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?
Miami restaurant
September Miami Events
SEPTEMBER IS MIAMI SPICE
Hakkasan: We went for their delicious Dim Sum served at lunchtime on weekends! A little tip: mention to server at the beginning that you want your dishes to come out staggered so they don’t get cold while you are still working on the previous dish! Dim Sum should be eaten hot. The decor is magnificent. Click here for details.
Zuma: Had lunch with foodie friends. They did a beautiful presentation but not sure worth $23, desert was outstanding! They are located inside the Epic Hotel so you don’t wander along Biscayne Blvd. like I did. Click here for details.
I’ll be trying Milos and Sushi Samba Dromo. Do share which restaurants you think are worthy to try or not!
2nd Annual Taste of the Beach in Collins Park
Sat. Sept. 28 and Sun. Sept.29, 12-8pm
Wok Star presentation, Sat. 9/28, 2-3pm
Curated to celebrate and feature the great culinary creations of Miami Beach restaurants and eateries.
This year’s event itinerary includes cooking demonstrations including Wok Star Eleanor Hoh, the “Art of Mixology” cocktail craft, live entertainment provided by Honor Roll, and a performance by the renowned Mango’s Dancers. Attendees will be encouraged to eat-n-tweet from the “BeeFree Lounge”and sip-n-tweet from sponsor themed bars: Sweetwater Beer Garden, Radio Bar, Mango’s Mojito Bar and Charles St. Mixology Bar.
$5 General Admission
Includes live entertainment and a raffle ticket eligible for winnings with ULTIMATE MIAMI Weekend, American Airlines, and a Miami Beach five-star status staycation.
$20 VIP Reception
Includes Access to CHARLES St. NYC Kitchen VIP Reception Saturday, September 28th, 7-9 PM with guest DJ Reid Waters and a LIVE performance by Nikki Blitz.
Click here for schedule, ticket information.
SWEEPSTAKES TO WIN FREE BARCELONA TRIP FOR TWO!
ESTRELLA DAMM WYNWOOD TAPAS JOURNEY
Estrella Damm’s Tapas Journey engages South Florida’s culinary palate with participating restaurants to create three small dishes to be sold with an Estrella Damm lager for the price of $20 between September 16 – October 6, 2013 in Wynwood Arts District. Patrons will have the chance to enter a sweepstakes to win a free trip to Barcelona for two and enjoy tapas at the world’s best tapas restaurant. Estrella Damm works in partnership with the world’s most award-winning chef Ferran Adrià to promote the “Tapas” concept globally.
Visit here for full details of participating restaurants and how to enter sweepstakes for FREE Barcelona Trip for two!
PRESERVATION, WINE WEEKDAYS
18250 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 305-974-0273 $30 for 3 courses paired with wines eatpreservation.com for full menu and details
Experience the innovative culinary creations of Chef Ryan Harris at his restaurant, Preservation! Their “Wine Weekdays” menu is an absolute steal, you should definitely go try it and tell Ryan, Wok Star sent you! My hubby and I were lucky enough to enjoy Chef Ryan’s innovative seven course tasting menu and got a chance to sit and get into his head. I will be posting about that experience soon. The food, music, service, atmosphere, decor were faultless! Ryan asked me to caution that wines and dishes are subject to change due to Eat Preservation and Mas Vino’s extreme imaginations! Love that. I’ve chosen Preservation to celebrate my birthday dinner, can’t wait to see what surprises Ryan comes up with.
SHELLEY-BELLY’S UNDERGROUND DINNER
Saturday, September 28 email shelleybelly@att.net secret address revealed when it’s a done deal!
Everything including menu is shrouded in secrecy till you arrive and see the menu board! Password to get in, meeting eclectic group of folks, beautiful setting, one dish at a time, breaks in between to chat, all the stuff I enjoy about a dining experience. Shelley perfects everything she does, so you’re just spoiled rotten. You’re in for a real treat. Read about my dinner here. Get all the underground details here.
ESSENSIA MIAMI SPICE MENU
The Palms Hotel
They’re offering exclusive Miami Spice lunch and dinner menus! It’s a beautiful setting with outdoor patio dining and the food is always fresh and delicious. Chef Julie Frans uses organic and local ingredients for 3-course farm to table meals.
