January 6, 2022
Each Friday, we compile South Florida food-related news and events that we couldn’t fit on the site earlier in the week, as well as other local news that piques our interest. Want to be included in our next roundup? Shoot us an email at bark@miamifoodpug.com.
Shoma Bazaar Sundays Is Back
Lunar New Year at 1-800-Lucky
Coming Soon: COCO Miami
Now Open: Tropical Distillers
Joliet Launches Happy Hour
Shoma Bazaar Sundays Is Back
Shoma Bazaar, Doral’s favorite destination for food, drinks, and entertainment founded by the award-winning real estate developer Shoma Group, is excited to welcome back the monthly installation of Shoma Bazaar Sundays, offering Doral locals and visitors alike a unique shopping experience on the last Sunday of every month.
Shoma Bazaar Sundays is a pop-up marketplace offered on the last Sunday of each month, featuring local clothing brands, jewelry, floral, and wellness classes. Vendors include:
• Energy Yoga (10am-11 am)
• The Mellie Shop (11am-4pm)
• Melangie Scented Candles (11am-4pm)
• Stylistpickco (11am-4pm)
• Miranda (11am-4pm)
• Acoccia Jewelry (11am-4pm)
Start your morning off on a healthy note by attending an outdoor yoga class led by Energy Yoga from 10:00-11:00 am. Guests are encouraged to BYOM (bring your own mat).
After a morning of workouts and shopping, guests are invited to indulge in Bottomless Brunch and a live DJ set from 11:00 am-2:00 pm, offering sweet and savory delights from Juice & Java and Tintto by Tributto, and your choice of bottomless Mimosas, Bellinis, Bloody Marys, Bloody Marias, or Monopolio Clara Draft Beer for $35. Not in the mood for brunch? Visitors can also enjoy Shoma Bazaar’s eclectic blend of restaurants, including BFF Burger, Shahs of Kabob, Ash Pizza, Pubbelly Sushi, The Market Milkshake Bar, and so much more. All of this will take place in the venue’s stunning 13,000 square-foot, indoor/outdoor dining hall and event space.
Lunar New Year at 1-800-Lucky
Lunar New Year (1/22) is approaching and to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit – the luckiest of them all! – 1-800 Lucky is hosting its first-ever Lunar New Year Dine-Around on Jan. 21 and 22.
Guests can purchase a ticket ($75 via Eventbrite) and receive a traditional red envelope with the dine-around menu including 7 ‘lucky foods’ to eat during the new year, and a specialty cocktail, which I’ve included below.
• Gold Marquess
Lucky Food: Noodles
Dish: Longevity Noodles, stir-fried noodles with shiitake mushroom, bean sprouts and green onions
• Yip
Lucky Food: Dumplings
Dish: Coconut Jelly Rabbit Dumpling, a light and refreshing dessert made with coconut milk in the shape of a rabbit
• Usagi Tokyo
Lucky Food: Rice Ball
Dish: Oyakodon Donburi Rice Bowl, a play on the chicken-and-egg combination featuring Karaage Fried Chicken served with a crushed soft-boiled egg and scallions over a small bowl of rice and spicy mayo on the side
• Jeepney
Lucky Food: Spring Roll
Classic Filipino stir-fried noodles, vegetables and your choice of protein and spice level, served with two pieces of lumpia or
Filipino Spring Rolls with choice of shrimp + pork, creamy beef, or potato + cheese, wrapped in a crispy wonton skin
• B-Side Sushi
Lucky Food: Fish
Dish: Tiradito with tuna, coconut Leche de Tigre, huacatay
• 2 Korean Girls
Lucky Food: Rice Cake
Dish: Korean Rice Cake Soup / Tteokguk
• Taiyaki
Lucky Food: Fruit
Dish: Good Fortune Fruit with ice cream
• 1-800-Lucky Bar – cocktail special
Rabbit’s Foot Cocktail with vodka, Baijiu, Campari and lemon
Advanced ticket purchase required. For more information or to purchase a ticket, visit Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunar-new-year-tickets-493797470527
Coming Soon: COCO Miami
COCO Miami, Miami’s newest destination for chic, sophisticated cuisine, is set to open on Wednesday, January 11 in the heart of Miami’s Design District, the city’s cultural epicenter to luxury fashion, cutting-edge architecture and fine dining.
COCO boasts a thoughtful menu that showcases European tradition by using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The main menu presents a simple selection of only the finest dishes, including crudos, pastas, meats, shareables and more. Guests can start with Seasonal Oysters & Accoutrements ($25) with chipotle mignonette, ginger-lime relish and cocktail sauce; Pomme de Terre Millefeuille ($26), thin layers of sliced potatoes with dill crème fraîche and caviar; or order from a selection of Oscietra caviar.
