February 9, 2024
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.
Spanish Wine Tasting at Edan Bistro
Taikun Sushi Pops Up in Miami
Now Open: Avenue 31 Café
Piegari to Open in Wynwood
Spanish Wine Tasting at Edan Bistro
Edan Bistro, the recently opened North Miami restaurant by Michelin-vet Chef Aitor Garate, will be hosting the second Spanish wine tasting and food pairing event on Monday, February 19 at 7PM. Hosted in partnership with “We Are Tasters,” the esteemed purveyors of premium Spanish wines, the event will feature the distinguished Marta Mate collection. César Maté, owner of Bodegas Martamate, will be traveling from Spain to Miami for the special evening.
Priced at $130 per person, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy four remarkable wines expertly presented by Maté which will be perfectly paired with dishes crafted by Chef Aitor Garate Berasaluze. Tickets can be purchased HERE
Taikun Sushi Pops Up in Miami
Four Seasons Hotel Miami is bringing Miami’s eclectic food scene within its seventh-level lobby, welcoming Taikun Sushi from February 1 – April 30, 2024. This seasonal residency will transform 14 Thirty-Five, a gallery-inspired space, bringing together the intimacy of an omakase experience with the energy and sophistication of a convivial cocktail lounge. With sushi chefs attending to the eight-guest omakase counter and a separate cocktail bar delivering exceptional drinks hyper-focused on Japanese whiskeys and sake, patrons can enjoy a variety of experiences within.
New York City-based Taikun Sushi, in partnership with restaurateur Ryan Chadwick, is known for concepts including Grey Lady, Nakazawa Aspen, Canary Club, Escobar Aspen, and Sushi Oku as well as successful pop-up locations including right here at Four Seasons Hotel Miami.
Utilizing the finest internationally sourced ingredients, guests will be taken on a 16-course culinary journey stemming from Tokyo’s fish markets. With each appetizer and nigiri course, the omakase experience will focus on the traditional art of sushi. Signature dishes include Ikura, Uni and Caviar Bowl, A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, Zuke Akami (Aged Lean Tuna Marinated in Soy Sauce), Shima-Aji (Striped Jack with Yuzu) and a Toro and Uni Handroll.
Whether at the sushi bar or in the inviting lounge, unique offerings of Japanese whiskeys and sake cocktails will also be a notable presentation, while varying genres of live music and entertainment further set the scene.
Taikun Sushi at Four Seasons Hotel Miami will take place from February 1 – April 30, 2024, with two offered seatings per night at 6:30 and 9:00 pm. Price per person is USD 225 with an optional sommelier curated premium sake and wine pairing offering. Reservations are available through OpenTable or by calling 305.381.3024.
Now Open: Avenue 31 Café
Monte Carlo-grown restaurant brand, Avenue 31 emerges in Miami with its second location, Avenue 31 Café, now open in Bal Harbour Shops. Named in homage to the original Monte Carlo restaurant situated at 31 Avenue Princesse Grace in Monaco, Avenue 31 Café is an all-day café combined with a full-service restaurant experience and ambiance, reminiscent of the charming cafés and coffee shops in Italy. Avenue 31 Café brings its unique European flair and world-class dining to the heart of Miami, offering locals and visitors alike an unparalleled luxury-meets-culinary experience.
Located on the second level of Bal Harbour Shops, the 1,000-square-foot café is meticulously designed in every detail of the space. Guests are first greeted by a facade adorned with Avenue 31 Café in bronze finish lettering, leading to the entrance of the café. The entrance welcomes guests with inviting floor to ceiling glass doors.
Inside, the café has an open-air ambiance filled with light woods, white onyx ceramic counters complemented by navy blue painted walls and bronze finishings and light fixtures. On the counters, guests will find an array of colorful croissants, pastries and desserts in elegant glass displays.
Outside, two seating areas feature covered terraces, totaling 80 seats. The outdoor space, adorned with plants and mirroring the same color scheme, features a bronze canopy above white tables with wood chairs and decorative pillows in shades of blue and white creating a harmonious atmosphere throughout. The seamless indoor-outdoor transition of the café invites guests to grab a coffee and pastry on the go or sit down to savor a leisurely meal in a comfortable, stylish setting.
