Miami Food Pug

4 Reasons We Love Chef Showdown

Miami Beach, Special Feature October 2, 2018October 2, 2018

South Beach Seafood Festival week is almost here. Do you have your tickets? Use SoBe Seafood Festival Promo Code PUG for discounted tickets to the week’s events — of which there are plenty. Starting on October 16, South Florida’s biggest seafood event will take over blocks and blocks of Miami Beach for a food-filled few days.

Chef Showdown is one of the week’s main events, and the 2018 lineup does not disappoint. On Friday, October 19, 14 of Miami’s top chefs will go head to head in one-on-one battles to showcase their skills and earn some bragging rights. It’s one of our favorite events each year, and here’s why.

Discovering the Palm Beaches with Brightline

Destinations, Special Feature, West Palm Beach October 1, 2018October 2, 2018Brightline, cityplace, Discover The Palm Beaches, Galley, hilton west palm beach, hotel, ice cream, Il Bellagio, italian, Sloan's, sundaes, west palm beach

When we last took the Brightline, we spent the day living it up in Fort Lauderdale. This time around, we took the express train service even further: all the way up to West Palm Beach. Instead dealing with traffic, construction and other I-95 woes, our car-less trip had us relaxing in the utmost comfort. Thanks to Brightline, West Palm Beach is no longer a world away. And because of that, more restaurants are within our grasp.

Fratelli La Bufala: An Italian Delight

Miami Beach, Review September 19, 2018September 19, 2018&pizza, Buffalo Mozzarella, cannoli, Fratelli La Bufala, italian, miami beach, Neapolitan Pizzeria, pasta, Ravioli Burro e Salvia, south beach, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, tiramisu, torta caprese

Nothing can keep us from good pasta — not even the recent construction on the MacArthur Causeway. We braved the hellish beach traffic in search of delectable Italian cuisine, and we found it at Fratelli La Bufala.

Italian restaurants may be a dime a dozen in Miami, but there aren’t many that can actually stand the test of time (or our palates). There’s a reason this place has been around since 2005.

LT Steak & Seafood: Miami Spice Highlights

Miami Beach, Miami Spice September 18, 2018LT Steak & Seafood, miami beach, miami spice, miami spice 2018, the betsy, the betsy hotel

When we hear the words “Ocean Drive,” one thing comes to mind: tourist traps. High-quality, reasonably priced food is not something we typically associate with the Miami Beach street. Except for one BIG exception: LT Steak & Seafood at the Betsy Hotel.

LT Steak & Seafood — which wowed us back in April — is serving up an assortment of new dishes for Miami Spice along with some old favorites. It’s a Miami Spice must.

Estancia Culinaria x Heirloom Hospitality Group: A Match Made in Heaven

Special Feature, The Redlands September 11, 2018September 11, 2018avocados, Bananas Foster, Black Grouper Ceviche, Brussels Sprouts Salad, chef phil bryant, chef veronica valdivia, Estancia Culinaria, Eye Round Prime Rib, Farm to Farm, Heirloom Hospitality Group, pork rillettes, tea sandwiches, Yucca Brandade

Earlier this year, two of our favorite local chefs — Phil Bryant and Veronica Valdivia — left The Local Craft Food + Drink to venture out on their own. Up until recently, they had been laying low. Now we have a better idea of what they’ve been up to: kicking ass in the Redlands with Estancia Culinaria.