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Asian themed restaurants

Novikov Miami Spice Excites Your Palate

August 10, 2018 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Alright, so now we have a Russian opening a Chinese, Japanese restaurant in Miami that’s world famous, love it, bring it ON, Novikov Miami! I didn’t get a chance to meet owner, Arkadiy Novikov but hope to one day soon. I want to get into his head what his thoughts were with his restaurant concept and to date have 50 concept businesses around the world. I find out he graduated as a chef and into environmentally friendly products. I like that.

WA WA: Shrimp Cilantro Dumplings, Saffron Sweet Corn Dumplings set our palates tingling, wow! Good wrappers are an indication of what’s inside. You could taste flavors of each ingredient, how did they do that? Definitely order these as your appetizers.

So, I think he’s onto something. But to do it with flair and style and to succeed worldwide is another story and Novikov is on the right path.

Their London outpost attracts celebrities and such and so will Miami I’m sure but it doesn’t detract from the fact they serve excellent quality Chinese Banquet style food. It’s very rare to find that any more, so we are lucky we get to experience it. So, don’t wait too long to visit.

About the decor…
Theatrical, whimsical comes to mind!  As you enter, a beautiful sculpture with colorful swirls, twirls and red flowers immediately sets the ambience of the space! Don’t just go and sit at your table, stroll around to see EVERYTHING.

The designers did a fantastic job, the artwork and colors are right up my alley. Red is dotted throughout, it’s not only my favorite color but it represents prosperity, good luck, happiness, good health in the Eastern philosophy. 

My favorite areas are of course the line up of fresh produce and fish with yes, you guessed it, RED backdrop!  Red makes the impeccably arranged vegetables and fish stand out, both are for sale. His concept was to resemble Asian markets and in this case, a very upscale one. I miss fresh markets terribly, I used to adore going food shopping with my mom. What a nice touch, there’s nothing like the aromas and freshness with the display of vegetables and fish.

Their stainless steel kitchen is immaculate, tidy and very organized. Don’t miss the hanging Peking Ducks, they were the highlight of my lunch!

Look up, those lampshades remind me of Asian hats, with different shapes and configurations. Bright purple and white orchids make this humungous space a lot more cozy.

There’s also a very zen sushi bar with a magnificent wood table and red accent cushioned chairs. Red banquettes are along the back wall with an area for private dining for 12 but I didn’t see it.

About the food…
I was invited to preview their Miami Spice Lunch menu, so it was perfect to have my friend from Miami Drink Scene join me so we could have more variety. My explanations are in the captions of each photo, so enjoy! I marked WA (Wok Star Approved) on ones I liked some with double WA, ha, ha. 

About the cocktails and sakes…
What a gorgeous bar area with lit up counters. Fancy cocktails are the in thing and they definitely made some exotic ones like their signature Wasabi and Lychee Martinis and Apricot Margarita. I love their display with Sakes encased in a glassed area which means they must be very premium, exclusive ones.

About the service…
As I asked our server, Eduardo about certain dishes, his explanations were so detailed I asked if he was a chef? Of course he was, so interesting that he is now a server. He had a lovely personality and smile which I think is so important. If you’re going to have a complete experience at an upscale, elegant restaurant like Novikov, a server can elevate your experience no end. And their charming General Manager, Alex Manuel circled back several times to make sure we were taken care of. 

I definitely want to return and try their a la carte menu and already know a few dishes I want to try! Share your experience in the comments, what dishes spiked your fancy?

