James Beard Award-Winning Chef Opens Caribbean Restaurant in Miami

La Canita Opens its Doors in Miami
La Canita Opens its Doors in Miami
Photo Credit: La Cañita

You may have heard of chef, Michelle Bernstein. If you haven’t, it’s time to get her on your radar. She is a Miami native who was awarded the James Beard Award, which recognizes culinary professionals in the United States.

Not only is she known for this outstanding achievement, but she is also an expert in Latin American cooking and is responsible for Café La Trova, and Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company.

Just last week, Bernstein opened up a new restaurant located at the Bayside Marketplace called La Cañita. Bernstein partnered with her husband, David Martinez, as well as David Borgia and Orestes Pajon on this Latin American and Caribbean-infused restaurant.

She has incorporated cuisines from Tobago, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Cuba as well as other South American recipes. Her signatures include chicken fricassee, custom sandwiches, and empanadas. One of the most popular desserts is the 305 rum cake. La Cañita also offers an expansive rum-centered cocktail menu.

La Cañita plays on an indoor and outdoor design emphasizing the waterfront views. The tropical painted foliage, wood-grain tones throughout, and painted copper pipes create the perfect distillery vibe.

Although Bernstein isn’t the chef of La Cañita, she created the menu as well as trained the current staff. According to her husband, Martinez, “We are so fortunate to have this melting pot of cultural and culinary influences in this city, and we hope to put them front-and-center with our new concept-driven restaurant.”

La Canita's Outdoor View
Photo Credit: La Cañita

New Argentine Restaurant Opens its First US Location in North Miami Beach

La Birra Bar Opens in North Miami Beach
La Birra Bar Opens in North Miami Beach
Photo Credit: La Birra Bar

La Birra Bar is a 20-year-old family-owned restaurant that has officially opened its doors in North Miami Beach. This Argentina restaurant has made a name for itself and has already challenged burger restaurants throughout Miami-Dade.

Known for being “The Best Burger in the World,” the challenge is clear: try and beat their world-class burgers. They don’t consider their burgers like any burgers. They call them creations and they have spent years concocting the perfect recipe. Ingredients like aioli, confit tomatoes, and Milanese mozzarella cheese make their burgers what they are; delicious.

Although they are known for their burgers (which there are 40 different ones to choose from), they also showcase wings, chicken tenders, and ribs. They were also home to the ‘Elite’ ice cream, which was just added to their menu.

Daniel, Roxana, and Renzo Cocchia are the owners and operators of La Birra Bar which originally started as a cafeteria but later became what it is today. Ice cream maker and pastry chef, Matías Dragun recently added the elite ice cream to the menu. His ice cream recently won third place in January at the Ice Cream World Cup in January 2021.

La Birra Bar currently has 12 locations Buenos Aires, Madrid, and now North Miami Beach.

Gordon Ramsay is Set to Open his First South Florida Restaurant in South Beach

Gordon Ramsay will Open His First South Florida Restaurant
Gordon Ramsay will Open His First South Florida Restaurant

London-based Asian-infused restaurant Lucky Cat is making its way to South Beach, thanks to Gordon Ramsay. The celebrity and Michelin-starred Chef recently signed a lease for the restaurant in the South-of-Fifth neighborhood.

Lucky Cat will be located at 119 Washington Avenue on the ground floor of the Yukon building. According to the listing, at 9,000 square feet, the space was asking for $75 per square foot for 10 years. Other noteworthy restaurants that are within walking distance include; Prime 112, Carbone, and Joe’s Stone Crab.

The restaurant itself will feature Ramsay’s classic open kitchen, private dining rooms, raw bar, chef’s table, and a lounge. You will also be able to enjoy some of Lucky Cat’s classic recipes like spiced Herdwick lamb chops, Lucky Cat Oscietra Caviar, Monkfish Tikka Masala, and much more!

Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant
Photo Credit: Sim Canetty-Clarke

RAW & SALADS

  • CHIRASHI  DONBURI chopped egg, ikura, shiso soy
  • AVOCADO  DONBURI chopped egg, shiso soy
  • TUNA BELLY & SHISO TT green mango, chilli relish
  • RARE BREED BEEF  TATAKI truffle ponzu, wild herbs
  • SLICED YELLOWTAIL wasabi leaf & apple
  • SASHIMI SELECTION salmon, yellowtail, akami, chutoro
  • LUCKY CAT OSCIETRA CAVIAR 15G, koffmans potato chips, wasabi cream

FISH & MEAT

  • DRY AGED CHAR SIU PORK CHOP nashi pear, crackling
  • WEEPING TIGER rare breed dry aged 250g rib eye, coriander, lime
  • SPICED HERDWICK LAMB CHOPS chilli sauce, tofu cream
  • 1KG RARE BREED  T-BONE smoked bone marrow & black garlic sauce
  • PRESSED PORK BELLY SKEWERS nikka whisky, yuzu mustard
  • BBQ NORFOLK CHICKEN tandoori marination, lime
  • OX HEART & BACON SKEWERS sweet soy & shichimi
  • MONKFISH TIKKA MASALA tomato gravy
  • OCTOPUS & SMOKED EGGPLANT sweet roast onion, fragrant herbs
  • DAY BOAT BBQ MACKEREL black vinegar, smoked olive oil

