May 10, 2024
After taking a break last week to recover from a car crash, we’re back. 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.
La Pata Gorda Opens in Coral Gables
Sensory Wine Dinner at Beauty & The Butcher
MidWeek Mixology at Le Chick
New Brunch Service at Osumi
Free Margaritas for Moms at LIME
New Cocktails at Sexy Fish
La Pata Gorda Opens in Coral Gables
La Pata Gorda, a beloved chain of seafood restaurants hailing from Ecuador, recently opened its inaugural location outside of Ecuador, nestled in the bustling streets of Coral Gables, Miami. Having opened its doors to the public on April 15 to a sold out first weekend in business, La Pata Gorda brings with it a legacy of culinary excellence, inviting Miami locals and visitors alike to embark on a gastronomic journey filled with the vibrant flavors and warm hospitality of Ecuador.
La Pata Gorda, whose name translates to “The Fat Leg,” is inspired by an Ecuadorian tradition where diners vie for the coveted crab leg. Symbolizing a cultural phenomenon where patrons fight for the fattest, most succulent crab leg, La Pata Gorda embodies the spirit of camaraderie and competition, creating an unforgettable dining experience for all who visit.
At the heart of La Pata Gorda’s menu are its extensive selection of 40 signature dishes, each crafted with care and passion using the finest ingredients sourced directly from Ecuador. From succulent carapacho (crab) croquettes, featuring Ecuadorian mangrove crab meat with sweet and spicy plantain, served with red pepper aioli for $17; to tantalizing ceviches, with options like jipijapa LPG, shrimp, or pesca blanca, all ranging from $22 to $26; to our traditional chopsué, which includes crab meat served with white rice or cocolon, fried plantains, our house special sauce and criolla sauce for $27, every dish tells a story — a reflection of Ecuador’s diverse culinary landscape.
In addition to its delectable offerings, La Pata Gorda offers guests a variety of unique dining experiences, from interactive seafood towers to immersive crab-hammering sessions, where diners can indulge in the thrill of cracking and savoring fresh crab with their hands.
Complementing the culinary experience is the vibrant soundscape of Latin and lounge beats, setting the perfect backdrop for weekend gatherings and late-night escapades. With live DJ performances on select dates, La Pata Gorda promises an unforgettable dining experience infused with rhythm and flavor.
Sensory Wine Dinner at Beauty & The Butcher
Beauty & the Butcher will be hosting an exclusive wine dinner in collaboration with The Prisoner Wine Company. The evening will begin with a special, four course menu curated by celebrated Chef Phillip Bryant. Each delectable course will be led by luxury brand ambassador, Daphne, and paired with wines from Prisoner Wine Company.
Get tickets here.
MidWeek Mixology at Le Chick
Every third Wednesday of the month, Le Chick will host MidWeek Mixology, an exciting cocktail tasting affair featuring decadent flight tastings perfectly paired with Le Chick’s signature dishes, along with a hands-on cocktail making class, and fun take-home gift bags.
On Wednesday, May 15 starting at 7:30pm Le Chick and 818 Tequila have partnered together to offer a tequila tasting event like none other. Upon arrival, guests will be ushered to their individual station within the restaurant’s enchanting Indoor Mixology Bar where an esteemed 818 Brand Manager will personally guide them through an immersive tasting journey, featuring a flight of Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo tequilas. While savoring the smooth spirits, guests will enjoy a curated selection of perfectly paired bites from the menu below:
• Roti Chicken Tacos
• Tuna Tartare Bites
• Le Chick Street Corn Bites
• Passionfruit Tartaleta Bites
Following the tasting, guests will be guided through constructing their own Spicy Cucumber Margarita made with 818 Tequila Blanco, fresh jalapeno juice, cucumbers and lime juice.
Tickets are $65 per person and reservations can be made through the eventbrite link HERE.
New Brunch Service at Osumi
Experience Coral Gables newest brunch spot, Osumi Cocktail & Sushi Bar, Osumi is now offering all you can eat sushi for $39 and 2 for 1 classic cocktails and mimosas. Brunch hours are from 12 p.m – 4 p.m.
Photo Credit: Veronica Ruiz
Free Margaritas for Moms at LIME
To celebrate all the amazing moms out there, LIME Fresh Mexican Grill is offering a complimentary margarita with the purchase of any entrée on Mother’s Day. It’s their little way of saying thank you for all the love and care moms provide every day.
New Cocktails at Sexy Fish
Sexy Fish, a globally renowned destination for innovative cocktails and Japanese-inspired cuisine, unveils the final installment of its cocktail series with the arrival of ‘UNITY,’ set to launch in London, Miami, and Manchester restaurants on Friday, May 17.
Following the hugely successful launch of the brand’s TRINITY cocktail menu in 2023 and SYNERGY in 2022, UNITY marks a new chapter for Sexy Fish. The new cocktail menu sees a departure from traditional cocktail offerings, instead pushing boundaries and embracing global drinking trends.
A groundbreaking approach to modern mixology and drinking, UNITY is led by its definition as ‘the state of being united or joined as a whole,’ where the alcohol content is considered and the guest experience amplified.
A cocktail menu for the modern age, UNITY features 12 core serves based on 12 core flavor profiles, each available as alcoholic and alcohol-free iterations. With 24 cocktails in total, guests need only choose their desired key flavor and base alcohol level, and UNITY delivers a personalized, inclusive and mindful drinking experience for all.
Choose from the likes of Pineapple, Cacao, Honey, Sugar Snap Pea – core flavors communicating senses from across the world. The UNITY menu will be available worldwide, with a handful of serves exclusive to Miami, such as Lime, Goldenberry, and Coffee.
UNITY @ Sexy Fish highlights include:
Pineapple ($19) features pineapple peel-infused The Lost Explorer Espadín Mezcal, roasted pineapple fruit, basil, agave lime, and coriander. Its alcohol-free counterpart, the 0% ABV Pineapple ($12), is made from The London Essence Co. roasted pineapple soda, green pepper, banana, and chipotle.
Sugar Snap Pea ($17) features Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin, sugar snap pea, thyme, manzanilla sherry, absinthe, apple, and lemonade, which elevates the natural aromas of the sweet sugar snap pea. Its counterpart, 0% ABV Sugar Snap Pea ($12), features Seedlip Garden 108, sugar snap pea, pear, jasmine, and verjus: an embodiment of an English summer garden and the perfect seasonal spritz.
Those wanting to opt for ‘low’ as opposed to 0% ABV can choose Cacao ($14/$17), featuring Low ABV Haku Vodka, Everleaf Marine, cacao, dark chocolate, vanilla, merlot and bitter. Its alcoholic Cacao counterpart features Absolut Elyx Vodka infused with cacao butter & dark chocolate, Sauternes, Lillet, and lemon ($21).
To coincide with the global celebration of World Cocktail Day (Monday, May 13), UNITY will debut in Rome at World’s 50 Best Bar, Drink Kong. Regarded as Rome’s most innovative bar and known for its Japanese-inspired menus and neon-lit spaces, Drink Kong makes the perfect partner for a Sexy Fish takeover.
With 9 Sexy Fish team members from across the globe flying to Rome for the event, Drink Kong will be fully immersed in Sexy Fish style, from staff uniforms to the music to glassware and, of course, the full selection of UNITY cocktails.
Following the Drink Kong takeover, UNITY will arrive in Miami, Manchester, and London and be available to guests from Friday, May 17.