group prides itself on authentic Italian cuisine in beautiful settings.

If the 60ft open kitchen counter isn’t enough to draw your attention immediately, then maybe the 3500 bottles of wine in a soaring two-story award-winning wine room equipped with harnessed wine angel to retrieve your favorite bottle. Yes, a WINE ANGEL – that’s her job title.

RestaurantsAmber Love BondMay 26, 2017South Beach, wine, Italian, Miami Beach, South of FifthComment

Duck Duck Goose Deux Details: Menu Reveal

Creative and unique food events have become an important part of the Miami food community. Talented chefs support each other's new ventures, take chances with ingredients and techniques and the result is an enviable food scene.

And all of us food lovers benefit!

This Sunday’s Duck Duck Goose (Deux) is exactly that kind of special food experience not to be missed. Presented by Chef Jeremiah and featuring Miami's top chefs, each of which will be tasked with preparing locally raised and pastured fowl.

In it's second year, DDG Deux is bringing a star-studded line up of South Florida's most innovative purveyors of haute cuisine, gourmet street food, craft beer, and artisan cocktails curated by Jen Massolo of The Liquid Projects.

EventsMIAbites TeamMay 25, 2017foiegras, duck, food festivals, Duck Duck Goose, MiamiComment

Sorso at Scarpetta by Scott Conant

With the weather getting warmer, we are bound to start looking for new trendy places to cool off and grab a drink. If you’re a fan of Scarpetta, Scott Conant, or The Fontainebleau Hotel, then we’ve found your summer cocktail spot.

Sorso, meaning sip in Italian, is a pop-up specialty cocktail bar located in the front lounge of Scarpetta inside The Fontainebleau Miami Beach. The cocktail lab and infusion bar was introduced during the 2017 Food Network and Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival and is here to stay – just until the end of the summer.

Happy HourMIAbites TeamMay 24, 2017cocktails, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Scott Conant, Sorso, Italian, Hotels, Miami BeachComment

CityPlace Doral: Exciting Addition to Doral’s Food Scene

Doral is one of the few neighboring areas in Miami where you can still see cows roaming around on open land. Now, with the opening of the new CityPlace in Doral , there’s a massive expansion in the restaurants available for residents and those who work in the area.

The opening of Downtown Doral last year brought favorites like Bulla Gastrobar, Dragonfly Izakaya, and Pisco y Nasca. The opening of CityPlace located just a mile down the road on NW 6th street is ready to bring so many new options to the once bland area.

Restaurants open or opening soon include:

MIAbites TeamMay 24, 2017Doral, MiamiComment

Hamburger House Party Menu Sneak Peek

UPDATE: And the winning burgers at this week's Hamburger House Party presented by Burger Beast were Judges Choice: Hard Times Sundaes from Brooklyn NY, and Peoples Choice: Chefs On The Run.

Are you ready for a Hamburger Party? It's this Friday and it's a perfect way to end National Burger Month.

Burger Beast Feasts presents the annual Hamburger House Party happening on Friday, May 26th at Magic City Casino from 7pm to 10pm. GET TICKETS HERE

Over 20 restaurants will be competing for Best Burger in South Florida. This year features a rogue competitor, Hard Times Sundaes, coming all the way from Brooklyn to see if they have a shot at taking home to crown. Jr’s Gourmet Burgers are back to try to reclaim their crown for the 3rd year in a row. We’re wondering if they have what it takes to win again, right off the heels of their recent 2017 SOBEWFF Burger Bash win.

Saturday Sweets: Just Cookie Dough

If you’re a regular reader of Saturday Sweets, then you know I’m all about guilty pleasure foods. One guilty pleasure I think most people can agree with is raw cookie dough. Is it possible to bake cookies and not eat at least 3 cookies worth (or sometimes half a batch) of dough in the process? It’s not at all possible in my kitchen.

While we’ve been told raw dough isn’t safe to eat – even though I’ve never actually gotten sick from it and it usually doesn’t stop me – Hampton Creek, the makers of Just Mayo, Just Dressing, Just Cookies are launching Just Cookie Dough this week at familiar retailers aka Publix and Whole Foods. Just Cookie Dough has been created by a team of Michelin Star Chefs. It comes in three favorite flavors: Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip.

