Kung Hei Fat Choy, tomorrow is the first day of the Chinese New Year and it’s the Year of the Ram, Goat or Sheep and will last 15 days. This year, I’ve decided to eat in on the day of Chinese New Year but eat out to celebrate with my HOH WOK CLUB!
I’m very thrilled to announce HAKKASAN, the beautiful teak paneled and sleek Chinese restaurant inside the iconic Fountainbleau Hotel, Miami Beach will be hosting my HOH WOK CLUB sit down lunch, Sunday, March 1st, so please SAVE THE DATE! It was very short notice organizing this, so menu is still to be locked down, however, it is ON! We discussed a 3 course lunch from their a la carte menu, it’s the best deal in town!
I hope you’ll join me in this incredible restaurant that represents Asian culture and cuisine at its best! HAKKASAN is a restaurant I’m proud and honored to be associated with. I only want to bring you the best so you’ll have a wonderful experience to remember, so bring your family and friends and let’s celebrate the Year of the Ram!
Here are details so far, you’ll be prepaying through HAKKASAN…
When: Sunday, March 1st, 2015: 12-3pm
What: sit down set lunch
Complimentary: glass of champagne upon arrival
Cost: $45 plus tips and tax, total $57.15
Why: celebrate Chinese New Year of the Ram
Details: check back here for final menu and reservations!
Find out what HOH WOK CLUB is all about and some of the restaurants we’ve visited!
Here’s an idea for a simple home cooked Chinese New Year dinner. Remember WOK STARS, you can adapt your easy, no-recipe technique to any recipes you want to use! It’s all about setting the festive mood.
For loads more Chinese New Year ideas, visit my favorite Asian friends SteamyKitchen, RasaMalaysia and VietWorldKitchen.
Whether you’re a goat, ram or sheep, here are your predictions and everything you need to know so 2015 will be a great year!
List of restaurants celebrating Chinese New Year in Miami but I really, really hope you’ll join me at my celebration, see details above!
Hakkasan, Friday, Feb.20, Chinese New Year with Dragon Dance, $128, details.
Mandarin Oriental, Chinese New Year menu from Monday, February 23 to Friday, February 27, 2015 in Azul with French-Asian fusion cuisine $75, La Mar offering Peruvian cuisine with Asian influences, a la carte menu, $19-25 and Mo Bar and Lounge with 3 themed cocktails and unlimited dim sum $50, details.
Black Brick aka Midtown Chinese, no specials but it’s modern and good (will be posting review soon) and my new partner, Lemon City Tea will be pairing teas there! Voted America’s Best new restaurant 2014 by Bon Appetit, details.
Other restaurants who may be having Chinese New Year celebrations but not posted on their site so you’ll have to contact them for details…
Tropical Chinese
Tony Chan Water Club
King Palace, no website, 305-949-2339
Kon Chau
South Garden
"HOH WOK CLUB"
August Events
Casting Call for new Food Network TV Show!
The producers of Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race” are holding a nationwide search for a new supermarket themed reality series! Contestants will race against the clock using their shopping savvy and cooking know-how for a chance of winning up to $20,000! Chefs and professional cooks from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
If you think you have what it takes, e-mail grocerygames@rrstaff.com. In the subject line include your CITY/STATE and in the body include NAME, PHONE NUMBER, PHOTO, CURRENT OCCUPATION, a description of your CULINARY BACKGROUND, and WHY you think you can WIN!
Saffron Supper Club
“A Night in Jerusalem”
A Middle-Eastern Pop Up
5255 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Sunday, August 11, 6-9pm $65 pp Cocktails by Grey Goose
Please join my foodie friends, Maude Eaton and Sara Liss for an engaging evening at a clandestine location in Miami Beach as they explore the exotic and seducing flavors of Jerusalem. An intimate dinner where you’ll enjoy traditional Arabic, Israeli and Persian dishes. Canapes like Goat Cheese Stuffed Phyllo, Pomegranate Molasses and appetizers by Chef Michael Jacobs then onto “Persian Soul Food” family style prepared by Maude and Sara, this Lemony Persian stew made with herbs, dried lemons, beef, red kidney beans sounds enticing! Click here for full details! I went to their last one and it was a fun evening and the food was divine and didn’t stop coming!
Miami Spice
Kicking off in August, Miami Spice will be promoting the best of Miami cuisine with top restaurants offering three course meals and signature dishes.
