Zen Sai

There's a new kid in town, and its name is Zen Sai! I have always had an affinity with Japanese Cuisine and even transformed a room in my house into a sushi room; complete with an Asian theme and all. Imagine my excitement when I was invited to preview the entire menu at a new Izakaya opening in the Essex House Hotel in South Beach. The restaurant, appropriately named Zen Sai, (which means hors d'oeuvre in Japanese), is located at 1001 Collins Avenue.



From the moment I walked in, I was enthralled by the outdoor dining area. Featuring a small pool in the center, the endearing oasis is surrounded by candle lit tables and chairs, providing a romantic, tranquil setting. Inside, Zen Sai's cozy ambiance is perfect for a nice drink after work while sharing some small plates with friends.

Full selection of their sushi rolls

Selection of Japanese Beers

I was very impressed with all the dishes that were served for us to sample. From the delicious sushi rolls, to the robata-grilled items, the food was superb. And it doesn't end there. Zen Sai also features a vast selection of fine sakes, and specialty sake cocktails that are phenomenal.  For beer connoiseurs, they also offer Japanese beers. I especially enjoyed the way the staff described each ingredient in the cocktails, and offered suggestions for pairings with the food. They were very knowledgeable and made you feel at home. Impeccable service, great food and awesome drinks...I see the beginning of a beautiful thing.

Sake Selections

Warrior

Since I was able to sample the entire food and cocktail menu. I'll give you a visual tour of some of the items and let you know which were my favorite along the way. A warning before you continue..by the time you finish this post, you will be extremely hungry! I'll start with the drinks. Of the sakes, the one I sampled before I moved on to the cocktails was the Haiku, a semi-dry sake with flavors of gardenia, lavender and apple. It was not too sweet and I find it would pair very well with the rock shrimp from their menu.

Lychee Martini Sample

Selection of Cocktails

Because I personally prefer cocktails, I decided to concentrate on their Signature Cocktails by sampling them all. (Don't judge me.)  My two favorite were the Lychee Martini and the Kimono. The Lychee Martini was made with Kumosabe Nigori sake, Finlandia vodka, house-infused lychee syrup, simple syrup and lemon juice. It was the best! The cocktail is sweet, fragrant and comes with a lychee inside. The Kimono was just as outstanding and refreshing. It was also made with Kumosabe Nigori sake, and then a splash of Grey Goose Vodka, yuzu juice, watermelon juice, basil, agave nectar, lemon juice and a watermelon slice.

Now on to the best part (I am the "Food"aholic after all). May the food porn marathon begin:

Shishito Peppers

Fried Bok Choy

Shishito Peppers with Ginger Soy Sauce (Left) - Fun fact! 1 in 10 are spicy. Fried Bok Choy with soy sauce and toasted garlic (Right) -They tasted like potato chips! I can eat these while sitting in front of the T.V. Definite favorite!


      

Edamame

Squid Jerky

Squid Jerky with Garlic aioli (Left) - Have to chew these a bit. Edamame with Sea Salt and Ginger Soy Sauce (Right) - Not too salty.

Asian Green Salad

Octopus Salad

Asian Green Salad with Miso soy mustard vinaigrette (Left) - Loved the walnuts and the dressing. Octopus Salad (Right) - The yuzu juice brought out the flavors of all the ingredients and gave it a kick.

Spicy Rock Shrimp

Yellowtail Jalapeno

Spicy Rock Shrimp with Serrano aioli and Japanese Worcestershire (Left) - These were sweet and left your mouth on fire. Another favorite! Yellowtail Jalapeno with Citrus jalapeno soy sauce (Right) - They were flavorful, meaty and also had a kick.

Ribeye

Pork Belly

Ribeye with Yakitori Sauce (Left) - Well seasoned and juicy. Pork Belly with black bean sauce (Right) - Outrageously good! A favorite all the way, it also comes as a slider.

Salmon

Black Cod

Black Cod with sweet yuzu miso sauce. (Left) - Amazing taste! Tender, flaky fish blew me away. Salmon with Yakitori Sauce (Right) -The Yakitori glaze gave the salmon a sweet, enticing allure.

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

Shrimp

Bacon Wrapped Scallops
(Left)- Great combination of smoky bacon with mildly sweet scallop. Shrimp (Right) - They were marinated in cilantro and garlic and then grilled.

Six different sushi rolls

Prosciutto Roll

Zen Sai Rolls: (Left)- My two favorites were the Spicy Tuna and the BBQ Eel. There is also a Boston Roll which is vegetarian. Prosciutto Roll (Right)  - The taste of the prosciutto and goat cheese went well with the truffle oil and balsamic vinegar.