BUNS & DUMPLINGS

  • PORK & GINGER GYOZA spiced black vinegar
  • SHRIMP & HERB DUMPLING brown butter soy
  • BEEF & SMOKED MARROW PUFF smoked hot sauce
  • BONITO FRIED DUCK BAO spicy hoi sin, pickled cucumbers
  • TOFU & SPICY AVO BAO
  • SMOKED BRISKET BAO yuzu mustard, pickled cucumbers

VEGETABLES, RICE & NOODLES 

  • PADRON PEPPERS holy basil
  • BBQ CORN smoked ponzu cream
  • MAITAKE & SUMMER TRUFFLE
  • STEAMED RICE
  • SWEETCORN XO RICE
  • SWEETCORN & CRAB XO RICE
  • SZECHUAN & CASHEW NOODLES

Gordon Ramsay has many restaurants in the United States including Atlantic City, Orlando, Baltimore, Lake Tahoe, and Las Vegas. This will be his first-ever South Florida restaurant. The Lucky Cat is expected to open in the fall of 2022.

Lucky Cat Set to Open in South Beach
Photo Credit: Londonontheinside.com

Michelin-Starred Restaurant Carbone – Makes Debut in South Beach – Plans to Open Additional Eateries in Miami

Michelin-starred Carbone in South Beach

One of the hottest spots in Miami right now is the Michelin-starred Carbone restaurant. With its remarkable menu, retro-style French décor, and its iconic location; Carbone has become a staple in the South Beach neighborhood in such a short time.

This Michelin-Starred restaurant is the first of many restaurants that Major Food Group plans to open. This hospitality company is ran by Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi, and Jeff Zalaznick; whom also opened the original Carbone in New York in 2012. They are also in the process of working on restaurants in Miami’s Design District and the Brickell Neighborhood.

Carbone's Outdoor Patio

Located at 49 Collins Avenue, this luxurious and Ken Fulk design is truly awe-inspiring. Captains fitted in Zac Posen tuxedos guide customers through menu options and salads are prepared tableside for the full Carbone experience. The menu includes raw-bar platters featuring stone crab claws, crab knuckle sandwiches, spicy rigatoni, or veal parmigiana.

Menu Options:

Carbone is the first piece of the expansion and the Major Food Group plans to open a private member’s club with Japanese food this spring as well as a French-style Steakhouse in Brickell in September.

Carbone remembers his first trip to South Beach for the Wine & Food Festival in 2012, “I remember vividly one of the first trips we took here together. We had an absolute blast. If you told those kids who were drunk at La Sandwicherie back then that they would be opening on First and Collins, that would have been their dream come true. That’s as good as it gets.”

The Major Group isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Zalaznick states that “I’ve been here for the last 10 months. As I spent more and more time here, I really realized that this city is an incredible place to live and work in a full-time capacity.”

COTE – the Michelin-Starred Steakhouse – has Arrived to the Miami Design District

exterior photo of COTE Miami Design District

Welcome to COTE!

Welcome to the brand new Michelin-starred restaurant in downtown Miami, COTE. Located at 3900 NE 2nd Avenue in Miami’s Design District, this 5,892 square foot Korean Steakhouse will merge the energy of a big city vibe and the fun night-life of Miami. Mixing the flavor of Korean barbeque as well as the style of a classic American steakhouse, COTE definitely creates a world-class atmosphere and cuisine experience.

Introducing Executive Chef, David Shim

Creating the one-of-a kind masterpieces is Executive Chef, David Shim, native of  Seoul, South Korea. Shim has gained experience and fame at Gramercy Tavern, Veritas, and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in New York City. He was originally approached by Chef, Simon Kim to create and launch COTE in New York City. In 2018, COTE was awarded a Michelin star and is deemed by New York Times, “The Absolute Best Steakhouse in New York City” and “One of the Best New Restaurants in America,” by GQ.

COTE Miami features 100+ seat dining area with interactive smokeless state-of-the-art tabletop grills at every dining table, dry-aging room, and two private dining rooms. Not only is the ambiance intimate and inviting, but their menus are truly creative and awe-inspiring!

The bar at Cote Miami
The bar at Cote Miami

Menu

One of Chef Shim’s signature creations include a 45-day USDA dry-aged beef, delicious side dishes, impressive cuts of Korean beef, and a Steak Omakase™ experience. Other menu items include:

  • East/West Coast Oysters
  • Maine Lobster
  • Caviar Service
  • Steak Tartare
  • Korean Bacon
  • Tuna Tartare
  • Ban Chan
  • USDA Prime
  • American Wagyu Beef

Click here to see their full dinner menu.

Grand Opening and Reservations

COTE’s Grand Opening is Friday, February 12th, 2021, with reservation only days of February 10th and 11th. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, they are also providing a V-Day menu but don’t wait too long to book a reservation, they are filling up fast!