Edge Steak & Bar - Miami Spice

The Miami Spice adventures continue and one place whose menu I was itching to check out was EDGE Steak & Bar at the Four Seasons located at 1435 Brickell Avenue.  I'm a die hard fan of Chef Aaron Brooks and whether it's literally pigging out at their Sunday Brunch or going raw with one of their tartars during dinner, I just can't get enough.

So it's safe to say that it's really no surprise that EDGE has become quite a powerhouse among local foodies and tourists alike. The food is consistently good, the drinks are solid and the service is great. The question would then be, does their Miami Spice menu capture that? The answer is an unwavering "hell yeah".

Croquetas

Terrine

Bring on the starters. There are three options to choose from: Croquetas, Terrine or Red Salad. Since there were two of us, we shared the Croquetas and the Terrine. The croquetas were creamy and flavorful, made with chicken and truffle, and served on a shallow pool of carrot puree and parsley salad. The Terrine was unbelievable. A square of pure ecstasy, combining the distinct tastes of pork and duck with just the right combination of fatty decadence, sat on a platter awaiting our eager forks. We topped each slice of grilled bread with the jellied treat, a sliver of preserved peppers and a dollop of spicy mustard. Bam! What's that behind the Terrine, you ask? Well, it's no other than EDGE's Don't Ask Don't Tell; one of their signature cocktails. Of course cocktails are usually not included in the Miami Spice promotion but you have to have a couple when you come here. Since I couldn't help but down it rather quickly (I love sweet drinks), I thought I'd try Edge of the Moon, Four Seasons Miami's "100 Mile" cocktail. The Four Seasons brand started a program last year to carry the farm-to-table concept beyond their food, to their drinks, by featuring one cocktail per hotel which would source all the ingredients from within 100 miles. Flagler Lighting Moonshine, Mango, Key Lime, Strawberry, and Mint were the magic ingredients in Edge of the Moon and they had Florida written all over them. It was rich and thick and reminded me of a refreshing smoothie with a welcoming alcohol kick.

Edge of the Moon

Mahi Mahi

Lamb

On to the entrees we went. The menu offers Mahi Mahi, Lamb, Beef or Green Gnocchi. The preparation sounded fabulous on all four so we had to think about it for a while. We finally decided on the Mahi Mahi and the Lamb. The grilled Mahi Mahi was tender and flaky, served over an eggplant puree with slow cooked heirloom tomatoes and country olives. It was amazing. The lamb was bold and packed with flavor. Braised for hours with chipotle and spices, it gave the word "hot" a brand new meaning. The tasty meat was served with whole grain salad, fragrant herbs and a spoonful of yogurt and the combination of each ingredient created a unique symphony with each bite.

Cherry Bomb

Peanut Butter and Jelly

The desserts were just as impressive as the first two courses. There are two to choose from: Cherry Bomb or Peanut Butter and Jelly. Both are incredibly creative and sinfully delicious. The Cherry Bomb consisted of a black cherry bubble and pistachio pound cake crowned with vanilla bean ice-cream. The texture was perfect and the taste was just the right amount of sweet. The Peanut Butter and Jelly was a playful twist on a comforting favorite. A pyramid of peanut butter mousse covered a light and moist banana financier alongside a sweet strawberry gelee. All I can say is that after we were done, I wanted to rewind and start all over again.

This is definitely a Miami Spice must-do for 2013 and I highly recommend it. Their Miami Spice menu has a lot of varied options and it is an excellent representation of the superb quality of their full menu.  For more information on EDGE Steak & Bar, visit their website at
http://www.edgerestaurantmiami.com/.

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MINI Night Out Miami - Recap

It sure feels great to be a celebrity! OK so I'm not, but on Saturday, August 17th, I sure felt like one. Living everything from VIP treatment, a chauffeur and paparazzi flashing cameras in my face, I thought I'd be signing autographs by the end of the night.

UrbanDaddy and MINI Cooper have partnered to bring four lucky cities around the country an innovative event series called MINI Night Out. The event kicked off on July 30th when their website launched at www.MININightOut.com. and then drove into Miami on August 16th and 17th. Guests were given the opportunity to reserve a ride in the brand new and spacious MINI Paceman and were chauffeured all night to different hotspots, where they were given the VIP treatment including special seating, luscious cocktails and delicious bites. At each stop, cameras were waiting and hostesses welcomed guests with a smile; escorting them inside.  One of our favorite parts were the car rides, where we'd have Taxi Cab Confession-like cameras attached to Ipads filming us as we danced and sang like the party animals Miamians are known to be. Personally, I loved the Paceman and the cool retro gadgets inside. The big round display in the middle of the console which can be used to play videos, the spectacular sound system and the double sunroof left quite an impression on us.  I am seriously considering it for my next purchase . (Hope I can negotiate including the driver with the price.)