Whimsical, colorful sculpture wows as you enter!
Theatrical main dining area with Asian looking hat lampshades.
Delighted with pickles as we sat down. Pickles were traditional at good restaurants in Asia, helps to open your appetite.
WA: Dim Sum appetizers of Shrimp Cilantro Dumplings, Saffron Sweet Corn Dumplings set our palates tingling, wow! Good wrappers are an indication of what’s inside. You could taste flavors of each ingredient, how did they do that? Definitely order these as your appetizers.
I know nothing about drinks but this looks fully loaded and the bartenders make exotic cocktails!
I love the modern Asian decor. Red is my favorite color and it was dotted throughout, good job!
Beautiful presentation this Wok Salmon with Black Bean Sauce.  WA: Robata Hangar Steak was melt in your mouth and perfectly grilled.
Very zen looking Sushi Bar, we didn’t experience any sushi this time.
Stocked with Sakes, beautifully displayed.
Loved the red backdrop for fresh fish display, didn’t realize they were for sale.
Just realized fresh produce were for sale too! This display with vegetables and the platters below is so beautiful, I could stare at this all day.
WA WA: The highlight for me was their Crispy Peking Duck! At first I was like, don’t mess with my Peking Duck. Never before have I had Peking Duck with a crispy crust but still tender. The contrast was exquisite. The San Pei Chicken with Aged Soy Sauce came in a cute clay pot.
What an end to our Miami Spice Lunch…Umeshu Black Forest and Key Lime Tapioca paired with Lychee Martini. They were very light as it turns out, whew.
I couldn’t resist taking a photo of their very neat and tidy kitchen with the Robata Grill. Our server, Eduardo who is a chef explained there are 3 levels of heat. No wonder our hangar steak was so tender.
You can’t leave without taking a peek at those hanging Peking Ducks.
Note: Full disclosure, I was invited to a media preview for Miami Spice Lunch Menu but doesn’t sway my judgement. I try to be as honest as I can.

Filed Under: Asian themed restaurants, blog, Miami Spice Tagged With: "Arkady Novikov", "Chinese food", "Miami restaurant review", "Miami Spice 2018", "Novikov Miami"

Chinese New Year Wok Star Supper Club at Gaijin Izakaya (Updated)

January 30, 2018 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Extracted from Gaijin’s Eventbrite page written by food journalist & Gaijin staffer, Korakot “gabby” suriya-arporn. I added my two cents…
My Wok Star Supper Club will be celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Dog at Chef Cake’s newish Japanese gastropub, Gaijin Izakaya in midtown, Sunday, February 25, 5:30pm. A $50 per person scrumptious 5 course menu starts with a welcome cocktail and passed hors d’oeuvre that’ll get the New Year off with a bang. My main goal in these gatherings is to support and showcase mostly chef owned restaurants and introduce you to good Asian inspired food. All ticket sales go to Gaijin Izakaya. My Wok Star Supper Club, an event held periodically throughout the year, is about celebrating Asian culture and cuisine in South Florida.
Please don’t leave till last minute and be disappointed you can’t get in!
Please view MENU below PRIOR to reservations.  NO exceptions, substitutions or deviations, we want to make it easy for Chef Cake and staff.  Please understand, it’s difficult to deal with 70 people already so if you have any food allergies or diet restrictions, please visit on another occasion and order what you want.

photo: Gabby Korakot

Some fun rules you should know…
1) Get cozy – EVERYONE will mix and mingle at the bar as they enter and meet new friends. 

2) Get even more cozy – seats and dish portions will be arranged in 2 and 4, so guests will be sitting with new friends and sharing dishes family style.

The lucky folks who’ll get first dibs into this popular event are subscribers to my newsletter. You can subscribe in the right sidebar of my site to gain priority access to this and future events plus get the latest food ideas, resources and beyond.

