Showing posts with label Buffet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buffet. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Sunday Brunch at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

Sipping Mimosas near the water, while gentle tropical breezes caress your face takes any dining experience to a whole new level. The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, nestled between swaying palm trees and lush tropical foliage, has recently jazzed up their Sunday Brunch, by adding Southern-inspired dishes and live entertainment every second Sunday of the month. It's no secret that I love Sunday Brunches and the unparalleled food and service of the Ritz, so this was my cue to get on the Rickenbacker Causeway and head south to 455 Grand Bay Drive.


 
With a touch of signature Miami flair, Southern belles dressed in their Sunday finest greeted us at the entrance to Cioppino, the resort’s main restaurant, while a captivating saxophonist played soulful jazz favorites. For us, the anticipation kicked in almost immediately, as we perused the lavish selection of brunch stations. After taking a sip of our refreshing Mimosas, with an unspoken promise to return for a Bloody Mary, we started by sampling the caviar; an array of American, Keta and Trout Roe, displayed with the classical garnitures. Once we awakened our palates with these delicacies from the sea, we continued on the seafood route, enjoying a variety of tangy ceviches, crab claws, succulent shrimp and oysters. A sizable sushi boat also called out to us, accompanied by a variety of Asian dishes including Curry Beef wonton, soy marinated udon noodles and a selection of dim sums. This was just the beginning...

 

The beautifully displayed stations also included a feast of salads and a charcuterie offering fine meats, imported cheeses, and crispy breads and crostini, along with a Carving Station featuring tender cuts of Salt Crusted Sirloin with Beef Jus and Roasted Herb Crusted Salmon with Lemon Beurre Blanc. The Italian roots of the Chef were ever present with an array of tantalizing dishes such as Lobster Risotto and Penne a la Bolognese luring us to the Pasta Station. No brunch would be complete without the traditional breakfast items, and at the Ritz, they include an omelet station, unforgettable crepes, chicken sausages and crispy bacon. While the Southern staples may vary from one brunch to another, our taste buds were taken on a journey through the Big Easy with classics like Chicken and Waffles, Crawfish and mouthwatering Jambalaya.
 


There's no question you will bounce from station to station like a kid at Toys R Us, but you must save room for dessert. There is an impressive separate area dedicated exclusively to the decadent sensations. The fine line between art and sweet indulgence blurs at this point of the meal, and the selection of pastries reach unimaginable heights. From chocolate-laden creations to international treats, the choices are endless.

 
Who says you can’t have champagne wishes and caviar dreams? At The Ritz-Carlton, you can have both with a side of jazz.  For more information, visit their website at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne.

 
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Blue Moon Fish Co. - Brunch



Sunday mornings are meant to be enjoyed. Since I really like to sleep in, starting my day out lazily and heading out to a Sunday Brunch is a favorite past time for me . While there are some great a-la-carte brunches out there, I must say I'm a buffet kind of gal. I can't really explain it, but I get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I walk into an open space and see an assortment of culinary stations I can indulge in to my heart's desire. Having said that, this past weekend I was excited to visit a place I had heard served a mean brunch and was situated right on the water. This restaurant is Blue Moon Fish Co., located in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea at 4405 W. Tradewinds Avenue. Join me below as I take you on a virtual sensory tour of their impressive new brunch menu. Oh, and make sure you read all of it because we're giving you a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate to Blue Moon Fish Co.at the bottom of this post.

This is how I roll...

With Chef /Owner
Bryce Statham
Romantic Live Music
Blue Moon Fish Co. has been a staple in the area for many years. It specializes in fresh seafood in an elegant, picturesque setting overlooking the Intracoastal. All I can say is that the minute I set foot inside, it reeled me in. The indoor dining area boasts elegant high ceilings and contemporary wrought iron and brass lamps, while the mahogany and maple wood accents envelope you in a luxurious ambiance.  I went to Blue Moon Fish Co. for their newly redesigned Sunday Brunch and immediately noticed Chef/Owners Baron Skorish and Bryce Statham walking around and having fun with the diners. I loved how both of these celebrated, award-winning chefs were personally welcoming everyone who walked in.

Chef Dario's Famous Oysters Rockefeller

Our gracious hostess walked us to the outdoor terrace and down to a dock area literally right over the water. I was floored! It was the most breathtaking, romantic view I had seen in a long time. The cool breeze felt fabulous on my face and there were boats cruising up and down the water. Seriously, with a view like this, I forgot for a few minutes that I was starving. But as I regained composure and made my way back to the brunch stations, I remembered.

