Meat Market Miami, located midway down SoBe’s celebrated pedestrian Lincoln Road mall, should be the model for Miami’s booming steakhouse scene. A sense of serene, unaffected cool, wafts from the doors and warms the intimate candlelit tables elegantly arranged on the outdoor patio. As guests step into the main dining room, they are transported onto a glamorous film set. The chic enclave is decorated in golden sunset tones, a perfect backdrop from the bronzed local foodies mingling with the even more conspicuously tanned upscale tourists. On any day of the week, this is the place Miami’s elite flock to get their protein and people-watching fix or (as the name testifies), to meat and to meet.

The sleek black bar is shaped to turn strangers into intriguing friends, and is the locale for one of Miami’s premier cocktail happy hours (Fridays 5-8pm). The hand-made cocktails ($7 HH/$14) are exotic combinations of hard liquor and seasonal ingredients. Two of my favorites are the cooling Cucumber Southside, which muddles Hendricks gin, cucumber, mint, lime and cane syrup and the Jordi, a blend of ketel one orange vodka, papaya, kiwi, citrus and Caribbean velvet falernum.

Another happy hour must have is the fresh ceviche ($9 HH/MP), made with the catch of the day. This daily special is an innovative blend of seasonal seafood with global ingredients, two recent examples; yellow jack with papaya, jalapeno, scallions, pickled red onions, cilantro, lime, sweet chili aji sauce; cobia, sweet potato aji sauce, apple red onion salad, pickled star fruit, paper wonton strings and pistachio.

A gourmet bread platter, wasabi peas, cayenne-spiked large Peruvian corn and mixed nuts are offered for all the dinning guests. For the starter, Chef Sean Brasel’s saintly tuna tartare ($18) with ginger soy avocado and mango mole is on my shortlist of best in the city. The tartare is a bright melody of plump pieces of gently marinated Ahi nested in between finely diced mango and ripened avocado. The House salad ($9) will please any lady whether calorie restricted from a tight-fitting dress or not. The mildly sweet red wine vinaigrette lightly dresses cold, crisp greens, crunchy candied walnuts and creamy nuggets of goat cheese.

If the word diet doesn’t exist in your vocabulary, the wood-grilled kobe meatloaf wrapped in bacon ($24) is solace on a plate. A liberal portion of succulent meat bathing in its juices is enhanced with the essences of the smoky wood, mango barbecue sauce and earthy truffle, all complimented with crispy onions and truffle mash.

The sea bass with feathery edamame mash ($35) is immersed in a perfectly orchestrated broth of wild mushrooms, sweet corn, tomato concasse and truffle sage ,and is the essential choice for any seafood lover. For the pure carnivore, selections include half or full portions of an exquisite variety of steaks and reserve cuts. Seared medallions of foie gras (a la rossini) can be added, along with a decadent sauce; Jack Daniels pasilla garlic, peppercorn cognac or lobsters butter are a few options.

The twenty-one side dishes ($9) are entirely worthy of the stella main plates. Standouts include the robust truffle creamed corn, gouda tarter-tots, and the melt-in-your-mouth sweet potato fries with honey creme fraiche. The wine list is elaborate–with hundreds of wines that are sturdy enough to stand up to these broad-shouldered steaks.

For the finale, silky pistachio creme brulee and South Florida’s famed key lime pie are the apogee of these classic desserts. A lighter, yet laudable option would be the fresh fruit sorbets of lychee, passion fruit and raspberry (flavors vary). This playful burst of velvety fruit dissolves merrily on the palate, just as it would in an Italian Gelateria.

Meat Market Miami is not only a glamorous meeting ground for hipster epicureans, it consistently delivers excellence from svelte professional staff to the distinguished palate of the meat aficionado or the seafood connoisseur, all imbued in a chic minimalistic atmosphere.

Meat Market Miami
915 Lincoln Rd
Miami Beach, FL

The Promiscuous Foodie by Leilani Toivanen

De Rodriguez Cuba serves “Nuevo Latino” cuisine in Miami Beach. I was very curious about this restaurant so I enlisted a friend, Miss G., to accompany me and paid a visit.

What is Nuevo Latino style food anyway? They are dishes from Mexico, Spanish speaking Caribbean and South America countries but with a special twist. The food still preserves the flavor and soul of the original recipes but always with a creative spin added by the Chef.

