MIAMI SPICE RESTAURANT PROGRAM CELEBRATES MILESTONE 10th ANNIVERSARY WITH RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS THIS AUGUST & SEPTEMBER: The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (GMCVB) popular end of summer foodie program, Miami Spice, celebrates its 10th anniversary August 1 – September 30, 2011. The program, inaugurated in 2002, offers more than 125 participating restaurants (a Miami Spice record), providing great value and making dining out affordable and accessible with three-course lunch ($22) and dinner ($35) menus, excluding gratuities, representing an average discount of 30-50 percent.
This year’s lineup promises to make mouths water with 35 new restaurants including 1500° at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, Angelique Euro Café, Blue Sea at Delano, Cabana, Caffe Portofino, Caffe Vialetto, Canyon Ranch Grill, Catch 10 Seafood Bistro, Catch Grill & Bar, City Hall the Restaurant, db Bistro Moderne, Deco Grill, The Dining Room, Eden South Beach, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Graziano’s Restaurant (2 new locations), Kane Steakhouse, Le Provencal Restaurant, Loulou “Le Petit Bistro,” Makoto, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink , Mister Collins, Morton’s, the Steakhouse, North Miami Beach, Old Lisbon Restaurant, Rincon Argentino Steakhouse # 2, Rosa Mexicano – South Beach , The Royal, Shula’s 347 Grill, Sustain Restaurant & Bar, Symcha’s, Trio on The Bay, Truluck’s, Tudor House and West Avenue Café. For the full list of participating restaurants, menus, and scheduled events, visit the Miami Spice Restaurant Month’s dedicated website: www.iLoveMiamiSpice.com
JUNGLE ISLAND DEBUTS “CRAZY FOR CAMELIDS” EXPERIENCE: They’ve starred in movies and cartoons for many years and now guests have the chance to meet them first hand. They’re the members of the Camelid family… a dromedary camel, llama and an alpaca! In the thirty minute encounter, small groups of up to six guests can interact with a camel, llama and an alpaca while getting insight into the animals’ daily habits, feed them their favorite snacks and make a trio of friends for life. “Camels, llamas and alpacas have been been stereo typed as not always very friendly. When you do this encounter you’ll get to know a side of these animals that’s never been seen before,” says Dr. Jason Chatfield, General Curator for Jungle Island. Jungle Island, Miami’s #1 Family Attraction, is located in the heart of the city between Downtown Miami and South Beach. Building upon the rich tradition Parrot Jungle began in 1936, today’s Jungle Island is home to the world’s rarest and most incredible animals. Guests participate in hands-on interactions with fascinating animals, marvel at the engaging animal shows and presentations, and are amazed by the park’s breathtaking landscapes and vistas. Jungle Island’s “Crazy for Camelids” Experience is offered daily. The Experience costs $30 per person for the 30-minute experience and can accommodate up to six guests at a time. www.jungleisland.com
CITY HALL, THE RESTAURANT, BISCAYNE CORRIDOR’S MUCH ANTICIPATED BRASSERIE-STYLE DINING DESTINATION, NOW OPEN: Seasoned restaurant veteran Steve Haas, chairman of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), former co-owner and operating partner of Soyka Restaurant, and long-time restaurant manager for China Grill Management – opened his much-anticipated down-home, brasserie-style dining destination – City Hall, The Restaurant – at 2004 Biscayne Boulevard, Wednesday, June 29, 2011 for dinner. At the helm is famed executive chef Tom Azar (43), a master of soulful comfort food and protégé of world-famous chef Emeril Lagasse, who has created a beautiful menu sure to appeal to locals and visitors looking for down-to-earth modernized classics, served up in a beautiful, welcoming, laid back environment. The two-story, 6,000 square foot eatery, located five blocks north of Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and a five minute drive from downtown Miami, features a casually chic ambiance. The restaurant offers dinner service 45 minutes after performances at the Adrienne Arsht Center and games/shows at American Airlines Arena. The competitively-priced menu features hearty portions of Chef Azar’s comfort food specialties as well as a selection of classics with a twist. Haas, one of the creators of the widely successful Miami Spice Restaurant Program, is known for his devotion to the restaurant industry and to service excellence. While serving as a two-term GMCVB Board Chair, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and named to the Travel and Tourism Hall of Fame. He also helped create the GMCVB’s Miami Begins with Me, a city-wide initiative developed to raise the bar of customer service in Greater Miami. www.cityhalltherestaurant.com