Casa Vinicola ZONIN USA hosts Art of Wok Cooking
with wines from their vineyard
Wed. August 21, 6:30-9:30pm
Registration and prepayment required, click here.
Join me for a cooking class at Casa Vinicola Zonin’s spectacular penthouse loft with stunning views of Miami and tasty wine pairings straight from their vineyards!
HOH WOK CLUB , Shokudo
Sun. August 24, 12-3pm
Don’t miss the HOH WOK CLUB gathering at Shokudo for delicious Asian food, friends and fun!
Details on my blog.
WOK STAR COOKING CLASSES
Architect Randa is a Wok Star!
Wok Star Cooking Class hosted by La Cuisine & Clark, Wed. Aug. 14 from 7-10pm
Registration and prepayment required, click here.
HOH WOK CLUB, Shokudo
I’m delighted to announce the first HOH WOK CLUB gathering of 2013 will be held at Shokudo, a beautiful Japanese restaurant in the up and coming Buena Vista area. So, I look forward to seeing you, bring your family and friends and join me for a 6 course tasting lunch, Sunday, August 25 from 12-3pm at an incredible price of $35 including tax and tips.
Thanks New Times for a fantastic writeup about this event and Brenda Benoit for her amazing recap.
Everything in this restaurant is created with such thoughtful elegance from the reclaimed wood counters and saki bar, to the zen bamboo garden. It’s totally charming! I’ve always said it’s not just about the food, the ambience, space, and decor are just as important and I think we’ve found it at Shokudo. There’s a nice mix of foods from all over Asia, so you’ll get a mini taster.
Yoko Takarada is the owner and general manager of Shokudo and formerly owned World Resource Cafe on Lincoln Road and Toni’s Sushi Bar, both in South Beach. I love that she’s continuing her family’s legacy with Shokudo. This is the reason why I like to support smaller, independent family owned restaurants and want them to succeed.
From food critic, Victoria Pesce Elliott, Miami Herald: Executive chef Armando Litiatco cooked at Boulevard in his native San Francisco and at Daniel Boulud’s Restaurant Daniel in New York before being lured here by the Takarada clan. The culinary team is on view in the vibrant kitchen.
Chef Armando is Philippino/Chinese and so jovial and easy to work with! He and I have put together a menu I know you’ll enjoy. I took some photos during my tasting to give you a flavor of what to expect…
DETAILS:
Sunday, August 25
12-3pm
$35 pp incl. tax and tips
Separate tab for drinks and can be added to your final bill.
Shokudo
4740 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami (Buena Vista), FL 33137
305-758-7782
Ta da, here’s the menu:
Special Cocktails during meet and greet, 12-12:30
Sakitini $5 or bottomless Mimosa $18
Tasting Menu
$35 incl. tips and tax
Vegetarian Roll served during cocktails
Grilled Pork Belly
Heart of palm salad, orange, edamame & yuzu
Soba Noodle Salad
Green tea infused soba noodles tossed with arugula, edamame, Bermuda onions,
shiitake mushrooms in house sesame dressing
Manila Ceviche
Cobia, mango, tomato, red onion, jalapeno,
calamansi, coconut milk & taro chips
Kalbi
72 Hour Marinated Korean ribs, Asian vegetable and rice
Banana Turon
Sweet spring roll of caramelized banana, chocolate,
jack fruit, cream cheese and caramel
RSVP & PREPAYMENT DETAILS:
Mandatory:
1) email me (wokstar at eleanorhoh dot com) so I can send out confirmations and any last minute details or if we have to cancel due to storm.
2) reservations and prepayment is on a first come, first served basis as seating is limited to the first 50 lucky guests.
3) Call SHOKUDO directly, 305-758-7782 and mention HOH WOK CLUB, Sunday lunch, August 25.
You know the drill…Shokudo will take your credit card number (you will NOT be charged till after your lunch.)
You will be charged if there’s a no show on the day of. If you want to send someone in your place, your replacement needs to call ASAP with their credit card number.
If no answer, leave your name, telephone number plus the number of guests in your group so they can call you back to confirm.
PARKING:
FREE street parking all around or valet for $4 especially if raining or too hot!
Make sure you do NOT park in front of gates, fire hydrants, the usual.
Look forward to seeing you there for some yummy Asian nosh…