De Rodriguez Cuba was created by Chef Douglas Rodriguez who is putting a “spin and a twist” on Cuban Cuisine. He uses local, sustainable ingredients in order to delight our senses: he is called the “Godfather of Nuevo Latino” Cuisine and is a pioneer in the culinary scene in Miami.

Mixed Seafood Ceviche ($15)

Shrimp, lobster, clams, calamari and other fruits of the sea frolic in a lake of grapefruit juice. This was really refreshing, a taste of the sea in each spoon. The best part I thought, was the addition of tarragon, not an ingredient usually used in a ceviche and a flavor that really flabbergasted Miss G. and myself. I wanted to pick up the plate to drink the grapefruit juice, but that would have been too rude…

Smoked Marlin Tacos ($12 for 5 tacos)

This is the most popular appetizer on the menu and with good reason: these are super-charged fish tacos in a malanga shell. Marlin are fish with an elongated body and a spear-like snout, very impressive looking. Marlin are rarely table fare, appearing mostly in fine restaurants so this was a treat for us. Malanga is a root vegetable popular in the tropics and South America. This combination of ingredients was stellar even though they were a little messy to eat as the malanga shell kept breaking in our hands. The flavor was worth the mess though…

Sugar Cane Tuna ($23)

Now this was a dish after my heart. Slices of smoked tuna were impaled with tiny sticks of sugar cane. I like my fish almost raw, but Miss G. ordered hers well done. The tuna was coated with a mixture of spices that was intriguing, interesting, well balanced and smoky. The surprise was the mashed potatoes: served with a squid ink sauce and topped with Catalan spinach with raisin and pine nuts added to the mix. Wow, what an explosion of flavor!

Key Lime Pie ($6)

This was another non-traditional take on the ubiquitous Key Lime Pie, which is served almost everywhere in Florida. Key limes are valued for their unique flavor compared to other limes, with the key lime usually having a more tart and bitter flavor. The name comes from its association with the Florida Keys, where it is best known as the flavoring ingredient in Key lime pie. This version of the Key lime pie came shaped like a stick of butter and coated with crumbs. Sitting on the pie, was a ball of dense and rich coconut sorbet.

De Rodriguez Cuba’s vibe was really cool and relaxed offering indoor and outdoor seating right next to a swimming pool. This is a nice place to chill and take in the smell of the ocean. The Nuevo Latino fare offered has a taste that lingers in your mind way after you leave the restaurant.

They have an awesome daily Happy Hour with cocktails that are $5 each and an amazing array of tapas from fried pork belly (chicharrón), curried almonds and Cuban Sandwiches cubes. The cocktail of choice is the Mojito, which is a traditional Cuban highball.

They also have an event every Wednesday called “The Pig is Roasting on Wednesdays” with music, tapas. Mojitos and a whole pig roasting right in front of your eyes…got to love them for that alone.

De Rodriguez Cuba on Ocean

Inside the Hilton Bentley in South Beach Hotel

101 Ocean Dr

Miami Beach, FL 33139

drodriguezcuba.com

By Contributor Writer Brenda Benoit

In a tiny strip mall in the middle of Doral, there is a little surprise awaiting those who are willing to explore a different kind of Japanese fare.

We were invited to taste a daring variation of traditional Japanese food, from rolls to sushi, tempura, makis and takoyaki. Here you “can do the mix” and order by the piece and mix and match as you please with no restrictions.

The owner, Felipe Del Valle, is a charming Venezuelan expat who just moved from Spain to Miami and opened Oh! Sushi Restaurant just 3 months ago. I asked him why sushi when you are from South America? He said with a smile that he met his wife, also from Venezuela, while she was working in a Japanese restaurant and when he fell in love with her, he also fell in love with sushi and the Japanese culture.

Felipe opened a Japanese restaurant in Spain and decided to give it a try in Miami. He is passionate about sushi and considers himself fortunate to be able to share this passion with others.

As usual, I had my 2 tasters in tow: Miss I. and Miss Y. who are always willing to give me their unbiased, unprejudiced and open thoughts about what they put in their mouths. They never edit their opinions.

Vegetable Gyozas

We have never seen green gyozas before, sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds and swimming in a pond of savory sauce. They were quite impressive and the taste took our breaths away, Miss I. declaring that vegetables never tasted so good. The Gyozas come in a variety of flavors: pork, chicken, prawns, seafood and vegetables. I wish that we could have tried them all.

