Obba Sushi, Brickell

There's not much in the way of affordable sushi on Brickell, so this tiny new spot on the ground floor of the Brickell Harbour condo building ought to come in handy the next time you're craving spicy tuna rolls and shrimp tempura. Lunch specials are $10-$12 and come with the requisite miso soup or salad with a tasty carrot ginger dressing. The menu's not too exotic but the fish is fresh and the rolls are generous. They're also dishing well-priced sakes and Japanese beers, or you can stay home and let their Smart Car delivery service do all the work.
200 SE 15th Rd, 786-953-8710

Elle Mag Taking Over the Bal Harbour Shops

Attention fashion people: ELLE is taking over Bal Harbour Shops in October with their Shopping to A to Z program. It includes the Personal Style Awards, a runway fashion show honoring Miami’s top trendsetters, and Passport to Personal Style, a shops-wide event with interactive seminars moderated by Creative Director Joe Zee.

Here's a breakdown of the sartorial madness to ensue:

STYLE POD OPENS: Oct 1-31–The experiential “Style Pod” erected in front of Saks offers daily programming from ELLE’s A to Zee Best Selections of Fall with each letter of the alphabet represented (A is for aviators, B is for buckles, etc.).

“OPI Manicure Mondays” take place Oct 5 & Oct 19 in the Style Pod –complimentary manicures!

PERSONAL STYLE AWARDS: October 13 – An evening runway fashion show honoring top Miami fashionistas and trendsetters, styled by select brands from Bal Harbour Shops including Calypso, Cartier, DVF, Elie Tahari, Jimmy Choo, Max Mara, Roberto Coin, Tiffany & Co., Tod’s, and Lancome. A percentage of sales from each participating boutique will be be donated to charities personally selected by the honorees.

PASSPORT TO STYLE: October 24 – A shops-wide event featuring product demonstrations in the Style Pod, interactive seminars moderated by ELLE market editor Joann Pailey, informal modeling throughout Bal Harbour Shops and a hunt for ELLE’s “A to Z” must-have items for Fall. Participants include: AG Jeans, Calypso, Diane Von Furstenberg, J Brand, Max Mara, Lancome, Roberto Coin and more.

Fulll schedule of events and to RSVP here.

About Last Night @ Pacific Time

Free cocktails from 8-9pm.

Urbanite Bistro

Dinner at Urbanite Bistro in the "arts and media district," meaning down the street from the Arsht Center and next to the Vagabond. Handsome space, great music - lots of jazz which is always welcome - fantastic wine list with dozens available by the glass. Food is eclectic American. Standouts include:
- duck confit ravioli (he gets the ravioli skins from Mr. Pasta on Collins Ave)
- lamb sliders
- lemongrass mussels (you'll want extra bread for the broth)
- vegetable shu mai
- mushroom empanadas with vegan gravy
- grouper with ancho chili sauce
- whole roasted snapper (with bones and tail, just like they serve in other countries!)

Bliss Spa Deal

Good until October 15.

MOCA at Goldman Warehouse Closing

After four years of innovative exhibits and performances the MOCA has decided to close its annex in Wynwood. From a museum press release:

The MOCA Board’s decision took into account the uncertainties of the current economic climate as well as the expansion of MOCA’s current Joan Lehman Building in North Miami, which will begin in 2010. The expansion will double the museum’s current size and include new gallery space, art storage space, an education wing, and multi-purpose space to present performances, films and lectures.

Over the past four years, the collaboration between the Goldmans and Museum of Contemporary Art increased visitor traffic to the area and offered visitors and students a place to experience the wonders of contemporary art. From December 2005 – July 2009, the Museum of Contemporary Art presented 13 group and solo exhibitions at MOCA at Goldman Warehouse. MOCA’s presence in Wynwood has served to inspire the community within the Arts District and helped validate the quality level of the arts initiative in Wynwood.

A Pep Talk From Ira Glass

For all those creative types out there. Because sometimes you just have to look at your work and cringe. But it's all part of the process.

Where Have I Been Lately?

Traveling a bit. In and out of town, so apologies for not posting more often. Spent a few days in New York and a long weekend in San Francisco. A quick rundown of the best of the best:

A revelatory meal at The John Dory in New York's Meatpacking District. It's Spotted Pig chef April Bloomfield's stab at seafood and what a lovely stab it is. Standouts include kampachi crudo with candied ginger and a delectable little dish that consisted of uni butter on crostini that you dip in an oyster broth- salty, rich, briny luxury.

Wine tasting at Darioush Winery in Napa followed by fresh baguettes at Bouchon Bakery down the road. Oh Napa, you are indeed paradise.

Updated: Fellow blogger Frodesnor pointed out that The John Dory closed over the weekend. Damn. It was really busy the night I was there. Hopefully Bloomfield will bounce back from it.

