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The lobby at The Tides. Photo provided by The Tides.
By Marguerite Gil
Ocean Drive has its array of fun restaurants. Some eateries are attractions (Mangoes), as much as they are dining destinations. Many cater to tourists who are fishing for a yummy catch and then there is the occasional pearl that surfaces and wows the crowds with sophistication and style. La Marea is all of the above and much more.
The terrace area is perfect. Comfy outdoor sofas and chairs afford guests a view of the Atlantic Ocean as well as of the parade of interesting characters that make up South Beach. But walk into the lobby area, turn left and you leave the bustling Sobe mayhem behind and enter a Zen-like atmosphere where everything is soft, calming and very relaxing. Difficult to believe that the storefront bow windows with applied mullions, could keep all of that excitement on the Drive, from disturbing you and your meal…but it does. The Historical building has been remodeled a number of times, but many details that were originally created in 1936 have also thankfully been saved for posterity , such as the exceptional interwoven ebony, chocolate and tan colored terrazzo floors.
Chef Gonzalo Rivera, Jr., who hails from Southern California and is at the helm of the restaurant and is a living memorial to his Mexican grandmother. He took over last year and has successfully put the ship known as La Marea back on the right course. Today he offers clients the freshest seafood available as well as a creative presentation that makes the dining experience, memorable.
Pan Roasted Diver Scallops with a Shiro Miso Bliss Maple Syrup. Photo by Marguerite Gil.
A fastidious wait staff is always making sure that everything is perfect. We started our dinner with a small dish of lemon/garlic-oil and warm rolls. While dipping our bread, we admired the décor, which is all about the ocean. Dozens of tortoise shells (reproduced in resins), line the walls. Our waiter brought us jumbo pan roasted diver scallops that Chef Gonzalo had glazed with a Shiro Miso bliss maple syrup, surrounded by veggies such as snow peas, grains of corn, red peppers and topped with salt and pepper. It’s an unusual mixture but untimely brings an explosion of tantalizing tastes to the palate. “I love cooking. I admit that it’s a little hard on my wife and kids, but they understand my passion for creating works of art in the kitchen, so they forgive me for not being home as often as I should be.”
The Hamachi salad, according to Gonzalo is a decomposed sushi dish with a wasabi topping. It was innovative, perfectly balanced with texture, technique and most of all flavors. Carefully resting on a crispy sushi rice cookie and topped with a spicy emulsion, the crunchy tuna mélange is crunchy, tender and delicious, all at the same time. Layering is important to Gonzalo. It allows him to really add delectable tanginess and richness to each preparation.
He cooks his American Kobe Short Ribs for 6 to 8 hours which draws out the flavors and makes the succulent meat just fall off of the bone. It’s accompanied by creamy grits, broccoli and a red wine sauce that is amazing.
Cozy up in the oversized chairs at La Marea. Photo by Marguerite Gil.
Chef Gonzalo is all about making the right impression both in the kitchen and in the dining area. We watched him visit every table; serve dishes when the waiters were too busy with other clients, explain his magic to hungry guests and even walk people to their cars. Nice.
The Chef also loves to experiment…but when you’re an enlightened master of the pots and pans, that’s usually the passionate part of the job. His style is about European classical cooking tweaked with a mélange of Southwestern/Mexican influences. Customer favorites include the Ceviche made with passion fruit, mango, red Fresno chili, avocado and sweet potato chips. Another favorite is the Miso glazed Black Grouper with Udon noodles, coriander broth and bok choy succotash. Desserts all have a tropical theme to them such as the Key Lime crème brulee with a tapioca coconut sauce topped with tropical fruit salad.
He knows and supports local producers and adventurous fishermen who bring him their fresh catches every morning. His roots are humble but his presentations are world class. Expect a wild assortment of dishes with layers of seasoned ingredients, and a flare for the unexpected. We ordered the French Riesling (less than $30.00 a bottle) which really paired well with our meal.
One last big perk! Valet parking is $10, which is unbelievable in South Beach. They want to encourage everyone to come back to the Drive and so The Tides is making your visit delicious and your parking affordable.
La Marea is located at 1220 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach. For more details, call 305.604.5070.
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This past week we experienced everything Italian, just in time for next week’s VinItaly. From the organic Italian specialties from Giancarla Bodoni at Escopazzo to the buzzing bar area at Bice in Palm Beach, our members were glowing with food fantasies.
Chef Giancarla Bedoni and Jen Weiss
Tuesday, we stopped at Escopazzo — recently voted one of the Top Ten Most Important Restaurants of the Decade by Lee Klein of Miami New Times. We were treated like royalty while we were there, and spoiled with generous amounts celeriac and potato pancakes with apple and onion compote, pancetta crisps, fontina and mushroom palmiers and more — each bursting with flavor, thus, making for some extremely happy guests.
Pasqua Pinot Grigio and Garganega 2007 and Fattoria Montellori Chianti DOCG 2005
To pair with these sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, International Wine Imports supplied us with some beautiful wines, and joined us in the festivities. With all of the new, hip restaurants opening up everyday sometimes the established ones get forgotten about, but Escopazzo is definitely back on our radar — as they know how to serve flavorful cuisine in a lovely atmosphere with a staff that is knowledgeable, genuine and completes that fine dining experience. If you’d like to check out some more photos from our event, join our facebook page or you can see a slideshow here.
