Dine Magazine South Florida

Restaurants Open for Christmas in the Miami Area

Happy Holidays! What better way to ring in the holidays then to enjoy the gourmet delights at the area’s top restaurants. Here is a list of restaurants that will be offering special menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Be sure to make your reservations early.

Atrio Restaurant & Wine Room at Level 25 at Conrad Miami will serve a 4-course dinner on Christmas Eve for $65/person and a brunch on Christmas Day for $52/person, $22/kids 8 and under. Conrad Miami is located at 1395 Brickell Avenue in Miami. 305.503.5629

Celebrate Christmas at an authentic French brasserie in South Beach at Au Pied du Cochon. They will be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  The 5-course Christmas Eve menu will be served from 5:00 – 11:00 pm and will cost $85.00 per person, plus tax and gratuity. A smaller a la carte menu will also be availalbe. This prix-fixe menu will feature an amuse bouche, Goat Cheese Crouton and Chanterelle Mushroom Salad, Lobster Bisque with Black Caviar Cappuccino, your choice of Roasted Sea Scallops with Celery Root and Truffle Puree or Grill Filet Mignon over Wild Mushrooms and Foie Gras Cromesquis and Le “Buche.” On Christmas Day, a brunch will be served from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and they will also be open for dinner. Au Pied du Cochoon is located at 81 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach. (305) 674-1844.

Caffe Abbracci will be open on both December 24 & 25. Start off with your choice of Tortellini stuffed with beef or Silky Chestnut Soup, then choose between the Roast Quail stuffed with Italian Sausages, fresh herbs, raisins and pinenuts or Medallions of Beef Tenderloins topped with pfifferlinger mushrooms and Barolo wine and finish off with a traditional Christmas Chocolate Cake Log. Cost is $40/person and $20/children. Caffe Abbracci is located at 318 Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables.

Chef Allen’s Modern Seafood Grill will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For $62 ++, guests will enjoy creative dishes like Smoked Salmon Cream Puffs, Oysters Rockefeller with Sambuca, Green Apple and Crispy Panko Crumbs, Coriander Scented Mahi Mahi with Stone Crab Couscous, West Indian Pumpkin and Lobster Bisque, Spice Route Roasted Duck with Forbidden Black Rice, Cranberry-Mango Chutney and Pomegranate Syrup and a Baked Apple and Macademia Nut Cobbler. Chef Allen’s is located at 19088 NE 29th Avenue in Aventura. (305) 935-2900

Cioppino at Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne will be serving up sumptuous menus for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve from 6:00-10:30 pm, feast on a salad of radicchio, arugula, roasted artichokes and lemon vinaigrette; Ricotta and black truffle stuffed ravioli, parmesan and butter sauce; Pan seared 8 oz prime filet mignon, porcini sauce, rosemary potatoes; Tronchetto di Natale; and more. Cost is $100/person and $30/child. If brunch is more for you, savor the culinary stations of international dishes like sushi, caviar, artisanal cheeses and meats, fresh breads, homemade pastas and more. End the meal off with an entire room of sweet delicacies from Pastry Chef Patrick Lassaque. Seatings for the lunch buffet will be at 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm and for the dinner buffet at 6:00 and 8:30 pm. Cost is $82/person or $40/child. The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne is located at 455 Grand Bay Drive in Key Biscayne. 305.365.4286

Eos will offer a 6-course tasting menu to satisfy your naughty and nice food cravings featuring dishes like Grouper ceviche, Roasted Scallop and Pork Belly with Chablis Butter Sauce, a Ricotta Ravioli and a Lobster paella. The cost is $75/person and an additional $35 for a wine pairing. This is available from 7 to 10 pm on Christmas Eve and from 11am to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm on Christmas Day. 305.503.0373 Eos is located at Viceroy Miami at 485 Brickell Avenue in Miami.

Gotham Steak at Fontainebleau will be open for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 5-10 pm. Enjoy holiday specialties, along with items off the regular menu. Holiday-inspired dishes include a White Bean and Escarole Soup with Ham, Roasted Duck Breast and Crispy Leg Confit with Yam Puree and Fig Chutney and Beef Wellington. 305-695-2414

Indigo at Intercontinental Miami is open for Christmas Eve and will be serving a holiday buffet available from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. Cost is $45 for adults and $25/children 6-12. Savor holiday specialties like luscious Lobster Bisque with Cheddar Cheese Sticks and assorted French cheeses, Stone Crabs, Lobster, Fresh Oysters, Free Range Turkey with all the Trimmings, Home made Cranberry Relish, Honey Glazed Ham with Jalapeno Apple Sauce, Mongolian Beef Tips and a selection of desserts from around the world. On Christmas Day, it is time for a holiday brunch with a breakfast corner, a Mediterranean garden, fresh seafood (assorted sushi, sashimi, caviar, ceviche and more), a carving station and classic dishes like honey glazed ham, blackened salmon and more. Cost is $45/adults and $25/children 6 to 12. Those 5 and under are free.