RAISING THE BAR ON FINE DINING ON SOUTH BEACH, KANE STEAKHOUSE NOW OPEN: Sure to become one of the area’s most exclusive fine dining establishments, boasting a chic, sophisticated design and a seductive menu, Kane Steakhouse, located at 431 Washington Avenue in South Beach’s booming “South of Fifth” area, is now open to the public. A partnership between seasoned restaurateur Mathew Glazier – the man behind NYC’s venerable Strip House and Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. at Grand Central Terminal among others, and well known nightlife impresarios Roman Jones and Justin Levine – creators of Mansion, SET, and Louis Bar-Lounge, among others, Kane offers a veritable trifecta of fine cuisine, modern design and a seductive ambiance. The menu, created by talented chef Daniel Ganem, features a sumptuous array of upscale steakhouse classics: irresistible appetizers, perfectly charred premium cuts of beef, as well as innovative seafood, meat, poultry dishes and creative sides with a uniquely modern spin. Ganem (28), a rising culinary star, brings to Kane an unbeatable mix of steakhouse savvy and fine dining experience. Previously of Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak and, most recently, Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Steak, Ganem, a Miami native of Chilean descent, has also worked under world-renowned Michelin starred chef Martin Berasategui in the Basque region of Spain. www.kanesteakhouse.com
MORGANS HOTEL GROUP LAUNCHES NEW BIKE PROGRAM: Morgans Hotel Group launches their new bicycle program, offering guests complimentary hire of a stylish Dutch inspired bicycle, the Public J7. This new amenity will be available at Morgans Hotel Group Miami properties; Delano, Shore Club and Mondrian South Beach. Cycling is one of Miami Beach’s favorite forms of transportation and now hotel guests can explore the city on two wheels. The bikes are skillfully designed for stop-and-go city riding and beautifully crafted making it ideal for guests to stop off and see all the sights the city has to offer.Morgans Hotel Group is committed to offering guests a full range of health, fitness and well-being services. Mondrian Miami recently introduced SOULCYCLE, the first outpost of the indoor cycling program outside of New York. www.morganshotelgroup.com
CHEF MIGUEL AGUILAR TAKES THE HELM AT MIAMI HOTSPOT, WYNWOOD KITCHEN & BAR: After a nation-wide search for a creative new executive chef, Miguel Aguilar was appointed to helm the kitchen at Goldman Properties’ artistic Miami restaurant, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar (WKB). Born in Venezuela, Chef Aguilar comes to WKB from Philadelphia, where he served as executive chef at Doug Rodriguez’ Alma de Cuba; catering chef for the venerable Stephen Starr and opening chef for El Rey Restaurant – dazzling Philly’s food enthusiasts with his vibrant Nuevo Latino flavors and flawless cooking technique. For Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, he is creating a menu of small plates and chef’s specials, incorporating great ingredients, superb technique, and the subtly layered global-Latino flavors he loves. The new menu will be offered later this summer for lunch and dinner. Open November 2010 during Art Basel, WKB boasts a floor-to-ceiling collage mural in the bar by acclaimed graffiti artist Shepard Fairey, of Obama poster fame, and Berlin artist Christian Awe’s panoramic canvases adorn the dining room. There’s al fresco dining at the graffiti art park, Wynwood Walls, which encompasses a series of breath- taking murals by leading international artists. A multi-colored sculptural man, rising 11 feet high at the entrance welcomes guests to the restaurant. An international wine list, amazing classic and artist-inspired cocktails and artisanal beers – make this one of the coolest restaurants in the U.S. www.wynwoodkitchenandbar.com .
JUNGLE ISLAND LAUNCHES SECOND PASSENGER SHUTTLE – COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE TO TARGET DOWNTOWN HOTELS AND THE PORT OF MIAMI: Jungle Island has announced the launch of a second passenger shuttle that will offer complimentary service to and from the Port of Miami along with numerous locations in downtown Miami. The new shuttle can accommodate up to 24 people with room for luggage and will make twice daily visits to the Port of Miami as well as stops at Bayside, JW Marriott Marquis, Marriott Biscayne, Tempo, the Hilton Omni and the Doubletree Hotel among others.
Following the success of the attraction’s first shuttle to some of Miami Beach’s most popular hotels including the Fountainebleau, the Loews, the Eden Roc and more, the park set its sights on providing transportation to and from the downtown area. With its planned route, the downtown shuttle will seek to draw many of the tourists who choose to stay in downtown Miami as well as those cruise passengers who are seeking an adventure before or after their cruise. Jungle Island already caters to the pre/post cruise market by offering luggage storage and shore excursions with several of the cruise lines. With its bright yellow design complete with photos of some of Jungle Island’s most famous residents, neither shuttle can be missed. www.jungleisland.com/express.
Calendar of Events:
MIAMI SPICE RESTAURANT MONTH Aug. 1- Sep. 30 www.ilovemiamispice.com
15TH BRAZILIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MIAMI Aug. 19 – 27 www.brazilianfilmfestival.com
XVI INT’L BALLET FESTIVAL OF MIAMI Aug. 26-Sept.18 www.internationalballetfestival.org
