MiamiHerald.com: Nibbles & Bits

Valentine’s Day Specials

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:34 EST

Unless noted, specials are available Tuesday, Feb. 14, prices are per person, and tax and tip are extra. For menu details and updates, go to http://www.miami.com/valentine039s-day-2012-dining-specials-amp-discounts-article

Tea in the Garden in Pinecrest Saturday

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:44 EST

The Miami Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier presents Tea in the Garden from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Pinecrest Gardens,11100 Red Rd., Pinecrest. Tea authorities Bruce and Shelly Richardson will pair teas with food prepared by Les Dames members. Tickets are $75 with proceeds benefitting Casa Valentina for young women transitioning from foster care to independent living; brownpapertickets.com, event 219937.

Deals: Mare Nostrum, Mama Fu’s, Panchero’s, Sushisamba

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:48 EST

Mare Nostrum, 1111 SW First Ave., Miami, has added a prix fixe weekday lunch menu: your choice of six starters, six entrees (paella de pollo and a 10-ounce skirt steak with truffle fries among them) and three desserts for $19.95; 786-691-2770, marenostrumrestaurant.com.

New enthusiast classes at Miami Culinary Institute

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:57 EST

Miami Dade College’s Miami Culinary Institute is launching a new series of enthusiast classes this month including cake baking and decorating, wine tasting, beer brewing, and three food-and-fitness classes with sports nutritionist Lisa Dorfman; www.mdc.edu/culinarium, 305-237-3276.

Food & Wine Calendar

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:12 EST

Go to www.MiamiHerald.com/events and choose “Food & Wine” from the list on the left. To submit a listing, click “add to our events” on the upper right.

Super Bowl Sunday food and drink deals

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:13 EST

Super Bowl Sunday is second only to Thanksgiving in food consumption, according to DietDetective.com, and South Florida restaurants and bars are offering specials in hopes you’ll do some of your noshing with them. Here’s a sampling:

‘Engine 2 Diet’ author in Miami Feb. 8

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:14 EST

Firefighter-turned-author Rip Esselstyn, whose best-selling The Engine 2 Diet promotes low-fat, plant-based eating, leads a seminar at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Terra Environmental Research Institute, 11005 SW 84th St., Miami. Sponsored by Whole Foods, the event is free but requires reservations. Email alina.roche@wholefoods.com to book a seat.

Brunch at Edge, Heat deals at db Bistro, Menchie’s in Grove

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:14 EST

Edge, Steak & Bar at the Four Seasons, 1435 Brickell Ave., Miami, has added 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday brunch service with traditional offerings plus food truck-style stations featuring Mexican tacos, roast pork on Cuban bread and Peruvian ceviche. Cost is $75, $32 for kids 5-12; 305-381-3015.

Ortanique’s Hutson cooking at James Beard House

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:15 EST

Cindy Hutson of Coral Gables’ Ortanique on the Mile is one of five chefs cooking Thursday at New York City’s James Beard House for Carnivores’ Delight, a flesh fest sponsored by the producers of Certified Angus Beef. Her dish: truffle-braised short ribs with lobster ravioli in a brandied, creamed corn and chanterelle mushroom nage; www.jamesbeard.org.

French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten opens at St. Regis Bal Harbour

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:56 EST

Jean-Georges Vongerichten has arrived in the Magic City. The acclaimed French chef delivers a “comfortable yet elegant hideaway” to the sparkling new St. Regis Bal Harbour, 9703 Collins Ave. J&G Grill promises a “curated selection” of Vongerichten’s greatest appetizers, sides and accompaniments paired with high-quality meats and seafood. Sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and a muted zen vibe pair with a menu blending American, French and Asian influences. Look for cucumber martinis, Florida hearts of palm salad, Peekytoe crab cake, black truffle pizzas, roasted grouper, grilled veal chop, black truffle cheese fritters and kumquat mojitos. This is Jean-Georges’ second J&G Grill, following a 2009 opening in Park City, Utah.

Chocolate fest, wine fest, Redland rally this weekend

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:17 EST

It’s a festive time of year for South Florida food lovers:

Cafe 190 coming to Design District

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:24 EST

The Design District is getting an upscale comfort-food addition to its dining options. Café 190 is slated to open Monday at 190 NE 46th St., former home of the beloved Bohemian outpost 190 and around the corner from the Buena Vista Bistro. The man behind the launch is Mario Rubeo, Miami managing partner of the late, local Joe Allen’s, who says Café 190 will serve moderately priced regional American food with Mediterranean and Italian influences (burgers, pizza, steak, meatloaf, pasta) at lunch and dinner daily, with weekend breakfasts planned; 305-400-8828.