Avenue 31 Café, helmed by Chef Julian Baker, transports guests to Europe with its wide variety of Italian dishes focused on fresh products, authentic ingredients and simple cooking techniques. The menu features breakfast staples including freshly-baked croissants and pastries alongside a European-style coffee bar.
A lunch and dinner menu is designed to enjoy all day showcasing a rotating selection of salads, pastas, pinsa romana (Rome gourmet pizza), meat and fish dishes. Chef Julian’s breakfast and brunch signature dishes include: Avocado Bruschetta with Poached Egg; Italian Omelet with Prosciutto Cotto and Stracchino Cheese; and Blueberry Croissant Waffle.
On the all-day menu, signature dishes include: Watercress Salad with Arugula, Fennel, Olive Vinaigrette and Pecorino Romano; Tagliatelle “Verde” Bolognese with Veal and Mushroom; Tuna Tartare with Crispy Tempura and Soy Truffle; Fritto Misto di Mare with Calamari, Shrimp, Baccala; Cacio e Pepe with specially sourced Costa Rican organic peppercorns; Avenue 31 Cheeseburger; Avenue 31 Angus Beef Filet; and Salame Piccante Pinsa with Pomodoro and Ricotta. To complement the flavors of the menu, a unique wine selection by the glass and bottle is offered.
Piegari to Open in Wynwood
Argentina’s highly-acclaimed Piegari Ristorante, renowned for its handcrafted, authentic Italian cuisine, exceptional service and sophisticated design, will expand its footprint to the United States this spring. The brand will open its first North American location late March 2024 in the heart of Wynwood at 137 NW 26th Street. Long known as a must-try fine dining destination and a premier location for celeb-spotting, Piegari’s expansion marks an amazing milestone for a brand that has maintained icon status since it opened its doors in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1994.
The Miami location will bring a taste of Italian culinary excellence to Miami’s exciting and ever-growing internationally-inspired culinary landscape. The brand’s expansion will deliver a refined level of sophistication and elegance to a neighborhood world-famous for its vibrant, urban energy.
Piegari Ristorante seamlessly merges its signature dishes with bold and exquisite flavors with a menu featuring Cold Entrees, Warm Starters, Homemade Pasta, Secche Dried Pasta, Risotto, Fish, Chicken, Salads, Carne e Vitello, Sides and Desserts. Menu highlights include Homemade Pastas such as its famous Corde di Chitarra alla Carrettiera – guitar string pasta tossed with pomodoro sauce, cherry tomatoes and olives; Ravioli alla Piegari – spinach and ricotta ravioli baked in cream pomodoro and Fettucini al Nero di Seppia – squid ink fettuccine with shrimp tossed in a creamy lemon garlic sauce and topped with red caviar.
Signature Risottos include Risotto Frutti di Mare, a seafood risotto; Risotto alla Primavera with seasonal vegetables; and Risotto alla Ragú with a choice of sirloin or lamb. Main plate specialties include the signature Pollo alla Tutti – organic chicken with onion, red bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, black olives and demi glace; Branzino al Sale – Mediterranean sea bass encrusted in sea salt; Soglioloa – dover sole with mugnaia sauce; Milanese alla Napoletana – breaded sirloin with tomato and fresh mozzarella; and Costoletta alla Salvia – grilled single cut veal chop with sage, shallots and roasted potatoes. Hearty sides – such as Truffle Patate Fritte; Spinaci al Graten (creamed spinach) and Broccoli Aglio e Olio (sauteed broccoli with garlic and olive oil) – round out the menu.
The famed desserts at Piegari are not to be missed. Standouts include sweet and indulgent creations such as Crepés alla Mela served and flambeéd tableside; Vulcano al Cioccolato, a rich chocolate decadence served with vanilla ice cream; Profiteroles made with sweet dough filled with custard-cream ice cream and chocolate sauce; Tiramisu; Flan with cream and dulce de leche and Fragola alla Lampara – glazed strawberries with ice cream and almonds, among others.