Miami Spice 2015- Bulla Gastrobar

I didn't want the weekend to start without pointing you in another Miami Spice direction. My next adventure happened at a popular Spanish Coral Gables spot that gets packed not just for dinner but for happy hour as well. I'm talking about Bulla Gastrobar, located at 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

The Sangrias at Bulla never disappoint

I looked at Bulla's Miami Spice menu online and it was a go for me right away. First of all, their appetizer choices sounded very good (especially the tuna tartare) and they featured an interesting mix of entrees as well. So, off I went and started the night with one of their famous Sangrias. I'm sure you've experienced one or two of these in your lifetime.  From there, my dining companion and I decided to share our courses so we started off with the Tartar de Atun (Tuna Tartare) and the Albondigas de Cordero (Lamb Meatballs). What can I tell you about the tartare? It was enthralling… the fresh ahi tuna was mixed with mango and avocado, then drizzled with soy sesame vinaigrette. It was served with a Sriracha Aioli that gave it an exciting kick, and a side of crispy taco shells. I found this variation added a layer of fun to the dish because you could enjoy making little tacos over conversation, as you savored the sweet and salty appetizer. The lamb meatballs were winners too. They were tender and flavorful, and served together with mushrooms, potatoes and onion marmalade. We didn't try the other two appetizer options but they sounded interesting as well. They were the Gambas Al Ajillo (Sauteed Garlic Shrimp) and Montados de Chistorra (Spicy Spanish Sausage with Bread).

Tartar de Atun

Albondigas de Cordero

Bulla offers five Main Course choices for their Miami Spice menu and I can promise it will be difficult to choose. The options include Arroz Caldoso (Paella-style dish), New York Strip Steak, Seared Swordfish, Braised Oxtail and Grilled Octopus. See what I mean? After much thought and deliberation, we went for the Arroz Caldoso and the Pulpo A La Plancha (Grilled Octopus). When the server brought out our entrees, I was floored with my rice. It was a huge portion served in a skillet-like pot, whose aroma was practically making me drool.  The Bomba rice was swimming in delicious broth along with clams, shrimp, and chicken, all seasoned in a red sofrito and saffron. Amazing. I immediately knew I would be reliving this portion of my adventure for next day's lunch as well. The octopus was perfectly grilled, tender not chewy, and served over a semi-sweet corn puree, mojo picon and a splash of paprika oil. 

Arroz Caldoso

Pulpo A La Plancha

Last but certainly not least, it was time for dessert. We picked one of each of the two choices on the menu: Torrejas (Caramelized Brioche) and Arroz Con Leche (Spanish-style Rice Pudding). The caramelized brioche had an incredible sweet texture and was bathed in local honey, alongside a scoop of turron ice-cream. The Arroz Con Leche was topped with a golden raisin coulis and sprinkles of cinnamon that brought the whole experience to a perfect ending.

Torrejas

Arroz Con Leche

You have less than a month to take advantage of this fabulous menu for the $39 price. For more information on Bulla Gastrobar and their Miami Spice Menu, visit them online or call them at 305 441-0107.

Miami Spice 2015 - Swine Southern Table & Bar

I'm sure you'll agree that nothing beats the smell of smoky, heartwarming BBQ. And I'm also sure that is exactly what you think about every time you walk down Ponce in Coral Gables. If you don't know what I'm referring to and you reside in Miami, you just haven't lived. Let me break it down for you. My next Miami Spice adventure happened at Swine Southern Table & Bar, located at 2415 Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

I'm sure I don't need to give you much of an introduction to this place. It is the sister restaurant of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami Beach, and one of the popular eateries owned and operated by 50 Eggs Inc., Miami's very famous multifaceted, culinary and hospitality firm. But most people know Swine as that awesome BBQ place in the Gables that makes the whole street smell so good.

Swine's Miami Spice Menu

We ventured out here on a Thursday night eager to see what goodies awaited us on their Miami Spice menu. While the menu itself isn't huge, the portions are. Perhaps huge is an understatement. I'm talking leftovers for a couple of days. And not just food that you put away in the fridge and forget about, but leftovers that you are looking forward to coming home to the next day.

I started my evening sipping their Homestead Bound, a sweet concoction made with Absolut vodka, Veev acai, fresh strawberres, orange, lemon, mint and basil. Of course, this is not part of the Miami Spice menu but who comes to Swine and doesn't have one of their famous cocktails?

The menu itself consists of a choice from three appetizers, three entrees and one dessert. You might be thinking, just one dessert? Yes, but sometimes one is enough; especially when it is called Death By Chocolate. But back to the starters. We ordered the Fried Green Tomato and the 1855 Black Angus Burnt Ends, and suddenly I was back in my last road trip vacation through the deep south. The Fried Green Tomato was topped with a robust Winter Park Florida tomme, pea shoots and a delicious tomato chow chow relish. However, it was the Golden Nuggets of the South, or the Burnt Ends, that totally blew me away. These flavorful, juicy pieces of meat were drizzled in their ever famous Swine barbecue sauce and served with spiced corn nuts and a creamy cornbread foam. All I can say is that it's one of those things you have to experience at least once in a lifetime.

