WALL Gives Back Donations for the Victims of the Central Italian Earthquake

Italian born Nicola Siervo and partners at WALL Miami are arranging a donations endeavor to alleviate the devastation of the Umbria, Lazzo and Marche regions of Italy.  In lieu of entrance fees, WALL simply asks for donations at the door in addition to their pledge of a portion of bar sales.  Starting on Tuesday, August 30th, WALL invites its guests to join their cause and see that looking good and doing good can be one in the same.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana Supports Victims of Italy’s Earthquake

On Wednesday, August 24, 2016, a Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Central Italy, killing at least 290 people and devastating the town of Amatrice. To assist those affected by this terrible disaster, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana will be offering Amatriciana pasta for the entire month of September, with proceeds from the dish going to the victims of the earthquake.

Amatriciana is a famous pasta sauce originating from the town of Amatrice, the site of the earthquake’s epicenter. Guests can order the pasta plate, made with tomato sauce, onions, guanciale and Pecorino Romano cheese, knowing that proceeds will go towards providing earthquake relief for the victims and their families.

“Our prayers go out to Italy and the victims of the earthquake. We encourage guests to order the Amatriciana pasta so that we can assist with relief efforts and create awareness for the affected region,” said Quattro general manager/partner Roberto Sanso.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana is located at 1014 Lincoln Road in South Beach. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are strongly suggested. Telephone: (305) 531-4833. Follow Quattro on Facebook: @quattromiami, Twitter: @quattromiami, Instagram: @quattromiami. www.quattromiami.com

We have loved the Betsy- South Beach Hotel for years and for so many reasons:  its elegant Old Florida ambiance, cozy and welcoming interiors,  “hidden gem” appeal…but most of all, for the elevated dining experience provided by Executive Chef Laurent Tourondel, who has recently opened LT Steak & Seafood, (where one of our favorites, BLT, used to be).  LT Steak and Seafood, much like its predecessor is dedicated to serving the best, most refined American steak and seafood on Miami Beach.  LT is a fitting dining room within the historic hotel, the Greater Miami area’s only Forbes Four Star and AAA Four Diamond rated boutique hotel.  LT Steak & Seafood offers diverse dishes that draw inspiration from the distinct energy of Miami. Chef Tourondel, one of the region’s strongest culinary voices, has created seasonally-inspired American menu that showcases a deep appreciation for the local landscape, combining beloved aspects of steak and seafood houses together under one very elegant roof. LT Steak & Seafood offers innovative takes on familiar dishes, with menu highlights featuring expansive sushi and raw bar offerings such as Crunchy Curried Peekytoe Crab and Freshwater Prawn Coconut; large seasonal salads including Lemon Poached Lobster Salad with grapefruit oil and Watermelon & Heirloom Tomatoes with feta, hot peppers and pomegranate vinaigrette; seafood entrees like Grilled Red Snapper with smashed fresh peas and lime-shiitake ginger vinaigrette; followed by a vast selection of U.S.D.A. Prime steaks from the grill, offered with rotating market sides. LT Steak & Seafood serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.  Our favorites included the Alaskan King Crab claws and the New York strip- a perfect steak, prepared to perfection.

To complement the menu, an extensive beverage program created by LT Steak & Seafood F&B Director David Weiss, consists of a range of literary-inspired original cocktails, along with some signature classics inspired by Tourondel. The restaurant’s wine program includes a diverse, international list to match the bold menu items.  We would be remiss if we failed to mention the outstanding service, from start to finish!

The new look at LT Steak & Seafood has been brought to life by the award-winning design team at The Betsy-South Beach, led by Diamante Pedersoli and Carmelina Santoro. Clean lines, rich textures and an understated elegance define the space, exuding true warmth and comfort. The restaurant’s signature large picture windows from the original L. Murray Dixon Art Deco Design further enhance the airy, open space.

During the months of August and September, diners can take advantage of LT Steak & Seafood’s Miami Spice offerings. To view the featured lunch and dinner menus, available for only $23 and $39 dollars, respectively, visit:  www.miamiandbeaches.com/restaurant/lt-steak-and-seafood/.

The  three course pre fixe lunch ($23) and dinner ($39) menus include Kampachi Ceviche with citrus juice, red onion, sweet potato, avocado, hauncaina sauce, and cancha and Pan Roasted Bronzino with brown butter mushroom mojo, crispy garlic, and ultra-watercress.

