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"miami restaurants"

Chinese New Year Roundup of Celebrations in Miami

January 27, 2017 By Eleanor Hoh 2 Comments

Kung Hei Fat Choy!  Since I’m not organizing a Chinese New Year gathering this year, I’ve put together a list of Chinese/Asian restaurants celebrating Year of the Rooster with a Lion Dance or Special Menu or both so you can go and experience it, you’re welcome.  Call them PRIOR to going to avoid disappointment, I’m just the messenger.  I called many of them and gathered information from various sources for your dining pleasure, enjoy!
Rooster
So, what does the Year of the Rooster mean to you?  First, find out if you are a Rooster here and everything you need to know about your characteristics, luck, wealth, work, health and love prospects. I’m a little superstitious about cleaning, so I’ve already done all my cleaning.  On Chinese New Year day, sweeping or cleaning is not a good idea cause you’ll sweep away your good luck!
ImageHowever, if you’re like my hubby and I who’ve seen and done it many times and don’t enjoy all the noise with the clashing cymbals and drums, you can easily cook a few simple dishes like Festive Vegetables, Dumplings which resemble gold ingots and will bring prosperity, so definitely have some of those and you can’t celebrate Chinese New Year without making Pineapple Fried Rice.

Festive Vegetables
Crispy Dumplings
Pineapple Fried Rice
Pineapple Fried Rice
Bamboo Garden
Lion Dance, Feb.3 @7pm and @7:30pm
Regular menu
Black Brick
No Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28
Family style dinner, $65pp with 2 person order minimum
Da Tang Unique
Click on link to find out how to win a trip for 2 to China!
Lion Dance, NY’s eve, Fri. 1/27 @9pm
$55 pp for 8 course menu
Sugar at East Miami Hotel, Brickell City Centre
https://miami.eventful.com/events/celebrate-chinese-new-year-east-miami-/E0-001-099621380-3
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 @10pm
Special Menu $120pp
Gold Marquess
Lion Dance Sat. 1/28 and Sun. 1/29 at 7pm
Special Occasion one-pot special for 10 people at $288
Holiday menu through Feb.10
Hakkasan
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 at 8:45pm starting at Bleau Bar in the Hotel lobby and end at Hakkasan
$128pp
Mandarin Oriental
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 at 7pm in hotel lobby
Dine at La Mar, no set menu
Now and Zen
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 @7:30pm and 8pm
Special menu $90pp
Pine Court Bistro
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 @11:45am
Set dinner $288 – 8 people
Talde
No Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28
$49 4-course prix fixe
Kon Chau
Lion Dance, Sunday 1/29 @12pm
Regular menu
Silver Pond
Lion Dance, Feb.3 @6pm
TBA menu
Tony Chan’s Water Club
Lion Dance, Friday, 1/27 @8:30pm and Saturday 1/28 @8pm
Regular menu
 
 
 
 
 
 

Filed Under: blog, Chinese New Year Tagged With: "Chinese food", "Lion Dance", "miami restaurants", "Year of Rooster", Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year Roundup of Celebrations in Miami

January 27, 2017 By Eleanor Hoh 2 Comments

Kung Hei Fat Choy!  Since I’m not organizing a Chinese New Year gathering this year, I’ve put together a list of Chinese/Asian restaurants celebrating Year of the Rooster with a Lion Dance or Special Menu or both so you can go and experience it, you’re welcome.  Call them PRIOR to going to avoid disappointment, I’m just the messenger.  I called many of them and gathered information from various sources for your dining pleasure, enjoy!
Rooster
So, what does the Year of the Rooster mean to you?  First, find out if you are a Rooster here and everything you need to know about your characteristics, luck, wealth, work, health and love prospects. I’m a little superstitious about cleaning, so I’ve already done all my cleaning.  On Chinese New Year day, sweeping or cleaning is not a good idea cause you’ll sweep away your good luck!
ImageHowever, if you’re like my hubby and I who’ve seen and done it many times and don’t enjoy all the noise with the clashing cymbals and drums, you can easily cook a few simple dishes like Festive Vegetables, Dumplings which resemble gold ingots and will bring prosperity, so definitely have some of those and you can’t celebrate Chinese New Year without making Pineapple Fried Rice.