Takoyaki – Fried Octopus Balls

Ummm…what a name for a dish. I love balls but filled with octopus? This is one of Oh! Sushi’s signature dishes. Creamy with a chunk of fried octopus in the middle, this is the stuff of dreams. On top were bonito flakes, floating like clouds, adding a fragrant and aromatic touch and texture. Miss I. devoured this and we had to fight for the last ball. I won when I promised to pay her a dollar for it…so worth it.

Wonder Maki – a special roll

There are some very cool rolls here with whimsical names like Funny, Fancy, Freaky among others. We tried the Wonder and the Electric rolls. Both featured salmon, avocado and cream cheese. The Electric roll had eel on it which I thought was a real palate-popping addition.

Nutella Maki

For dessert, we had another unexpected roll: nutella, cake, bananas, peanut butter all dusted with powdered sugar and served with a condensed milk sauce spiked with Bailey’s. Overall this dessert was fine but I do think that it would better if the peanut butter was not there.

This place is one of a kind. The decoration is a riot of colors and imagination. Located in Doral, which is a neighborhood that is a mix between an industrial and residential area. Doral is close to the airport, and is an ideal location for a lot of Corporate Headquarters and also the perfect place to develop a healthy lunch business. There are just under 50 thousand people living in Doral but at least 250 thousand people come in and out every day for work. Imagine the potential!

The food here is excellent, different, kid-friendly and original. Prices per piece range from 59 cents to $5.99, most pieces are 99 cents. The menu also includes traditional Japanese dishes that will make your mouth water. There is also a mini-market in the back of the restaurant where you can get some interesting items.

Visit and give it a try yourself and make sure that you bring the kids.

Oh! Sushi

(305) 629-8442

Doral/Miami Springs

9036 NW 25th ST

Doral, FL 33172

ohsushi.com

By Contributor Writer Brenda Benoit

A heavenly chef has landed on the shores of Miami Beach from the realm of Michelin stars and the bright lights of fashion, film, and music. Hakkasan Miami, located in the chic Fontainebleau hotel, is indeed a celestial experience.

Executive Chef Ooi Soon Lok serves opulent Cantonese cuisine against a sensual backdrop of chinoiserie design. The teak walls have been artistically carved to allow glimpses of the monied clientele perched at the cobalt blue bar. As you walk into this glamourous oriental labyrinth, each turn reveals a new cove of seduction. We slink into our comfortable turquoise booth, and the lamp dangling over our table uses light and shadow to create a discreet enclave from our neighbors.

We ordered their signature cocktail, ‘the Hakka’ to invigorate our impatient palates–an intriguing blend of vodka, Kubota sake, lychee juice, lime, coconut and fresh passion fruit. In due time, the dim sum platter ($26) appeared in a basket of glorious little pillows with silken skin and juicy interiors packing bold and exotic flavours. Each tiny piece of sesame prawn, scallop and wild mushroom was readable to the taste buds rather than folded into an indiscriminate whole.

Shortly after came expertly-cooked shredded beef with tangerine peel served beside steaming pancakes ($24), an aromatic sweet and savory contrast with a hint of spice. The char-grilled Sha Cha sea bass ($38) had an initially dominant smoked barbecue crust, overlaying the tender fish with a swing of sweetness. The finely cut vegetable fried rice ($10) was perfectly seasoned and not overly lubricated with grease. Desserts were beyond decadent. Settling on the white chocolate mousse with passion fruit ice cream ($12) was a rewarding decision. This velvet cream layered above a crackling, buttery crust, was, in a word, ambrosial.

As the night rolled on the music was inappropriately turned up to nightclub level, the one disappointment of the evening. The service was impeccable and helpful and above all, professional in every respect.

Hakkasan Miami’s divine cuisine and transcendent ambience allow the patron to escape into an imperial Chinese retreat.

Hakkasan at the Fontainebleau

4441 Collins Avenue

Miami Beach, Fl 33140

(786) 276 1388

The Promiscuous Foodie by Leilani Toivanen

This is a place I come very often. I usually sit at the bar and have a glass of wine. I take time to relax in between a whole day of  running around in South Beach. As soon as you enter the Tudor House restaurant I feel welcome which by the way they have the best bartender staff in town.

The roof top is one of the most beautiful in Miami Beach by far. The design goes seamlessly with Art Deco architecture yet it has a modern feeling. The Tudor house was built in 1930 and the pool with the bar is a place you must experience.

Chilled Octopus Olive Preserves

Octopus is one of my favorite type of seafood, and I know how hard is to cook it because my mother has been mastering the art of cooking octopus for years and she makes sure that every time I am on the phone with her while I cook my octopus my mother repeats; emerge the octopus three times, one minute inside the boiling pot, one minute outside, repeat that for three time and then just through it in the water till tender.