The opening of LT Steak & Seafood has coincided with the larger expansion of The Betsy-South Beach, which will be adding impressive new facilities to elevate the guest experience, while preserving the commitment to a high level of personalized service. Along with LT Steak & Seafood, the property’s expansion will include two additional culinary concepts overseen by Tourondel, scheduled to open in fall of 2016. LT Steak & Seafood is located at 1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily from 7:00am – 10:00pm Sunday through Thursday, and 7:00am – 11:00pm Friday through Saturday. For reservations,  call 305-673-0044. All major credit cards accepted. For additional information, visit www.thebetsyhotel.com/dining.  

Experience some of Miami’s finest restaurants, all while helping those in need.  Miami magazine calls on all foodies as it prepares to showcase 20 of the Magic City’s most outstanding restaurants and Chefs during the 8th annual “To Live and Dine” lavish soiree on August 17. Publisher Diana Riser will host the event at the new and innovative Private Key Club in Wynwood where over 400 guests will converge to feast over sample signature menu items and mingle with the local celebrity chefs. In addition to indulging in the sweet and savory bites from Hall of Famers DB Bistro, Bulla, STK, Katsuya, Scarpetta, The Bazaar and newcomers Pao, Los Fuegos, River Yacht Club, Kaori , among many others, to the beat of DJ Michael Sarz, guests will enjoy many interactive activities, including a fun photo booth and a beautiful display of the latest luxury cars from BMW. Open bars and thirst quenchers will be provided by Russian Standard vodka, Slow Press Wines, Concrete Beach Brewery and sparkling waters and juices from Alta Palla. Channel 7 Anchor Belkeys Nerey, Giovanny from Chat Chow and Miami magazine contributing food writer Jen Kavetchnik will judge the “Best of Show” competition. The winner will be announced post event through social media. The event benefits Chapman Partnership. For more information please contact Sofia Ponce de Leon at sponcedeleon@moderluxury.com. To reply and purchase your tickets please go to the ticket link – liveanddine2016.eventbrite.com

Izzy’s Fish & Oyster Party Benefitting Share Our Strength “No Kid Hungry” 

On Thursday, June 30, get your captain hats ready as Miami Beach’s award-laden neighborhood restaurant, Izzy’s Fish & Oyster, is set to celebrate the summer season with a fête, fit only for one of the world’s largest boating capitals. To properly launch its new summer cocktail menu by Bar Captain Jaime Russo, Izzy’s Fish & Oyster’s suitably appointed “Drinks Ahoy” summer party will offer a complimentary taste of all six new drinks, each named after and inspired by common fishing boats, as well as enlist in James Beard Award-winning chef Allen Susser to create bar snacks to pair. In addition to the bar offerings and beachside beats by Miami’s favorite DJ YSL, guests will fall hook, line and sinker for the restaurant’s classic Summer Fish Fry offering fried local fish, fried oysters, fried shrimp, onion rings and the signature seasoned waffle fries combined with unlimited Narragansett and a cup of chowder – all in the spirit of New England. Tickets for the event will cost $35 per person and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Share Our Strength’s “No Kid Hungry” campaign, ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring all children get the healthy food they need every day; for reservations or more information, please call 305.397.8843 or visit www.izzysmiami.com.   

Nikki Beach’s July 4^th BBQ

No one will host a better 4th of July Beach BBQ like Nikki Beach when they host their “12th Annual IndepenDANCE” event that also kick’s off Nikki Beach’s Weekly Saturday BBQ. Complete with top DJs like Victor Calderone and Chus & Ceballos, and their exclusive Nikki Beach fireworks show, dishes like pulled pork and fried baby back ribs are due to take center stage. Beachside, guests can feast on all of the ultimate BBQ favorites to include Baby Back Ribs, the ‘Meeerrrica’ Burger featuring American cheese and pork belly bacon smashed between two glazed donuts, deep fried Mac & Cheese Balls and many more! IndepenDANCE takes place July 4th with doors staring at noon and is 21+. Tickets start at $15.00 and BBQ features start at $9.00. For more information visit:www.independance.com. Nikki Beach is located at One Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFL. www.nikkibeach.com.

