Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

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Little Lotus Restaurant

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Chef Michael Asalie’s Black cod

All the folks who made Little Lotus Restaurant’s opening successful!

I absolutely loved getting to know this group of folks at Little Lotus Restaurant Miami! It’s an Asian and Japanese Tapas Restaurant, we totally need this here! How they pulled it together in 3 weeks is a miracle, so enterprising and a delightful ‘hidden treasure’ in downtown Miami. The two chefs are both well known in their own right: Sushi Chef Michael Asalie used to be with Morimoto, New York and Indonesian Chef Nyoman Atmaja was and still is part time with Yakkosan.

The brains behind getting this all up and running is Sari Maharani, a paralegal by day and restauranteur, shop owner and as well as a foodie by night! With another restaurant, Banana and Leaf in the works as well, opening June. I’m not sure when she sleeps but I love her energy and ‘nothing is impossible’ attitude. Better hang with her a lot more.

Chef Michael has a baby face but don’t let that fool you, he’s very talented and creative. All the dishes he made for us last night were not on the menu. Each one was like a piece of sculptured art work like the chive through a raspberry! The flavor of the fish was so delicate and perfectly paired with a light sauce. Not the usual generic sushi served around town with wasabi and soy sauce! They were ALL outstanding but the one that stood out most was the Hamachi sashimi which he topped with fried shallots and then Jalapeno peppers and capers! Wow, did that pop in your mouth. I love how he fused Indonesian ingredients with Japanese.

Tuna Sashimi, beautiful presentation

Chef Nyoman Atmaja’s Crispy Baby Bok Choy
with garlic soy dressing

We didn’t get a chance to sample too much of Chef Nyoman’s dishes except for his Green curry shrimp and Crispy Baby Bok Choy. I’m so looking forward to trying more of his other Indonesian dishes, many very familiar to me as I grew up eating them like Nasi Rendang.

Over the top dessert with unusual addition of Cruller with coconut ice cream, coconut sorbet in a coconut shell and fresh mango.

I like this simple decor, focus on the food!

Well, Miami, I highly recommend this little ‘hidden treasure’ and do go and try their introductory lunch menu for $4.99! How can you beat that? By the way, I always think of more stuff to add, so I hope you’ll subscribe to my feed for the latest updates. Little Lotus Restaurant doesn’t have a website yet but visit their Facebook to get the latest scoop. Just realized they don’t have address on their page! 22 NE 1st Street, #107, Miami, FL 33132, it’s in an odd location, International Jewelry Center, opposite Macy’s downtown, use this entrance, the other is harder to find at night. Oh, tell them Wok Star sent you, gotta get my brownie points up, ha.

Sari and I already discussed having a HOH WOK CLUB gathering there sooon, so if you’re interested to join us, email me: wokstar at eleanorhoh dot com

Little Lotus on Urbanspoon

Chow Down Grill Wok Star Christmas Lunch

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Josh Marcus explains his concept of Chow Down Grill and gave the inside scoop about his South Beach restaurant slated to open February 2011 right on Alton Road/9th right opposite The Miami Ad School. Everyone enjoyed today’s Chinese Family Style Lunch and just getting together. Some I hadn’t seen in years, many were Wok Stars, but there were also some new people (some I didn’t get photos of, boo.) Thanks everyone for celebrating with me.
If you want to join me in future HOH WOK CLUB gatherings in South Florida, sign up for my FREE newsletter  in right side bar, so you’ll get first dibs to these gatherings.

Starter: Himachi sashimi, an extra surprise Josh presented

Starter: Chow Down Chop Salad

Chinese Style Family Lunch with Mongolian Beef, broccoli and steamed chicken dumpling.

Dessert: pumpkin bread pudding and rice pudding

Why do I have a photo of Renee with jars of jams? She came bringing 3 Freakin’ Flamingo handcrafted jams and I didn’t get a photo of her, boo! I love supporting entrepeneurs like Josh (chef) and Renee especially when she makes jams this good, slurp. I got 2 Blueberry Mojitos and a Caribbean Cranberry. Once you’ve had it, you cannot eat store bought. She only does small batches, so get yours quickly before they go. Great gift idea, woo hoo!