The other three cities chosen to experience this starstruck evening were Chicago, San Francisco and New York. Not living in one of these cities? No worries! Guests can still sign up for the national sweepstakes at MINI Night Out's website for a chance to win a special night in their own city.

But back to our magic evening. Our stops included Bar Centro at the SLS Hotel in South Beach, HaVen Gastro Lounge and Wynwood Kitchen and Bar. The evening lasted into the wee hours and it was a crazy good time. Check out the pictures below and take a look at the Paceman when you get a chance.

Bar Centro at the SLS Hotel

Sangria at Bar Centro

Lettuce Wraps

HaVen Gatropub

Cheers!

Yummy Bites at HaVen

Loved the décor at HaVen

Chef Todd Erickson preparing some Nitro Ice-Cream

Our adventurous driver

Wynwood Kitchen & Bar

Some serious flavor explosion going on at Wynwood

Thanks MINI Night out for an awesome evening!

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Thasos Greek Taverna - Brunch

One of my all-time favorite movies is my Big Fat Greek Wedding. I still laugh hysterically when Aunt Voula says "He don't eat no meat? Oh that's OK. I make lamb." I can absolutely relate to the passion Greeks feel about food; it's very similar to that of Italians and Cubans. Needless to say, when I heard about the new brunch at Thasos Greek Taverna, located at 3300 E. Oakland Park Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, I couldn't wait to go have me a Big Fat Greek Brunch.

Thasos just recently turned one and it is quickly becoming the trendy place to go. Owned by Gus Leontarakis and Sophia Mylona, both from Northern Greece,  the ambiance  is typical Mediterranean with a splash of contemporary design. The predominant white theme extends throughout the space, coming alive in the white walls, tables and chairs; only to be contrasted by the light ocean blue dishes on the tables. The open kitchen plays center stage, where you can watch the hustle and bustle from just about every angle. There is a larger-than-life mural of Greece that captures the eye from the moment you walk in, and a collection of lights that we were fascinated to hear change colors during the later hours. Just as charming, is the outdoor seating area, featuring yet another sprinkling of hanging lights and an interesting exterior wall with rectangular openings.

One of the things I noticed was that the dishes that tend to be normally heavy in Greek cuisine, were lighter and offered a "cleaner" taste here at Thasos. It turns out that Sophia, the owner, is a nutritionist, and it was important to her to incorporate a healthier take on traditional cuisine, scaling back on some of the olive oil and lemon. Executive Chef Brian Cantrell has taken this concept and seamlessly perfected it, creating Greek dishes the Thasos way.

White Sangria

Bloody Mary Bar

Fresh Fruit and Prosecco

We started the liquid portion of our adventure with a refreshing Prosecco and a White Sangria, while we looked over the menu of goodies in front of us. Thasos offers a Bottomless Brunch Bar for 15 dollars that includes Bloody Marys, Prosecco, Mimosas and Sangria. The make-your-own Bloody Marys portion of the bar is fun; complete with shrimp, fresh fruit, herbs and condiments.

Eggs Benedict

Piatela

Grape Leaves

You know how popular and tasty Greek spreads are. We figured we'd try all the ones on the menu so we had their Piatela, a sampler of their five spreads: Tzatziki (Greek yogurt, cucumber and garlic), Taramosalata (white fish caviar, olive oil and sweet onion), Eggplant (fire-roasted, red peppers, parsley and olive oil), Whipped Feta (hot chilies, roasted tomato, and olive oil), Organic Green Chick Peas (crushed with olive oil and lemon). Served with pitas, it was a generous portion to say the least. We enjoyed the creaminess and unique flavors in all of the spreads, and after much deliberation, decided our top favorites were the Taramosalata and the Whipped Feta. Grape Leaves are always a must-have for me in Greek restaurants and the ones at Thasos were excellent. We were definitely able to capture the homemade quality of this traditional dish, and the meticulous way the leaves were rolled around the rice and seasoned with mint, dill and lemon. Next up was one of the top contenders of the day, the Eggs Benedict. The menu offers a choice of roasted pork, smoked salmon or jumbo lump crab meat to complete this popular breakfast dish and we chose the smoked salmon. My biggest surprise was that the hollandaise sauce was not only flavorful but had a light unique texture that brought it all together nicely, without that "Oh I'm stuffed" feeling. It was served with Yukon gold potatoes and heirloom tomatoes.

