Toscana Divino - Miami Spice

So you know how when you're watching the Super Bowl and they put Coca Cola commercials, you suddenly get thirsty and want to grab a bottle? Well, recently I was at Channel 10 at the filming of a live segment they've been doing on the Sunday morning news, featuring restaurants who are participating in the Miami Spice promotion. I was watching Executive Chef Julian Baker from Toscana Divino, located at 900 South Miami Avenue in the Mary Brickell Village, cook up one of the dishes the restaurant is offering during this foodie time of the year.  Not only that, but besides the tender, flaky Mediterranean fish Chef Julian was grilling, there were also a mirage of dishes sitting on the set that are also part of the Miami Spice menu. It isn't difficult to see why after smelling the enticing aroma that filled Local 10's studio, and mildly drooling at the sight of these dishes, I headed over to Toscana Divino (more like ran) to get a taste for myself. By the way, here's a look at Chef Julian with during the live taping of the segment.

Chef Julian Baker with Todd Tongen and Neki Mohan

I first noticed Toscana Divino's Miami Spice menu when I was researching which restaurants I wanted to check out during August and September. After enjoying a most scrumptious brunch there, I was curious as to what delights they offered for dinner. The menu itself sounded fascinating, with an interesting array of choices and ingredient combinations I definitely wanted to try. Seriously impressed with the quality of their food, inviting ambiance and dedicated service, the excitement grew. But let me recap their Miami Spice menu for you just to give you an idea:

Appetizers:

Antipasto for the Table

Pistacchio Mortadella with Focaccia

or

Insalata di Granchio

Pacific Stone Crab, Soy Chili Dressing, Asian Pear, Pickled Mustard Seed Aioli

or

Acqua Cotta

Tomato, Onion and Celery Broth, Organic Poached Egg

Behold the Insalata di Granchio. This is one dish that you'll want to have over and over again. I loved the way Chef Julian played with the sweet and succulent flavor of the Pacific Stone Crab and enhanced it with the saltiness of the Soy Chili Dressing. Then, out of nowhere, tickled our palate by enveloping the meat with a  juicy, sweet Asian pear. Genius!

  
Entrees:



Tagliatelle Ai Funghi

Housemade Tagliatelle, field mushrooms, nepitella, butter and parmesan

or

Tortelli Burro E Salvia

Bufala Ricotta Cheese and Spinach Filled Tortelli, Sage Butter Sauce

or

Orata

Grilled Seabream with Capers and Parsley Oily

or

Guanciale Di Vitello

Braised Veal Cheek, Celery Root Puree, Beer Braised Onion, Hazelnut

The Tortelli Burro E Salvia is a must! It's the best I've had in everything from the texture to the taste. Filled with creamy Bufala Ricotta Cheese and Spinach, it practically melted in my mouth. The rich and savory Sage Butter Sauce added a nutty finish to the creation.

Dessert:

Torta Di Pistacchio

Pistacchio Olive Oil Polenta Cake, Raspberry
or

Affogato Al Café

Coffee ice-cream, amaretto biscuit, espresso, vanilla whipped cream

I "drowned" in pleasure with the Affogato al Cafe; my love for Toscana Divino eternally sealed. The sweet, refreshing treat with a delizioso kick is an Italian dream come true.

One of my top picks for 2013, Toscana Divino has outdone themselves with this Miami Spice menu. And it doesn't stop there. Come for Miami Spice, and then return for their regular menu. It's solid! I'll just leave you with some food porn of a few of my other faves from both the Miami Spice and the regular menu. For more information, visit their website at http://www.toscanadivino.com/index.php or call 305-371-2767.

Ceviche di Gamberi Rossi Toscana

Carpaccio di Branzino

                            

Maltagliati Ai Frutti di Mare (Available in Miami Spice Lunch Menu)

                           

Tiramisu

OR                                            

Torta di Pistacchio

Semifreddo

Read More

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/.

Read More

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/

Read More

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

Read More

Miami Spice at Atrio at the Conrad-Miami Hotel in Brickell

What goes perfect with unparalleled service and impressive food? A great view! My first pick for this year's Miami Spice is Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room at the Conrad Miami Hotel located at 1395 Brickell Avenue. Atrio is a luxurious restaurant in the trendy yet sophisticated area of Brickell, offering panoramic views of the city and bay area. Its beautiful decor personifies unpretentious elegance, with a warm and inviting feel.