La Marea at The Tides is offering a decadent 4-course holiday feast. For $85/person++, this dinner will be served from 3:00 to 10:00 pm (a limited a la carte menu will also be available). Enjoy Paddle Fish Rose, followed by your choice of Roasted Free Range Quail or Tempura Shrimp Fritters. Next, choose between the Yellow Tail Snapper with Forbidden Rice, Japanese Eggplant and Thai Chile Vinaigrette or the Butter Poached Ribeye with Tempura Maitakes Mushrooms, Horseradish Mashed Potatoes and Parsley Chimichurri and finish off with a Tarte Tatin of Caramelized Bananas and Maple Sugar Ice Cream. La Marea is located at 1220 Ocean Drive. (305) 604-5070.

One Bleu at One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa will offer a prix-fixe holiday menu on Christmas Day for $65/person from noon to 8:00 pm. Highlights include a Butternut Squash Bisque, a Citrus Grilled Shrimp Brochette with Watermelon and Heirloom Tomato Salad, Apricot Mustard Glazed Salmon with wild rice pilaf with sun-dried cranberries and haricot verts, Roast Prime Rib au jus with Horseradish Creme Fraiche and a multitude of desserts including a Chestnut Log and Caramelized Pean and Whiskey Chantilly. One Bleu is located at 10295 Collins Avenue in Bal Harbour. 305.455.5400

Scarpetta will offer a 4-course holiday menu for $75, along with a la carte menu options. Scott Conant’s sumptuous Spaghetti with Tomato and Basil, Roasted Black Cod and Coconut Panna Cotta will all be on that menu. Dinner will be served from 5-10 pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 305-695-2414.

Smith & Wollensky will be open all day on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Feast on Iced Oysters, Dry-Aged Prime Rib of Beef, Hash Brown Potatoes, Apple Brown Betty and more for only $49/person or $20/children under 10. The regular menu will also be available.

Vida, Fontainebleau’s contemporary cafe will serve a 3-course prix-fixe menu for $55/person with modern American favorites like a traditional turkey, honey glazed ham and comfort desserts like pumpkin and apple pie. This will be served from 11am – 10pm on both days. 305-695-2414.

Photo Credit: globetrotter1937 @ flickr

4-Course Dinner + Wine at Scarpetta for only $49.95

There’s something about Scarpetta that wins me over every time. Maybe its their ultra-creamy, oh-so-delicious polenta with truffled mushroom fricasee, maybe its the location in the sexy Fontainebleau or maybe I just know that the staff will roll out the red carpet (to everyone) and the service is spot on — whatever the case, when I heard about this deal I awoke from my mid-week coma with my heart beating in excitement. Thank you UrbanDaddy.

Raw Yellowtail

To celebrate their 1-year anniversary, Scarpetta is offering a 4-course dinner plus wine for only $49.95, and all of my favorites are included. This deal will be offered from December 6-10, but maybe if we beg them they’ll extend this deal for our scheduled dinner party there the next week. I sure hope so.

Here’s the menu:

Choose 1 from each section –

Primi Platti

• Raw Yellowtail with olio di zenzero, marinated onions & baby greens
• Creamy Polenta with fricasee of truffled mushrooms
• Braised Short Ribs of Beef with vegetable & farro risotto

Pasta

• Agnolotti Dal Plin filled with mixed meats & fonduta
• Spaghetti with tomato and basil

Creamy Polenta

Piatti

• Alaskan Halibut with roasted autumn vegetables and butternut squash puree
• Spice Roasted Chicken with polenta, porcini mushrooms and liver-almond sauce
• Roasted Prime Aged Sirloin of Beef with potato getto, chanterelle mushrooms and parmgano

Dolce

• Coconut Panna cotta with caramelized pineapple & guave soup
• Amedei Chocolate Cake with toasted almond gelato & salted caramel sauce

My suggestion — go with a group, as you will want to try everything.