The Tapas Bar at KLIMA

The Tapas Bar at KLIMA introduces a new Tapas menu comprising of a series of small plates designed for sharing with friends and for those who prefer a slightly lighter alternative to the restaurant’s main menu.  Two stainless steel high top tables, each with a capacity of up to 10 people, are positioned at the front of the restaurant and adjacent to the bar, offering communal style seating – ideal for conversation and social interaction with like-minded food enthusiasts while watching passers-by. The Tapas Bar at KLIMA serves as the ideal “quick and casual” dining alternative to compliment KLIMA’s full service experience. The Tapas bar at KLIMA consists of a menu of small plates that represent a simple yet diverse range of rich and flavorful delicacies, ranging from between $2 and $22 per dish, showcasing the restaurant’s very best in Barcelona-inspired and Western Medittaranean cuisine.  The new tapas menu includes: Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish omelette) ($10); Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes in paprika sauce) ($6); Calamares Andaluza (calamari Andalusian style) ($10); Gambas al Ajillo (shrimps in garlic sauce) ($14); Jamon Iberico (Iberico ham ‘5 jotas’) ($16); Croquetas de jamon (ham croquettes) ($2 each); Pulpo al Josper (squid from the Josper oven) ($14); Mini Burger ($8); Pimientos rellenos de mascarpone y miel (stuffed peppers with mascarpone cheese and honey) ($3 each); Tuna Toast ($3.50 each); Veal Cannelloni, ($10); Tosta de Escalibaba (toast topped with roasted vegatables) ($6); Tabla de Quesos (Spanish cheese plate) (Half $10 or Full $20) and Tabla de Embutidos (selection of cold meats) (Half $11 or Full $22).  Wine by the glass will also be available to compliment each plate on the menu.   KLIMA delivers an eclectic menu of seasonal fish, seafood, meats and pasta dishes on its main menu – conceived using a contemporary approach to western Mediterranean cuisine. Popular favorites from the Tapas and Raw Bar selection include Tuna Toast ($19), Jamon & Egg ($17), 5 Jotas Iberian Ham ($22/40) and Hamachi (Yellow Tail) Tiradito ($20) as the signature dishes.  A new addition includes the “Josper” Spanish Octopus ($18).  The Fennel Carpaccio ($15) remains a signature favorite on the salad menu, whereas the Idiazabal Cheese Ravioli ($25) has been added as a new signature dish on the pasta menu.   Favorite Iberian Cuts of meat straight from the “Josper” Charcoal Oven include NC Cheshire Pork Ribs ($28) and the Shoulder Tenderloin (Pluma Ibérica) ($36), which is a recent addition along with the Neck Loin ($49).  From the fish menu, the Chilean Sea Bass ($39) has been added to the menu’s signature plates, together with the Branzino ($31) – two seasonal dishes harvested fresh from Florida’s waters.   A unique choice of seven desserts have been created by the resident pastry chef, with favorites that include the Nutella Brownie ($12), Torrija (caramelized brioche, Greek Yoghurt ice cream) ($12) and Passion Fruit Crema ($11).  To complete the meal, KLIMA offers a Regional Spanish Cheese Board ($20) that includes Manchego, La Peral Blue, Payoyo and Idiazabal – considered to be the only cheese selection of its kind in Miami.   Select meats on the menu at KLIMA Restaurant and Bar are cooked to perfection in the Josper Oven – a unique charcoal filled oven from Spain that is especially created to grill meats evenly and with a perfect tenderness, resulting in a taste similar to that of an outdoor barbeque. The Josper Oven at KLIMA is only one of two currently being used in South Florida.   The culinary vision for KLIMA reflects the roots of the founders, Pablo Fernández-Valdés and Yago Giner, while combining the very best in local ingredients sourced from premium South Florida suppliers.   KLIMA Restaurant and Bar is located at 210 23rd Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139, and is open for daily dinner reservations from 6:00 p.m. by calling 786.453.2779 or by emailing Reservations@klimamiami.com. For more information, visit www.klimamiami.com and follow the conversation using @klimamiami and #klimamiami

Pawn Broker Hosts the Opening of Pubbelly Sushi and Mucho Gusto 

On the evening of Wednesday June 22^nd, Pawn Broker will be hosting a night celebrating the opening of Pubbelly Sushi, Brickell edition and Mucho Gusto, ‘a mind-blowing farm to taco concept’. With the two restaurant’s new homes in Brickell City Centre, the neighboring venues are jumping on the taco band wagon and bringing to life the community spirit by serving up a collaboration feast of specialty tacos. Chef Santiago Gomez will be making 3 Mucho Gusto originals and Chef José Mendin will be cooking 3 Pubbelly Sushi classics. Once you’re done feasting on your tacos, treat your sweet tooth to a selection of two homemade pastries baked by Chef Maria Orantes that will be served up throughout the bar. The evening wouldn’t be complete without a drop of liquor to ‘cleanse the palate’ and so you will be greeted by a shot of Don Julio Tequila on arrival and there will also be a selection of Mezcal, Tequila cocktails and Mexican beer to enjoy as a side to your tacos. The celebration will coincide with the bar’s well established Ladies Night, with girls buying a drink and their friend served one free* and churros that will be served throughout the bar towards the end of the night.