Mandarin, Hakkasan celebrate Chinese New Year

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:21 EST

The Mandarin Oriental, 500 Brickell Key Dr., Miami, welcomes the Year of the Dragon with a talk and $75, three-course wine dinner with Chinese artist Fung Ming Chip at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Admission is $95 in advance, $110 at the door for a 7-10 p.m. al fresco party Jan. 28 with dragon dance, DJ open bar and Asian food stations. Reserve for either event at 305-913-8358.

Tacos for Strength at Mercadito

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:30 EST

Patricio Sandoval of Mercadito Hospitality taps guest chefs each month to create Tacos for Strength to benefit the chefs’ hunger-fighting charity Share Our Strength. For January, he turned to Howie Kleinberg of Bulldog Barbecue and Bulldog Burger in North Miami, whose Bulldog Taco (pulled pork shoulder, chipotle crema, sliced avocado, roasted corn,) is $16.50 for an order of four, with 5 percent of proceeds benefiting SOS. Mercadito Midtown is at 3252 NE First Ave., Miami; 786-369-0430.

SoFla food-guide author at Books & Books Wednesday

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:53 EST

Christine Najac, food blogger (www.SouthFloridaFoodandWine.com) and certified sommelier, introduces her new book, Food Lovers’ Guide to Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Globe Pequot, $14.95), with a reading and signing at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 305-442-4408.

More deals: Lucky Clover, Oceanaire, Pearl, 100 Montaditos

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:51 EST

The Lucky Clover, 1111 SW First Ave., Miami, offers a $9.99 lunch special combining a main dish (e.g., grilled tuna, breaded chicken breast, grilled pork loin) and soda or iced tea. Add $2 and enjoy a dessert, salad or glass of wine or beer subbed for the soda; 786-691-2750.

Food & Wine Calendar

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:56 EST

At www.MiamiHerald.com/events, choose “Food & Wine” from the list on the left. To submit a listing, click “add to our events” on the upper right.

Deals: Capital Grille, Christy’s, Big City Tavern, Edge, Lantao

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:57 EST

The Capital Grille at The Galleria, 2430 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, has added an $18 lunch special, the seasonal “plates menu,” which gives guests a choice of three soups or salads, three sandwiches and three sides. Current options include a Wagyu cheeseburger with fried egg and crisp onions, roasted pepper soup and roasted root vegetables; 954-446-2000.

Opening soon: The Federal, Blue Collar

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:57 EST

Alejandro Ortiz, Anièce Meinhold and Cesar Zapata, the team behind Brickell pop-up shop Phuc Yea, hope to open their new venture next week. The Federal Food, Drink & Provisions, 5132 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, is billed as a modern American tavern serving such dishes as biscuits and gravy with crispy sweetbreads, pig ears with pumpkin hash and an open-faced Hot Brown roasted turkey sandwich plus main dishes made with grass-fed beef, domestic lamb, heritage pork, game meat and fish; 305-494-0609, www.thefederalmiami.com.

Newly open: Konefood, LoKal, House of Dog, Salumeria 104

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:57 EST

Konefood, 387 NE 167th St., North Miami Beach, tucks everything from pizza toppings and bacon and eggs to mojo pork inside savory cones. Waffle-cone desserts include chocolate brownie and strawberries with pomegranate and banana. It’s open 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday for dining in and takeout; 305-705-4485, www.konefood.com.

Saturday: Les Dames garage sale, Aldi opening

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:57 EST

The Miami chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier hosts its popular “everything but the kitchen sink” garage sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 1217 Granada Blvd. Coral Gables. Expect new and gently used aprons, art, bakeware, baskets, cookbooks, gadgets and small appliances plus homemade baked goods, potted herbs, vegetable starts and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Chefs: Brana joins Tuyo, Kovaceski forms consulting group

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:58 EST

Jeffrey Brana, who won raves and fans at the brief-lived Restaurant Brana, has joined former mentor Norman Van Aken at Tuyo, Miami-Dade College’s new fine-dining restaurant, as chef de cuisine.

Farm dinner Friday at Hani’s Organics

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:15 EST

Patrons of Outstanding in the Field’s Friday dinner in South Miami-Dade will actually find themselves sitting in a field at a long, long table on Hani Khouri’s Redland farm.

Feeding South Florida fundraiser Jan. 12

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:16 EST

Feeding South Florida (formerly Daily Bread Food Bank) celebrates its 30th anniversary Jan. 12 with “Come Together,” an evening of food, spirits, artwork and live entertainment at The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, 591 NW 27th St., Miami.

Dinner in Minutes columnist on TV Tuesday

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:16 EST

Catch Linda Gassenheimer, The Herald’s Dinner in Minutes columnist, on NBC6 Live Miami at 11 a.m. Tuesday. She’ll be demonstrating recipes from her latest book, Fast and Flavorful: Great Diabetes Meals from Market to Table.