As I rode the elevator up to the 25th floor, I saw the Miami Spice menu displayed on the wall. Usually, I know right away what dishes I want to try because not all of them will appeal to me. However, the first thing that jumped out on our high speed ride was that the choices they offer for each course of the Miami Spice menu all sound amazing. And on top of that madness, you could also choose a select wine pairing for just $6 a glass.  Me likey already!

We sat down next to the floor-to-ceiling window and admired the view, while our incredibly knowledgeable and friendly waiter, Shane, gave us an in-depth description of the preparation of each dish. Wow! I can get used to this. There were a few of us having dinner together, so since we really wanted to try everything, we each ordered something different. You know what they say, sharing is caring.

Almond  & Grape Gazpacho

Goat Cheese Salad

Atrio offers the same Miami Spice menu for both lunch and dinner, so let's start with the appetizers. The selections are Almond & Grape Gazpacho, Salmon & Grouper Carpaccio, and Goat Cheese Salad. All three are winners. I'm not talking about just taste either - the presentation is remarkable. The Almond & Grape Gazpacho is completely unique and fun. It actually consists of a fried shrimp, grapes and mixed greens salad on one side of the dish with a shot of gazpacho on the other. So you eat it by taking alternating bites and sips. Think of it as a "deconstructed" gazpacho. It was extremely refreshing and flavorful. The Salmon & Grouper Carpaccio is equally as alluring. Thinly sliced pieces of salmon and grouper are artfully arranged on the plate, and topped with a fine herb sorbet. My first observation was that it totally awakened my palate, providing an aromatic, cooling array of flavors. Perhaps one of my favorites of the night. The Goat Cheese Salad was another fresh start to the meal, expertly pairing fried chunks of tangy, goat cheese, with the crispness of organic greens sourced from Paradise Farms. I loved the touches of roasted beets and crunchy pecans which added more depth and texture to the experience, and found the dressing to be phenomenal. They certainly know how to put together an opening course befitting the culture and feel of Miami at Atrio. All of these choices were perfect summer dishes.

Salmon & Grouper Carpaccio

Seared Scallops

Mushroom Cannelloni

The second course offerings were as exquisite as the first, providing a delectable option for every preference. They include Seared Scallops, Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly, and Mushroom Cannelloni. The Seared Scallops were buttery and soft, sitting on a nice, creamy and smooth cauliflower mousseline, and topped with a cardamon cloud. The cardamon gave the tender scallops an intensely fragrant character that seemed to warm the taste buds with every bite. The Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly was, how should I say, a masterpiece. Oozing in superior taste, texture and marbling, it was the kind of dish you savor with your eyes closed. Difficult to describe with just one adjective, I have to alternate between crispy, tender, chewy and sweet. It was served with crispy octopus and mascarpone polenta, all coming together like a loving family on Christmas morning. Can it get any more genius than that? For those preferring a meatless or vegetarian alternative, the Mushroom Cannelloni would be spot on. Served in a creamy gorgonzola sauce, the strong flavors of the sauce balanced the earthiness of the mushrooms in pure, gastronomic harmony.

Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly

Peach Trifle

Exotic Virgin Daiquiri

The third course choices proved to have been designed with as much care and detail as the other two. They consisted of Peach Trifle, Exotic Virgin Daiquiri and Farm Goat Cheesecake. The Peach Trifle was served in a glass; the chunks of peaches layered between dollops of Amaretto whipped cream. It was light, creamy and another refreshing ode to Miami weather. The Exotic Virgin Daiquiri was an original dessert, made with passion fruit, mango and kiwi, and served with champagne granite. This one was more subtle and fruity in taste yet memorable in its simplicity and presentation. It kind of reminded me of a tropical escapade through the Caribbean. Although I was enthralled by all the desserts, the Farm Goat Cheesecake was my favorite. A picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case it doesn't do it justice. The mild flavored, creamy texture of the goat cheese created a decadent sweet basis for this dessert, while the raspberry coulis infused a seasonal zest that brought it all together. I can sleep with one of these on my pillow every night.

Farm Goat Cheesecake

All this, for $23 for lunch and $39 for dinner. Can't think of a better place for a  fantastic, romantic night. And with a Miami Spice menu like this, it is an eat-and-repeat kind of place. After starting off with an experience as memorable as this one, I can't wait to see what else awaits us for 2013. For more information, you can visit Atrio online or call them at 305 503-6500.

Read More