One time I told the guy who works at Lorenzo’s Market in the fish department and he told me that if I were to drop the octopus and boil the crap out of it, that it will be as tender as the one from my mom without all that extra work. I told him the story about what my mom says and I think he couldn’t tolerate the fact that someone else knew how to cook octopus, well, after all, he has been selling fish all his life, so I gave him a big smile and said I will follow his tip instead. He got happy. And actually he was right. I boiled the octopus for a very long time and it was one of the tender ones I have ever had.

Anyways, back to the octopus at the Tudor house, this one was perfect. Tender still had the right consistency you would expect from a masterly cooked octopus. The olive oil sprinkled on top gave a subtle touch to the dish. I enjoyed this dish overlooking the pool on a hot summer day and I left the Tudor with a smile on my face. This is my new place, I was attended by their staff as a VIP, and believe me, I am not but that is how they made me feel and when that happens you know you are in a place where they take pride of what they do, and I see why, because they do it right.

Tudor House

1111 Collins Avenue

Miami Beach, FL 33139

(305) 534-8455

By Miami Food Critic, Grace Della

Interesting concept for a restaurant that features an eclectic, multifaceted and international menu.

Dolores but You can Call me Lolita is different: beautiful, sexy, romantic and all decorated in white…but I was not so sure about the food. The menu is varied and the dishes have very whimsical names like Dolores Baby Back Bbq Ribs with shoestring fries and a pair of gloves and Gazpacho so good, we’ll give you the recipe…. But in the end it is all about the taste, isn’t it?

Baby Spinach Salad: strawberries, queso fresco and toasted sesame vinaigrette

This was a simple and good-looking salad with an abundant amount of spinach and a drizzle of strawberries and queso fresco, which is a soft, mild and un-aged white cheese that originated in Spain. I did not taste this but Mr. H. said that he would have liked a little more life and punch to it. It was a bit too blah for him.

Maybe, The Best Serrano Ham Croquettes you have ever tasted

This is the actual name of this appetizer. Croquettes are abundant in Miami and can be found in most all bakeries. These were indeed different with a creamy interior and chunks of Serrano ham (Jamón Serrano) floating within. I must say that I liked them very much, mostly because they were so different from what one typically finds in Miami.

Veal Churrasco, Chimichurri And Shoestring Fries

My daughter ordered this and devoured it in a jiffy. I begged her for some fries and they were crispy and not too oily. The churrasco was served with chimi-churri and the fries with ketchup. All in all, it was a satisfying and enjoyable plate of food.

Friday is Fish Friday

I had the special of the day which was Salmon with roasted red potatoes and creamed spinach. I loved the presentation, simple and austere yet elegant. The potatoes were well cooked and tasty and the spinach nice and smooth like a gentle cream sliding down your throat on the its way to your stomach. The salmon, on the other hand, was a bit overcooked and dry.

I like the idea of offering an appetizer with each main dish ordered. The entrée being either $19.75 or $ 23.75. Desserts are ordered separately but the prices are really reasonable. Dolores but you Can Call me Lolita is by all means a beautiful restaurant but the food is a bit lackluster and plain. The menu is ambitious but maybe a little too much so?

I do not think that I will be returning anytime soon but I do believe that it does deserve a visit if only because of the colorful menu and pretty-pretty venue.

Dolores, But You Can Call Me Lolita

1000 S Miami Ave

Miami, FL 33130

305-403-3103

www.doloreslolita.com

By Contributor Writer Brenda Benoit

Luther Burger

The luther burger for $9 at Bulldog Burger is a fair offering I must say. It has crisp bacon, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, house sauce, crispy cream sweet glazed bun. Let me start by saying that I have been at Bulldog Burger in North Miami numerous times, I like it, their burgers are good, actually if you are very hungry then their burgers are extremely good. I think I have tried every burger on the menu and although I started eating meat only in 2011 (trying to quit again), I get tempted when I see the sign of this BBQ joint as I drive by.

The luther burger is not my favorite one because it’s too sweet but this is not their wrong doing, it clearly states that is “crispy cream” sweet so what else would you expect. The beef is always of good quality here and all of the ingredients are cooked well (someone knows burgers in the kitchen here).

I like the jars in which their serve their crisp ice tea and I had their house wine once or twice and it is also a good decent wine for the price. The fries are dry and crunchy which is the way you would want your French fries if you ask me.