A return visit to Zen Sai is a definite must. It is truly a great place to relax and enjoy the Miami Beach vibe. For more information, you can visit Zen Sai online at http://www.zensaisobe.com/.

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Lure Fishbar

On part three of my culinary adventures through the northeast, I ventured down to the SoHo neighborhood in New York City; a popular area in Lower Manhattan known for its large number of art galleries and trendy boutiques. One of the most unique shopping areas of the world, it is also well known as a hub for outlet stores of national chains. Following in the tradition of other neighborhoods in NYC, the name SoHo refers to the area located "SOuth of HOuston Street."  A favorite among artists, you will always find some interesting to do here.


Although the shopping is fabulous in SoHo, that's not the reason I decided to pay a visit (not entirely anyway). They have a number of excellent restaurants as well, and one in particular I never miss when visiting The Big Apple. It is Lure Fishbar, located at 142 Mercer Street. A basement culinary wonder, Lure's glamorous interior makes you feel like you've entered a gigantic, upscale yacht to embark on a seafood adventure like no other. With paneled teak wood and white leather banquettes, the dining and bar area transport you to the high seas; while pedestrians can be seen through the port hole windows, walking above on the sidewalk.

Deviled Eggs topped with American Caviar

Every time we visit Lure, I look forward to the surprises the chef has in store. Aside from the crunchy complimentary chips they serve as you sit down, they usually offer a couple of other small dishes, compliments of the chef. They have been a delight every time. This particular evening, our waitress brought us two treats as we looked through the menu. The first one was a plate of Deviled Eggs topped with American Caviar. Very nice. The second bite consisted of Grilled Shrimp with a sesame soy sauce that was utterly delicious. Off to a great start!

Grilled Shrimp

Lure House Roll

Seared Branzino

Since Lure offers pretty impressive Sushi and Raw Bar menu options, we decided to start off with their Lure House Roll: shrimp tempura topped with spicy tuna and a Japanese tartar sauce that gave it a kick. The combination of flavors of the fish and the sauces brought a party to the palate that was irresistible. We followed the roll with our first entree: the Seared Branzino. The buttery fish offered a subtle, enticing flavor and came topped with beet risotto, salsa verde, fava beans, and truffle vinaigrette. The beet risotto added color and depth of flavor to the dish, with its moist, sweet taste.

Grilled Whole Daurade

The next entree we ordered was the Grilled Whole Daurade, with heirloom tomato panzanella, baby arugula, and champagne-shallot vinaigrette. It was divine. The Dourade is a mouthwatering fish originally from the Mediterranean and known for being a small fish with big taste.  This one was succulent and rich, and although served whole, had no bones to deal with. The champagne-shallot vinaigrette added an extra sparkle to the dish that complemented it well.

"Lure Style" Burger

Before I tell you about the desserts, I have to add that although Lure is a seafood restaurant, they also offer other options for those who do not eat fish. There is a Meats and Butcher's Block section that provides alternatives. For example, if you have children or a teenager with you (yeah I know) they will be immediately drawn to the "Lure Style" Burger.  Served with either french fries or onion rings, it's a hefty burger that satisfies the most discriminating burger lover. When asked how good it was, the response was "It's right up there with the Quarter Pounder with Cheese". This coming from a huge fan of the McD's favorite. Enough said.

Warm Chocolate Cake

Strawberry Shortcake IceCream Cake

To end the magical meal, we chose two desserts: the Warm Chocolate Cake that came served with salted caramel ice- cream, caramel popcorn & chocolate pudding and the Strawberry Shortcake Ice-Cream Cake, made up of strawberry sorbet, vanilla ice-cream, mint syrup & strawberries. I have to pause for a moment as memories of the warm chills I got when I placed the spoon of warm chocolate cake into my mouth flood my mind. It was excellent! Since I hadn't ordered dessert on my previous visits, I wasn't sure what to expect. (Yes, I know that's strange), but I was awe-struck. The sweet and salty flavor of the salted caramel ice-cream went perfectly with the chocolate cake; and the smooth, velvety pudding just finished the masterpiece. As for the Strawberry Shortcake Ice-Cream Cake, it was all-right. I'm not a fan of strawberry shortcake and while it was refreshing, it didn't set off any fireworks for anyone at the table. That was totally fine though because we had already been blown away with the rest of the meal.

If you're planning a visit to New York, you don't want to miss dining at Lure. With its great ambiance and delicious cuisine, it will quickly become a tradition for you too. For more information on Lure, you can call them at 212-431-7676 or visit them online at www.lurefishbar.com.

