Evelyn's Bagels (Food Truck) Kickstarter

Evelyn’s Bagels is Food Truck, offering house-made bagels, house smoked salmon and fishes and breakfast sandwiches in South Florida


More information and details on how you can support it via Kickstarter HERE.


p.s. I have no affiliation with this project. But I love Bagels and Lox and I know the person behind Evelyn's does too....

Acoustic Eats with Brendan O'Hara & The GastroPod 2/3/16

Chef Jeremiah knows how to throw a food party so I have no doubt that this will be a great night.  Tickets are $28.00 and can be purchased via the link below.

Acoustic Eats.

February 3rd. 7pm
Dinner by Chef Jeremiah. Music by Brendan O'Hara. Craft beer & Cocktails
168 NW 26 street Wynwood
tickets at gastropod.tocktix.com 

Asian Invasion - Pit Stops @ Komodo, Gold Marquess & Myung Ga

Peking ducks, pastrami egg rolls and models. Sold! That trifecta of guilty pleasures can be found at
Komodo which opened recently on Brickell Avenue in Miami.  It's David Grutman's first foray into the restaurant world.  If you don't know who David is you're probably over the age of 50 and/or are in bed by 10pm on most nights. David is a founding partner of MMG Nightlife and responsible for the wildly successful and popular club, LIV located at the Fontainebleau Hotel and Sun Life Stadium too (for Dolphin home games). No, LIV doesn't serve food but don't lower your expectations too much because David's partner at Komodo is restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow who is no stranger to Asian themed restaurants or the Miami scene (China Grill/Asia de Cuba). Plus the kitchen is in the good hands of Rocco DiSpirito his China Grill team.

Bottom line, you know David's going to nail the service and hospitality side of the equation.  If he can get the South Beach crowd to the mainland which is easier said than done, he will have a huge hit.  There is no doubt in my mind that Komodo would be a home run if located on the beach. And in the old China Grill Space... But I would never question the judgment or vision of successful people like David and Jeffrey. And I certainly wouldn't bet against them.  p.s. Brickell City Centre is coming...

Go check Komodo out. I think you'll leave happy.



They did not hammer the Peking Duck. They nailed it. The skin was a crispy treat while the meat remained moist and flavorful. It was paired with celery, scallion, pancakes and hoisin. But they just got in the way. That skin and meat is all I wanted and needed.





The Lobster Dynamite with quinoa and scallion was a legit bite.   




Grutman Pastrami Egg Rolls paired with Chinese mustard sauce. Yes please!

 

Of course, the cocktail program wasn't an afterthought. Pictured is the Akira Cocktail, Bacardi 8 yr rum, campari, mastiha liquer, lillet blanc.



Crispy Dino Kale - togarashi, truffle salt. 


                            

Tonic Old Fashioned - Facundo eximo rum, tonic syrup, angostura orange.

Save room for the Banana in a Box.  Great dessert.  


Address

801 Brickell Ave Miami FL 33131

Tel: +1.305.534.2211

Email: info@komodomiami.com

Hours of Operation

Sunday - Wednesday
6:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Thursday - Saturday
6:00 pm - 12:00 am



MYUNG GA TOFU & BBQ (Weston)





Stop two isn't a new spot and has been on my to do list for a few years now.  But it's located in the everglades Weston and I am rarely out there.  Myung Ga is a must do for Korean food and BBQ fans.  They don't have table top gas or charcoal grills but I suspect that they bbq their meat better than you would. Not as much fun of course, but you can always search for a Melting Pot if cross contamination of raw meat is your thing. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my visit and this is a place that I would go frequently if I lived in the area. If you are a Korean food fan, it is definitely worth schlepping to the swamps to get your fix.






Dolsot Bibimbap - sizzling stone pot with crispy rice, cooked vegetables, beef & red chili paste. Outstanding.  






Galbee (grilled bbq short rib) Dynamite.   


Banchan

1944 Weston Rd
Weston, Florida 33326
Phone (954) 349-7337
Mon - Fri: 11:00 am - 10:30 pm
Sat - Sun: 11:30 am - 10:00 pm




GOLD MARQUESS FINE CHINESE CUISINE




Stop three is another spot located in the western suburbs of Broward County.  Gold Marquess is a Chinese restaurant that opened over the summer in Pembroke Pines  Their regular menu is extensive but it was their dim sum that lured me in.  Unfortunately, I was solo on my initial visit and it was during the work week so I only popped in for a quick bite. But everything I ate was great and everything I saw in the carts looked even better.  It should be noted that it's a big dining room and it was crowded for a mid week lunch.  And I was the only American in the place if that means anything to you.  It reminded me of Philip Ho and may be even better.  I intend on going back soon and often and will report back.

As of now, this is another spot my Miami followers Trump too should cross the border for.

First off the cart - sticky rice with lotus leaves & chiu chow dumplings.  Both were great.






Hello Dim Sum Cart!




Chiu Chow Dumplings. Great skin, fresh. 





Not very photogenic but very good - eggplant stuffed with shrimp.

Dim Sum Menu. 

