Culinary Adventures

Posted by Maryanne Salvat On June - 4 - 2011
Chef Michael Shikany

Chef Michael Shikany

By:  Mary Jo Almeida-Shore 

SHIKANY, a new 5-star nomadic culinary series, held a one-of-a-kind kick-off dinner for thirty VIPs at Chef Michael Shikany’s fabulous Miami Beach home. The seven-course meal was exquisite – Jerk Rubbed Foie Gras on Cinnamon Brioche French Toast, Butter Poached Lobster “Mac & Cheese” on Marscapone Truffled Orzo, and Vanilla Scented Seared Scallop with Candied Meyer Lemon were but three. Each course was paired with white wine, red wine, sake, plum wine, prosecco or a SHIKANY martini. 

Immediately following dinner, after DJ Vidal provided mood-setting music, guests boarded a limousine bus to a $9 million, 80’ Ferretti yacht for a sunset cruise, where they enjoyed Moet Imperial Ice and Cloud Nine cupcakes. The night was the perfect preview of what is sure to become among the most sought after experiences in Miami.

ShikanyMediaDinner4Launching in June, SHIKANY will attempt to revolutionize the concept of pop-up dining- taking it to new levels and exotic locations. Brunches, called Sunday Sounds, aboard yachts; lunches at multi-million dollar waterfront homes; dinners at art galleries and rooftops are all on the agenda. And while these experiences are hardly unique to the garden-variety socialite/jet setter, the bringing together of like-minded individuals for the specific purpose of sharing ideas and gourmet food centered around a theme, is a refreshing opportunity to network and enjoy authentic conversations and experiences beyond what’s offered at the typical social gathering.   

According to Shikany, “We’re having thirty-six events in the next year. Every month, there will be one Sunday Sounds, one Winemaker Dinner, and one Interactive Dinner taking place.” The Interactive Dinners, for instance, will include various experiences including fashion shows, and TED-like (Technology Entertainment Design) lectures centered around a wide variety of topics, such as: fashion, art, travel, music, film, architecture or, say, yachting. Because SHIKANY has also partnered withShikanyMediaDinner5 Tesla electric supercars, crazy rides are also to be expected. The price for each event will range between $150 to over $500 per person, depending on the nature of the experience and the quality of the wines being served.  Shikany partner, Dreyfus Ashby, for example, represents Chateau Petrus, which sells for a whopping $700 per bottle. 

In a few words, “This is the domain of SHIKANY: A luxurious series blending food, wine, locations, lifestyle and music programming which doesn’t take itself too seriously.” 

Want to join? You have to register at www.shikany.com, and await instructions to upload a photo and short essay on why you want to attend an upcoming event, say, the “architecture” dinner. Seating is limited to only 25-40 lucky participants. Sign us up! 

Chefs for a Cure

Several super-star chefs recently joined 1500°’s Executive Chef Paula DaSilva at her farm-to-table restaurant in the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, for the first annual Chefs for a Cure, an exquisite five-course dinner prepared by a stellar line-up of chefs to benefit the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). 

Calling on fellow chef friends to lend a hand, DaSilva put together the dinner in remembrance of a dear friend who succumbed to the disease last year.  Chefs Dean Max of 3030 Ocean, Michael Bloise, Timon Balloo of Sugarcane, Sean Brasel of Meat Market and Hedy Goldsmith, executive pastry chef at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink joined forces in the 1500° kitchen to create a mouthwatering multi-course meal for supporters, survivors, foodies and friends.

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Nicola and Fabrizio Carro

 Quattro Gastronomia Italiana

Get a taste of Northern Italy without leaving South Beach at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana– Lincoln Road’s shiny sleek, eatery, where identical twin Italian hunks, Nicola and Fabrizio Carro (YES! There are TWO of them) from the province of Alessandria in the Piemonte region of Italy have created a menu that closely adheres to traditional methods using only the finest ingredients imported from Italy. The result is an authentic and charming dining experience that offers elegant fare created with traditional homeland flavors.  We only had the pleasure of meeting Nicola on our visit- as Fabrizio currently helms the kitchen at Quattro’s New York outpost in the Trump Soho Hotel, which opened last month. Quattro’s quality and success comes as no surprise, as it is co-owned by seasoned restaurateurs, Karim Masri, formerly of the Hotel Astor and Bambu and Nicola Siervo, formerly part owner of Joia, our all-time favorite Italian restaurant for food and scene back in the day. Quattro evokes the same vibe- stylish and sexy yet cozy and similar to Joia, is filled with pretty people from end to end- right down to the servers and chefs –Bellisimo!Quattro Miami Interior

 Some of our favorite dishes include the Parmigiana di Melanzane in forma- baked organic eggplant in mozzarella cheese, the Burrata Fresca imported from Puglia, Sundried Tomato Risotto and the steak, which rivals that of any of Miami’s top steakhouses. 

This summer, food and wine enthusiasts have an even greater incentive for visiting Quattro.  The chefs have created three prix fixe tasting menus which are a bargain.  Prix Fixe Lunch %

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