Delicious Seafood

Sushi rolls include
Eel and Salmon sushi
and Spicy Tuna Roll
Yellowtail Snapper Ceviche
The presentation of their brunch is spectacular, while the array and quality of the selections are impressive. Everything looked so scrumptious, I didn't know where to start. I  actually had to laugh a couple of times as I was eyeing all the tables, because I noticed that other diners had the same awe-struck smile on their faces that I did.  Finally, I decided to start with the seafood (always a personal favorite) and work my way through the rest of the culinary stations. It was quite interesting to find that many of the dishes had a distinct Cajun theme in their preparation that was both authentic as well as appetizing.


Spicy Tuna Roll

The Breakfast Bar
The Seafood Table
Ready for the virtual sensory tour? The Breakfast Bar features traditional breakfast items such as Eggs Benedict, Corn Flake Crusted French Toast and House Cured Salmon Graviax. The Seafood Table offers a wide variety of delectable items like King Crab Clusters, Chef Dario's Famous Oysters Rockefeller, Weekly Trio of Ceviches and tasty Sushi Rolls. I practically moved in to this last station if you take into account the number of times I came back for more goodies.


Treats from The Salad Table and The Carving Board

The Carving Board
The Salad Table and Charcuterie
The selection at The Carving Board was outstanding with items such as Mint Leaf and Shallot Roasted Leg of Lamb and a Spice Rubbed-Grilled Loin of Pork that made me close my eyes in wonder as I bit into the tender meat. I have to add The Pineapple Habanero sauce on the side gave it the ultimate sweet and spicy kick. The Salad Table and Charcuterie featured a huge variety of salads and vegetables, as well as sliced aged Italian Meats and high quality Imported Cheeses. There was also The Soup Station, which included Louisiana Seafood Gumbo and Florida Fish Chowder, and The Tuscan Trattoria; an incredible stop for Chef-selected Pastas and Sauces. Mamma Mia!

You're not going to believe it, but in addition to all of this, Blue Moon Fish Co. also includes Chef Prepared Entrees you can order from your server as part of their Sunday Brunch. In my book, that totally sets them apart from other buffet brunches. Take a look at them below and please try not to drool all over the keyboard.


Australian Lamb Chop with
Eggplant and Ratouille

Chicken Milanese with an Arugula
and Fresh Tomato Salad












Seared Diver Sea Scallops with
Udon Noodles, Julienne Vegetables
and Coconut Curry Lime Broth
Grilled Swordfish with Cucumber,
White Bean Salad and
Grilled Romaine












Louisiana Crawfish and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with
Cayenne and Cilantro Aioli.  I could have had 10 of
these.

Pecan Pie
Key Lime Pie

Of course, Sunday Brunch wouldn't be complete without a sweet ending, and Blue Moon Fish Co. doesn't hold back here either. Chef Maria's Sweet Shop, their decadent dessert station, was a sugar lover's dream. Just envision Pecan Pie, Fruit Tartlettes, Chocolate Tortes, and so much more, along with a cascading Chocolate Fountain with delicious treats to dip. Yes...this place is for real.



Chocolate Fountain
Blue Moon Fish Co. is a total catch! No wonder it was voted Best Sunday Brunch in Broward.  The service is outstanding and they are definitely proud of their establishment. Our servers, Christie and Cory made the afternoon very special. If you'd like to make reservations, or find out more about the restaurant, including their upcoming Thanksgiving Feast, you can contact them at 954-267-9888 or visit them online at  http://www.bluemoonfishco.com/home.html.


Now here it is...the moment you've all been waiting for! Do you want to experience this fabulous brunch for yourself? I've partnered with Blue Moon Fish Company for my upcoming 1 year Blogaversary and we're giving away a $100 Gift Certificate to use at the restaurant! That's right...$100 to spend at this amazing place! An opportunity like this occurs only once in a "blue moon" so don't pass it up! Here are the details of the contest:


To Win $100 Blue Moon Fish Company Gift Certificate, you must : (See asterisk at the bottom if you don't subscribe to all the social medias listed below)
  • Like my Facebook Page at Adventures of the Foodaholic *
  • Like Blue Moon Fish Company on Facebook at Blue Moon Fish Co *
  • Post on Blue Moon Fish Company's Facebook Wall "Adventures of the Foodaholic Blue Moon Fish Company Reader Giveaway"
  • Follow me on Twitter @mariasgoodtaste *
  • Follow Blue Moon Fish Company on Twitter @BlueMoonFishCo *
  • Tweet "Adventures of the Foodaholic Blue Moon Fish Company" with hashtag #ReaderGiveaway and mention @BlueMoonFishCo.
  • For an extra chance to win, Comment on this post  "Adventures of the Foodaholic Blue Moon Fish Company Reader Giveaway". *
* Each social media site counts as one entry: If you "Like" the pages and write the wall post on Facebook only, that's one entry. Following and Tweeting with the correct hashtag on Twitter is another entry. Commenting on this post gives you one extra entry. You increase your chances of winning by doing it all. 