Scarpetta is located at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, 4441 Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. (305) 674-4660

Fine scotch, music and multiple-course menus at Trump

There’s lots going on this week at Trump International Beach Resort’s Neomi’s Grill, one of our favorite spots for fine cuisine. After attending one of Executive Chef Kurtis Jantz’s experimental Paradigm dinners, we learned he was a sommelier, but it thrills us to know he also knows his way around rare single malts. If you are a scotch aficionado, reserve a spot at his Artisan Scotch Dinner scheduled for Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. That’s when the chef is hosting a special interactive evening featuring selections from Gordon & Macphail and Signatory paired with a five-course menu. The dinner is priced at $85 per person, inclusive of tax and service charge. For reservations or more information, contact 305-692-5570.

And on June 27 at 7 p.m. Chef Jantz is serving a four-course dinner with wine pairings in honor of renowned Puerto Rican pianist Joseph Laya. For a charge of $175 per person, guests will enjoy a gorgeous meal and Laya’s performance of selected pieces from his album, “Fantasy” For reservations or additional information contact them through email or call 305-720-2798 or 787-565-1628.

Neomi’s Grill at Trump International Beach Resort is located at 18001 Collins Ave. in Sunny Isles Beach.

Authentic Thai Dinner at Talay Thai

Chef Charlie Soo from Talay Thai has created a special, authentic Thai menu for Dine Magazine’s Wine & Dine Club. We will be pairing this scrumptious menu with wines from Opici.

When: Tuesday, May 12th

Time: 7:00 pm

Where: Talay Thai, Shoppes on the Green Shopping Center, 7100 Fairway Dr #63, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 (561) 691-5662

Cost: $50 ($45 members).

Members buy here.

Menu:

Lets Get Started:
Thai Basil Martini with Saaga Vodka

1st Course
Yum Talay – This dish boasts a playful mix of flavors: the natural sweetness of fresh seafood, the breezy notes of cilantro and mint, and the sharp accent of lime juice against a little sizzle of Thai chile heat served with St. Urban Riesling

2nd Course
Tom Kai Gai – The sweet and spicy soup made with lemongrass, galangal, white meat chicken and coconut milk is dairy free. The Tom Kai Gai will be paired with Dreyer Sonoma Chardonnay.

Intermezzo
Lychee Sorbet – in house prepared lychee sorbet

3rd Course
Rock Shrimp Pad Thai – Thai stir-fried noodles in tamarind based sauce accompanied by Rock Shrimp from Titusville served with Mont Pellier Pinot Noir.

4th Course
48 hour Short Ribs with Panang Curry served with Mettler Old Vines Zinfandel.   Beef short ribs marinated for 40hrs and braised for an additional 8 hours.

Looking to Go Out For Thanksgiving Dinner?

Whether you want a delicoius Thanksgiving meal without all the work, you had a last minute Thanksgiving disaster or are traveling through the area for work, here’s some valuable information on where to go for that turkey with all the stuffing.

Palm Beach County

• Cut 432 is offering a 3-course Thanksgiving dinner for just $39. For the first course, you get your choice of Calabaza Pumpkin Soup with Roasted Pepper Creme Fresh Relish, House or Caesar Salad. 2nd course is a Roasted Wild Turkey with sausage and sage cornbread stuffing, baby autumn vegetables, twirled mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. 3rd course is your choice of Pumpkin Pie, Cranberry Golden Raisin Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce or Triple Chocolate Ganache Cake.
• Flagler Steakhouse at the Breakers is offering a delicious Thanksgiving menu. Highlights include Maple Butternut Squash Bisque with warm duck confit, soft goat cheese and cinnamon oil, Wild Mushroom Risotto with Garlic Sausage, White Truffle Oil and Shaved Reggiano Cheese, Roasted Tom Turkey with walnut, sage and sausage stuffing, giblet gravy and sweet potato pie, Marinated Grilled Ribeye with brown sugar roasted butternut squash, tempura onion rings and truffle potato gratin, Bittersweet Chocolate Flourless Tart with raspberry coulis and Sweet Autumn Cherry Pie.

Broward County

• Lola’s on Harrison is offering a Thanksgiving dinner for $40 per person. Start the meal off with Spiced Pumpkin Soup with cinnamon creme fraiche and toasted pumpkin seeds. The main course will be served family style and includes Deep Fried Carolina Turkey Breast, Zinfandel Braised Turkey Leg, White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Walnut and Sage Stuffing, Brussel Sprouts with Leeks and Lemon, Sherried Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Cranberry-Tangerine Sauce. For dessert, try the Pumpkin Cheesecake with cinnamon caramel sauce or Key Lime Pie with vanilla wafers and lime zest. Continue reading…