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Miami restaurant

Miami Spice 2022: Mega WOW FACTOR at Sexy Fish!

September 2, 2022 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

What an introduction to Miami Spice 2022…The minute you step into Sexy Fish, you’re immediately hit by the mega WOW FACTOR!  The sensory overload starts with a few humungous sea creatures so you feel like you’re inside an aquarium and museum like fantasy, definitely worth a visit just for this thrilling experience. Do not miss this fabulous opportunity during Miami Spice Lunch. If you’re an Asian food lover, I’ve put together a list of 29 Asian restaurants to explore.

Sensory overload galore!

Brainchild of Richard Caring, London businessman and restauranteur, he opened the first Sexy Fish in London’s affluent Mayfair drawing stylish crowds and celebrities. He’s brought his unique vision to Miami, currently the only outpost in America, and we are always ready for over the top design, exotic entertainment and Asian food. 

Dine under Octopus!

About the food & service…

Exotic Asian seafood centric and robata grilled meats are their main focus. Their description, “full of carefree character and adventurous spirit” is so accurate! 

Miami Spice menu is only available for Lunch, Monday to Friday from 12-3:30pm. 

Choose 3 dishes out of 16 and if you skip the dessert, you can opt for a 4th savory. I was definitely in for that. I went with top Miami food blogger, Karen Miami Curated so we shared all the small plates. This is a lovely way to try many different flavors and textures. Ha, ha, my own fault for not keeping tabs, I was missing my fourth dish, the Salmon Tataki, phooey. 

Grilled Tiger Prawns with Chili, Lime was my favorite, oozing with flavor and so tender.
Crispy Tofu with avocado, another favorite.

There were 4 extra dishes at additional costs. Figure out what you want before going, it’s bam bam bam cause they are so busy. Here’s Sexy Fish’s Spice Menu.

Spice Lunch Menu, only Monday through Friday
Kimchi Fried Rice & Pork, Crispy Chicken & Creamy Nuoc Cham, Steamed Sea Bass with cilantro, chili
Spicy Yellowtail Maki
Warm Cinnamon Donuts with chocolate & exotic curd
Our server, Jonathan was well trained, he rattled off the names of the sculptor, architect and designer and proud to wear his Versace vest.
Chefs who make it all happen!

About the decor…

Wrap this WOW FACTOR round your head…$20 million’s worth of Damien Hirst seaworld sculptures, 90 year old Frank Gehry’s over the top architecture and Versace colorful aqua costumes for all staff. Even their bathrooms are eye candy and a must visit, so bring your phone to capture some. They are located upstairs, there’s a lady who’ll help take photos for a tip. 

Front of House staff all decked out!
Bathrooms are eye candy, so bring your phone!
Gotta take photo with Bond Daniel Craig!

About the bar…

Good luck getting a seat there, seemed very popular and of course, look up for extravagant sea creature sculptures. Check out their drinks menu online, I believe there are very exotic concoctions.

Exotic cocktails, exotic ambience.

It’s definitely an experience you won’t want to miss and Miami Spice is the perfect opportunity to do that. Remember only weekday lunch till end of September! Here’s that list of 29 Asian restaurants for you to try.

ENJOY. 

Drop a comment, I’d love to hear what you’ve tried at Sexy Fish and what dishes you enjoyed? 

Filed Under: blog, Miami restaurant, Miami Spice Tagged With: 'Miami Spice', "Miami Asian food", "miami foodies", "Miami restaurant review", "Miami restaurant", Miami Spice 2022, Sexy Fish Miami, Wok Star Eleanor Hoh picks

Lebanese food and lounges encourages guests to cozy up and eat more!

June 22, 2022 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Dining out has become more about providing a “cozy home” experience than a traditional dining experience with just tables and chairs! At Amal, a new and modern Lebanese restaurant, they have succeeded in providing that lovely “cozy home” experience! 

Amal means story and hope, love that! The same hospitality group who opened the popular Byblos, focuses on Mediterranean food in South Beach is responsible for Amal. 

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About the decor…

There are two sides to Amal with three types of seating! You’ll be able to view your dish being prepared in a spotless, open kitchen on the left. I discover Executive Chef Wissam Baki knew my ex-assistant when they were at The Setai. 

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On the right side, you can choose to sit at sofas divided by dining tables for a leisurely dine. 

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On the left has more of the traditional tables and chairs kind of dining.

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Or for bites while enjoying your cocktail, there are high round smaller tables and very comfy high bar stools. These are on one side of the sofa arrangement and also by the glass windows looking out to the garden. 