Escopazzo is located at 1311 Washington Ave on South Beach. 305-674-9450
Wednesday meant it was time to head up to Palm Beach, and this week’s event led us to Bice. The evening was filled with new faces, Italian treats and great energy – an ideal way to get us past the mid-week.
Once again, we were treated kindly, and enjoyed an night out Bice-style. As our event finished up, we quickly learned that Bice brings in a lively crowd, and that it is a perfect destination to gather on Wednesday nights around 9:00 pm for live music. Bice is located at 313 1/2 Worth Ave in Palm Beach.
Thank you to everyone who came out this week and we hope to see you next week at The News Lounge on Tuesday, and at McCormick & Schmick’s in West Palm Beach on Wednesday evening.
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Be one of the first to experience McCormick & Schmick’s — the brand new seafood restaurant scheduled to open up in CityPlace on Feb. 8. Like all of their other locations, McCormick & Schmick’s in CityPlace will prepare fresh seafood in a traditional style with a contemporary flair. There will be open air dining in the cocktail lounge and patio; three private dining rooms available for business or group meetings and 2 large dining rooms that are both warm and intimate.
Where: McCormick & Schmick’s, 651 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach
When: Wednesday, February 10
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Cost: $10
Guests will enjoy 1 drink (TBD) and a selection of complimentary hors d’oeuvres.
As always, please RSVP and prepay in advance.
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Join DINE Magazine for a laid-back and relaxed evening out at The News Lounge located at the center of the 55th Street Station in the MIMO District (just north of Soyka). This charming gathering spot features comfortable couches, swings, and plush ottomans in an eclectic lounge-like setting. Spend time outside in the lush courtyard, indoors in the lounge area or even in the ‘Fantasy Room.’ The News Lounge features special weekly events such as special guest DJ’s, live music, art installations and more.
When: Tuesday, February 9
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Where: The News Bar & Lounge, 5580 NE 4th Court (The Courtyard @ 55th Street Station), Miami
Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door — This includes 1 glass of wine and a selection of complimentary hors d’oeuvres. As always, please RSVP and prepay in advance to secure your spot.
Menu:
Crostini Salmon – smoked salmon on toasted bread with caviar and lemon
Hummus on toasted pita bread
Puff Pastry Pizza topped with a variety of imported cheeses and cured meats
Crostini with Foie Gras and Brie
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For this Valentine’s Day, may we recommend everything chocolate – because, really, does life get any better? And since it only comes around once a year, you have every excuse to indulge in rich, decadent chocolate treats. I feel the rush already.
Create your own chocolate bar with Chocri. This newly launched company allows you to customize your chocolate gift with your favorite ingredients. Start off with you choice of base (either white, milk or dark chocolate) and then add in your favorites — fruits, spices, nuts, confections, decor and grains. For Valentine’s Day, there are special romance themed add-ins including: Candied Rose Pedals, Mini Heart Decorations and Silver Pearls. After you have created the perfect candy bar, create the perfect name and inscribe it on the package. Minimum 3-bar purchase and the starting price is $7.90.
Have you been dreaming up the perfect ice cream combination? Now, you can create it with eCreamery – for a life less vanilla. Select your favorite base (either sorbetto, gelato or ice cream), up to two flavors (anything from a chocolate malt or tiramisu to a more exotic chipotle) and up to two mix-ins (think chocolate walnut brownie pieces or chocolate covered peanuts). Now its time to select your packaging and give your ice cream a name. Your frozen treat can be ordered by the 1/2 gallon for $49.99+shipping or the full gallon for $89.99 plus shipping.
If you want to stick to the tried and true chocolate truffles, why not try the CocoLove Chocolate Truffle Pack ($26)? This gift pack comes with 15 pieces of luscious dark chocolate fudge truffles — Rosie Posy, Planet Marz and Naked Hottie. These hand-dipped artisanal chocolate balls are rich, simple and purely divine.
Express your love to your sweetie with these chocolate covered fortune cookies. Not only will they be an indulgent treat, you can add in a personalized message and be assured you will get your date’s attention. Choose a traditionally flavored cookie or a more exotic one (strawberry, graham cracker or cappuccino), dip it in chocolate — and add on sprinkles if you’d like. Whatever the case, get ready to wow your significant other. If you’d like something even more unusual, why not go for the giant fortune cookies? Oh yes, imagine a 5″ x 7″ fortune cookie that weighs over 1 lb. Available online at Fancy Fortune Cookies.
Spice up this Valentine’s Day while putting one of your favorite ingredients to work — paint, lick, lather or simply indulge on a rich, chocolate treat with the Let the Body do the Talking Gift Basket from Edible Gift Baskets ($39.99). This sexy gift basket is filled with romantic treats including rose pedals, chocolate lips with a hint of chili, chocolate body frosting, stencils and a paint brush — a perfect and risque addition to this already sensual date night.
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