8525 Pines Blvd
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024

Phone number(954) 367-7730

Australia Day with Chef Aaron Brooks @ Edge Steak & Bar 1/24/16

Poolside 'Barbie' with Chef Aaron & his 'Mates

Sunday, January 24th, from 1-4 PM 
Chef Aaron’s ‘mates, turn up the heat for a family friendly poolside event in Bahía, located on the 7^th floor terrace at Four Seasons Hotel Miami. Chefs will be featuring their BBQ favorites, while J Wakefield Brewing, The Tank Brewing Co., and Wynwood Brewing Company pour their local brews. Wines from Australia will also be available. Bring your budgie smugglers, or swimsuits, and enjoy access to the two resort style pools, celebrating winter in true Miami fashion – under the sun.

Tickets are $75 per person, $25 for children ages 6-12 and complimentary for those 5 and under. Ticket includes tax and gratuity, unlimited BBQ, select craft beer and wine, and pool access. Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.EDGEAussieBBQ.eventbrite.com. *Note: Eventbrite processing fee will be applied at time of purchase.

Pubbelly Boy & Benn @ Miami Beach JCC 2/3/16

Brunch with Kris Wessel @ GastroPod 1/17/16

Brunch with Kris Wessel

Hosted by Chef Jeremiah
Join us for a 5- course brunch this Sunday 1/17 at the gastropod in Wynwood.
Tickets are available at gastropod.tocktix.com

12-3pm
168 NW 26 street Miami FL 33127




This should be great.   

Best Restaurants Miami 2015

                     TOP FIFTEEN


Here are the Fifteen Best restaurants in Miami moving into 2016.  Some heavyweights opened this week (Pao & Los Fuegos) and I expect them to be in contention for the top fifteen when the next rankings come out.

My rankings took some big hits over the last year or so thanks to the departures of approximately nine talented chefs from restaurants that were consistently in my top fifteen over the past couple of years. (Hanlon, Griese, Alcudia, Kilgore, Wessel, Compton, Grant, Baker and Crandall) Unfortunately, several of those chefs are no longer cooking in town. But a couple have remained local and are back in the kitchen.  As a result, The Dutch, Scarpetta, J&G Grill, Azul, Toscana Divino, MM74 etc. have been removed from the list pending return visits with the new chefs.

As I've indicated in the past, this list is chef and food driven. But beverage/wine programs, service, management, ambiance, value and overall experience all play significant roles.

Obviously, this is very subjective and done as a guide to assist you with dining choices and to pay tribute to the chefs and restaurants that are doing outstanding jobs.

I am happy to announce a NEW NUMBER ONE. Chef Gabe Fenton remains one of the best chefs in town and the restaurant scores off the charts in every facet. Hospitality, service, bar program, wine, pastry etc. Go pay them a visit as they are truly the best of the best across the board.

These are the Best of the Best in town.


TOP FIFTEEN

1. Bourbon Steak
2. Naoe
3. Makoto
4. Cena by Michy
5. Cypress Tavern
6. The Bazaar
7. Macchialina
8. Vagabond Restaurant & Bar
9. Proof Pizza & Pasta
10. Quality Meats
11. db Bistro Moderne
12. Lucali (#1 for pizza/calzone)
13. Pubbelly
14. Niu Kitchen
15. Michael's Genuine
15. Joe's Stone Crabs (seasonal #1 caliber)
15. Edge Steak & Bar
15. Hakkasan


Missed the Top Fifteen but are highly recommended.

27,  Mignonette,  Corsair, La Mar, MC Kitchen, Yakko-San, Milos, Mandolin, Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Timo, Momi, Sushi Deli, Panya Thai, King Palace Chinese BBQ, Blue Collar, Salumeria 104, Sardinia, Wolfgang's, The River Oyster Bar, Meat Market, Petit Rouge, Basil Park, Macaluso's, The Forge, Cantina La 20, Izzy's Fish & Oyster (new ↑), Le Zoo (new ↑), Seagrape, El Cielo.

Category of its own... gastroPod

To Do -   Los Fuegos, Pao, Coya, Matador Room, Beachcraft, Byblos, Cleo, Stripsteak, Klima, Fooq's, Fresh American Bistro, Magic Garden, Bistro Casis, Bagatelle, Taquiza, The Golden Fig, The Continental, Red Ginger, Midtown Oyster Bar, Soho Bay, Driftwood Room, Bazi, Jaya, Talde, NaiYaRa, Beaker & Gray  OY!!!!!

Prominent and potentially rank worthy but not visited or need to get back -  Zuma, The Setai, Lure, Verde, Eating House, Alter and Palme d'Or.

Need to return and re-rank because of chef changes - The Dutch, Scarpetta, Michael Mina 74, Bocce, J&G Grill, Azul & Toscana Divino, The Federal.

Coming Soon - Ariete (open), Phuc Yea, PB Station, Sarsaparilla Club, Komodo (open), KYU, Wessel's Tropical BBQ

Cross the border(s) recommendations- Buccan, Cafe Boulud, Cafe La Buca, Hot & Soul, Myung Ga Tofu & BBQ, Blue Willy's, Valentino's, Coolinary Cafe.