Festive Vegetables
Crispy Dumplings
Pineapple Fried Rice
Pineapple Fried Rice
Bamboo Garden
Lion Dance, Feb.3 @7pm and @7:30pm
Regular menu
Black Brick
No Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28
Family style dinner, $65pp with 2 person order minimum
Da Tang Unique
Click on link to find out how to win a trip for 2 to China!
Lion Dance, NY’s eve, Fri. 1/27 @9pm
$55 pp for 8 course menu
Sugar at East Miami Hotel, Brickell City Centre
https://miami.eventful.com/events/celebrate-chinese-new-year-east-miami-/E0-001-099621380-3
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 @10pm
Special Menu $120pp
Gold Marquess
Lion Dance Sat. 1/28 and Sun. 1/29 at 7pm
Special Occasion one-pot special for 10 people at $288
Holiday menu through Feb.10
Hakkasan
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 at 8:45pm starting at Bleau Bar in the Hotel lobby and end at Hakkasan
$128pp
Mandarin Oriental
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 at 7pm in hotel lobby
Dine at La Mar, no set menu
Now and Zen
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 @7:30pm and 8pm
Special menu $90pp
Pine Court Bistro
Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28 @11:45am
Set dinner $288 – 8 people
Talde
No Lion Dance, Sat. 1/28
$49 4-course prix fixe
Kon Chau
Lion Dance, Sunday 1/29 @12pm
Regular menu
Silver Pond
Lion Dance, Feb.3 @6pm
TBA menu
Tony Chan’s Water Club
Lion Dance, Friday, 1/27 @8:30pm and Saturday 1/28 @8pm
Regular menu
 
 
 
 
 
 

Filed Under: blog, Chinese New Year Tagged With: "Chinese food", "Lion Dance", "miami restaurants", "Year of Rooster", Chinese New Year

Best Eats During Art Basel Miami

November 30, 2016 By Eleanor Hoh Leave a Comment

Art Basel Miami means there’s a mad scramble to get into popular restaurants, so I’ve compiled some of the BEST eats that are more out of the way.  You’ll get innovative food, value for your money and most are chef owned! Yes, I love supporting chef owned restaurants, I admire and respect what they’re doing! As a cooking teacher, I’m constantly asked which restaurants I eat at, so here’s a round up. I wanted to give just 10 but went way over because you can’t not mention ones close by that are so worth trying! Enjoy Art Basel.  Stay calm cause it’s going to be crazy but fun. Remember, you can always use Uber Eats to deliver food to you but not same as experiencing in person!
I’ve chosen eats in different areas of Miami, all close to where it’s all happening…
Buena Vista
is just north of Design District but has three blocks of wonderful cozy restaurants.
Buena Vista Deli is good for breakfast, brunch and lunch or just a snack. Gets packed on Sundays.
Shokudo has a zen garden space for a Japanese bento box lunch.

Lemoni-Pizza-collage
Lemoni Cafe, clockwise: skirt steak, portobello mushroom, pizza.
Lemoni Cafe and Pizzeria di Lemoni. 
Uh, confusing but you can order food from 2 different menus cause the two restaurants have the same chefs/owners, Chefs Maria and Assia. We like to get our “dessert” at BV Chocolate and Wine store in the next block north, their handmade chocolates are exquisite. Curry chocolate anyone?
What’s atmosphere?
Cozy, ecclectic, artsy.
What kind of food?
Home cooking at its best! Many vegetarian options. Most dishes come with toast.
What’s good?
Stuffed Portobello (bottom right)
Fall off the bone tender Lamb Shank, starting with Greek salad and toast.
Check their menu.
 
Biscayne Corridor is really becoming a foodie haven…
Vagabond Kitchen & Bar, a mid century modern restaurant inside a hotel was taken over recently by French owners so the decor is very chic. The round cocktail lounge bar is extremely popular as is a bar outside by the pool, definitely get a drink there! Their Grilled Octopus, Cauliflower Steak and Branzino was outrageous.
Blue Collar, Chef Daniel Serfer has the best sense of humor EVER, just check the menu and you’ll see what I mean! His comfort food is seriously so good but it’s always packed, but so worth it.  Sunday brunch has lines round the block.
Phuc Yea-collagePhuc Yea
NEW Vietnamese Bistro opened by a Vietnamese/American chef, Ani and Caesar!  Fun place with small plates. Very busy so reservations are a MUST!
What’s atmosphere?
Modern hip Asian industrial decor
What kind of food?
Viet Cajun, it works!
What’s good?
Imperial rolls appetizer
Salt N’Peppa Fishies
Caramel Pork Riblets
Check their menu
Loba, clockwise: Jessica and moi. Patacon, a whopping dish with rib eye steak, durac pork belly, rice, guac, pico de galo, chimchurri; crispy brussel sprouts; a salad. All delicious home cooking.
Loba, clockwise: Jessica and moi. Patacon, a whopping dish with rib eye steak, durac pork belly, rice, guac, pico de galo, chimchurri; crispy brussel sprouts; a salad. All delicious home cooking.
LOBA
It’s a family affair, Jessica, her mom, Libia both cook and brother, Jon is in charge of operations. Check out Jessica’s recent Zagat show, she visited chefs all over the world and cooked with them. I love the one in Hawaii where her mom joined her.
What’s atmosphere?
Jessica calls it, “rustic, DIY”. I love all the wood tables and chairs, very earthy. Tiny restaurant so reservations a MUST.
What kind of food?
Columbian soul food.
What’s good?
Columbians know how to cook meat, so the Patacon is a perfect dish to get an all rounder.
Check their menu
Pinch Miami
Chefs John and Rene are the cutest, congrats, they just celebrated their 1st anniversary! They care about what they put out, love that!
What’s atmosphere?
I keep saying cozy, ecclectic but that’s what this is!
What kind of food?
“small bites, big impact” is their motto. Farm to table.  Everything I’ve eaten there is perfectly executed, very tasty.
What’s good?
Roasted Organic Carrots appetizer
Pinch Burger (custom blend, they won’t share what’s in it!)
Frenched Organic Chicken with seasonal veggies, we had kale and mushrooms, so freakin’ tasty!
Check their menu
Bin 18
Chef Alfredo Patino is owner of this cute wine bar lounge and restaurant. Always fun to order a few dishes to share.
What’s atmosphere?
Contemporary Cosmopolitan casual chic with chandeliers and concrete slabs over wine barrels. Mismatched chairs.
What kind of food?
Chef calls it Riviera urban cuisine/Roadside European cuisine.
What’s good?
Duck and Truffle Pate with mango ginger chutney and ciabatta!
Pork Belly & Mango to die for.
Pulpo a la Mancha.
Check their menu
 