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Cantina Beach

When I think of a summer night, I envision listening to the waves crashing against the sand, and watching the moon gently lighting the night sky. I imagine catching glimpses of the beach as far as my eye can see as I sit back in a comfortable, plush chair, listening to live music and sipping a cold, refreshing cocktail. How about living all this in Miami, but feeling like you've been whisked away to the coast of Mexico; your senses enticed through a cool summer breeze, tropical ambiance, authentic food and an incomparable view? That is what I experienced at the Caliente Summer Fiesta; one of the monthly events held at Cantina Beach,  in the Ritz Carlton, Key Biscayne, located at 455 Grand Bay Dr.

Cantina Beach

85 Premium Tequilas

Covered Dining Area

Cantina Beach is the only oceanfront, coastal Mexican restaurant in Miami. While it is perfect for an appetizing lunch and a cooling drink after a swim in the ocean; at night it transforms into a sultry paradise retreat.  Featuring  authentic dishes, infused with distinct innovations typical to the different regions in Mexico, Cantina Beach also offers 85 premium tequila selections. All this, set in a casual, yet refined ambiance signature to the Ritz Carlton. The restaurant, a Palapa structure with a thatched roof built by the Miccosukee Indians, is filled with colorful furnishings surrounding a center table. The table is crowned with tequila bottles and graced by an elegant chandelier. Overlooking the oceanfront, spacious lounge chairs and tiki torches add to the tropical feel; while a rustic fire pit welcomes guests to the outside dining area.

Yesenia Preparing the Delicious Guacamole

Guacamole Station

Guacamole Samplings

Caliente Summer Fiesta promised to be a night to remember and it didn't disappoint. The event featured music from their resident DJ, complimentary samplings of their irresistible guacamole, and tastes of their special Margarita of the evening. To satisfy the appetite,  Cantina Beach's renowned Tacos de Carnitas de Cerdo were served in a fun culinary display, while others enjoyed creations from the regular dinner menu. Later in the evening, an exciting presentation of fire performers set against the backdrop of the hotel's luxurious pool, heated up the night and stirred the desire to dance.

Jason and I

Margarita

Chef's Savory Bites

When you visit Cantina Beach, you must have their Guacamole. It is prepared table side and you can choose how spicy you want it. Creamy and tangy, it wouldn't be a true visit for me if I didn't indulge in it. After we had several samplings, we ordered the Margarita, made with Casa Noble's Organic Tequila, lime juice and Grand Marnier. It was refreshing and smooth. To start, we had their Chef's Savory Bites, a sampler of tasty finger foods including Mini Crab Tacos, Chicken Flautas and Carnitas de Cerdo. They were all delectable. The Mini Crab Tacos were tasty and sweet; made with crab meat salad and avocado salsa, in a crispy shell.  The seasoning in the Chicken Flautas was very flavorful, with a robust achiote taste. The Carnitas de Cerdo...oh the Carnitas de Cerdo...they were divine. The meat on the slowly braised pork rib was juicy and tender and fell right off the bone. We had them with fresh, warm tortillas, and the experience was heavenly. You'll be happy to know these are also sold as a main dish as well, and I highly recommend them.

Fajitas Al Carbon

Huachinango Al Mojo

For the entrees, we chose the Fajitas al Carbon and the Huachinango Al Mojo. The Fajitas al Carbon were made with marinated Skirt Steak, and served with Mexican Rice, Beans, Poblano Peppers and Queso Fresco. The steak was perfectly grilled; maximizing its tenderness and retaining its delicious flavor. The accompanying sauces added the finishing touch to each flour tortilla I filled. The Huachinango Al Mojo was a Pan Seared Snapper, sitting on a bed of Cilantro Rice. It was seasoned with roasted garlic and lime sauce, giving it a unique, pleasant flavor. The fish was delicate and moist, and paired very well with the delicious rice.

Checking out the Taco Station

After such an exceptional meal, we were excited about dessert.  They have four different ones and you can order a choice of two or three for a very reasonable price. Being the chocolate lover I am, I chose the Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse (twice) and the Cream Cheese Flan. The Chocolate Mousse was excellent. It was luscious and cool; a pure delight of rich chocolate and dark chocolate glaze, topped by a dollop of fluffy whipped cream.  The Cream Cheese Flan was a different, original take on flan. It was layered with slices of oranges swimming in a vanilla and cinammon caramel sauce. The consistency was thinner than traditional custard, but gave the treat a burst of flavor that was fun and light.

Bittersweet Chocolate Mouse & Cream Cheese Flan

Fire Performer

Here's a tip. If you stay at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, Cantina Beach's Tequilier offers resort guests complimentary tequila tastings each day at 6 P.M. That is definitely something interesting to enjoy when treating yourself to an unforgettable vacation there. For more information on Cantina Beach, you can contact them at 305 365-4500 or visit them online at: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/KeyBiscayne/Dining/CantinaBeach/Default.htm.

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