Visualize an angled crispy noodle nest spilling out with Crispy Beef Tenderloin that’s battered and so tender, you only need to pop it in your mouth without even chewing. This enchanting dish was a crowd pleaser and part of a collection of 8 small bites, main dishes and dessert with cocktail pairings from the Only At Fontainebleau Menu. This Fall Menu was launched to celebrate Hakkasan’s 15th anniversary with sister restaurants simultaneously showcasing their individual local culture and cuisine at 11 locations globally. Each location will use seasonal ingredients and Hakkasan’s signature modern approach to traditional Cantonese cuisine. The Only At Menu will change twice a year and judging from this tasting, I can’t wait to see what they’ll offer for the next one.
Chef de Cuisine Jian Heng Loo put his spin on a traditional Stir Fry French Beans usually made with dried shrimp but he used preserved olives so it’s vegetarian, how thoughtful and still gives that umami flavor. His artistry extends beyond food, his playful use of two noodle nests and lobster shell to present his dishes engage and entice you before you even taste the dish. Seafood was featured in 4 dishes and I’m thrilled because Asians excel in preparing them. To top it all, Hakkasan’s mixologist paired each course with cocktails like Serpent’s Tongue and Old Cuban.
As if 8 dishes weren’t enough, we ended with a very creative dessert which was very light even though there was cream involved! Do not take your eyes off the Chocolate Raspberry Sphere in this video.
My Chinese New Year was hosted by Hakkasan and they put on a scrumptious 13 item Yum Cha (dim sum with tea) that we still talk about a year later. You can read about it here.
Miami restaurant
Bazi introduces Shanghai Nights
Sunday nights shouldn’t be humdrum, and now you have BAZI’s Shanghai Nights $10 Chinese Classics to look forward to! Have one last fling before you start your work week. 7 Chinese classics are available through the week but discounted only on Sundays. Enjoy these favorite Chinese classics while you can, they can be paired with dishes from their a la carte menu which are all scrumptious or savored as is. Drop by if you’re going to the beach, shopping in South Beach or want a good Chinese without MSG in beautiful surroundings!
Our favorites were spare ribs, they were tender and not slathered with sticky sweet sauce like most Chinese restaurants and Moo Shu Pork.
BAZI’s take on Chinese food is delightful, I’ve had their Thanksgiving dinner with Peking turkey. You can find out why an Italian Chef, Mike Pirolo and Jen Chaefsky decided to open a Chinese restaurant and why I chose BAZI to host my Chinese New Year celebrations here and here.
Ayesha Indian Restaurant Review
After having lived in Hong Kong and London where you can find the best Indian food, I have been so disappointed with Indian food in Miami till Ayesha Indian Restaurant in Pinecrest, they have another in Key Biscayne! It was a hike, deep down south Miami but so worth it.
I get the feeling most of the Indian restaurants cook their meat separately and add ready made sauce on top. You can see and taste the meat hasn’t absorbed the sauce when you bite into the meat. Not Ayesha, my Lamb Apna were tender morsels soaked in a creamy tomato sauce, I noticed they used curry leaves which makes all the difference. Each sauce had its own distinct flavors and spices, that’s what I love about curries. It’s cooked over low heat for a long time so all the spices get to work their magic. The smell and taste of curry leaves made me so homesick for my mom’s cooking.
Well, you can’t have curry without naan. So, I fell off my paleo wagon (more about this in an upcoming blog) and had garlic naan to sop up all that sauce. I will be back to try more. It’s a little on the expensive side, mains were $16-$24 for whole fish. But when you think of all the work involved with the spices etc. They don’t have a menu on their own website, so you can view one here.
They have a private room (see bottom left photo) which makes me want to throw a party there!
Indian food makes me so happy! It was doubly nice to share this meal with super photographer, food blogger and Wok Star Brenda and her kids. Check out her review here.
What’s been your experience there? I want to hear what dishes you’ve tried?
