By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

When it comes to the restaurant business, Shareef Malnik could teach a Master class, after all, Malnik began working at his beloved Forge (now Forge I Wine Bar) at the tender age of thirteen.  So when he decided to close down South Beach’s oldest restaurant and most storied landmark to give it a $10 million extreme makeover, transforming the look, feel, philosophy, and menu, there was no doubt that the result would be “a good  thing,” to quote Martha Stewart.  And, in fact, it is a very good thing. 

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By:  Maryanne Salvat

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any hotter or spicier, South Florida gears up for the 9^thannual Miami Spice Restaurant Month.   Joining the delectable venture is the highly revered Fontainebleau Resort.  Gotham Steak, Scarpetta and Hakkasan, as well as its modern American café Vida,are all offering $35 three-course prix-fixe dinner menus. In addition, Hakkasanis offering an impressive family-style Dim Sum lunch menu for only $22. The iconic resort is also providing discounted valet parking to restaurant patrons. The prix-fixe prices do not include tax and gratuity and reservations are highly recommended.  Here is a quick preview of the Miami Spice menu offered at these fine dining establishments from August 1 through September 30, 2010.  Warning: Mouth-watering may occur as you read through. Read the rest of this entry »

Zuma, Zuma, Zuma!

London’s award-winning restaurant, Zuma officially opened at EPIC Hotel and Residences this week, its first location in America, bringing its internationally acclaimed style of modern Japanese cuisine to downtown. The brainchild of German chef Rainer Becker, Zuma offers sophisticated Japanese cuisine in an informal Japanese dining style called Izakaya.  Becker honed his skills and developed the concept behind Zuma during his six year tenure in Tokyo, before launching the first Zuma restaurant in London’s Knightsbridge.  Such was the enormous success of the restaurant with London’s international clientele, that demand supported the development of additional Zuma restaurants across the globe.  Since then, Becker has opened Zuma restaurants in Hong Kong, Istanbul and Dubai before bringing it to Miami. 

Zuma Miami promises the same success. The restaurant is sleek, stylish and spacious, the menu is categorized to satisfy the pickiest palate, and the servers are well-versed when interpreting the chef’s specialties.  The best thing on the menu, by far is the marinated black cod wrapped in a hoba leaf.  Even those, who, like us, are NOT fish fans are sure to find the cod, to quote SNL’s iconic, Linda Richman to be “Like Buttah!’”  “Discuss!”  Other favorites include: Gyu no tataki or seared beef with soy, ginger, lime and coriander; Gyuhire sumbiyaki karami sauce zuke or spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chilli and sweet soy; and the sushi, which is outstanding.  The desserts at Zuma seem to have been inspired by the name of the building, as they are “epic.”

Enjoying Zuma’s atmosphere and delicious food last week were several local VIPs, including:  Tui Pranich, Gary and Dana Shear, Walid and Susie Wahab, Gisela and Diego Lowenstein, the Dascal family, Gabriella Arango and family, Elizabeth and Mitchel Taylor, Belkys Nerey, Frank Amadeo, Ingrid Casares, Deborah Wecselman, Norma Quintero, Maria Celeste Arraras, and Louis Aguirre. Internationally, Zuma has a significant celebrity following, including regulars such as: Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin, Lady Gaga, Tony Blair, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Victoria and David Beckham, Sarah Ferguson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Antonio Banderas and Keith Richards among many others. To make reservations for Zuma, call: (305) 577-0277.

If you like your steak with a whopping side of scene, STK is your new den of carnal pleasures. What Carnaval is to a street parade, STK is to the typical steakhouse. Its impact on the Gansevoort parallels what the Saints did for the Super Bowl ratings.We suspected STK would be outside of the norm, after months and months of seeing those racy posters plastered around the Gansevoort, of a sexy, half-naked woman doing all sorts of things to a hunk of raw meat, heralding the arrival of the NYC and LA transplant. The highly anticipated steak temple finally opened last month with a huge bash thrown by Celeste Fierro and Jonathan Segal, of The One Group, along with Executive Chef, Todd Mark Miller, for which three　times the number of expected invitees showed up.　 We couldn’t walk two inches without running into someone we knew as we meandered through the labyrinthine space.　 The stylish, dimly-lit, massive, two-story restaurant resembles a trendy nightclub, complete with day-glo purple walls, a catwalk, a huge glazed screen broadcasting a woman’s silhouette, multiple bars, DJ booth and V.I.P. areas. Then there’s the music: all your favorite tracks from the 80s: The Cure, Hall & Oates, Michael Jackson, will keep you grooving in your seat.

Parts of this story appeared in  944 magazine April 2010

In the heart of Coral Gables, a charming European bistro has found its home.  Angelique EuroCafe is a little piece of heaven where you can enjoy the delectable creations by Chef LeRoy Bautista who originally hails from New Orleans.  The menu offers European dishes primarily from Spain, France, Belgium and Italy.  Owners Yolanda and Carlos Rossi have created a warm and intimate atmosphere that you would experience while strolling the streets in Europe. According to Mrs. Rossi “it embodies the unique and complete European neighborhood cafe experience – a welcoming place where guests can indulge in simple and alluring flavors, sip favorite beverages and socialize with friends”. 

 The wine bar is extensive, taking you through the wineries of Italy, France, South Africa, Germany, and of course our very own California.  Meals are paired with wines that enhance flavors and textures. To start, amuse your bouche with the Gruyere Gougeres, a French cheese puff served with a sweet marmalade that has a little cayenne kick (compliments of the chef). The truffle gnocchi (a fan favorite) is a must; they are tiny scrumptious pillows of Mascarpone Cream with Black Truffle and Amaretti Crumbs (having a moment).  The mouth watering Branzino, better known as Italian Sea Bass, is served on a bed of fried garbanzos, baby spinach, tomato, capers, shallots and white wine.  The Gambas Angelique has a Spanish flair, served with saffron rice in a light sauce of Bass ale, Worcestershire, garlic, and butter.

 The experience will leave you feeling ‘cest magnifique! For more information go to www.angeliqueeurocafe.com.

Clay Conley

Several VIPs and celebrated chefs participated in a great cause on Thursday at the InterContinental Miami for “Chefs with a Purpose: Haiti” benefiting International Firefighters Assistance (IFA). Hosted by Robert Hill, InterContinental Miami General Manager, and emcee Lissette Gonzalez, CBS 4 News Weather Anchor, along with Chef Chairs Alexander Feher of InterContinental Miami and Chef Jan Jorgenson of Two Chefs, the event drew more than 300 guests and raised $25,000 for IFA’s current and future efforts in Haiti. The culinary extravaganza offered bountiful tastings of delicious dishes by top chefs including Jonathan Eismann (Q American Barbeque, Pacific Time and Pizza Volante), Chef Clay Conley (Azul at Mandarin Oriental Miami), Chef Jeff O’Neil (Gibraltar at Grove Isle Hotel & Spa) as well as Chefs Jonathan Wright and Noah French (The Setai Miami Beach). Guests including Burn Notice actress Gabrielle Anwar; Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado; Forge proprietor Shareef Malnik; Chairman of the Performing Arts Center Trust Ricky Arriola; and Univision host Rodner Figueroa enjoyed music by DJ Joe Dert as they bid on silent auction items.