Have an affinity for Latin fare with flair? Does the thought of fresh seafood, perfectly prepared ceviche, and sensational sizzling steaks make your mouth water (it’s watering right now, isn’t it?) Well, put this down and head to De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean, (formerly at the Astor hotel) owned and operated by culinary wizard, James Beard Award winning chef, Douglas Rodriguez, who raises the bar when it comes to seafood and ceviche and takes Nuevo Latino cuisine to new heights by infusing his Cuban roots throughout his dishes with bold Latin spices.  The expansive yet warm, 200-seat, beachfront restaurant is the Bentley hotel’s best kept secret, and includes two full bars, a 25-foot ceviche bar (featuring 15 types of ceviche), wooden mermaids, tropical plants and seafood supplied by environmentally responsible fisherman and fish farms. 

De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean is one of the few restaurants on South Beach located directly on the ocean so you can enjoy the salty sea air from inside the stylish, dimly lit dining room, or on the gorgeous outdoor patio. Sounds pretty romantic huh? Unique to De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean is that the menu includes a number of gluten-free items:  root vegetables are used instead of grains and wheat.  Noteworthy dishes include:  the pan con bistec – made with braised short rib and crunchy crust, which is technically an appetizer but can easily serve as an entrée and the arugula/prosciutto salad- also delicious and beautifully presented. With regards to ceviche, the Thai Lobster is among the most popular and the lobster and steak dishes are also quite good.  When asked about the menu offerings, Chef Rodriguez explained, “If I can find purveyors who ensure the products we get are responsibly grown, fished, picked, and so on, then I can feel good about the food on the plate and so can my guests.”  The knowledgeable and delightful servers are such fans of the food and of the chef that you may find yourself ordering half the menu (and asking them to join you for dessert). 

The staff at De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean promises to delight guests with a terrific overall experience – a trifecta of food, drink and entertainment.  According to Rodriguez, “We strive to go to provide guests of every age with an entertaining experience from start to finish.”  So the next time you crave fresh seafood, served in a sexy setting just steps from the sea, head to De Rodriguez Cuba – D-Rod’s got you covered.

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. Read the rest of this entry »

The Forge Restaurant | Wine Bar made its debut at the venerable James Beard House in New York City on Saturday night.  The highly anticipated “Fall in the North and South” dinner for 80, hosted by Shareef Malnik and Executive Chef Dewey LoSasso attracted quite a bit of fanfare.  Attendees included: Burn Notice star Gabrielle Anwar; fashion designer Nicole Miller and husband Kim Taipale; Chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Charles Koppelman accompanied by fiancé Gerri Kyhill; film director Brett Ratner; Starwood Hotels global PR director, Gigi Ganatra; CEO of Haute Living magazine, Kamal Hotchandani; actor Gianni Russo, TARA, Ink. co-principal, Tara Solomon, and Russell Simmons, for whom LoSasso prepared a special vegan menu. To cap off the evening, Malnik, Anwar and Hotchandani joined friends and Forge fans, Market America’s JR and Loren Ridinger and Eva Longoria Parker at the Ridinger’s New York apartment to celebrate the Forge’s landmark success

Chef Douglas Rodriguez celebrated the opening of his eponymous restaurant on Friday night, with more than 600 guests in attendance, delighted to get their first taste of Chef Rodriguez’s Nuevo Latino cuisine and a glimpse of the many surprises the restaurant has in store.

The party featured a sampling of the bold flavors prevalent in Chef Rodriguez’s signature ceviches, extensive raw bar, and sustainable seafood options. When asked about the menu offerings, Chef Rodriguez explained, “If I can find purveyors who ensure the products we get are responsibly grown, fished, picked, and so on, then I can feel good about the food on the plate and so can my guests.”

The night was filled with Latin flavor, a sprinkling of local celebs and a bit of eye candy. Former Heat player Ricky Davis, reality star, Ariel Stein, and Hip Hop artist Noel Osborne joined models from various agencies for the celebration, including Liliana Gomez.  Embracing the vibrancy of the elite South of Fifth neighborhood, the party continued into the late hours of the night.  De Rodriguez Ocean will host a lineup of special nights in the coming weeks and months.    “With De Rodriguez Ocean we’re offering an incredible experience – a trifecta of food, drink and entertainment” explained Director of Operations, Luke L’Heureux.

 By: Mary Jo Almeida-Shore

When it comes to the restaurant business, Shareef Malnik can 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. 

  Read the rest of this entry »

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 »