Sand Bake @ Fairmont Turnberry

MOCA Mystery Dates Kickoff @ Club 50

Dining Deals, Coral Gables Edition

Red Koi Thai & Sushi Lounge
317 Miracle Mile / 305-446-2690
Celebrate the last days of summer with the $5 Summer Lunch Special at Red Koi Thai & Sushi Lounge, now through September 30.

Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill
65 Miracle Mile / 305-444-3210
Refresh your thirst with $3.50 fresh fruit mojitos and $1 tacos during Mojito Madness every Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m.

Por Fin Restaurant & Lounge
2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd / 305-441-0107
Stop by Por Fin Restaurant & Lounge for daily specials, now through September 30.

· Monday Locals Night: Show your Florida license or Coral Gables business card to receive 20 percent off the entire bill.
· Tuesday Date Night: Bring along a date or friend to receive a complimentary bottle of wine when ordering from the special three-course menu.
· Wednesday Wine Day: Take 50 percent off any bottle of wine.
· Thursday Happy Hour: Celebrate with two-for-one cocktails, beer and wine, with $5 tapas.
· Sunday Paella Day: Have a fiesta with a free carafe of red sangria with every two paellas ordered.
· Daily Sunsetter Special: Dine 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and receive 25 percent off the entire bill.

Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe
124 Miracle Mile / 305-445-4567
Enjoy select Coral Gables restaurants and they will waive their corkage fee with wines purchased from Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe. The offer runs until September 30 in conjunction with Miami Spice. Participating restaurants include Ortanique on the Mile, Por Fin Restaurant & Lounge, Pascal’s on Ponce, Houston’s, Tarpon Bend Raw Bar & Grill, La Cofradia, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Spris.

Peterbrooke Chocolatier
227 Aragon Avenue / 305-446-3131
Escape the Miami heat on Wintry Wednesdays at Peterbrooke Chocolatier. Receive a single scoop of gelato for 99 cents every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cold Stone Creamery
261 Miracle Mile / 305-403-7000
Monday Madness: Get a free Kid's Create Your Own (ice cream plus one mix-in) with the purchase of a medium Love It Signature Creation, shake or smoothie.
Twofer Tuesday: Buy one Kid's Create Your Own and get one free.
Waffle Wednesday: Receive a free plain waffle cone or bowl with the purchase of a medium Love It or a large Gotta Have It Signature Creation.
Thirsty Thursday:Get one half-off any size shake or smoothie from noon to 5 p.m.
Fast Lane Friday: Receive $1 off all cakes and cupcakes

Fratelli Lyon's Spice-Like Menu

Saturday Nights @ The Setai

In case you can't read the fine print - complimentary Negroni cocktails from 9-10pm. And the restaurant is participating in Miami Spice.

Cafe Prima Pasta Pours One Out For MJ

Les you think the North Beach pasta joint is only about the meatballs and red sauce, they're here to remind you that they've got heart. A heart that mourns the loss of the King of Pop.

Lobster Corn Dogs @ Le Meridien

Soon after I wrote about the lobster corn dogs at La Marea at The Tides it was brought to my attention that another restaurant in town, The Restaurant at Le Meridien in Sunny Isles, was also doing their own version of the high-end low-brow snack. Actually, it was the chef himself who alerted me to this, in the form of an email something to the effect of "Wtf? I been doing these for years!" It was a bit more articulate than that, but that's what he meant. So I hopped over to the condo canyon on A1A and claimed a table by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool and the ocean in the too-empty-for-this-good-a-restaurant dining room.



The lobster corn dogs are on the bar menu, but if you ask nicely they'll bring them to you in the dining room. They're $12 for two crispy fritters. These differ from the pups at La Marea, as the chef there forms the lobster mousse into actual sausages and then coats and fries them. These were more like lobster tails breaded with a cornmeal and pancake batter, which added welcome sweetness, and served with a mango dipping sauce. While I was there I decided to take a look at the rest of the menu and discovered some surprising gems.



The truffle mac and cheese, for one. It's actually a delicate bowl of orzo bathed in a not-too-heavy cream sauce offset with a veal demi glace mixed with a sherry gastrique to cut the richness. Chef Tom Ryhneer used to work as a saucier and the man takes his drizzles seriously. Chef's got a good team there, with sous chef Tommy Nguyen who previously worked the kitchen at the ill-fated Nikki Coconut Grove (good food, cheesy atmosphere). He describes the menu as "food for the times," meaning, he wishes he could put more lobster into things - like the petite grilled cheese sandwich that comes with the fantastic roasted tomato soup, but he's trying to keep the prices down and offer something attractive to the hordes of tourists that populate the beachy 'burb. So the few things directed at that crowd - the spinach artichoke dip, the vegetable quesadilla - aren't really the things worth trekking to the hotel for. But the mac and cheese is, as is the churrasco with a fantastic roasted corn relish and the mini steak tacos with cilantro cream. Prices are relatively low, too, with most mains under $25 and starters average $10.