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Then there are cushioned banquettes by the glass window with chair arrangements. This is where my dining partner @Epicurean305 and I sat, a “power table” to view everything on the right side of the restaurant. And what an incredible coincidence, we sat next to a friend and yoga instructor, Tanya Pergola who was celebrating her weeklong birthday. 

Heads up: Our server mentioned they’ll be opening their rooftop with 360 views of my adopted city, Coconut Grove and a separate menu soon, woohoo! 

About Lebanese food…

I love that @Epicurean305 and I like the same kind of food, so it’s easy to share dishes. 

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We started with 2 Lebanese appetizers from the Starter section. I chose Crispy Eggplant & Zucchini. What a beautiful presentation and so addictive, they were stood up and wrapped with a slightly pickled zucchini slice sitting on a bed of labneh and garnished with snow pea tip tendrils. Colorful pomegranate arils dotted around a special Amal platter. 

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The other was a popular Lebanese appetizer, Truffle Rakakat, such a cute name. It’s like a Spring Roll but has Lebanese akawi cheese wrapped in phyllo and very, very lightly deep fried, then tips are dipped in chopped pistachios. Honey drizzled around them, garnished with mint leaves and grapes gave them a nice pop of color. 

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Next dish was Black Cod, perfectly cooked on bed of tahini, piled high with crispy pita chips, cilantro and garnished with pine nuts and edible flowers. Such an interesting combination. 

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You can’t go to a Lebanese restaurant and not have a Skewer! Minced lamb and beef skewer with their own house spice blend came on a bed of biwaz, a mix of grilled onion and tomato topped with more onions but raw. And pita triangles. Very tasty. 

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Our sweet end was a Date Cake with pecan tuile, vanilla ice cream and drizzled butterscotch sauce with a bright blue flower garnish. Our server swayed us from the typical Baklava, ha, ha.

My Verdict…

What a superb dining experience, not only with the cozy home feel but Lebanese food is so good for sharing over conversations about more food.

My approach to eating out…

We took a stroll around Coconut Grove, my adopted city and bumped into another friend, Brie having fun with friends.

Would you believe it? My dining friend, @Epicurean305 had another sweet!  A gelato at Bianco Gelato to “clean his palate”, what an excuse! We bumped into a lovely Chinese couple who own Sushi Maki and their 3 kids. 

Get out there, enjoy a wonderful dining experience and meet people! 

Filed Under: blog, Culinary Events, Miami restaurant

How to celebrate Chinese New Year in Miami, 2021

February 11, 2021 By Eleanor Hoh 1 Comment

Welcome Chinese New Year with feasting, lion dances and a magnificent Light show, ENJOY!

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Chinese New Year is Friday February 12.
It’s Year of the Metal Ox. Celebrations go for 2 weeks culminating with Lantern Festival on February 26.

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Chinese New Year Radio Interview
WDNA  with radio host, Linda Gassenheimer
Ensure your luck through Chinese Year, get tips what to eat, do’s and don’ts.
Receive Chinese New Year gift for 50% discount to my online class here. Use code: LINDAG2021, all uppercase, expires February 14!

Here are some wonderful ways to celebrate Chinese New Year starting with…

ILLUMINATE CORAL GABLES
link to download map and artists bios

Do NOT miss this light exhibit!
Get yourself there!!! You’re welcome. 

A first of its kind stunning interactive art, video projections, and light sculptures will be activated on Chinese New Year, this Friday, Feb 12 in downtown Coral Gables. A free month-long exhibition with 8 amazing artworks to experience created by 16 local, national, and international artists. Artworks 24/7. 

Colorful, handcrafted, lit lantern “Fireflies” artfully hung from pedicabs by internationally acclaimed Chinese artist, Cai Guo-Qiang will be the first I want to see! 
Local Cuban artist Carlos Estevez with his animated, light projections, Urban Universes are best viewed when dark from 6-10pm, Wed.-Sun. 

This exhibit is curated by Lance Fung Collaboratives whom I’ve gotten to know and really enjoy his sense of humor. 

Then FEASTING…

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TRAN AN and Zitzsum (indoor/ outdoor)
This is the most fun collab!
Sunday, February 14th ONLY, takeout available
2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (or sell-out)

Announcing first-annual YEᗩᖇ Oᖴ TᕼE O᙭ socially-distanced festivities. Tran An will team up with Zitzsum for a Chinese New Year inspired collab that promises to ignite the senses. Chef Jon Nguyen of Tran An and Chef Pablo Zitzmann of Zitzsum(opening soon), will be serving up a-la-carte selections brimming with authentic and nostalgic flavors! The limited-release menu (see flyer) is designed to promote prosperity, longevity, unity, luck and other aspects of good fortune for the coming year. First come first serve. See you there!