HOME DESIGN AND REMODELING SHOW
Wok Star Demo : Sunday September 1st, 3:30pm Use #HDRS2013 @FLHomeshows @wokstar on twitter and Instagram
Click the “Like” button on my Facebook page for FREE tickets. Excited I’ve been invited to present at the Home Design and Remodeling Show for a live Wok Star cooking demonstration! Stop by for a tasting of Easy Tender Stir Fry Steak with onions and colorful peppers for busy weeknight dinner (my Hispanic friends know it as Lomo Soltado!) and a Simple Veggie Stir Fry with asparagus, sugar snap, orange bell pepper and maitake mushroom and amaze all the parents with kids because they’ll enjoy eating these crispy, crunchy veggies!
You’ll also get a chance to win a raffle prize for a Wok Star Class certificate for 2 guests valued at $130 and a Giveaway bag of goodies from premium sponsors!
Sept. 20 and Sept.21
James Beard Foundation’s Taste America®
Saturday, September 21: FREE Cooking demonstration from All-Star Ted Allen and Top Chef Just Desserts winner Yigit Pura of Tout Sweet Pâtisserie, a cookbook signing with Allen, as well as tastings from South Florida artisans Healthy Greek Eats, Laurie’s Pantry, Nikki’s Bikini Pies and Pika Sauce.
Pick up free tickets at Sur La Table starting September 20. Sur La Table, located at 428 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. To purchase tickets and find out more information, visit surlatable.com.
For more information about Taste America events in Miami, visit James Beard Foundation site.
Norwegian Getaway Spice It Up Sweepstakes
From now through September 30, 2013, foodies and travel aficionados alike can enter the “Norwegian Getaway Spice It Up Sweepstakes” at I Love Miami Spice.
Enter for a chance to win a seven-day cruise on-board Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ship, Norwegian Getaway. With choice of 26 incredible dining options, including Celebrity Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian’s three dining concepts. The Illusionarium, an all-new dining and entertainment experience that invites guests to experience the astonishing illusions of world-class magicians and supernatural special effects. GRAMMY® Experience includes artifacts chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum® along with live performances by past GRAMMY® winners and nominees. To cap off a spectacular cruise experience, every sailing will feature a dazzling fireworks show at sea, set to music, as part of a dance party in the ship’s outdoor club, Spice H20.
POP-UP TAPAS COOKING CLASS
- photo credit: chatchowtv
EDGE, Steak & Bar offers a great outdoor dining experience, you’d never know you were in the middle of Brickell! We dined there recently, post coming soon! They’re participating in Miami Spice, so take advantage of it. Click here for details.
Special for this class only, Executive Chef Aaron Brooks partners up with Chef Todd Erickson of South Beach’s renowned Haven and HUAHUA’S Taqueria for a “Small Bites, Big Appetites” modern global tapas cooking class. A portion of the proceeds will go to the No Kid Hungry Campaign! A popular monthly interactive cooking class with 20 participants and includes a welcome cocktail, three-course meal, wine and beer during class, hands-on instruction and a take-home gift bag. I have to get to one of Chef Brooks’ classes one day but always seems to fall on same day I’m giving one! Click here for details.
JUNE EVENTS
Do keep visiting or get the rss feed for latest updates!
Great Father’s Day Gift Idea!
Wok Star cooking class
Wednesday, June 13: 6:30-8:30pm
Venue: Cooking with Kids, Miami Shores
Bring your Dad & let him be a Wok Star! My Dad was a foodie and great cook and your Dad can be too!
Chef Maria Cummins’ beautiful space is hosting me. We’ll gather round a gorgeous big wood table with 2 woks and gas stoves going! Lots of interaction and many will get a chance to be a Wok Star!
Join me for a unique experience, meet cool people, get tons of tips and learn to Cook Like a Wok Star! My easy, NO-recipe technique for busy weeknights make cooking creative and fun! Savor 3 delicious dishes paired with Fiji Water and Barton & Guestier’s vouvray wine.
Click for full details.
Remembering Dad on Father’s Day!
Here’s a tribute to my Dad, a non-traditional China man, dapper dresser, entrepreneur, foodie and fab provider. Oh, he was pretty eccentric too.
I wish I had a photo of my Dad cooking, he wore an apron and really got into it! He drove my mom nuts because he’d use only stems of veggies & the most expensive ingredients. He’d like my simple but tasty Salmon Bok Choy Soup.
Top Ten Favorite Dishes in the 305 and annual Best of on June 14
Vote for your favorite restaurant in New Times
I need to catch up writing tons of restaurant reviews especially with an Asian slant. Type in Asian Restaurant Reviews in side bar for current ones.
Redland Summer Festival
Fruit & Spice Park
June 16 & 17, 10-5pm
This Festival showcases local agriculture, and tropical fruits. Vendor booths featuring local wines, yummy foods, and rare fruit samplings will be available.