Fried Green Tomato

1855 Black Angus Burnt Ends

On to the entrees. We decided to try the Backyard BBQ Chicken and the Low & Slow Ribs. When our server brought the dishes to the table,  my jaw dropped. The ribs in particular were stacked at three levels. I couldn't wait to stick my teeth into them. They were mopped in an apple cider vinegar,  which kept the meat moist and falling off the bone, and seasoned with a mild competition rub. I also enjoyed the homemade pickles served with the ribs. The chicken was slow smoked and grilled, and coated with the same Swine BBQ sauce. It was served with charred okra and roasted marble potatoes.

Low & Slow Ribs

Backyard BBQ Chicken

Remember the Death By Chocolate I told you about? Well this is just about the moment in time we succumbed to the sweet, pleasurable finale. Let me just list the ingredients and you'll understand what I mean: a glass filled with a rich chocolate brownie, creamy chocolate pudding, crunchy cocoa puffs, smooth chocolate ice cream, and a decadent chocolate sauce. Do you see a pattern here?

Death By Chocolate

It's pretty obvious Swine Southern Table & Bar is a must-do for Miami Spice. It's got incredible, quality food and portions to match. For more information, visit their website or call them at 786-360-6433.

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 2015 BLT Steak at The Betsy Hotel

I've been sharing great #MiamiSpice dinner spots with you but I haven't shared any lunch spots. That's about to change. Put on your sun dress, head over to The Betsy Hotel, located at 1440 Ocean Drive in Miami Beach and get ready to be spiced at BLT Steak. In case you didn't know, BLT stands for Bistro Laurent Tourondel (not bacon, lettuce, tomato), named after its renowned French chef and owner. Chef Tourondel also owns a slew of other restaurants throughout the country, has received numerous awards and has published three cookbooks.

Photo courtesy of The Betsy Hotel

I'll start by saying this place is spot on. BLT Steak was voted as "Miami's Best Steakhouse" in 2014 by the Miami New Times and has received accolades from both local and international travelers alike. Just think, for only $23, you can get your lunch groove on at BLT Steak during Miami Spice, and then go stroll up and down Ocean Drive.

Photo Courtesy of The Betsy Hotel

Anyway, even though I just experienced my Miami Spice adventure at BLT Steak, I'm already planning a return trip for dinner, the spa, a romantic rendezvous, who knows? Their lunch menu was great but I think it was the experience as a whole that sealed the deal for me. First of all, whether you're coming during this promotion, or any time for that matter, you are going to be treated to a few things that make a difference. Before you begin your dining experience, a board with a couple of huge Gruyere Popovers is going to be placed in front of you, filling your soul with a fresh-baked scent that will cause you to momentarily begin to drool. Make no mistake, it will happen. The homemade, flaky, warm bread will be served with soft butter and its very own recipe. You'll want to eat it all but it is my duty to advice you not to. There is plenty more delicious food coming and trust me, they taste just as good the following day. As if that wasn't enough, BLT Steak continues to pamper you by bringing out a complimentary jar of Chicken Liver Mousse, served with sliced bread and pickled vegetables (dinner only). It is insanely good, but again I warn you...pace yourself. You will not want to stop eating it once you start.

Gruyere Popovers

Chicken Liver Mousse

All this and we haven't even begun talking about the actual three courses of the Miami Spice Lunch Blackboard. Here we go.... There were two appetizers to choose from on the menu and we tried both: the Roasted Peach Salad and the Porkbelly Katsu Sushi Roll.  Both of these selections were fresh and flavorful, and a great way to begin the food journey. The salad consisted of fennel, stracciatela, crispy couscous and juicy peach drizzled with a citrusy peach vinaigrette. If I had to describe a taste of summer, this would be it. It offered me the sweet and salty fix I always love in dishes. The porkbelly roll was original and detonated a flavor explosion in each bite. The unagi, cabbage and serrano pepper topped with the mind-blowing porkbelly, created a symphony for the senses, while the creamy kewpie added the finishing touch to the roll.

Roasted Peach Salad

Porkbelly Katsu Sushi Roll

The entrees were just as intense despite this menu being offered midday. We sampled the Pan Roasted Stone Bass, served with marinated tomato escabeche and guacamole, over a citrus emulsion and the CAB Prime Brisket Panini.  The bass was so tender and buttery, it practically dissolved instantaneously in my mouth. I loved it. And the guac..oh the guac. I wasn't expecting that outstanding taste when I scooped it up with the fork and it made quite an impression. The Panini was also something to savor. Well seasoned brisket and bergenost cheese, came together with honey mustard nappa cabbage slaw and rested in between two toasty breads. It was perfect. This dish was served with seasoned fries and I confess, I licked my finger a few times when my dining companion wasn't looking.