The contest will run for 7 days from today, Wednesday, November 14th, 2012 to Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 at 11:59 pm est. Once a winner is selected randomly from the pool of participants who have met the requirements above, I will announce the winner through my Blog, Facebook page and Twitter Account. Good luck and Bon Appetit!


Blue Moon Fish Co. on Urbanspoon

Saturday, August 4, 2012

EDGE Steak & Bar - Brunch

About a month ago, I wrote a post on a somewhat new but increasingly popular restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel in Brickell: EDGE Steak & Bar, located at 1435 Brickell Avenue. I had an incredible dinner adventure there, and was looking forward to returning to try their Sunday Brunch; a lavish buffet-style brunch promising a whimsical twist on the food truck frenzy. How, you ask? In addition to the traditional brunch offerings, such as omelette and carving stations, there would also be innovative stops simulating food trucks serving Mexican favorites, Cuban must-haves and Peruvian seafood. The brunch also included unlimited Mimosas and Build-Your-Own Bloody Marys. While I love all kinds of Sunday Brunches, I am a devoted fan of buffet brunches, because you can sample a wider selection of items for one price. Back to EDGE I went...

Mimosas and Bloody Marys

Jumbo Shrimp
East Coast Oysters
I was excited the moment we arrived; spotting the large table right in front of the entrance, where a great number of the buffet items were aesthetically placed. Being the seafood lover that I am, I instantaneously went to look for the Peruvian Seafood Station mentioned on their website, where I would find the shrimp, oysters, crab claws and ahi tuna tartare. I noticed there wasn't a specific station for the seafood per se, but rather platters with these items were placed on the main table. The Jumbo Shrimp and Shucked East Coast Oysters were the first to call my name. I piled some of those on my plate and went to town. They were very good. The shrimp were plump, juicy and tender and the oysters were somewhat salty with a soft texture and a slightly bitter finish. I then looked around for their Ahi Tuna Tartare, since you know me and my love for the Chicken of the Sea. Unfortunately, I never found it. I did find the crab claws but I honestly wasn't thrilled about them.  They were Jonah crab claws and I am not particularly fond of those, as they are not as meaty or flavorful as their counterparts.

Jonah Crab Claws

Whole Red Snapper
Signature House Kettle Chips
Still having a world of choices to explore, I continued sampling the items beautifully displayed on the main table. From the delicious variety of Antipasti, to the Savory Cheeses and the Sweet Pea Parmesan Bruschettas, it was a whirlwind of titillating deliciousness. Continuing over to the Hot Food Station I picked up some Crispy Local Whole Red Snapper with Florida Mango Salsa. Scrumptious! The Carving Station also offered the Chef's prime choice cut of the week, along with their famous Cutting Edge Rub. I tried some Mini EDGE Burgers with their signature House Kettle Chips, which took me back to my outstanding first visit there.

Say hello to my little friend...

Viva La Mexico! Station
Cuban Food Truck Station
What made this brunch unique to me, though, was the originality of their stations. They have two fun ones that I've never seen in any other brunch. The Viva La Mexico! station decorated like a Mexican food truck and featuring Tacos with all the fixings; and the Cuban Food Truck, showcasing....are you a ready...a Roast Suckling Pig.  That was impressive! Not only because it looked awesome, but because it was perfectly roasted - and if you're Cuban or love Cuban food, you know what I mean: juicy and flavorful on the inside, with a crispy skin on the outside. I thought it was Noche Buena in July. I can tell you that when I posted the picture of the suckling pig on my Facebook page, I got a lot of responses asking me if the pig was a regular item on the Sunday Brunch menu; even from out-of-towners planning on visiting Miami.


Seafood Paella
Cotton Candy! Frozen Yogurt!
Wanting to sample more, I tried the Seafood Paella. It was fantastic; standing out with its juicy layer of flavors and medley of seafood. Over on the other side, chefs were preparing omelettes, and there was an array of fresh fruit to select from. By the way, they have a lot of options available for the little guys, so you don't have to leave them at home. There is a special menu for kids offering all of their favorites along with a fun station where the young (and young at heart) can grab cotton candy, frozen yogurt or lemonade.


Red Velvet Shortcake
Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

Dessert Table
Finally, I made my way over to the desserts. I could feel the sugar rush just from looking at them. Needless to say I tried quite a few and my favorites were the Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake (Is that a surprise?) the Flan Floating Island, and the Original Tres Leches. 



We really enjoyed trying out the brunch at EDGE Steak & Bar. Chef Aaron Brooks' talented and dedicated hand was evident in the dishes and they really went a cut above to make the presentation unique. This time around, the service wasn't as memorable as the last time but the elegant ambiance of the place still shone through.

For more information on the Sunday Brunch at EDGE, you can contact them at 305-381-3190 or visit them online at http://www.edgerestaurantmiami.com/menus/sunday_brunch/.

Edge Steak & Bar (Four Seasons Hotel) on Urbanspoon