Restaurant Happenings South Florida 3/19/08
RESTAURANT HAPPENINGS – 3.19.08
FLEMING’S TO PRESENT HIGH-LOW WINE DINNER ON “TAX DAY”
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 2525 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, 305-569-7995.
On Tuesday, April 15, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Coral Gables will host a special dinner to celebrate the passing of “Tax Day” by learning about the relationship between wine and money. The sophisticated steakhouse cuisine of chef partner Chris Wakeman will be paired with a duo of wines — with the second, third, and fourth courses — one about twice as expensive as the other. $95.00 per person, excluding tax and gratuity, will be limited.
DIBONO’S ITALIAN CAFE OPENS IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH
Di Bono’s, 15979 Biscayne Blvd, 305-948-3330
Lou & Debbie Di Bono of Louie’s Brick Oven Return to their Italian-American roots with a true ristorante. Fresh grown herbs (from Debbie’s very own herb garden behind the restaurant) and the best of olive oils create the unmistakable aroma that wafts from the wood burning brick oven as homemade focaccia bakes. Designer Sharron Lewis still dominates at Di Bono’s with her old-world comfort and lovely interiors. Now the atmosphere at Di Bono’s is further enhanced by the subtle placement of televisions throughout the room showing, what else, Italian movies. Di Bono’s dinner menu is a litany of delicious “family style” appetizers, Italian salads, pastas, main courses, specialties and homemade desserts–all reasonably priced.
NEW GM and PASTRY CHEF AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MIAMI
Mandarin Oriental Miami, 500 Brickell Key Drive, 305-913-8288
The Miami Resort General Manager Jorge Gonzalez has been appointed Patrick Calvarese as general manager and Anthony Miller as executive pastry chef at Azul. A graduate from the Hotel School of Lausanne, in Switzerland, born and raised on the French Riviera, Patrick Calvarese (57) has been with Mandarin Oriental, Miami since January 2001. Anthony Miller (33) began his professional culinary career working in the pastry division at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, was executive pastry chef at Mandarin Oriental, New York and Washington D.C and was the opening executive pastry chef at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.
THE STRIP HOUSE OPENS AT THE REACH RESORT IN KEY WEST
Strip House Key West at The Reach Resort, 1435 Simonton Street, Key West. 305-295-9669. www.striphouse.net.
The latest Strip House has opened at the newly renovated Reach Resort in Key West. The first Strip House, a New York steakhouse, opened in 2000 and was named Best Steakhouse in America by GQ, and one of America’s Ten Best Steakhouses by Maxim Magazine. The kitchen is overseen by Executive Chef John Schenk, with a menu of charred prime meats, goose fat potatoes, truffle creamed spinach and 24-layer chocolate cake, as well as seafood specialties.
Strip House seats 220 people in the main dining room, 50 in the bar and lounge, and includes two private dining rooms.
NORMAN VAN AKEN NO LONGER LEADING TAVERN N TOWN
Tavern N Town, Beachside Resort & Conference Center, 3841 North Roosevelt Boulevard, 305-296-3676. www.beachsidekeywest.com
Tavern N Town, the restaurant at Key West’s Beachside Resort & Conference Center, which opened October 2007, has changed its concept and chef Norman Van Aken is no longer at the helm. “I have the utmost respect and admiration for Norman; however, his creative vision doesn’t coincide with what we feel Beachside Resort needs at this time. Our parting is amicable, and Norman is remaining on as a consulting corporate chef for Spottswood Hotels. In that position, he will be exploring our participation in high end food and wine events and other culinary projects we have slated for the Florida Keys,” Spottswood said.