Pan Roasted Stone Bass

CAB Prime Brisket Panini

Next up was dessert and there were two on the blackboard lunch menu: the Strawberry-Valrhona Chocolate Mousse Cake and the Coconut Lime Cheesecake. They were both decadent but being the chocolate lover that I am, my favorite was the mousse cake. I especially loved the strawberry jelly and merengue kisses on top. Now I've probably told you before that I'm not a fan of coconut but the taste of coconut in their cheesecake was so subtle, I was spooning it in more ways than one. It may have been the mango compote or the brown butter tuile but something in that recipe was calling out to me.

Strawberry-Valrhona Chocolate Mousse Cake

Coconut Lime Cheesecake

It seems BLT Steak just loves to present its guests with complimentary treats and dessert was no exception. At the end of our meal, our server brought out a basket of rich, soft Madeleines and we went to town. There's always room for... even more dessert.

Complimentary Madeleines

So there you have it. If you're planning to do a Miami Spice lunch, this is the place to go. For more information on BLT Steak visit their website or call them at 305-673-0044.

Toscana Divino - Miami Spice

So you know how when you're watching the Super Bowl and they put Coca Cola commercials, you suddenly get thirsty and want to grab a bottle? Well, recently I was at Channel 10 at the filming of a live segment they've been doing on the Sunday morning news, featuring restaurants who are participating in the Miami Spice promotion. I was watching Executive Chef Julian Baker from Toscana Divino, located at 900 South Miami Avenue in the Mary Brickell Village, cook up one of the dishes the restaurant is offering during this foodie time of the year.  Not only that, but besides the tender, flaky Mediterranean fish Chef Julian was grilling, there were also a mirage of dishes sitting on the set that are also part of the Miami Spice menu. It isn't difficult to see why after smelling the enticing aroma that filled Local 10's studio, and mildly drooling at the sight of these dishes, I headed over to Toscana Divino (more like ran) to get a taste for myself. By the way, here's a look at Chef Julian with during the live taping of the segment.

Chef Julian Baker with Todd Tongen and Neki Mohan

I first noticed Toscana Divino's Miami Spice menu when I was researching which restaurants I wanted to check out during August and September. After enjoying a most scrumptious brunch there, I was curious as to what delights they offered for dinner. The menu itself sounded fascinating, with an interesting array of choices and ingredient combinations I definitely wanted to try. Seriously impressed with the quality of their food, inviting ambiance and dedicated service, the excitement grew. But let me recap their Miami Spice menu for you just to give you an idea:

Appetizers:

Antipasto for the Table

Pistacchio Mortadella with Focaccia

or

Insalata di Granchio

Pacific Stone Crab, Soy Chili Dressing, Asian Pear, Pickled Mustard Seed Aioli

or

Acqua Cotta

Tomato, Onion and Celery Broth, Organic Poached Egg

Behold the Insalata di Granchio. This is one dish that you'll want to have over and over again. I loved the way Chef Julian played with the sweet and succulent flavor of the Pacific Stone Crab and enhanced it with the saltiness of the Soy Chili Dressing. Then, out of nowhere, tickled our palate by enveloping the meat with a  juicy, sweet Asian pear. Genius!

  
Entrees:



Tagliatelle Ai Funghi

Housemade Tagliatelle, field mushrooms, nepitella, butter and parmesan

or

Tortelli Burro E Salvia

Bufala Ricotta Cheese and Spinach Filled Tortelli, Sage Butter Sauce

or

Orata

Grilled Seabream with Capers and Parsley Oily

or

Guanciale Di Vitello

Braised Veal Cheek, Celery Root Puree, Beer Braised Onion, Hazelnut

The Tortelli Burro E Salvia is a must! It's the best I've had in everything from the texture to the taste. Filled with creamy Bufala Ricotta Cheese and Spinach, it practically melted in my mouth. The rich and savory Sage Butter Sauce added a nutty finish to the creation.

Dessert:

Torta Di Pistacchio

Pistacchio Olive Oil Polenta Cake, Raspberry
or

Affogato Al Café

Coffee ice-cream, amaretto biscuit, espresso, vanilla whipped cream

I "drowned" in pleasure with the Affogato al Cafe; my love for Toscana Divino eternally sealed. The sweet, refreshing treat with a delizioso kick is an Italian dream come true.

One of my top picks for 2013, Toscana Divino has outdone themselves with this Miami Spice menu. And it doesn't stop there. Come for Miami Spice, and then return for their regular menu. It's solid! I'll just leave you with some food porn of a few of my other faves from both the Miami Spice and the regular menu. For more information, visit their website at http://www.toscanadivino.com/index.php or call 305-371-2767.

Ceviche di Gamberi Rossi Toscana

Carpaccio di Branzino

                            

Maltagliati Ai Frutti di Mare (Available in Miami Spice Lunch Menu)

                           

Tiramisu

OR                                            

Torta di Pistacchio

Semifreddo