Brunch @ Eos at the Viceroy

When it comes to brunch at Eos the cup is always half full. Or actually, completely full, or bottomless, as in my cup runneth over with champagne and spiked tomato juice. Mimosas and Bloody Marys are free with any brunch order and refills are kindly accommodated. Brunch items starts at $12 for a cast-iron skillet of roasted eggs, grits, bacon and gruyere to $16 for Mediterranean Eggs Benedict (creamed spinach and kefalotiri cheese). These mimosas are made with fresh-squeezed juice and the Bloodys are spicy and well-mixed. Organic eggs and coffee are another nice touch.

The "New York Power Breakfast" is generous platter of house-cured salmon with silky deviled eggs, chopped capers and whipped cream cheese. The buttermilk pancakes were recently lauded as the best in Miami by Lee Klein in The New Times and, while I can't begin to assess the city's flapjack output, I will say those were some of the best pancakes I've ever had - fluffy, comforting discs of pillowy breakfasty delight. There are 3 fritattas to choose from and the wild mushroom, ricotta and leek was fantastic. It's also served in a cast-iron skillet, keeping it warm enough to last through two rounds of mimosas.

So if you're reading this on Sunday morning and have yet to make brunch plans, you should head over to those skyscrapers on Brickell. The place was empty last weekend, which is a shame, but also means it's sort of an undiscovered deal. Also, starting this Sunday, you get free entrance to the pool party at Club 50, the Viceroy's 50th-floor club. In case you want to chase those mimosas with amazing views of the city.
Oh, and valet is free too.
The brunch menu is here.
Eos is at 485 Brickell Ave, 305-503-4400.

Caviar Kaspia Miami

Miami has yet to catch on to the one-dish restaurants popular in other food cities (like New York's mac and cheese-heavy 'Smac and Belgian fry mecca Pomme Frites) but we were recently blessed with the opening of French import Caviar Kaspia, serving the Parisian restaurant's namesake fish roe and other smoked fishies. But caviar is expensive and the owners have the shit luck of opening a pricey caviar restaurant right now, during a financial climate when all anyone wants to do is pontificate on pizza crusts and burger toppings.
So they've expanded the menu a bit and added some traditional French dishes like duck confit salad (delicious, but still pricey at $22) and a lunch time Croque Madmoiselle made with smoked salmon and salmon roe. Salmon roe is the way to go if you don't want to spend a lot but still want to experience those lovely pearls of salty oceanic goodness. The salmon roe blinis are $22 for 1 oz. of fish eggs that come with fluffy pancakes and feather-light creme fraiche. Kaspia is famous for their baked potatoe and if you're looking to splurge, this might be the fanciest spud in town. The potatoe is presented with a creamy mash made with chives and creme fraiche and topped with caviar from their list which ranges from $49 for a 1/2 ounce of Imperial Baeri to $360 for an ounce of wild Iranian golden Oscietra. We went with the modest Imperial Baerie and it was a lovely combo, the silky potato enlivened by the slightly iodized roe that pop with mineral saltiness with each bite.

Located at 1220 Collins Ave.

Bar Rosso Has A Blog

And it's kinda cute, with photos from events and videos of wine tastings. What other restaurants out there have well-maintained blogs (and by well-maintained I mean posting at least once a week)?

Daily Happy Hour @ Meat Market

So in addition to their sort-of-recently launched Friday happy hour, Meat Market will now be running these daily bar specials seven days a week from 5-8pm.
Here's the bar menu:

3 CHILLED SHRIMP
SERVED WITH 10 THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING AND COCKTAIL SAUCE
10

MEAT MARKET DAILY CEVICHE
10

KOBE SLIDERS SERVED WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND MANGO MUSTARD
10

TUNA TARTARE TOPPED WITH FRESH AVOCADO MOLE
10

CRISPY CRABTAIL MEDALLION
SERVED WITH PASSIONFRUIT AND PONZU STIR-FRIED ASIAN VEGGIES
10

OYSTERS BY THE PIECE SERVED WITH COCKTAIL SAUCE AND HORSERADISH
1.50 EACH

SANGRIA
ESTANCIA SHIRAZ & DR. LOOSEN ‘L’ RIESLING,
PINEAPPLE ∞ MANGO ∞ ORANGE ∞ PEACH
6


915 LINCOLN ROAD MIAMI BEACH 305.532.0088

Taste of the Nation Miami Discount Code

The 40-restaurant, open-barred, crazy smorgasbord that is Taste of the Nation isn't until Thursday, so I've pretty much been fasting since Sunday. You think I'm kidding? Let's take a trip down gorge-fest lane, shall we?
Remember the Ritz-Carlton's dessert buffet for Taste of the Nation '07? I was still sweating varlhona chocolate essence days after. And what about The Oceanaire's amazing raw bar last year? Cured salmon from The Setai. Duck and shiitake from Blue Door. Kobe sliders, for chrissakes. It'll be a food-nanza. And it's all for a good cause.
In case you needed any more reason to pony up for three hours of open bar and hobnobbing with local chefs, here's a discount code that will save you $20.

7-10pm, July 30, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, use code VIP20MIA for $20 off, tickets here.