2KoreanGirls (takeout only)
Ghost kitchen for pickup and delivery only
Check for hours on their website

2 Korean Girls is celebrating Lunar New Year with an exclusive Korean New Year dish offer, Impossible Kimchi Mandu ($10) and Spicy Crab Mandu ($12), only available this weekend for takeout and delivery. The Korean Dumplings are served with a side of Umma’s special Korean Teriyaki sauce for dipping.

To round out your New Year feast, order these dishes with cute names: OB, Original Bibimbap, Ribeye Bulgogi; Kimchi Fried Rice and Napa Cabbage Kimchi; Fish Better Have My Money! –Korean Miso Cod; Phat Buddha –  Adashah; Impos-Seoul-ible – Impossible Bulgogi Meatballs.

P.S. The gals use my cast iron wok and gas stove to cook your dishes, you’ll notice the superb flavors and textures people! In their words, “it’s a game changer!”

P.P.S. will post about them in separate blog, love story how they learnt to cook from their mom. 

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Palmar (indoor/outdoor)
Friday, Feb.12

Modern Chinese with a tropical vibe, like that. I couldn’t get a definitive, I think they have 3 special dishes for Chinese New Year and this is one of them, Fried Rice. So, call before you go!

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HAKKASAN at Fountainbleau Hotel, Miami Beach (indoor)
Lion Dance Friday, Feb.12, 8pm
$108 pp prix fixe, Feb.11-15

The Year of the Ox is centered around the principle of “Peace, Love and Sharing” with Chinese New Year itself falling on Valentine’s weekend this year. Dishes include The Celebration Garden, an authentic Cantonese salad made with Smoked eryngii mushroom carpaccio with bee pollen and plum dressing; ingredients renowned in China for bringing prosperity and good fortune. Other dishes include Double Treasure Fortune with Quail blossom puff paired with a Seafood jade dumpling; Braised Abalone Roasted Duck Fried Rice and more.

Signature cocktail – Fire and Grace – with Don Julio Reposado. 

P.S. Remembering when Hakkasan hosted a 13 course Yum Cha for my Wok Star Supper Club gathering. People still rave about it to this day. If interested in joining my gatherings, sign up for my free newsletter in right side bar —>>
so you’ll be first to know and get access.

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HUTONG in Brickell (indoor/outdoor)
Friday, Feb.12, lion dance, music 
$168 pp available only for this night

This is one of our favorite restaurants, decor, service and excellent execution.

Example of Chinese New Year feast:
WAGYU BEEF MILLEFEUILLE;
GOOD LUCK CHAO SHOU: Scallop & prawn wonton in a homemade chilli oil.

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PHUC YEA (indoor/outdoor)
Thursday, Feb. 11, lion dance
$55 pp with take-home surprises

5 course prix fixe menu like…
Five-Spiced Duck Confit with curried chickpeas, cranberries, water chestnuts;
Truffled Fried Rice and Bun Bo Hue made with oxtail, cha lua, cabbage, pineapple in a spicy beef broth.

$13 hand-crafted cocktails featuring Espolon Tequila, Montelobos Mezcal and Campari.

DJ set by La Negra Fabulosa  

MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL, Brickell (indoor/outdoor)
Lion Dance with beating drums, cymbals and gongs
Feb. 12, Feb. 13, 7pm

MO Bar + Lounge will serve Dan Dan Noodles including pork roasted peanuts, green onion, chili oil [USD 20] and Pork & Shrimp Shu Mai including tobiko and black truffle aioli [USD 16]. Specials are available February 1-15. 

“Sip for Luck” cocktail made with Oxley gin, sparkling sake, passion fruit, lemon and ginger syrup [USD 17].

La Mar by Gastón Acurio will serve Min Pao steamed buns filled with Chifa flavours, XO, scallops, lobster and water chestnut [USD 25] and Long Life Noodles including wok stir fried egg noodles, vegetables, duck, shrimp and pork [USD 55].

Filed Under: blog, Chinese New Year, Miami Events, Miami restaurant Tagged With: "Chinese food", "Miami Chinese Restaurants", Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year Miami 2021, Coral Gables Art Exhibit, Miami Art, Wok Star Eleanor Hoh, Year of Ox 2021

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