Chef Jose Mendin Serves Up PB Burgers at Pubbelly 

Back in town for only 8 weeks, Chef Jose Mendin will be serving up his famous PB burgers to Pubbelly dinner tables. Exclusive to Wednesdays, the Sunset Harbour Chef will host a special lineup of guests who will be sharing their own original burger recipes. For more information and a full menu visit: http://www.pubbellyboys.com/index.php/2016/06/06/pb-burger/

Baby Jane Unplugged Lunch

Brickell Hotspot also announces Daily lunch special of Chef Michael Beltran’s famous Soy Caramel Glazed Wings and a choice of Caesar Salad or our Beet & Peach salad for $10. Guests are invited to hang out and take a “recess” from the office over lunch items like Chef Michael Beltran’s famous soy caramel chicken wings and the double-patty McChug Burger made with a homemade bun and in-house cured pickles. Other popular lunch items include the Green Circle Thighs (pan-seared chicken thighs over a yucca mash with roasted fennel and mojo frances), the pork belly Banh Mi sandwich and the fresh burrata dish using cheese from Mimo’s Market in North Miami. Lighter dishes include the local fish ceviche with avocado, radish, grapefruit, lime and orange juice and the beet and peach salad with whipped ricotta and pistachios. In addition, all lunch goers will receive a complimentary craft beer with their entree and can opt for the Daily lunch special of Chef Michael Beltran’s famous Soy Caramel Glazed Wings and a choice of Caesar Salad or our Beet & Peach salad for $10.

C’est Rouge! at the Faena Theater 

Alan Faena along with world renowned and multiple award winning choreographer Blanca Li launched a new element to an already breathtaking property of untethered elegance in the form of C’est Rouge!– a seductive revue of singular vignettes set to Latin American and Jazz rhythms by an extraordinary septet band, which fuses entertainment, humor and beauty to showcase the ability of the human body to create awe-inspiring performances. The fantastical late night show and succession of flowing dreams and acts plays Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30PM. See link for additional information on the impressive Blanca Li and C’est Rouge!

In addition to the incredible C’est Rouge! show, Pao by Top Chef/James Beard Award winner Paul Qui is offering a $100 Pre-Theater pre-fixe menu from 6pm to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

National Ceviche Day at SuViche 

On Tuesday, June 28^th celebrate National Ceviche Day!   SuViche, a Peruvian-Japanese Restaurant and Pisco Bar, will be offering $18 Bottomless Small Ceviches at all four of their locations (Las Olas, Wynwood, Brickell and Miami Beach). The special will be available from 3 p.m. to close and includes SuViche’s seven different ceviche variations such as the Ceviche Natural, Ceviche Rocoto, Ceviche de Aji Amarillo and their special -, Ceviche SuVama. Guests also have the choice to substitute for Shrimp Ceviche for just $6 more. While enjoying the bottomless ceviche specials, guests can take advantage of Happy Hour deals, which include 2-for-1 drinks from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at all locations.

Amigo For Kids 2016 Miami Celebrity Domino Night

Amigos For Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect, will host the 2016 Miami Celebrity Domino Night on Saturday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Jungle Island in Miami. Referred to as South Florida’s most anticipated annual fundraiser, Miami Celebrity Domino Night is an evening dedicated to raising funds and creating awareness about child abuse and neglect. The night features the renowned celebrity blue carpet, celeb domino players, bar courtesy of presenting sponsor Bacardí U.S.A., an impressive silent auction, live entertainment, South Florida culinary fare and much more.

The event’s silent auction will include original art by local South Florida talent, weekend getaway packages, high-end spa and beauty packages, gift certificates to area restaurants and much more. Guests will enjoy live performances by the Groove Republik Band, Locos por Juana and DJ Irie.

Among the noted celebrities and local personalities expected to attend this year’s event are confirmed Celebrity Chairs Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo anchor María Celeste-Arrarás and Edith Gonzalez and the Miami Heat’s official disc jockey DJ Irie.