Pasta lovers will enjoy Maine Lobster Strozzapreti ($32) with sautéed garlic and young leeks or the Tagliatelle “à la Coco” ($70-$85) with aged Parmesan cream and the choice of 8 grams of caviar or winter truffles for heightened flavor. Main dishes include the classic 14 oz NY Strip Steak ($65), paired with triple-cooked fries and mushroom purée; Mediterranean Sea Bass ($42), with Hispi cabbage, lobster mousse and sauce Américaine; and Australian Lamb ($52), with braised parsnip, lamb ragout tart and mint sauce.
Dishes to share include the luxurious 40 oz Gold Wagyu ($875), topped with a 24-karat-gold leaf and the choice of two sides and two sauces; or Whole Green Circle Chicken ($80) with roasted cauliflower, Swiss chard and English muffin. To pair with any entrée, side options include the Warm Haricot Vert Salad ($14), Seasonal Sautéed Mushrooms ($14), Coco Potato Gratin ($32) and more. For utmost taste, COCO offers five flavorful sauces ($6) to add to any entree, including Roast Bone Marrow, Chimichurri, Au Poivre, Robert and Béarnaise.
Complementing the main menu, COCO’s expertly curated, hand-craft cocktail menu also incorporates fresh and innovative flavors. Mademoiselle COCO ($22) is a must-try for any COCO guest, featuring Yuzuri Yuzu Liqueur, shiso-infused gin, dragon fruit, pineapple syrup, lemon and sparkling wine; the Alter Ego Margarita ($20) offers a unique twist by mixing Don Julio Reposado, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, Thai chili, tangerine syrup and lime; and the COCO Martini ($20) is a flavorful take on a classic, blending Ketel One, sweet vermouth, cream of coconut and Szechuan peppercorn.
Now Open: Tropical Distillers
In a city full of clubs, bars and restaurants serving locals and tourists from around the globe, Tropical Distillers, Miami’s Distillery ™ is opening its doors as Florida’s newest and most advanced distillery and bar. Centrally located in the heart of Miami’s Allapattah neighborhood, Tropical Distillers is educational and immersive, a memorable destination to showcase the best of what Magic City has to offer.
Jointly owned by NFL All-Pros Mike and Maurkice Pouncey and luxury real estate expert Kim Rodestein, Tropical Distillers is Miami’s first distillery, offering guests a one-of-a-kind premium liqueur brand experience that includes tastings, tours, events, an indoor-outdoor cocktail bar, food trucks and a gift shop. Tropical Distillers is home to J.F. Haden’s Liqueur, America’s Craft Liqueur Company ™, featuring Mango, Espresso and Citrus liqueur available onsite and for distribution nationwide.
The 8,000 square-foot experience features a fully automated craft distillery with an in-house cannery, as well as a 30-seat bar and tasting room decked out in colorful vintage wallpaper and old school Florida tropical touches throughout. In addition to the cannery, the distillery includes a retail and gift shop with branded merchandise as well as exclusive distillery-only products from Tropical Distillers and J.F. Haden’s Craft Liqueurs.
Tropical Distillers uses a small batching process overseen by a master distiller to ensure the highest quality and peak flavors in their craft liqueurs. J.F. Haden’s Mango Liqueur is the first spirit from the Tropical Distillers brand portfolio to hit the market, launched in 2020 and made from all-natural, home-grown Florida mangoes without preservatives, artificial colors or flavors. Tropical Distillers recently debuted its newest flavors, J.F. Haden’s Citrus and Espresso Liqueurs, with several more on the way.
On Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to midnight , guests tantalize their taste buds with creative craft cocktails curated by Amanda Perez, such as Cafecito Martini, Floridian Martini and an array of frozen favorites. Tropical Distillers also has a 1,500 square-foot outdoor deck with additional seating and access to local food trucks.
For $25, guests enjoy a guided tour of Tropical Distillers Thursday through Sunday at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., which includes a five-spirit tasting experience and tour pick up locations throughout Miami.
Tropical Distillers is located two blocks east of the Rubell Museum at 2141 NW 10th Ave., Miami, FL 33127.
Joliet Launches Happy Hour
Newly opened Miami Beach seafood bistro and garden Joliet is giving neighborhood diners and imbibers yet another reason to flock to the casual New Orleans-inspired eatery with the launch of Happy Hour. Now, guests can enjoy food and drink specials from the Lost Boy & Co. dream team every Monday – Friday from 5PM to 7PM. Unbeatable specials include half priced signature cocktails, well spirits, beer and select wines-by-the-glass; $2 Oysters (minimum order half dozen); and Caviar Service with 1/2 Bottle of Champagne for $95.
Photo Credit: Patrick Michael Scott