Saturday SweetsAmber Love BondMay 20, 2017MiamiComment

Craft Beer Week: Glass & Vine + Samuel Adams Beer Pairing Dinner

May 15th to the 21st is American Craft Beer Week. It’s a nationwide celebration of U.S. small and independent craft brewers.

The weeklong tribute provides an opportunity for craft brewers to share their diversity, creativity, and passion for the beverage they love. Samuel Adams is one of the most well-known brands of craft beer. Since 1984, Boston-based Samuel Adams has been brewing specially crafted beers for all to enjoy. I’m not a big beer drinker but when I was invited to a pairing dinner at Glass & Vine I was curious to see how Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli would pair dishes with 6 different kinds of beers. I knew the food would be outstanding, so really it was going to be a winning evening either way.

Weekly Nibble: PAO Omakase, Hamburger House Party, Duck Duck Goose, New Menus & Happy Hours

Events, Happy HourMIAbites TeamMay 17, 2017Miami Beach, MiamiComment

TALDE Launches New Menu Items & Happy Hour

TALDE Miami Beach is not only known for its eclectic, Mafioso rap culture-esque environment and great playlists, but also the classic Chinese-driven dishes made by chef and entertaining personality, Dale Talde. This month he released a few new menu items that he says are inspired by what he craves when he wakes up at noon after a long night out. New dishes include, Chicken Fried Rice, General Talde’s Chicken, Shrimp Toast, Fried Dumplings and a few others.

We stopped in for dinner (and of course their newly launched happy hour) recently to see what all the hype was about. One bite of the Shrimp Toast – with preserved vegetables and soy vinegar aioli – and we knew we were hooked and ready to eat one of everything on the new menu.

Happy Hour, Hotel DiningMIAbites TeamMay 15, 2017Miami BeachComment

Gluten free Pizza at Ironside Kitchen Pizza and Cafe

Welcome to MIAbites Guest Contributor, Alejandro Fertitta, of MunchMiami.com, a local food blog focused on gluten free dining options. Today’s feature is on everyone’s favorite, PIZZA…and his discovery of gluten free pizza. Thank you for sharing this important find!

To say we’re partial to Italian cuisine would be a bit of an understatement… especially when gluten free Italian options are few and far between. That’s why we’re always grateful when we find places like Ironside Kitchen Pizza & Coffee. Named after the Ironside District situated in the historic Little River Industrial District, Ironside Kitchen prides itself on its authenticity and quality of the foods they serve their customers.

MIAbites TeamMay 14, 2017Little River, MiamiComment

Saturday Sweets: JetBlue’s Mint Experience Gets Even Cooler With Locally Sourced Artisanal Ice Creams

This week JetBlue announced its newest addition to its Mint experience with a locally curated ice cream program that features favorite flavors from artisanal ice makers based in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. The fresh approach to its ice cream program allows JetBlue to stay true to Mint’s locally curated roots as it expands the premium experience to new cities on both coasts.

Mint offers a more personal approach to service and features exceptional hospitality from specially trained crewmembers. These local purveyors will offer a rotating selection of ice cream flavors giving Mint customers a taste – literally – of the region from where their flight departs.

The Dutch Delights Diners with Delectable Dishes for Spring

I am convinced that each trip to The Dutch at the W South Beach is better than the last. From its location at the W Hotel Miami Beach, to the friendly staff, each time dining at The Dutch provides a uniquely genuine experience. My most recent trip to sample the new Spring menu and cocktails was no exception.

The evening began at The Living Room, the hotel lobby bar that packs more than just a punch. We were greeted with an array of handcrafted cocktails, reminiscent of memorable experiences.

As a self-proclaimed Bourbon lover, I opted to begin the night with the Bourbon Wash Manhattan. Made with Sweet Vermouth, Whiskey Barrel bitters, dry curaçao, and bacon fat washed bourbon, this cocktail is perfect for swine lovers. On the sweeter side, the Rum With Me cocktail feels like a lazy day by the pool— made with aged dark rum, fresh squeezed lime juice, coconut creme, pineapple, basil and granulated brown sugar.

MIAbites TeamMay 12, 2017Miami Beach, MiamiComment