With Miami Spice in full swing, we thought a MIAbites Weekly Nibble of things “other than Spice” might be of interest. Of course, Miami Spice is very awesome and we have compiled OUR own list of favorites which we will “reveal” in our Monday Newsletter. If you are not yet a subscriber, sign up for 1X a week news, reviews and views.
Read MoreAugust 5 is National Oyster Day and South Florida restaurants are embracing this glorious holiday by offering specials to allow guests to indulge in these tasty sea treats.
Read MoreSummer in Miami is here and getting that bikini body in shape requires some healthy eating choices. So, let the healthy eating begin at these Miami places, feel better and even maybe lose some of those extra pounds.
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This Mother’s Day, give mom the best by sharing an unforgettable brunch experience at one of the stellar locations we’ve scouted out for you.
Read MoreIn a city full of vibrant restaurants and extravagance, it is nice to find a place that can provide an ambiance of classic elegance and intimacy, while maintaining Miami’s chic and modern styles.
Newly opened, Isabelle’s Grill Room and Garden in the Ritz Carlton Coconut Grove screams luxury, typical of Coconut Groves most beautiful mansions, decorated with stained woods, brass, leather and a touch of white and green accents, creates an inviting environment, ideal for business meetings, romantic getaways and delightful cocktail evenings.
Read MoreOne of the most exciting things about the booming restaurant scene in Miami is how easy it is to dine out often without ever repeating a restaurant. This week we're revisiting a few spots that are always worth the hype, even if they've been out of the spotlight lately.
Read MoreCoconut Grove is my favorite place to visit and has undergone many transitions over the years from a boho atmosphere with hookah bars to an up and coming culinary destination. So, on a recent Saturday night, my husband and I decided to visit Alma, one of the newest additions to the Grove, a creation of Sergio Chamizo and Maria Poblanco which opened this late January.
Read MoreWe’re halfway through National Burger Month, and we haven’t eaten nearly as many burgers as we feel we should have by now. In honor of the fun food holiday, we’re going to share with you some of the best burgers in Miami according to the MIAbites team.
Read MoreSpring in Miami is here and getting that bikini body in shape requires some healthy eating choices. So, let the healthy eating begin at these Miami places, feel better and even maybe lose some of those extra pounds.
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305 Day Block Party
Official 305 Day Block Party by 3:05 Cafecito presented by Jameson and Sprint this Sunday, March 4th in anticipation of 305 Day.
Read MoreThe Holiday overeating and overdrinking season is behind us. Whether eating healthier is your New Years Resolution or not, let the healthy eating begin at these Miami places and maybe even lose some of those extra pounds.
Read MoreUPDATE: Thankfully, it looks like most of Miami and Miami Beach restaurants are back up and running! Some are even offering special prices, or donating to Hurricane Irma relief efforts. Please #SupportLocal. And remember, Miami Spice continues until September 30th.
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May 15th to the 21st is American Craft Beer Week. It’s a nationwide celebration of U.S. small and independent craft brewers.
The weeklong tribute provides an opportunity for craft brewers to share their diversity, creativity, and passion for the beverage they love. Samuel Adams is one of the most well-known brands of craft beer. Since 1984, Boston-based Samuel Adams has been brewing specially crafted beers for all to enjoy. I’m not a big beer drinker but when I was invited to a pairing dinner at Glass & Vine I was curious to see how Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli would pair dishes with 6 different kinds of beers. I knew the food would be outstanding, so really it was going to be a winning evening either way.
Read MoreIt is Spring Break, and I happen to live on the beach, so imagine my initial hesitation when Andy Giambarba chose Ariete in Coconut Grove as our next collaborative review. Uber was 2.5 surge, so I decided to drive. Waze took me on a lot of back roads, but Ariete is worth sitting in any traffic, as once you settle into the intimate and cozy restaurant you feel a million miles away from the South Beach craziness.
Coconut Grove has changed a lot in the past few years. New condo towers continue to rise. More couples and young families are populating neighboring areas. And Harry’s Pizzeria and Panther Coffee have opened in an area mostly known for Monty’s and Cheesecake Factory.
Tucked away between two other non-descript restaurants is Ariete, the joint venture of Chef Michael Beltran (formerly at Cypress Room) and Jason Odio. They have created a creative and delicious menu that is both surprising and unique for the Grove…or for that matter most of Miami.
Read MoreNo one wants to be stuck in an office for the entire day. I’m a big encourager of actually taking a lunch break, I think it helps you refresh and restart for the second part of your day (unless you completely overeat and desperately need a nap - not recommended).
If you happen to work in or around the Coconut Grove area - then I’ve got the perfect quick lunch spot in a wine bar - no drinking required unless of course you are of the “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” lifestyle, we won’t judge!
Happy Wine in the Grove is offering a new lunch special: a three-course lunch Monday-Friday from 11:45 AM to 3:30 PM that can get you in and out in about 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick escape from the office. Guests can choose from three of seven items served tapas style for $14.99.
