American Social Launches Their Social Spice

The other day I told you about a restaurant that was holding its very own spin on spice, and now I got another one for you. It's American Social, located at  690 SW 1st Court in Brickell.  American Social opened its latest location a little under a year ago (you may be familiar with the spot on Las Olas) and the place has become a nice hang out for cocktails and networking with colleagues or just catching up with friends. Situated on the water and sporting street art on its walls and columns, American Social has a nice view and ambiance that is relaxed, casual and trendy.

Priced at $34 per person, their Social Spice menu offers three different selections to choose from for both appetizer and entree, and one dessert. At first I was a bit disappointed that there was only one option for dessert, mainly because I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But more on that later....

The three selections you can pick from for the First Course are the Cuban Cigars, the Smoked Wahoo Fish Dip and the Pretzel Bites. We decided to go for the Cuban Cigars (how can you pass up a name like that?) and the Fish Dip. Both dishes were delicious. The Cuban Cigars were pretty much eggrolls stuffed with smoked ham, mojo roasted pork loin, Emmenthal swiss cheese, kosher pickles, carrot, and radish. They were served with a sweet pickled dijon dipping sauce. It was an interesting combination of ingredients that worked really well together.  The Smoked Wahoo Fish Dip was entirely addicting. My dining companion thought I didn't notice he was trying to distract me so he could dip while I talked. Nice try. Creamy and with a smoky fish taste, the house made dip made a great pairing with the carrot and cucumber; giving the appetizer a healthy boost.

Cuban Cigars

Smoked Wahoo Fish Dip

The Second Course options were Herb Roasted Chicken, Wild Caught Salmon and Bolognese. We chose the chicken and the pasta. Prepared with vin blanc, the herb roasted chicken was served over creamy polenta and topped with a ratatouille-like crown. Of the two however, my favorite was the Bolognese. I really enjoyed the flavorful Bucatini pasta, bathed in a bolognese sauce with ricotta and parmesan cheese, and mixed with a blend of ground brisket, short rib, chuck and wild boar. The dish was hearty and well put together.

Herb Roasted Chicken

Bolognese

I told you I'd get back to the dessert and here we are. You know I'm a chocoholic so when all I saw on the menu was a Wild Berry Cobbler I panicked a bit. I mean I like berries and I know there are plenty of chocolate free desserts out there that are amazing (I can probably dish out a list) but I usually like to pick. Well, I'm happy to report the cobbler was awesome. It was served warm, with a crisp streusel crust, raw brown sugar and seasonal wild berries. The treat was topped with vanilla ice-cream, and after a few spoonfuls, I wasn't scared anymore.  My adventure with American Social's Social Menu ended just like it started... on a sweet note.

Wild Berry Cobbler

For more information on American Social or their Social Menu, visit them online or call them at 305-570-4468.

Miami Spice 2015 - 15th & Vine at The Viceroy

My next Miami Spice adventure happened somewhere up above, a room with a view, if you will - and I was sitting at the perfect table according to Evan Benn from The Miami Herald. I sat at Table 62 at 15th & Vine in The Viceroy Hotel in Brickell and the experience turned out to be a multisensory one. Overlooking Biscayne Bay and the hotel's pool and patio, you can momentarily lose yourself in this place, both through your eyes and through your taste buds. The Viceroy Hotel is located at 485 Brickell Avenue,

View from Table 62

15th & Vine

Potato Gnocchi
Char Siu Braissed Pork,
Roasted Corn, Mushroom,
Green Onion

Summer Salad
Broccoli Rabe, Cauliflower,
Radicchio, Caramelized
Fennel, Potato and
Mustard Vinaigrette

The Miami Spice menu at 15th & Vine has a lot of options to choose from. For starters, you can pick from seven different appetizers, including an Heirloom Tomato Flatbread, Potato Gnocchi, Pulpo (Octopus) Salad, Summer Salad and Beet Cured Salmon. We sampled these dishes and I can tell you they are served in very generous portions. Of the five we tasted, my favorite were the Octopus Salad, (which was unbelievably tender and flavorful) and the Heirloom Tomato Flatbread. The flatbread was crispy, and I enjoyed the taste of the Buffalo Mozzarella combined with the Fava Bean Pesto. The other dishes were very original and interesting as well, and I would recommend that if there are several in your party, you each order a different one. It's a lot funner to sample them all since 15th & Vine has really outdone itself in providing variety to the menu.

Beet Cured Salmon Crudo
Summer Vegetable Ceviche

Heirloom Tomato Flatbread
Buffalo Mozzarella, Fava Bean Pesto

Pulpo Salad
Potato Confit, Mandarin Orange, Romesco,
Mustard Vinaigrette

The entrees are just as fantastic, with several options beckoning the palate. For example, the Cauliflower Risotto, prepared with roasted corn, pinenuts and broccoli rabe is wonderfully creamy and light.  The BBQ Pork Loin, served with sweet plantains, smoked rhubarb and gremolata is surprisingly moist and and tender. My top entree, however, was the Korean BBQ Braised Short Rib. This dish was spectacular and totally blew me away. The short rib practically melted in my mouth, and I loved rubbing it over the diakkon carrot puree, wasabi bone marrow and sugar peas.

