Brunch at the Oceanaire

Do you also like to munch some brunch on Sundays? Well, the Oceanaire Seafood Room in Mary Brickell Village, located at 900 S. Miami Avenue, recently launched a Sunday brunch and my tastebuds had the pleasure to check it out on opening day.

I love The Oceanaire and its selection of fresh seafood. With Executive Chef Karim Anguin at its helm, The Oceanaire has become a familiar, upscale spot for a superior dining experience. (Check out my dinner post at  http://adventuresofthefoodaholic.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-oceanaire-seafood-room.html). I was ecstatic to learn that they would now be offering an a-la-carte brunch on Sundays and high-tailed my way over there immediately.

Oysters

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake

The menu is quite extensive and includes their oyster bar, a wide variety of starters, popular brunch specialties, and grilled or broiled fish dishes. After taking a sip from our Mimosas, we ordered some Oysters, (west coast are my favorite), and their signature Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. It was a great way to start the feast. The oysters were fresh and meaty, and the crab cake was beyond spectacular. Served with a creamy mustard mayonnaise, it was packed with pure crab meat and just the right amount of bread crumbs to bind it. I loved it. Spotting the Spicy Yellowfin Tuna Poke on the menu, I knew I couldn't look away. I figured it's Sunday, no calorie-counting necessary so why not? The presentation was beautiful and the taste refreshingly mind-blowing. It was a colorful flavor explosion of tuna, on a bed of cucumbers and nachos, all drizzled with their homemade sauce.

Spicy Yellowfin Tuna Poke

Jumbo Lump Crabcake Benedict

Crab & Chorizo Omelet

Feeling happy and looking forward to more, we ordered the Oceanaire Jumbo Lump Crabcake Benedict and the Crab & Chorizo Omelet. (We had a crab thing going that morning I know.) They were both great picks but my heart fell in love with to the Crabcake Benedict. Two perfectly poached eggs sat on a toasted english muffin, crowned with a scoop of their delightful jumbo lump crabcake. To seal the deal, it was bathed in a creamy, invigorating Hollandaise sauce, and served with potatoes.  The same Hollandaise sauce reappeared in their Crab & Chorizo Omelet, consisting of a generously-sized omelet, made with lump crab meat, chorizo, and gruyere cheese.

Freshly Made Stack of Pancakes Topped with Berries

Yes, the top button had mysteriously been undone from my dining companion's pants, but you know what they say, "there's always room for dessert". We finished off by ordering a freshly made Stack of Pancakes.  They were the perfect finale for The Oceanaire's new Sunday Brunch.

For more information, or to make reservations, you can contact them at 305-372-8862. Brunch is currently being offered on Sundays from noon to 4:00 pm.

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Seasalt and Pepper

Looking for a special place to take your date to that will score you some serious points? Or how about going to indulge on some fresh Mediterranean seafood while running into celebrities like Beyoncé, Jay Z and Ryan Phillippe. Yup, whether you're starstruck or planning a romantic night out, Seasalt and Pepper, the new seafood restaurant located at 422 N.W. North River Drive on the Miami River, is making waves.

 

Created by developer and designer Stephane Dupoux, who is also the mastermind of places like Pearl, Nikki Beach and Buddha Bar Resorts, along with a team of visionaries, Seasalt and Pepper brings the river a stylish, Miamiesque vibe complete with sleek, sultry curtains and a nautical theme. I totally loved the decor from the moment I walked in. Set in one of the area's industrial warehouses, the 200-seat eatery offers on-the-water dining, an event space, an outdoor lounge and an eclectic menu.

 

Beef Tomato Burrata

Meli Melo of Tartar

To start off with, let me tell you that it was a weeknight and the place was packed.  I was extremely glad I had a reservation (Make sure you do too). We kicked off the evening with a bottle of wine and ordered two appetizers, their Beef Tomato Burrata and the Meli Melo of Tartar. The Beef Tomato Burrata was a generous portion of flash fried burrata cheese, sitting on top of black heirloom tomatoes and a pool of pesto dressing. The tartar was a party for the palate of tuna, salmon, scallops, crab, watercress pesto with a soya pesto marinade, served with avocado fries. It's one of their signature dishes and I can see why.

Chilean Sea Bass

Next up, we had two of their casseroles as entrees: the Alaskan Black Cod and the Chilean Sea Bass. The Alaskan Black Cod was served with fennel, broccolini and pernod. It was very fresh and flavorful. Of the two, however, my favorite was the Sea Bass. It was quite possibly one of the best I've had. The fish was tender and buttery, practically melting in my mouth, and the sauce bathing it and the potatoes was exquisite. I didn't leave a drop in the casserole.

 

Alaskan Black Cod
 

Seasalt PB&J

Sorbet of the Day

The evening ended with dessert, of course. Our very attentive server didn't have to twist my arm too much to entice me. We chose the Seasalt PB & J, a ricotta cheesecake with peanut butter crunch; served with a strawberry balsamic jelly over a berry sorbet. It was very refreshing and light. Then I just had to try their sweet and savory Sorbet of the Day with bits of bacon and eye-rolling caramel. I would do unspeakable things for a gallon of this.



For more information on Seasalt and Pepper or to book a reservation, which I highly urge you to do if you want to try it for yourself, you can contact them at 305-440-4200 or visit them online at Seasalt and Pepper. It took me a long time to get through, since the call goes to voicemail most of the time, but keep trying.

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Adventures of the Foodaholic and Caviar Chronicles Host Happy Hour at the Mayfair in Coconut Grove

What do you get when you put together a rocking pool rooftop with a breathtaking view of the city, complimentary appetizers, a welcome glass of champagne and unbelievable drink specials on a Sunday afternoon? A Happy Hour party Miami style.

Alexandria from Caviar Chronicles and I hosted a pool party happy hour on the rooftop of the historic Mayfair Hotel & Spa in Coconut Grove, on Sunday, January 26th; kicking off 2014 with a splash. The weather was perfect, the company was top-notch and everyone enjoyed the afternoon sipping bubbly and cocktails and savoring ceviche, sushi and other yummies.  A live DJ provided entertainment to keep the energy going, while complimentary petit-massages were given poolside. It was a day to remember and one we'll have to repeat real soon. A big thank you to everyone who came out! Check out the photo gallery below.

Photo Gallery

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