Yes, they are real washing machines where you can put your bag and personal belongings, how cute is that!
Bar area as you enter where we’ll meet and mingle over a special surprise welcome cocktail with passed hors d’oeuvre of tuna rice rolls which have a little kick to them, yummy!
Chef Cake will be bringing you the ultimate tasting experience with his unique Japanese-Chinese hybrid to celebrate Year of the Dog. The multi-course meal of prosperity and good wishes is a showcase of Cake’s culinary prowess as well as his imaginative flair.  I love the ‘artsy’ and eclectic mix of furniture and furnishings from the previous owner who was an artist.  Chef Cake has added hand picked Japanese posters and blends in well with the existing decor.
About Chef Cake, Phuket Thongsodchareondee:
Cake grew up in a resort island in Thailand, acquainting himself to cooking since early age at a family hotel business. After he moved to Miami, he soon found direction under Makoto Okuwa and trained under him at his namesake restaurant for four years. Cake then decided to venture out on his own, opening a little Thai haunt in MiMo neighborhood called Cake Thai Kitchen, which has gathered him many accolades, including Best Thai Restaurant  2015 from Miami New Times, One of Eater 38 (best restaurants in Miami), and StarChefs’ South Florida Rising Star. With lingering passion for Japanese cuisine, he finally opens Gaijin Izakaya in July 2017, fulfilling his dreams to own a fun, rigidity-free izakaya with high quality food and great selections of beverages.
About Eleanor Hoh, aka Wok Star:
Eleanor is a cooking teacher, entrepreneur, blogger and presenter. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and love of wok cooking she learned from her mom. After 17 years in the computer industry in London, she embarked on an entrepreneurial journey starting in Key West, FL, where her passion for teaching has evolved into a roadmap technique, eliminating recipes and encourages creativity and intuition.  Currently, she teaches monthly cooking classes and produces corporate team building and wellness programs in upscale design showrooms in south Florida and also offers online classes on Udemy to reach a worldwide audience.
Passed hors d’oeuvre: tuna rice rolls has a good kick, very yummy.
Yusheng – a New Year dish with sashimi fish and shredded vegetables to toss and bring in the New Year! Light and refreshing.
1st course: Fried short ribs, very tasty. Eggy fried rice and Stir Fried Bok Choy with mushrooms (not shown.)
2nd Course: Amazing smoked duck with noodles and bok choy.
For this shot, we had Cake’s mom hold 2 of my hubby’s iphone lights, it was quite funny.
 
Join us for this memorable gathering, plus a chance to meet and mingle with Chef Cake, myself and fellow food lovers who enjoy Asian culture and cuisine.

2018 Chinese New Year Wok Star Supper Club Menu*

Welcome cocktail
Passed hors d’oeuvre:
Tuna crispy rice
szechuan peppercorn, yuzu butter, capelin roe
Appetizer:
Yusheng “Prosperity Toss”
local raw fish, cucumber, sesame seeds, salmon roe, umeboshi dressing
Mains:
Salt & pepper beef short ribs
Also garlic eggy fried rice, wok-fried bok choy and oyster mushroom
Applewood smoked duck breast
egg noodles, duck fat, bok choy
Dessert:
Jelly orange

*SUBJECT TO CHANGE UPON SEASONAL AVAILABILITY
*NO MODIFICATION OR ALTERATION

Here are the details, you know the drill…you’ll be paying directly to Gaijin Izakaya…
When: Sunday, February 25, 5:30-8:30pm
Where: Gaijin Izakaya, 3500 N. Miami Ave., Midtown Miami. 
What: Eleanor Hoh and Cake Thai, Chinese New Year Wok Star Supper Club
Cost: $50 includes Welcome Cocktail, tips and tax and EXCLUDES other beverages.
Drinks:  Special beverage and sake pairings is $25 and not part of dinner price.
Max: 70 seats
Parking: across at midtown shops parking or street parking
Reservations & payment:  through Eventbrite from Gaijin or myself through newsletter.
Call Gaijin directly  if you have any problems:  305-456-3207
We look forward to seeing you there!