Cauliflower Risotto

BBQ Pork Loin

Korean BBQ Braised Short Rib

Fried Apple Pie

S'mores Tart

Dessert offers three different options to satisfy your sweet tooth, and depending on your preference, you'll be happy with any of them. The Fried Apple Pie is the most traditional choice, served with a sour caramel sauce. The S'more Tart is a winner, if you love that sweet, tangy taste (which of course, I do). It's a roller coaster ride of passion fruit, bourbon vanilla or salted caramel mellow. And then there's my decadent pick: the Turtle Cheesecake.  My dining companion isn't usually into desserts (unlike me) and he couldn't put down the spoon. No, I wasn't happy. As a matter of fact, I was spooning faster than I could swallow to make sure he didn't eat it all. The cheesecake was refreshing, and had a nutty texture of candied pecans and Nutella crumble.

Turtle Cheesecake

So there you have it. Another Miami Spice adventure I highly recommend. We're halfway through August and there's so much to eat. Be sure to add 15th & Vine to your list. For more information, visit their website or call them at 305-307-5413.

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Miami Spice at Atrio at the Conrad-Miami Hotel in Brickell

What goes perfect with unparalleled service and impressive food? A great view! My first pick for this year's Miami Spice is Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room at the Conrad Miami Hotel located at 1395 Brickell Avenue. Atrio is a luxurious restaurant in the trendy yet sophisticated area of Brickell, offering panoramic views of the city and bay area. Its beautiful decor personifies unpretentious elegance, with a warm and inviting feel.

As I rode the elevator up to the 25th floor, I saw the Miami Spice menu displayed on the wall. Usually, I know right away what dishes I want to try because not all of them will appeal to me. However, the first thing that jumped out on our high speed ride was that the choices they offer for each course of the Miami Spice menu all sound amazing. And on top of that madness, you could also choose a select wine pairing for just $6 a glass.  Me likey already!

We sat down next to the floor-to-ceiling window and admired the view, while our incredibly knowledgeable and friendly waiter, Shane, gave us an in-depth description of the preparation of each dish. Wow! I can get used to this. There were a few of us having dinner together, so since we really wanted to try everything, we each ordered something different. You know what they say, sharing is caring.

Almond  & Grape Gazpacho

Goat Cheese Salad

Atrio offers the same Miami Spice menu for both lunch and dinner, so let's start with the appetizers. The selections are Almond & Grape Gazpacho, Salmon & Grouper Carpaccio, and Goat Cheese Salad. All three are winners. I'm not talking about just taste either - the presentation is remarkable. The Almond & Grape Gazpacho is completely unique and fun. It actually consists of a fried shrimp, grapes and mixed greens salad on one side of the dish with a shot of gazpacho on the other. So you eat it by taking alternating bites and sips. Think of it as a "deconstructed" gazpacho. It was extremely refreshing and flavorful. The Salmon & Grouper Carpaccio is equally as alluring. Thinly sliced pieces of salmon and grouper are artfully arranged on the plate, and topped with a fine herb sorbet. My first observation was that it totally awakened my palate, providing an aromatic, cooling array of flavors. Perhaps one of my favorites of the night. The Goat Cheese Salad was another fresh start to the meal, expertly pairing fried chunks of tangy, goat cheese, with the crispness of organic greens sourced from Paradise Farms. I loved the touches of roasted beets and crunchy pecans which added more depth and texture to the experience, and found the dressing to be phenomenal. They certainly know how to put together an opening course befitting the culture and feel of Miami at Atrio. All of these choices were perfect summer dishes.

Salmon & Grouper Carpaccio

Seared Scallops

Mushroom Cannelloni

The second course offerings were as exquisite as the first, providing a delectable option for every preference. They include Seared Scallops, Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly, and Mushroom Cannelloni. The Seared Scallops were buttery and soft, sitting on a nice, creamy and smooth cauliflower mousseline, and topped with a cardamon cloud. The cardamon gave the tender scallops an intensely fragrant character that seemed to warm the taste buds with every bite. The Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly was, how should I say, a masterpiece. Oozing in superior taste, texture and marbling, it was the kind of dish you savor with your eyes closed. Difficult to describe with just one adjective, I have to alternate between crispy, tender, chewy and sweet. It was served with crispy octopus and mascarpone polenta, all coming together like a loving family on Christmas morning. Can it get any more genius than that? For those preferring a meatless or vegetarian alternative, the Mushroom Cannelloni would be spot on. Served in a creamy gorgonzola sauce, the strong flavors of the sauce balanced the earthiness of the mushrooms in pure, gastronomic harmony.

Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly

Peach Trifle

Exotic Virgin Daiquiri

The third course choices proved to have been designed with as much care and detail as the other two. They consisted of Peach Trifle, Exotic Virgin Daiquiri and Farm Goat Cheesecake. The Peach Trifle was served in a glass; the chunks of peaches layered between dollops of Amaretto whipped cream. It was light, creamy and another refreshing ode to Miami weather. The Exotic Virgin Daiquiri was an original dessert, made with passion fruit, mango and kiwi, and served with champagne granite. This one was more subtle and fruity in taste yet memorable in its simplicity and presentation. It kind of reminded me of a tropical escapade through the Caribbean. Although I was enthralled by all the desserts, the Farm Goat Cheesecake was my favorite. A picture is worth a thousand words, but in this case it doesn't do it justice. The mild flavored, creamy texture of the goat cheese created a decadent sweet basis for this dessert, while the raspberry coulis infused a seasonal zest that brought it all together. I can sleep with one of these on my pillow every night.

Farm Goat Cheesecake

All this, for $23 for lunch and $39 for dinner. Can't think of a better place for a  fantastic, romantic night. And with a Miami Spice menu like this, it is an eat-and-repeat kind of place. After starting off with an experience as memorable as this one, I can't wait to see what else awaits us for 2013. For more information, you can visit Atrio online or call them at 305 503-6500.

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.