March 13, 2026
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.
Pop-Up Dinner at Bistro Ocho
Motek Opens in Midtown Miami
Pasta-Making Class at PASTA
National Paella Day at Bulla
Pop-Up Dinner at Bistro Ocho
On March 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dani Soto-Innes (World’s 50 Best – Best Female Chef, 2019)— joins friends Eli Martínez Bello (World’s 50 Best Bars – North America’s 50 Best Bartender, 2025) and Bistro Ocho Pastry Chef Dani Meza for a rare Miami tasting of Soto-Iness’s acclaimed cuisine in Miami.
Best known for her work at Cosme and Atla in New York, and more recently for opening Rubra in Punta de Mita, Nayarit, Soto-Innes has built a reputation for cooking that is precise, expressive and grounded in Mexican technique without being tied to nostalgia. Her appearance at Bistro Ocho marks a rare Miami outing, and a chance to experience her cooking outside the context of a permanent restaurant.
The six-course menu will include dishes such as squid with romano beans, green mango and mandarin; Hokkaido scallop with finger limes and husk cherries; green mole with white cheddar, greens and huacatay; and bluefin tuna belly with tropical fruit.
For the evening, Soto-Innes will be, joined by Eli Martínez Bello, Bistro Ocho’s Beverage Director and World’s 50 Best Bars North America’s Best Bartender (2025), who will craft a bespoke cocktail programme for the night, as well as Dani Meza, Bistro Ocho’s Executive Pastry Chef, responsible for desserts, sweets and candies.
Rather than a traditional single sitting, the dinner will unfold through staggered seatings across the dining room and bar between 6.00pm and 9.00pm, creating a more convivial experience, true to a night at Bistro Ocho.
The tasting menu, including dessert, is priced at $150 per person, with cocktails available a la carte from the dedicated menu. Reserve your spot here.
Motek Opens in Midtown Miami
Motek, the beloved Miami-born Mediterranean restaurant, has opened its ninth location in the vibrant Midtown Miami neighborhood. The newest outpost brings Motek’s signature kosher-style, 100% seed oil-free cuisine to one of Miami’s most dynamic and fast-growing districts, while unveiling a bold evolution of the brand’s Mediterranean design. The Midtown opening also introduces Sesame Bakery in a conjoined space, with fresh pastries and a coffee program offered right next door.
This opening marks Happy Corner Hospitality’s continued expansion and momentum following its entrance into New York City’s Flatiron District in September 2025, with additional growth planned across both markets.
A South Florida favorite since launching in 2020, Motek has grown into an eight-location phenomenon across Coral Gables, Brickell, Downtown Miami, South Beach, Miami Beach, Aventura, Boca Raton, and now Midtown Miami. Under the Happy Corner Hospitality umbrella, the group also includes Yalla Motek, a kosher Mediterranean street food concept at Aventura Mall, and Sesame Bakery, a European-style bakery with Mediterranean influences in North Miami.
Known for its vibrant cuisine and warm ambiance, Motek draws inspiration from Eastern Mediterranean traditions, merging bold flavors with family-rooted hospitality. Signature dishes include the whole Mediterranean branzino, signature hummus selections, crispy chicken schnitzel with harissa aioli, the award-winning Arayes burger, Turkish lamb kebabs, traditional hot and cold mezzes, and vibrant labneh-based dips, all served with freshly-baked laffa bread. Guests can also enjoy Motek’s popular $5 happy hour and favorite all-day brunch offerings.
As of June 2025, all Happy Corner Hospitality brands are 100% seed oil-free, becoming one of the first hospitality groups in the United States to receive the Seed Oil Free Certified™ seal from the Seed Oil Free Alliance. Dishes are crafted exclusively with premium fats such as olive oil, avocado oil, and real butter, replacing all industrial seed oils.
The design at the new Midtown Miami location builds upon the storytelling-driven aesthetic, while introducing striking new architectural elements, including a 10-foot-tall breeze wall at the entrance, a custom yellow tile oven, and arched kitchen portals crowned with a pergola draped in yellow florals. Handmade umbrellas, custom lanterns, and light fixtures layer the dining room with texture and warmth, while a bespoke wall designed by co-owner Tessa Levy features arched niches symbolizing passage, history, and cultural connection.
The result is a restaurant that feels transportive and grounded, where Mediterranean warmth meets Miami’s light, movement, and optimism. Designed for gathering, lingering, and shared hospitality, the Midtown location reflects Motek’s continued evolution while honoring the sunshine-yellow identity that has become synonymous with the brand.
Photo Credit: LemonPop
Pasta-Making Class at PASTA
Join us for a “Pasta-Making Class & Dinner” every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at PASTA by acclaimed Peruvian chefs Juan Manuel Umbert and Janice Buraschi who brought their celebrated modern pasta focused concept, PASTA, to Miami’s Wynwood Art District in October 2024. PASTA is a true labor of love, with a menu rooted in authenticity and simplicity driven by traditional Italian cuisine, yet blended with innovative techniques and Peruvian influences.
Hosted by PASTA’s head Chef Luis Jose, the class will have guests roll up their sleeves for a hands-on experience where they will learn the secrets behind creating perfect pasta—from mixing and kneading to shaping and saucing. After class, they will sit and enjoy their creations. Whether a seasoned home cook or simply a pasta lover, this class offers the perfect blend of learning, flavor, and fun—all in one unforgettable evening. Tickets are priced at $95.50pp+ and include one welcome cocktail per guest, water, pasta as part of the pasta making class, appetizer and dessert. Reserve your spot here.
National Paella Day at Bulla
Bulla Gastrobar is celebrating National Paella Day at all locations with specials all day long! Guests can enjoy 50% off pitchers of housemade sangria with the purchase of any paella entree. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood, chicken, or a classic mixed paella, it’s the perfect way to share a great meal and sip on refreshing red or white sangria.