Greek Salad

Fire Grilled Octopus

Keftedes and Fries

Of course you can't go to a Greek restaurant and not have at least one salad so we opted for the signature Greek Salad. This was no ordinary Greek salad. This was an aromatic blend of tomatoes, baby cucumbers, onions and olives, drizzled in organic olive oil and topped with a gigantic wedge of barrel-aged feta. I just couldn't stop eating it. Our waiter suggested we try the Fire Grilled Octopus, selling it as the best octopus he'd ever had. Well you know what? He wasn't just saying that because they pay him. That was one mean octopus! It was tender, practically dissolving in our mouths, and had a smoky taste that lingered in the palate for a while. The grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, sprinkle of lemon and Thasos olive oil bathed the sea critter in a delight of explosive flavors I still haven't forgotten. One more dish, I said to myself, I want to try one more dish - and we did. Challenging ourselves while we unbuttoned the pants, we ordered the Keftedes and Fries. This one took it out of the park. The grilled lamb meatballs were outrageous; served with a slightly spicy whipped yogurt tomato and a side of rosemary fries. As many times as I've had these meatballs in other Greek restaurants, these were by far the best. We came to learn they followed a family recipe that quite honestly, I'd like to learn.

Baklava

You're probably thinking, that's it - finito - the end - no mas! But you're forgetting whose adventure you're reading. I couldn't leave you guys without a look into their dessert menu. So I did what any respectable foodaholic would have done. I ordered a Baklava, that rich, sweet finale made of layer after layer of phyllo pastry, then filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey. Aaahhh! Now that was one Big, not Fat, Greek Brunch.

For more information, or to experience your own decadent brunch at Thasos, visit their website at http://www.thasostaverna.com/ or call them at 954-200-6006.

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Barceloneta - Miami Spice

I've probably told you before that my family is originally from the region of Catalunya, in Spain. Even more specifically, we are from the city of Barcelona. In doing my Miami Spice research, and searching for interesting menus to try, I came across a restaurant I'd heard a lot of buzz about. Barceloneta, located at 5850B Sunset Drive, is a Spanish restaurant, offering a tapas-style experience, infused with a Catalan tradition of "Mercat" dining. Guests can either choose dishes from the menu or order specific foods by weight or by piece. The concept reminds me of a large market I love in Barcelona, right off of the famous street of Las Ramblas, called La Boqueria.

Ensalada de Alubias y Atun

When I saw what Barceloneta was about and took a look at their Miami Spice menu, I decided to make it my next adventure. We drove on over to Sunset on a Wednesday night, excited and hungry. I have to stop to say the place was packed. When I say packed, I mean packed. The-two room space has both regular tables and communal tables and they were all full. We waited a while before anyone came over to ask us how many were in our party, and when they did, we learned we'd have to wait about 25 minutes. Now on a Wednesday night, that's a pretty long wait, but the dishes that were coming out of the kitchen peeked my interest, so we figured it was worth it.

Bombas de Barceloneta

Boquerones BLT

Once we sat down, I ordered a nice refreshing Tinto de Verano and took a look at my choices for the evening. You should know that there is a minimum of two guests for ordering from the Miami Spice menu. Basically, you choose three tapas options from the First Course, three tapas from the Second Course, and then each diner gets to pick from one of two desserts. These are shared among both guests. The choices sounded pretty appealing so it took us a while to choose three out of the five they feature for each course. Our server offered to surprise us and we agreed. The unknown tends to spice things up a bit. The First Course winners were the Bombas de Barceloneta, Ensalada de Alubias y Atun, and Boquerones BLT. The Bombas de Barceloneta consisted of two spherical croquettes made with a creamy mix of tempranillo braised oxtail and potatoes. It was served with a flavorful aioli. The Ensalada de Alubias y Atun was a braised white bean and tuna salad, made with a tangy tonnato sauce, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers and black olive powder. We were split on this dish. I found it light and tasty, and my dining companion wasn't in love. The Boquerones BLT were actually two white anchovy sandwiches, with olive remoulade, bacon, romaine hearts and tomato. They were packed with flavor and the biggest portion of the three.

Sopa de Zanahoria

There was another First Course option, the Sopa de Zanahoria, or Carrot Soup, that we hadn't picked to try. My dining companion is not a soup fan but I happen to love the liquid treat. Our friendly server brought us over a sampling, insisting we were going to love it. I tell you what. It was my favorite - and my non-soup loving companion's. The Carrot Soup had a small toast inside, and was topped with coriander Chantilly that added another flavor profile to the otherwise simple dish.