Your delicious lunch options are:
Read MoreThe Holiday overeating and overdrinking season is upon us. Take a break from the overindulging at these Miami places to eat healthy and maybe even keep some of those extra pounds at bay. Here are MIAbites favorite spots for Juice, Organic produce and Vegetarian or Vegan dining:
Jugo Fresh- Jugofresh sells organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies and vegan foods (bowls, salads, sandwiches). Seven locations in Miami-Dade County including Wynwood Walls, Sunset Harbour and South Pointe Park. Jugofresh Wynwood Walls 222 NW 26th St (786) 472-2552
Temple Kitchen- Neighborhood whole food, plant-based kitchen." Menu features a variety of flavorful salads, noodle or vegetable baskets, hot pots and soups. Numerous smoothies, juices, elixirs and other drinks available. Also, delicious parfaits. Open for breakfast. Delivery available. Closed Sunday.831 Sunset Drive South Miami 33143 (305) 397-8732
Dr Smood- Fresh juices, snacks and healthy eating options. 2230 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33121
Green Gables Cafe- Small eatery specializing in to-go and delivery orders. Try the roasted eggplant & hummus wrap, a salad, Green gazpacho or other vegan soups made daily. Smoothies, organic vegetable and fruit juices, tea and coffee (soy, almond and rice milks available). Local and organic ingredients. Open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch, 7:30am to 4:30pm. 327 Alhambra Circle Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 445-7015
Choices Cafe- The all-vegan, 95% organic menu at Choices includes wraps, quinoa bowls, pizza, salads and soups. The Mental Lentil wrap (lentil patty, black beans, quinoa, pico de gallo, plantain, sauteed onion, avocado, tahini sauce) is one of their popular, signature dishes. Juices and smoothies, delicious desserts, and beer and wine are also available. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Clean, modern atmosphere. Breakfast served daily (tofu scramble, pancakes!). Ask about their weekend brunch. 646 NE 79th Street Miami 33138 (786) 803-8352.
The Last Carrot- No-frills deli serving tofu or hummus pita sandwiches, salads, soups, fresh juices. Vegan desserts. 3133 Grand Avenue Coconut Grove 33133 (305) 445-0805
Whole Foods Downtown Miami - Fresh produce, juices and healthy options. 299 SE 3rd Ave. Miami, FL
Ten Fruits - great acai bowls, healthy juices and smoothies. 143 NE 3rd Ave
Miami, FL 33132 (305) 373-7678
Jar + Fork - smoothies, juices and they have vegan options as well. 270 E Flagler St, Miami, FL 33132 (305) 364-5643
Seasons 52 - Recommended for its vegan options, including the Winter Market Vegetable Plate (roasted vegetables, grilled tofu and cracked wheat tabbouleh). Also, vegan soups, salads and appetizers, and delicious flatbreads that can be made vegan. Tofu may be substituted for meat in other dishes (ask your server). 321 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL, 33134 (305) 442-8552.
DIRT- where clean eating and great taste coexist in Miami Beach. DIRT is a new fine food served fast dining experience in Miami Beach: a farm-to-counter eatery and wellness bar combining fresh, great-tasting food with health, convenience, and simplicity. Simply put, we believe in high-quality, nutritious food, served quickly and affordably. 232 5th Street, Miami Beach 305 239 3000.
Read MoreThe dining scene in Coconut Grove continues to expand, and Chef Sebastian Fernandez is poised and ready to become a big part of it with his new restaurant, 33.
The former Food and Beverage Director of Coral Reef Yacht Club and “Grovite,” Chef Sebastian Fernandez will be introducing a Peruvian influenced theme focusing on service and food quality. Dishes will have a strong emphasis on ingredients, as the menu will change depending on availability.
Their doors will officially open on Saturday, December 5th. The restaurant’s menu features Peruvian-influenced small plates with a focus on simple, clean flavors. In a welcome shift from over seasoned and over sauced dishes, Chef Fernandez values every component in his dishes, as they have no more than 5 ingredients.
Read MoreMiami is a big, diverse, city with so much to do and eat. Where to go? What to eat? Miami, like many places in the world strives to find locally grown, seasonal ingredients and a knowledgeable chef to cook and explain the healthy properties of these foods. A recent focus on healthy eating led me to discover The Naked Bite.
Nestled in Coconut Grove or "the Grove" as locals would call it, is personal chef and caterer, Amber Antonelli of "The Naked Bite". Amber is a California native who moved to the Grove in 2011. She has been cooking professionally for years honing her skills in restaurants from Arizona to California to Venezuela and working as a personal chef for top sports figures and celebrities. A fun fact is that in 2005 she created Toasted Coconut Sesame Brittle Ice Cream that became a flavor for the Haagen Dazs Reserve line.
Amber is not a vegan per se but limits dairy, meat etc. She believes healthy eating is a composition of all food groups and therefore does not feel the need to limit oneself with a strict diet. Locally sourced, seasonal food is her standby, purchasing most of her ingredients from nearby farms.
A couple weeks ago, Amber held one of her cooking classes in her home in "The Grove" for about 8-12 of us. The classes are BYOB, a nice touch to the delightful evening vegan menu of Shaved Root Veggie Salad with Hazelnuts, Shirred Farm Egg with Garlic Chive Pistou, Braised Swiss Chard with tomatoes and Balsamic, Tomato and Graffiti Eggplant Gratin with Pecorino Cheese and olive oil and Raw Carrot Cake Truffles.
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