Downtown Miami
Niu Kitchen, Spanish tapas, downtown Miami, tiny cozy place, make reservation a MUST! Everything we’ve had there is EXCELLENT, say hi to chef Deme Lomas, he’s so sweet:

Bali Cafe, Indonesian food, kinda fun, sit in the window seats!
 
Midtown
Black Brick, started by a frustrated Filipino/American Chef Richard Hales who couldn’t find good Chinese dim sum or Asian food in Miami, yeah, I hear ya, so he opened this one and right opposite another one called Sakaya Kitchen! They are my go to restaurants.  He put a modern spin on the dishes, so don’t expect anything traditional, I love his Crispy Cumin Lamb Chops appetizer, Salt and Pepper Calamari.  In the Dim Sum department, shrimp and chive dumplings, pork cheek pan fried dumplings, Grandma’s red cooked pork belly, Asian eggplant (so good). End with his wife, Jenny’s delicious desserts.
Sakaya Kitchen, Richard calls this Funk Fusion! It’s a fast casual dining spot for good Korean inspired dishes. Order at the counter and sit down to eat, perfect for a grab and go eat, very popular during Art Basel! My favs are Dirty South Korean (pulled pork sliders with kimchi slaw, drooling thinking about this), Cracklin (duck sandwich), The Bulgogi, Angus beef Burger which come with his famous taters, this is a HUGE order so be prepared to hunker down or share (I have been known to finish this in one sitting!) and my absolute fav, Dae Ji (big bowl with spicy pork tenderloin, butter’d broccoli and coconut rice with peanuts, yummy).
 
Wynwood Arts District
GK Bistronomie, Peruvian tapas and amazing cocktails. Get award winning pork taquitos and veggie tempura (hm, think they don’t have it anymore but ask!), everything there is superbly executed, say hi to Chef Raphael. Always wonderful service and love this industrial, modern space.

Coyo Tacos is the best value for money if you’re in a hurry and need a quick bite. Got to have their freshly made guac and chips. If you’re hungry late at night, they are open till 3am!
Panther Coffee for a caffeine fix!
Dr. Smood, go visit this AMAZING cafe/health store!
Cafeina Lounge is a casual lounge bar with their own art gallery.
Visit Wynwood Walls and go deep into the back area, always happening place!
Also visit Plant the Future, beautiful terrariums in all white unique vessels.
South Beach
Taquiza,  freshly handmade blue corn tortillas with superb fillings, Camaron, Asada, Al Pastor.  An outdoor atrium, adorable and fun, do NOT miss this experience.

Barceloneta, Spanish tapas, always fun, excellent food and presentation. Fantastic ambience, they’ll always get you in, say hi to Chef Julianna.
Naiyara, Thai street food, get crispy chicken dumplings, best you’ll ever have!  Also Chiang Rai curry, it’s a whole experience with a tray of goodies, very fun place, say hi to Chef Bee. Again, reservations a MUST.
DIRT, EAT CLEAN, healthy dishes after you’re exhausted from all that rushing around, say hi to Chef Nicole Votano.
1 Hotel, Chef Tom Colicchio’s BeachCraft is there on ground floor. Breeze through beautiful hotel, you’ll appreciate it, see if you can get to see the pool and bar area, amazing. All white and all the plants are amazing. Visit the store, Plant the Future in there, they also have a store in WYNWOOD.
Juvia, in the Lincoln Road parking garage, go to rooftop for cocktails and hang around a living wall of plants and amazing Miami Beach views, beautiful ambience! Tricky to find, so ask.
 
 
 

Filed Under: "Art Basel", blog, Miami restaurant, restaurant review Tagged With: 'restaurant review', "Art Basel Miami", "Art Basel", "best eats", "miami eats", "miami restaurants"

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