RESTAURANT HAPPENINGS 12.12.07

PETER LERPERGER RETURNS TO FRITZ & FRANZ

Fritz & Franz Bierhaus, 60 Merrick Way, (305) 774-1883, www.bierhaus.cc

Former Restaurant Manager Peter Lerperger of Salzburg, Austria, has rejoined the Fritz & Franz Bierhaus team as General Manager. Peter Lerperger, a graduate of the College for Tourism and Management, at Klessheim Palace in Salzburg, Austria, was Manager at Mozart Stube and at Fritz and Franz Bierhaus before joining Miami SkyLift.

HYATT RESORT & SPA FIRST “GREEN CERTIFIED” RESORT IN KEY WEST

Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa, (305) 809-1234 or visit www.keywest.hyatt.com

Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa has been officially designated first “Green Certified” resort complex on Key West by The Florida Green Lodging Program. Hyatt Key West Resort & Spa’s new design includes a refurbished pool area, new Blue Mojito Bar & Grill, re-conceived guestrooms and lobby, and the new Jala Spa.

CHEFS MOVE ON

Michael Jacobs is no longer executive chef at Grass and in Coral Gables

Guy Gateau is no longer Executive Chef at The Biltmore Hotel.

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink To Ring In 2008

Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink, 130 N.E. 40th Street, (305) 573-5550,

New Year’s Eve 2008 at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink offers four options.

Option one has a 6pm seating with an a la carte menu, Option 2 offers a 9pm seating at $125 per person for a multicourse dinner and Mumm Cordon Rouge for each couple, and Options 3 and 4 are multicourse dinners and a party that goes until the early morning. For more information: www.michaelsgenuine.com

BEATRIZ BAJARES APPOINTED IDEAS RESTAURANT MANAGER

Ideas Restaurant, 2833 Bird Rd., Coconut Grove.(305) 567-9074.

Beatriz Bajares, who for the past ten years was manager at La Dorada in Coral Gables, is now restaurant Manager at Ideas Restaurant in Coconut Grove.

The a la carte menu has products specially brought in from Spain and seafood imported from the Mediterranean. The contemporary yet classic Spanish menu included a cream of lentils with foie gras and roasted quail.

 Wine Fridays and New Lunch Menu at Azul

Azul, 500 Brickell Key Drive, 305-913-8254

Sommelier Cynthia Betancourt is introducing Wine Fridays, a weekly wine bacchanalia, offered during lunch and featuring $20 per person bottomless pours of amazing wines.

“Azul’s Way” is also available, featuring a special three course tasting menu ofr $35 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

 Alta Cocina Opens in South Miami

Alta Cocina, 5837 Sunset Drive, altacocinarestaurant.com

Chef-spouses Juan Mario Maza and Vani Maharaj are serving up culinary flair in their new South Miami restaurant.  Together Maza and Maharaj have created a menu that blends their Caribbean and Latin American influences, producing dishes that add a fresh twist to salads, meats and seafood and are full of delights right from the beginning.