Left to right: Ro-ann, Rick, Polita, Duba, Andrea

Front to back: Chris, Yumi, Mary, Alan at the bar


Left to right: Mary, Nina, Linda, Myriam, Alan, Jorge

Left to right: Jen, John and kids


Josh (chef, co-owner of Chow Down Grill), Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

Left to right: Linda, Jorge, Myriam


Mary (Wok Star who comes to all my events!) and Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

Gorgeous weather so some of us sat outside!
UPDATE: Chow Down Grill Surfside has been converted into Josh’s Deli in Surfside in 2012!  However, Chow Down Grill & Lounge has moved to South Beach.  Read my restaurant review.
 

HOH WOK CLUB – Indomania, August 16

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HOH WOK CLUB – INDOMANIA, August 16

My first HOH WOK CLUB gathering after a few year’s hiatus was at Indomania for an intimate sit-down Rijsttafel, you can read about it here. It was such a huge success we are having a second one Monday, August 16.
Take a look at our Facebook pages for more photos from July 12 Feast, Jen’s food shots were great, mine were a bit dark. Apologies, the photos from Aug.16 Feast are not worthy to post, I only had a little clip on light. Chef Ineke made more than 12-dishes, adding a delicious tender squid in curry coconut sauce, banana leaf corvina and cabbage wrapped meatballs.
Indomania hosted a fantastic dinner party at Miami River Wall and got videotaped by Fox Style File TV! I’ve also provided other reviews for Indomania and useful links, so do take a look.
Rijsttafel is a ‘rice table’ with lots of delectable dishes, full menu below. Chef Ineke created this special 12-dish Rijsttafel to give guests a little taste of Indonesia.

Example of Rijsttafel at Indomania

Growing up in Hong Kong, I remember my mom’s Malaysian dishes which are very similar to those from Indonesia, so I am thrilled to find this charming restaurant in a low key part of Miami Beach.
After many visits to Miami, Chef Ineke and husband Pieter from Holland were finally able to realize their dream and open their own restaurant. They designed their restaurant as if it was their own dining room: small and cozy with intriguing Indonesian photographs on the walls and batik tablecloths.

Daughter, Isabel (an English teacher who lives in Holland
visits every year & helps out as well as enjoy some sun.

I think there’s going to be a shrimp or fish dish and also noodles to replace one of the rice dishes, so be open to menu changes.
Please note: If you have food related allergies, strict dietary requirements, religious restrictions; are salt sensitive, vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan; don’t like your meat cooked medium rare, or are pregnant: these gatherings are probably not for you.

Great way to meet people, I’ll introduce you, meet and mingle. So have a drink and yummy snacks. Just a warning, they’re very addictive, so don’t fill up, lots of food to come.
Chef Ineke’s 12-dish Rijsttafel Menu:
Krupuk: shrimp crackers
Shrimp wontons with sweet, chili dip
Emping with peanut sauce
Chicken satay on skewers
Salad with French beans, cabbage and beansprouts

SAMBAL GORENG TELOR: eggs in spiced sauce
BEEF RENDANG: braised beef in thick coconut/chilisauce
MALAYSIAN CHICKEN CURRY
Cabbage wrapped meatballs
Squid in coconut curry sauce
Banana Leaf wrapped corvina with kaffir lime leaves
SAYUR LODEH: mixed vegetables in coconut broth
ATJAR KETIMOEN: pickled vegetables
NASI PUTIH: steamed white rice
NASI GORENG: fried rice
SERUNDENG: fried coconut and peanuts
SAMBAL OELEK: spicy sauce
RUDJAK MANIS: fresh fruit of pineapple, apples, mangoes
SPEKKOEK WITH COCONUT ICE CREAM, spiced, layered cake.
RSVP & PREPAYMENT DETAILS:
Mandatory reservations and prepayment will be on a first come, first serve basis as seating is limited to the first 32 lucky guests. I believe there are already 13 taken, so you’d better hurry.
Call Indomania 305-535-6332 and mention HOH WOK CLUB, August 16: 7pm.
Leave your name and telephone number plus the number of guests in your group so they can call you back.
Plse provide your email so I can send out confirmations and any last minute details.
$32 total includes tax and tips.
There will be a Cash Bar.
PARKING:
Indomania is on 26th off Collins, on right going south.
FREE street parking after 6pm, open lot tween 26/27 in the middle of the block.
Make sure you do NOT park in residential areas or your car will be towed and very expensive to retrieve.
Look forward to seeing you there…
P.S. If anyone wants to make Beef Rendang or Indonesian food at home, Pepy has a wonderful blog with tons of recipes to help you. It’s so much work, I’d rather just go to Indomania and enjoy it.