Their service is friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. One thing I would suggest to the owners is to make sure the kitchen (as it is an open kitchen) is clean. Not that I saw a disaster on their counters but I looked down to the floor and I quickly had to look up.

Bulldog Burger

15098 Biscayne Blvd Ste 106 Map

Miami, FL 33181

305-940-7972

bulldog-burger.com

Review by Miami Food Critic; Grace Della

Late last night together with my husband who by the way I guess it’s true what they say about that opposites attract because he doesn’t like to go out for dinner, for him is a chore and for me is what I live for. Still he makes the effort for me and I appreciate it. It is actually quite funny because while we are driving I can change my mind on where to go about 5 times within one block and that drives him crazy but he doesn’t act out. Don’t get me wrong, when I change my mind too many times he speaks out but yesterday his level of toleration was high so it was my lucky night.

We first went to Bulldog Burger but as we entered all the staff working looked very preoccupied and we were told to wait but I peak into the dining area and half the tables were empty. As I know my husband, I know he will hate to wait for the food more than the normal time which is already too long for him so I thought to change my mind and walk to Chéen Huaye. My husband agreed when i told him we would have to wait for a table here.

Tulum salad

Limed marinated chicken, fresh corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips, tomato and mixed greens tossed in home made cilantro lime peanut vinaigrette. This salad was great on the first few bites but we couldn;t get through it all the way down due to the sweetness of the peanut vinaigrette. Don’t get me wrong, it was fresh and plentiful to share between two people but I would have put the brakes on the vinaigrette if I would be the chef.

The entire experience at Chéen Huaye was very enjoyable I have to say. We also had tacos that I would rate a 7 but I must make a comment about the service; it was excellent.

Chéen Huaye

15400 Biscayne Blvd Map

Aventura, FL 33160

305-956-2808

cheenhuaye.com

Reviewed by Miami Food Critic; Grace Della

I’m hungry, that is all I can think lately, not sure why I gained 10 pounds in the last two months, oh yes, because I eat all the time and I don’t care if it is friend chicken or fettuccine alfredo, I just want to eat. I am hoping that this stage will soon pass bye or I will become double my size. For the time being, I am eating my way through Miami with no remorse and my next adventure was The Dutch.

The W hotel is so beautiful and impeccable as we all know. There is a smell as soon as you walk into the hotel that I would love to have at home. Anyways, the Dutch decor is breathtaking, I thought it would have been bigger the place but for my surprise it was not.

Hot Fried chicken, slaw, honey butter biscuits.

Well, let me start by saying that “I liked it.” I was hungry so that helped a lot. The buttery biscuits were excellent, very fluffy and moist but not too wet, just perfect. The cole slaw which I weekly get at delis around Miami because cole slaw for me is an addiction, this one at the Dutch was superb. Not too thin or thick which is the key for a good cole slaw and just the right amount of that mayo (I am sure it’s home made at the Dutch). Now, the chicken… well, my friend Mirka who is a foodie with a discriminate palette also agreed that the breaded crust was too thick (what a pity). The chicken itself was moist and perfectly seasoned but the crust, oh the crust…

The Dutch (W South Beach Hotel)

2201 Collins Ave Map

Miami Beach, FL 33139

305-938-3111

thedutchmiami.com
By Miami Food Critic; Grace Della

We all know that Yardbird Southern Table & Bar’s chef is a celebrity among foodies in Miami. If you know good food, then you know him.  Jeff McInnis is delivering great cuisine, the type of cuisine that Miami lacks. I went on a night that you could barely fit on a table, the place was packed with what it appeared to be a bar section at the front, not sure if this is the case but there were so many people I was not able to see why people were all standing at the front of the restaurant so I assume there could be a bar for people to grab drinks while they wait for their table.

I on the other hand was lucky because I was meeting my dear friend who happens to be an editor for a top magazine in Miami, and because he gets treated like royalty everywhere he goes, I arrived at the restaurant and immediately was escorted to our table.

I can’t recall seeing such a creative menu in a long, long time. We decided to taste pretty much the entire menu paired by a chilled glass of their house Chardonnay.

Chicken & Biscuits

Perhaps the most memorable dish for me was his chicken & biscuits. The chicken was tender and dry fried. the biscuit part melted in your mouth.

Yardbird Southern Table & Bar

1600 Lenox Ave.

Miami Beach, FL 33139

305-538-5220

runchickenrun.com

By Miami Food Critic, Grace Della