 
 

Filed Under: Asian themed restaurants, blog, Chinese New Year, Miami Events, Wok Star Supper Club Tagged With: "Cake Thai", "Chef Cake", "Gaijin Izakaya", "miami culinary event", "miami foodies", "Wok Star Supper Club", Chinese New Year, Eleanor Hoh, Miami Event

HOH WOK CLUB: Bazi hosts Eleanor Hoh's Chinese New Year gathering

January 26, 2016 By Eleanor Hoh 2 Comments

To celebrate the Year of the Monkey, I’m excited to announce my HOH WOK CLUB gathers for a Chinese New Year Asian dinner with an Italian spin at Bazi, located inside the historic Marlin Hotel, Sunday, February 21st from 4-6pm for $50 including tips and tax, what a steal!  Only 50 69 lucky guests get to join me inside the dramatic dining room with red and gold accents, replete with elegant tufted banquettes, sleek pendant lighting, artfully shaped bonsai, and a massive dragon with glittering golden scales.
Bazi Interior
Bazi will offer guests a festive communal dining experience rich with traditional Asian touches. Diners can get their year off to a lucky start by enjoying menu items such as long noodles served to symbolize longevity, house made dumplings for prosperity and more, see menu and how to make your reservations below! Do not delay because once the 50 69 spaces are gone, that’s it, see you there! We got the upstairs intimate lounge as well, yay.
I went to their own Chinese New Year gathering with lion dance last week and sat at the bar, it was so much fun! I got to meet the neatest people and hang.  Here are many of the dishes you’ll be having. See all the cozy couches and lounge areas you can sit at if you prefer not to be at a table.

Bazi-CNY-springrolls-duckconfit
Here’s Chef Michael Pirolo waving right before the craziness started. Bottom right is braised mustard greens with crispy shallots, a very refreshing and tasty dish, my fav were those shallots.
BAZI-CNY-Longevity-Noodles
Majorly in love with this longevity spicy, sour soup noodles with tender chicken morsels, maitake mushrooms and the cucumber sesame noodles pulled all the flavors together.
BAZI-CNY-Snapper-dumplings
Jason, the bartender shaking up a cocktail(no not mine), he was so friendly and told me about the various tasting menus Bazi offered! That beautiful upstairs lounge with the giant dragon is so cozy and intimate. The crispy snapper on top of a bed of cabbage slaw was totally delightful. I know westerners aren’t used to eating a whole fish, but in Asia, it’s always served with the head and tail. Eating fish during New Year brings you luck, so eat UP! Those sweet potato dumplings were the best, they just slide down your throat, so good.
If you’re interested to hear about specials like this, sign up for my free newsletter in right sidebar of this website ——>>>>
HOH WOK CLUB is a celebration of Asian culture and cuisine. One of the main reasons I created it was to introduce folks to good Asian cuisine run by smaller, independent family owned restaurants and help spread the word.  Find out more about HOH WOK CLUB.
cozy couches if you prefer to eat from the bar
aerial view from upstairs
two level view
cozy upstairs
hip bar where we’ll meet and mingle
more couches at the bar
You’re in for a treat!  Last year’s Asian Thanksgiving at Bazi was delightful! Find out how Chef Michael Pirolo and Jen Chaefsky, owners of Macchaliana came up with this brilliant idea of Italian Asian fusion due to their love of Asian cuisine. It’s brilliant they found Chef Brett Collier to execute their concept, I can’t wait for our Chinese New Year dinner, bring your family and friends, the more the merrier, see you there!
Visit Bazi for more details. 
HOHWOKCLUB -Bazi-ChineseNewYear-Menu-2016
Here are details, you know the drill, you’ll be prepaying directly to BAZI…
When: Sunday, Feb. 21: 4-6pm, lunch starts 4:15pm SHARP!  
What: Celebrate Chinese New Year of Monkey with an Italian Asian twist!
Where: Bazi Restaurant at the Marlin Hotel, 1200 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Fl 33139
Cost: $50 includes tips and tax
Max: 50 lucky guests
Reservations and prepay:  Bazi Reservations if any problems, call Bazi directly, tel: 305) 695-0101
Parking: Valet $15 OR public garage on 13th and Collins.

KUNG HEI FAT CHOY!

Filed Under: "Hoh Wok Club", Asian themed restaurants, blog, Chinese New Year, Miami Events Tagged With: "HOH WOK CLUB", "miami events", "Year of Monkey", Bazi, Chinese New Year, Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

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