By: Dr. Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

Wunderkind chef/owner Fernando Salazar and lifelong friend-turned-business-partner, Andres Marmolejos recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of wildly successful Prime Peruvian Steakhouse, Platea Miami, the first of its kind in Miami. The talented pair parlayed a background in butchery into a unique take on the traditional steakhouse by sourcing only the highest quality USDA Prime beef, and incorporating distinctive Peruvian flavors, ingredients, and techniques into every dish on the menu.

The restaurant is sleek and welcoming, elegant yet family-friendly. The interior is dimly lit and features jewel tones, velvet and leather seating, and a living wall inspired by Chef Salazar’s home, alongside an open kitchen.

The menu boasts classic offerings with a Peruvian spin such as Fried Ceviche with hake, jalea crust, aji amarillo, creamy leche de tigre; Seared Scallops, aji amarillo, chalaquita; and fried choclo. Starters on the menu feature flavor-packed openers like Aji De Gallina Bites with dehydrated botija olives – a delicious take on classic croquetas; Tostones with Wagyu picanha saltado, aji amarillo topped with salsa criolla.

But the beef steals the show! Meat lovers can relish in the exceptional Prime graded selections including USDA Prime Filet Mignon, USDA Prime Porterhouse, and USDA Prime Dino-Rib (which would give Fred Flintstone pause). Each is prepared with an intricate technique incorporating Peruvian Ají Panca, the foundation for the marinade which in turn seasons the salt that becomes the rub for the meat.

Seafood offerings such as Stuffed Galapagos Lobster, King Crab, and Sea Bass are flown in daily. Vegetarians have a full selection of menu items from which to choose, as well.

We had the opportunity to chat with Chef Salazar who shared that after attending MIT, he worked as a profiler for Homeland Security, then went on to study at Le Cordon Bleu. Salazar lead and managed various restaurants at the corporate level including Darwin’s on 4th, Pisco Y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar, Dr. Limon, Bulla Gastrobar, and Ceviche 105, before opening Platea (all by the age of 29). We were so impressed with Platea and with Salazar’s talent and dynamic personality that we were urged to find out more about his upbringing, techniques, vision, and future plans.
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WICKED, the Broadway sensation returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing ARTS. Looks at what happened in the Land of Oz but from a different angle long before Dorothy arrives; there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin — smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships — until the world decides to call one “good” and the other one “wicked.”
From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED — the untold true story of the Witches of Oz — transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry and think.”
WICKED runs until March 5,2023.
For tickets visit: https://www.arshtcenter.org/

Paperfish Sushi brings its popular Japanese-meets-Peruvian flavors to historic Española Way on South Beach after achieving great success with its award-winning Brickell location. Neatly tucked away amid pastel Mediterranean-style buildings, Paperfish South Beach presents its signature, creative flavors to visitors of the vibrant pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare. Rooted firmly in Japanese culture, while offering a bright, buzzy appeal, Paperfish invites diners to enjoy seasonal sushi, small plates, and specialty cocktails. 

Attention to detail, a tenet of Japanese tradition, is prevalent from Paperfish’s clean, contemporary style to its artfully crafted dishes. A soft glow emanates from the bar and sushi counter, embracing the dining room, which flaunts a palette of natural materials and handcrafted ceramics, offset by towering pink cherry blossom trees. Outdoors, a terrace adorned with Japanese street signs and string-lit trees offers an idyllic backdrop for a program of delicate and specialized cuisine, artfully combining old and new world appeal. The decor, dishes and cocktails beckon a multitude of Instagram posts!

Unique to the South Beach Paperfish location is Executive Chef Michael Asalie’s Ichiban Sando which won the 2022 South Beach Seafood Festival’s “Battle Sushi.” The Ichiban Sando (#1 sandwich) is comprised of  “bread” made of crispy rice- filled with spicy tuna, avocado, crab salad, and clarified garlic butter- crafted with Chef Michael’s wizardry, which makes its sum so much more than its parts. This dish is an absolute must- as is the Miso Black Cod, which is freshly caught and marinated for  48 hours in a house-made miso sauce.

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MISO- The Miami Symphony Orchestra will once again host a free concert at Peacock Park in Coconut Grove on Saturday January 14, 2022 at 6:30 pm. Pack a chair or blanket, picnic and a fellow music lover to enjoy some of the most beautiful music ever written and performed. Maestro Eduardo Marturet is sure to delight and surprise audiences as per usual.

The concert is free and open to the public.

A magic carpet ride of brilliant performers, stunning costumes, creative set design and special effects and beautiful music, Disney’s Aladdin is funny, entertaining and a joy to experience.

The plot, lyrics, humor and set are intended to appeal to young audiences, (ages six and up are recommended) while, at the same time, engaging and delighting adults.

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Left: Performance by Kianí del Valle. Right: Faena Prize Winner Paula de Solminihac with Jury members José Roca and Alexandre Arrechea. Photography by Oriol Tarridas. Courtesy of Faena Art.

Honoring the Gala’s theme “Patterns of Paradise”, guests were asked to explore the interconnectivity between all cultures and wear mismatched patterns to celebrate ritual and collective consciousness. The best dressed won a two-night stay at Faena Hotel Penthouse.

Guests also enjoyed an artistic intervention by Xander Ferreira; performances by Kianí del Valle and Gazelle; a live DJ set by Pascale Moscheni; and culinary experiences by Chef Erik Ramírez in collaboration with Francis Mallman and Paul Qui. Notable attendees included artists and cultural tastemakers including Alan Faena, Mayor of Miami Beach Dan Gelber, Peter Brandt, Jr., Ximena Caminos, City of Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez, Carlos Betancourt, SiriusXM President and Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein, and Stefano Tonchi.

Following opening remarks from Mayor of Miami Beach Dan Gelber highlighting Faena Art’s commitment to the community, Alan Faena welcomed the enthused crowd to the Gala and awarded Paula de Solminihac with the Prize presented by Bombay Sapphire, commenting, “Following five successful editions in Buenos Aires, we are thrilled to debut the Faena Prize for the Arts in Miami with Paula de Solminihac’s vision for Faena Beach during this year’s Miami Art Week. Actively contributing to Miami Beach as a nurturing site for the community, Paula’s proposed installation—and the artist’s largest-scale work to date—physically embodies this vibrant city Faena Art is deeply committed to.”

In her acceptance speech, Faena Prize for the Arts Winner Paula De Solminihac said, “When I saw the open call to create a public art project on the beach, I didn’t hesitate for a second to propose something. What I didn’t imagine was that that this project would become a reality. To have this proposal recognized as the Prize winner means not only receiving the opportunity to explore my imagination—an activity which is part of me and part of my daily practice and one that I very much enjoy—but also the opportunity to construct something at a large scale, a project that requires many hands for it to become a reality. I am filled with joy and honored to generate a space on the beach during Miami Art Week that invites us all to think in a rooted manner, in collaboration, and in relationship with our environment.”