Linda’s Tips and Travel Notes

 Michael Mina’s BOURBON Steak to open at Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort and Club:

This coming winter, James Beard Award winning chef Michael Mina will open his first South Florida location. BOURBON Steak’s extensive menu will features a wide array of beef, seafood, and new twists on classic American dishes. Beef choices include American Kobe, Japanese Kobe, and certified angus steaks. Seafood selections feature east and west coast oysters, Alaskan king crab, and Maine lobsters. Decadent accompaniments and side dishes of grilled foie gras, duck fat fries, and steamed king crab enhance the menu’s already extravagant main dishes. Mina’s “Modern American” classics such as whole-fried organic chicken with truffled mac and cheese will also be available. BOURBON Steak will be a standout at the resort not only because of its menu, but by its design. The 7,600 square foot space is entered through a twelve foot high glass box entrance and features several different dining spaces, including a private, “glass box” dining room.

BOURBON Steak, A Michael Mina Resaurant
The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort and Club
19999 West Country Club Drive
Aventura

James Beard Foundation holds first-ever national food festival:
On September 28-29, 2007

Miami will be one of the twenty host cities to the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America Festival. Local celebrity chefs, Norman Van Aken, Clay Conley, Mark Militello, Cindy Huston, Michael Bloise, and Malka Espinel will create dishes for the festival’s gala cocktail and dinner on September 28. The gala, will be held at 7:30 pm at Azul at the Mandarin Oriental on Friday, September 28. Tickets are $240 per person, including gratuities, and are limited to 100 diners. The festivities continue on Saturday, September 29 with a free event at Williams-Sonoma at the Village of Merrick Park featuring cooking demonstrations, a book signing by Van Aken, children’s activities, and tastings of products by local artisanal farmers. The event begins at 11:30 am and goes until 4:30 pm. If you go:
Gala:

Azul at the Mandarin Oriental,

500 Brickell Drive

Tickets can be purchased via email Atorres@mohg.com or by calling 305-913-3840.

Free event:

Williams-Sonoma, Village of

Merrick

Park350 Avenue San Lorenzo
(305) 446-9421

Ishq Indian restaurant opens on

Ocean Drive Sham and Kavita Kalami have brought a taste of India to

South

Beach. The restaurant, Ishq is named after the Indian word for “love” and features authentic Indian cuisine, complete with two tandoors in its open kitchen. Ishq also offers breakfast and an array of tapas-style dishes, in addition to a full bar. Designed by Charles Benson and Associates and McBride Co., Ishq has indoor, outdoor, and bar seating.Ishq Restaurant

530 Ocean Drive

305-532-4747
 

Beach Dining Re-invented at Michael’s Kitchen:
Chef Michael Blum is set to open his highly anticipated second eatery in the former home of Sunny Isles’ Newport Pub. Corned beef reuben spring rolls, chimichurri skirt steak, and black bean sesame glazed Asian spareribs are just a few of Blum’s innovative spins on traditional beachside favorites. Michael’s Kitchen Newport Beachside Resort is slated to open in November, but reservations are already highly recommended. 

Michaels Kitchen

Newport Beachside Resort

16701 Collins Avenue

305-749-2110

www.michaels-kitchen.com

Pinecrest’s Two Chefs open uptown:
Local Pinecrest favorite Two Chefs is opening a second location in

North Miami. Set to open later this month, Two Chefs Too will offer popular menu items from the original Two Chefs and will also showcase new dishes. They will also offer an extensive selection of artisanal cheeses and an expertly chosen wine and spirits selection.
Two Chefs Too

2286 NE  123 Street

305-895-5155

www.twochefsrestaurant.com