Cafe Prima Pasta Puts A Spin on Spice

Some restaurants choose to go a different route during Miami Spice. They come up with their own Spin on Spice without actually participating in the official promotion. Such is the case with Cafe Prima Pasta, located in Miami Beach at 414 71st Street. They've put together a pretty creative menu and appropriately called it Miami Prima Menu.

The decor at Cafe Prima Pasta is authentic and makes you
feel like you are in Italy enjoying a fantastic meal.

We went out there to check out their Miami Prima Menu, and there were so many other dishes that sounded amazing, that we figured we'd loosen our belts and try a little bit of everything. At first I felt guilty at my limitless indulgence, but then I remembered that I owed it to you guys to be thorough, so I took one (or many) for the team.

Carpaccio di Manzo

The promotional menu offers several choices for each course, and it is offered during the same time frame as Miami Spice (August 1st- September 30th) at $39 per person.  For example, as an appetizer, you can choose the Carpaccio di Manzo, (which I highly recommend), consisting of thin slices of filet mignon, sprinkled with imported extra virgin olive oil, zesty lime and robust parmesan cheese. If raw steak isn't your thing, you can also pick the Carpaccio di Salmon, which is the fish version of this dish, or a Baby Exotic Salad, prepared with mixed greens, bufala, hearts of palm and artichokes. My dining companion chose the Eggplant Rollatini as his appetizer (of course - he had to share with me) and it was phenomenal. We thoroughly enjoyed the sliced eggplant rolled with ricotta and artisanal cheeses, served with a mixed green salad and marinara sauce.

Eggplant Rollatini

Their entrees are quite exceptional as well. You can sink your teeth into their Lobster Ravioli, served in a creamy saffron sauce and sing O Sole Mio with your eyes closed, or you can choose from the Veggie Ravioli, Veal Pizzaiola, or their Fish of the Day, which comes baked and served with tomatoes, capers, onions and kalamata olives. Now I have to stop for a minute and put in a good word for their Pear Ravioli.with Gorgonzola Cheese. It is not on the Miami Prima Menu, but listen to me, you have to come back for it. This could very well be the perfect ravioli, with an incredible texture and that sweet, savory and creamy quality we all look for in this dish.

Pear Ravioli with Gorgonzola Cheese

Dessert holds up to the rest of the game at Cafe Prima Pasta. You can choose their Tiramisu, or either one of their Tartufos, Negro or Bianco. The Tiramisu is simple yet intriguing, expertly created using an old family recipe and the Tartufo is fun, a signature Italian ice-cream dessert filled with raspberry syrup.

Tiramisu

Tartufo Bianco

You'll remember I told you we had a few other dishes not on the Miami Prima Menu just because..well..we are such foodaholics, and I'm also going to share them with you. When you go back for their Pear Ravioli, consider ordering their Fried Zucchini. My friends, you will thank me. I can eat these while watching The Bachelorette on TV.

Fried Zucchini

You might also want to check out their Porcini Risotto, which is prepared with fresh mushrooms and is unbelievably creamy or their Veal Piccata, sauteed with white wine, lemon and capers. Believe me, these two dishes will make a Cafe Prima Pasta fan out of you as well.

Porcini Risotto 

Veal Piccata

For more information on Cafe Prima Pasta and their Miami Prima Menu, visit them online here or call them at 305-867-0106.

Argentina Wine Tasting Miami 2013

Last month, the Consejo Federal de Inversiones (CFI), a federal trade organization from Argentina whose main purpose is to promote the development of the provinces and regions of its country, hosted 12 wineries, or “bodegas” in a wine tasting event that took place at the beautiful St. Regis Hotel in Bal Harbour. The focus of the tasting was to introduce distributors and importers to the wide variety of wines produced in Argentina, assisting the boutique and medium-sized cellars, and further expanding their market in the United States.

NewLink Communications invited me to the event and I have to say it was not only wine-a-licious but I also learned a lot about the region as a whole, and the vast grapes available there that we are not familiar with in America. When we think of Argentinian wines, we tend to gravitate towards the Malbecs, which are phenomenal. However, there are others equally as memorable, both whites and reds, and I was totally taken aback by the passion the producers displayed in their product.

I had a chance to speak with Dario Ciscar, consultant for the CFI, and talk a bit about wine and the influence Argentina is having in the global market. “Although Argentina is known to be part of the “New World” wines because we are outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe, we have been producing the grapes for centuries,” said Ciscar. “Currently, we are the fifth largest wine producer in the world.” We also talked about the uniqueness of each wine- producing region in Argentina, and the exceptional quality of the grapes due in part to the low relative humidity and scarce rainfall. While a higher percentage of production corresponds to red grapes, there is significant cultivation of white as well. Ciscar recommended I try Torrontes, a white wine known for its subtle citrus flavor and lingering finish; primarily produced in the Riojana region. Making mental note of that expert suggestion, I headed over to the tables as soon as we finished our chat.

While I didn’t taste a wine I didn’t like, there were some that really stood out for me.  One of my favorites was the Malbec from Apogeo A16. It was one of the deepest and most intense I sampled all evening. Exhibiting a brilliant color, it had sweet and juicy tannins with an elegant finish. There’s a wine I would love to pair with my churrasco.

Another I thoroughly enjoyed was the Santa Florentina Torrontes, from La Riojana Coop.  This was the first time I had tasted this white wine from Argentina. Medium bodied, and notably aromatic of melons and peaches, it had a crisp, refreshing finish. I can see this as a perfect companion to a light appetizer or a nice seafood dish.

Other wineries participating in the tasting were Bodega del Desierto, Carelli, Don Cristobal, Gouguenheim Winery, La Guarda, Mauricio Lorca, Munoz de Toro Wines, Rewen Estate, San Huberto and Valcosta Estate.

Between the sampling of wines, light bites (loved the ceviches) were served and a live band played a few songs. The next day, the wineries headed off to London, to participate in the London International Wine Fair; one of the most important trade shows in the world for the wine industry. For more information on these fine Argentinian wines, visit Consejo Federal de Inversiones.