There is no event within the realm of the South Beach Wine and Food Festival that embodies Miami like Medianoches and Mixology. The chosen venue represents the transformation that Miami has gone through within the past few years, and the food of choice symbolizes the Cuban culture that populates our beautiful city. You see, Medianoches and Mixology is held at the Wynwood Walls, a cultural hub that many people consider the center of the Wynwood arts district. All participating restaurants served their take on Cuban Sandwiches, which are a perfectly composed dish consisting of Cuban bread, roast pork, sweet ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard. Curated by local blogger Burgerbeast and hosted by Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, this event was truly one of the best of the weekend.
Live music extended through the walls, providing salsa beats and vocals that eventually transformed the Wynwood Walls into something reminiscent of a Latin nightclub. The scenery provided by the world-class art of the walls made for a perfect ambiance that other events could not compete with. Yes, the events hosted on the beach were beautiful, and hotel events were prestigious, but this event took advantage of local culture and art to create a venue unlike any other.
Just like every other South Beach Wine and Food Festival event, food was plentiful and flavor was abundant from stand to stand. Participating chefs took different routes with their sandwiches, either replying on classic flavors or embellishing a bit on what makes a Cuban sandwich. Jamie de Rosa from Tongue and Cheek offered a somewhat textbook example of a Cuban Sandwich, with the difference of Aged Gruyere and a Dijon Aioli that made you wonder why this wasn’t a standard ingredient in all Cuban Sandwiches. El Mago de Las Fritas provided a ‘Frita Turned Media Noche,’ by adorning their classic Frita with ham and serving it on a Media Noche roll. This slight nod to a variation of the Cuban Sandwich was a welcomed addition to the restaurant roster. Another standout of the night was Barley’s ‘Elena Ruz,’ composed of Briased Duck, Duck Skin Chicharron, Goat Cheese, Glazed Brussel Sprouts, and pimiento pepper jelly.
Desserts were also copious throughout the night, with local talents Marlie’s Delights and Azucar presenting a sweet finish to the already delicious night. Here at Miami Culinary Tours, we love us some Azucar, so we went with their famous Abuela Maria ice cream. There really is no better way to end an incredible night, especially one that represents Miami as well as Medianoches and Mixology did.
