July 19, 2024
Each Friday, we try to 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.
Bellyfish Opens Brick-and-Mortar Location
South Beach Seafood Festival Returns
Ladies Night at Beauty & The Butcher
Celebrate Ferragosto at Viola
Bellyfish Opens Brick-and-Mortar Location
South Florida’s premier sushi delivery concept, Belly Fish is debuting a new kind of dining experience. What started as a kitchen in Aventura during COVID-19 now has three delivery/takeout locations throughout South Florida. On Saturday, July 20th Belly Fish will debut their very first brick-and-mortar location in Coral Gables. Their noteworthy reasonable prices will also reflect the same as their takeout/delivery model providing guests with a value driven experience without sacrificing the quality
Locals and visitors will be able to enjoy their premium nigiri, maki, fan-favorite tostadas and rotating specials by Co-Founder and Chef Rodrigo Bravo in their contemporary yet inviting dining room (rather than at home). Chef Bravo also worked alongside many of the world’s best chefs, including Joan Roca from El Celler de Can Roca (ranked No. 1 restaurant in the world by World’s 50 Best), Gaggan Anand from Gaggan (ranked No. 1 by Asia’s 50 Best) and Masaharu Morimoto by Morimoto.
While sushi is the main draw, the menu truly offers something for every lifestyle and palate including a wide range of Japanese delicacies, sushi, bowls and a few Latin influenced dishes like their popular tostadas and refreshing ceviches. Signature menu items include a Spicy Hamachi Tostada topped with yuzu-kosho aioli, yuzu-soy marinated Japanese hamachi, avocado, serrano peppers, scallions, crispy leeks, micro-cilantro on a crispy corn tostada ($8.95), Spicy Crab Crispy Rice garnished with yuzu-kosho ($6.95) and Australian Wagyu Dragon Roll with cilantro, maldon salt, topped with avocado and served with a side of house wagyu jus ($14.95). New desserts also include Matcha & Pistachio Rice Krispie Treats ($5.95).
Their popular handrolls will also be served similar to their groundbreaking delivery method where a disposable film is placed between the seaweed and rice to ensure the nori stays crisp and fresh.
Handrolls are priced from $3.95-$10.95 each with fillings like Ikura, Hokkaido scallops, Negitoro and more. Omakase lovers are encouraged to order their ‘Omakase Combo’ equipped with 10 nigiri pieces and a choice of one roll ($49.95). Lunch specials are designed as lighter fare and offer duos such as a sushi and tostada combo ($21.95).
South Beach Seafood Festival Returns
The highly anticipated 2024 South Beach Seafood Festival is back and bigger than ever in its 12th year, brought to you by Tequila Herradura and Jack Daniel’s and presented by GOYA Foods, promising an unparalleled celebration of ocean-fresh delicacies, vibrant entertainment, and the quintessential Miami Beach vibe.
Scheduled from Wednesday, October 23rd through Saturday, October 26th, this four-day culinary extravaganza marks the official start of Miami’s stone crab season and showcases the finest in seafood cuisine from South Florida’s top chefs and restaurants, hosted additionally by the exclusive wine and spirits provider, Breakthru Beverage Florida. This year’s festival introduces an exciting all-inclusive format for Saturday’s main event, enhancing the attendee experience with unlimited food and beverages included in the ticket price.
Adding to the excitement, celebrity chef Robert Irvine from Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible” will serve as a new addition to the line up, an official “Chef Ref” for the highly anticipated “VIP Chef Showdown”. As a world-class chef, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Irvine will join the main stage to oversee the culinary battles and participate in various events throughout the weekend while introducing his latest venture, Irvine Vodka. In addition to the excitement of Chef Robert Irvine shining a light on South Florida, the South Beach Seafood Festival is also proud to welcome Loews Miami Beach Hotel as the event’s hosting hotel partner this year for the event week.
The festival kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 23 with “An Evening at Joe’s Stone Crab,” an exclusive five-course meal, hosted by Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. On Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, GOYA Foods’ Executive Chef Fernando Desa leads the chef-driven “Crabs, Slabs, and Cabs,” along with Chef Robert Irvine who will be joining this year to as an added bonus to this formal sit-down dinner offering an international take on the traditional surf and turf dish with each course featuring a different leading South Florida chef curating their perfect course, plus unforgettable pairings provided by Breakthru Beverage.
Friday evening brings the start of the thrilling weekend events. The Tequila Herradura “VIP Chef Showdown,” will host 22 of Miami’s top chefs competing in 11 seafood showdowns to prove who is the master of skill in their respective categories, presented on the always popular GOYA LIVE STAGE presented by Demesmin & Dover, additionally hosting the annual Tequila Herradura Bartender Showdown to top off the night.
Guests will sip, sample, and VOTE at the always popular all-out competition before these featured chefs take the stage to fight it out for GOYA LIVE STAGE judges votes and getting through the LIVE BATTLES with the new additional chef ref, everyone’s favorite restaurant impossible host, Chef Robert Irvine. The festival culminates on Saturday, Oct. 26, with the main event, the “Seafood Slam.”
This year’s grand tasting format offers a whole new all-inclusive ticket, allowing attendees to enjoy unlimited food and beverages throughout the day, where they will help find the Best of the Fest bites in various seafood zones, presented by First Horizon, plus premium upgrades will be available once inside. Guests can be prepared to enjoy the always popular Jack Daniel’s Live Music stage presented by Demesmin & Dover, Pacifico Beach Club, High Noon’s Lifeguard Dance party, and the fun continues. Tickets to the 12th Annual South Beach Seafood Festival are now available at sobeseafoodfest.com.
Ladies Night at Beauty & The Butcher
Gather your best girlfriends and enjoy a night of fine dining and complimentary bubbles from 5:00PM to 7:00PM at Beauty & the Butcher. The Coral Gables watering hole just introduced its Ladies Night programming that is available every Thursday from 5-7PM.
Photo Credit: Grove Bay Hospitality
Celebrate Ferragosto at Fiola
Celebrate Ferragosto like a true Italian at Fiola Miami on Thursday, August 15th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join the aperitivo celebration featuring live music and food and drink specials, including $10 Sbagliatos, Negronis and more. Stay for dinner and enjoy food and drink specials available all night.
Photo Credit: World Red Eye