Arroz con Gambas

Arroz con Gambas

Brocheta de Corvina

For the Second Course, we had the Arroz con Gambas, the Guiso de Jabali, and Brocheta de Corvina. The Arroz con Gambas was a moist calasparra rice, prepared with tiger shrimp, serrano ham and a distinct seasoning. I always love a soupy rice and this one was no exception. The Guiso de Jabali was one I was worried about because I can be a bit particular about stews. Didn't need to worry though. The wild boar stew was nicely complemented by fresh summer vegetables, and didn't last long on the plate. Finally, we tried my personal star of the evening: the Brocheta de Corvina. Two tantalizing skewers tickled the taste buds with mild, flaky corvina, zucchini, eggplant, and red onions. They sat atop a bed of shoe string potatoes that puckered my lips from first bite.

Nocilla Helado and Crema Catalana

Dessert time arrived and we shared both the mini options: the Nocilla Helado con Pica Tostas and the Crema Catalana. The Nocilla Helado was a creamy, rich Nutella ice-cream (need I say more?) sprinkled with maldon salt and olive oil. It was extremely decadent and thick and my pick of the two. The Crema Catalana was Barceloneta's take on the popular Crème Brulee-like Spanish dessert, served with mixed berries. I didn't get it though. It was lacking in texture and sweetness, and in its attempt at uniqueness completely missed the usual contrasting flavors of cream custard with hard caramel. I would choose the Nutella ice-cream hands down.

At the beginning of our meal, I was a little worried I would still be hungry after my adventure, but the truth is, I wasn't. It was a satisfying dinner. While some dishes were better than others, the variety was good, the combination of ingredients authentic and the overall experience pleasant. For more information on Barceloneta, visit their website at http://barcelonetarestaurant.com/

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Zuma at the Epic Hotel - Miami Spice

This past week, I got together with some foodie friends to enjoy a nice, leisurely lunch.  Eleanor Hoh, (the famous Wok Star), Hugh Sinclair (otherwise known as Chef Irie), and I decided to go check out the Miami Spice menu at Zuma, located at 270 Biscayne Blvd Way, in the Epic Hotel. One of the great things about this foodalicious time of year, is that it gives everyone yet another reason to go out and explore the Miami dining scene. Lunch and dinner become just a tad bit more exciting when you know (a) you're choosing from a carefully designed menu and (b) you're saving money.

Zuma is an Asian restaurant featuring modern Japanese dishes served in the informal dining style called "izakaya".  It offers both indoor and outdoor seating, overlooking Biscayne Bay. The Miami restaurant is one of several of this brand located around the world including London, Hong Kong, Dubai, Istanbul and Bangkok. It has a very energetic ambiance and was pretty much packed throughout our entire lunchtime adventure.

White Miso Soup

Japanese Mizuna Salad

Back to Miami Spice, one thing that stood out for me right away with the lunch menu was that the options were rather limited. There isn't really a choice of appetizers.  Instead, they serve a White Miso Soup and a Japanese Mizuna Salad with each entrée. Lucky for me, I happen to like both soup and salad but if somebody doesn't, that might be disappointing. The Miso Soup was nice. It was served in a small bowl and was light and salty with some firm tofu cubes and seaweed. The Japanese Mizuna salad was very refreshing, which is a good thing in this summer heat, and had bits of bacon in it. It was drizzled with a maple dressing that gave it a tangy kick.

Salmon Teriyaki

For entrees, there were four choices: a selection of Sashimi, Salmon Teriyaki, Chicken Teriyaki and Vegetable Don Buri. Since none of the dishes sounded really imaginative, we all  decided on the Salmon Teriyaki. The relatively simple dish brought sweet and savory flavors together in harmonious balance. Mildly glazed with a slightly crispy skin, the fish was served with white rice, pickled cucumbers and soy sauce for dipping.

Chocolate Flan

Coconut Tapioca

The best course for me was the dessert. This one really took the cake, sort of speak. There are two options: the Chocolate Flan and the Coconut Tapioca, and you probably already know which one I chose. The Chocolate Flan was worth every calorie. It was creamy and bittersweet,  practically dissolving in my mouth in sinful decadence. Served with salted caramel ice-cream and a ginger streusel, I ate every spoonful very slowly in order to make the moment last longer.

I have to say that as we chatted our afternoon away, I glanced around and saw some dishes at other tables that caught my eye. Their presentation was appealing and they looked interesting. I can see myself coming back for dinner to check out their regular menu sometime.

I highly recommend making reservations if you're planning to come to Zuma. For more information, you can visit them online at http://www.zumarestaurant.com/zuma-landing/miami/en/welcome

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