Miami New Times

It's official: the 23rd annual Miami Spice season is almost here! Miami's beloved foodie months coined Miami Spice Restaurant Months by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) have become an unofficial holiday for those who take restaurants very seriously in the Magic City. From August 1 to September 30, locals and visitors alike can indulge in 250 of Miami’s best restaurants without the high-end prices: Guests can enjoy prix fixe, three-course meals for just $30 or $35 for lunch and brunch, and $45 or $60 for dinner. Sponsored by Woodford Reserve, Tequila Herradura and Saratoga Spring Water Company, this year's program encourages locals and visitors to explore Greater Miami and Miami Beach’s exciting food scene, especially as this year's lineup includes so many new openings. View the entire list of participating restaurants: https://lnkd.in/eUGmbeX2

A warehouse lot in South Miami might be the last place one would expect to find artisanal French baked goods being made daily, but this hidden location didn't stop Casa Bake from selling out of pastries by 9 a.m. on a weekday. Yes, nine o'clock in the morning. Newly opened artisanal French bakery Casa Bake, located at 7165 SW 47th St., has gone viral overnight after New Times' Best Influencer 2024 Mr. Eats 305 shared a Reel on his Instagram raving about the bakery. On June 19, just a few hours after he shared his review of himself enjoying its chocolate almond croissant dusted in powdered sugar, people immediately began flocking to the bakery. Read the story 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eY_yckEm

Just days after news broke of a real estate development company acquiring Miami institution Shuckers Waterfront Bar & Grill and the neighboring hotel on the property for a whopping $75 million, the news just got wilder. New York-based real estate company Continuum Company has partnered with entertainment company Palm Tree Crew, founded by international DJ Kygo, to turn the oceanfront restaurant into Palm Tree Club, a brand new waterfront hotel and restaurant with an entirely high-end, music-driven, Miami aesthetic. In a press release sent out earlier this week, Continuum Company revealed it had secured a $67.5 million loan to acquire Shuckers Waterfront Bar & Grill and the neighboring Best Western Inn in North Bay Village for $75 million. According to a verified source on the matter, the legendary South Florida dockside restaurant will remain open until the end of 2024, which is when Palm Tree Club plans to take over the property. There are currently discussions being had surrounding whether Shuckers will relocate to another location, and this information will be verified as soon as it is made available. 

You'll soon have the chance to rent a room at Miami International Airport to catch some quick z's. On June 18, Miami-Dade commissioners approved a contract with South Florida company Wait N' Rest to operate two sleep centers — private rooms equipped with beds, Wi-Fi, noise canceling tech, and power outlets — at Miami International Airport. This was a critical green light for the project, which was initially approved last month by the Miami-Dade Airport and Economic Development Committee. The contract has a five-year term with an option to renew for another five years. Based on its 25 percent cut of the revenue, the county projects it will rake in $10 million from the room rentals if the contract spans the full ten years. Read the story 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eJamnt7M

Our staffers and freelancers furiously debated the merits of 300 of the tri-county area’s finest features, from bagels to drag queens to swimming pools to memes and more. And today, we hand them over to you, along with the results of our annual Readers’ Poll. One thing we know for certain: You are our “best” readers. We love you. And we love Miami, our wild and disastrous slab of swamp. Cheers to you and another weird year in the subtropics. — Liz Tracy, Editor, Best of Miami 🔗: https://lnkd.in/gX9r2Qkg 🎨 : Tom Carlson

Just a few months after rebranding to focus its menu on seafood specialties, Leku Fish & Garden, a popular Basque restaurant among locals in Miami, has announced it will close. The Spanish restaurant, which is located inside the Rubell Museum near Allapattah, will close its doors on June 30 after serving the community its beloved Basque cheesecake since 2020. (It's so popular that even the Florida The MICHELIN Guide recommended it for being "as creamy as ever.") For fans of Leku wishing to dine there (and savor that beloved Basque cheesecake) one last time, guests may book a reservation from now until June 30 on Resy. Read the story 🔗: https://lnkd.in/grV3VqbC

Not too long ago, Miami native Chef Ivan Barros accomplished one of his lifelong dreams of becoming an executive chef in Miami when he returned to Miami as the new executive chef of Amara at Paraiso alongside award-winning Chef Michael Schwartz. On Sunday, June 23, Chef Barros accomplished one more dream by winning the second season of Food Network's Ciao House. Filmed in Tuscany, Italy, the epicenter of Italian cuisine, Chef Barros competed against 11 other lauded chefs whom he had to live and cook with in a Tuscan villa while being judged by Food Network hosts Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Gabe Bertaccini. Throughout the program, contestants learned from renowned master chefs across Italy and were tested on their mastery of Italian cuisine. The last chef standing, which was Chef Barros, was named the "Capo di Casa," which translates to "Head of the House." Read the story here 🔗: https://lnkd.in/eMdd4Ka8

New Times had the pleasure of chatting with James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Schwartz and discussing what brought him to the Magic City 30 years ago, his number one cooking tip for aspiring chefs, and he even dishes about an upcoming pop-up he has in collaboration with Parador La Huella this week. “I was invited to cook at La Huella last year and was captivated by the enchanting location and magical ambiance. It felt right to bring them to Miami, where they have a strong following,” he explains. “It’s more than a restaurant. It’s a lifestyle and a reflection of the owners’ personalities and the spirit of Uruguay. The food and hospitality are world-class, focusing on local products and intentional simplicity.” “Chef Vanessa Gonzalez of La Huella worked closely with Amara’s Chef Gaston Yelicich to create menus that represent La Huella’s culture using local products,” adds Schwartz. “Diners can look forward to Uruguayan caviar from Black River, a huge paella, lots of lobster and seafood, whole grilled local fish, and classic desserts like the ‘Dulce de Leche Volcano.’” Learn more about the pop-up: https://lnkd.in/eKhfkWSp

The Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Miami, set to be the tallest building in Florida and potentially the tallest south of New York City, just broke another record. The developers of the planned 1,049-foot-tall building in downtown Miami recently received a Florida record $668 million condominium construction loan to help build the behemoth structure, which is slated to have 287 condo units and 205 hotel rooms. Designed by architect Carlos Ott and SIEGER SUAREZ ARCHITECTS, LLC, the building at 300 Biscayne Boulevard is scheduled to be finished in 2028. Ott is the architect behind Dubai's Burj Al Arab hotel and Miami's Echo Brickell skyscraper. Once completed, the Waldorf will look like a stack of offset glass cubes with floor-to-ceiling windows on units overlooking the city skyline, Miami Beach, and the Atlantic Ocean. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eEWgnijb Photos by: Waldorf Astoria Residences Miami