Friday, March 9, 2012

Miami, Florida - Prime One Twelve

The only place with more Bentley’s parked curbside than a London city street, Prime One Twelve epitomizes the word “scene.” Don’t be surprised if Kim Kardashian or A-Rod is sitting at the next table, and come hungry, as the portions at this all-American steakhouse are massive, but more importantly, extremely well done. Prepare to be wowed by prime cuts of meat and fresh seafood, including caviar and crustaceans of all kinds. Next pile on the family-style sides to share such as lobster mac and cheese, truffle french fries, onion rings, creamed spinach and tater tots, to name a few. Come dessert time, what is the house special? Fried Oreos! 

I've been coming to this restaurant for years, and for me, Prime 112 is what South Beach is all about: flashy cars, great people watching, boisterous activity, a humming vibe, a famous athlete or celebrity across the room; All act as a backdrop to consistently succulent cuts of beef (and all the extras), enough to quell any carnivore's craving. 

Prime 112 Signature Chopped Salad with romaine, spinach, hearts of palm, cucumber, celery hearts, grape tomatoes, asparagus, applewood smoked bacon and green goddess dressing

8oz Filet Mignon with peppercorn sauce

12oz Filet Mignon

Sauteed spinach with garlic

Sauteed forest mushrooms

Crispy white truffle french fries

Fried Oreos with vanilla ice cream


Warm dulce de leche bread pudding with candied walnuts and vanilla ice cream


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Miami, Florida - The Restaurant at The Setai


Hands down one of the top five best dining experiences of the year! The Restaurant at the Setai ticks all of the boxes: service, striking and tranquil zen ambience, sense of pride in the kitchen, helpful and devoted waitstaff and superb, flavorful and inventive dishes. Menu items transport you through China, Thailand, Singapore, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. Order from a menu (and a kitchen) that is divided into five sections: The Wok, The Steam, The Tandoor, The Curries and The Rotisserie & Grill, each style of cookery prepared by its own individual chef. Sit at one of the tables that jut out from the open kitchen and watch as your meal takes shape by these masters of Western and Asian cuisine.

Amuse-bouche courtesy of the chef: cod with mint dressing and micro greens  
Blue fin tuna with sesame ginger dressing, green apple, wasabi peas and caviar

Dim Sum of Siew Mai steamed pork and shrimp dumplings
A line of rotisserie peking ducks
Homemade roasted peking duck with steamed pancakes, scallions, cucumbers, and hoisin sauce

Murgh Makhani Indian tandoor roasted butter chicken curry with tomatoes, butter, cream and traditional spices

Basmati rice
Macchi Tikka: Indian tandoor roasted chilean sea bass marinated with mint, cilantro, serrano pepper and yogurt served with tamarind sauce
Mee Goreng: Indonesian wok fried noodles with chicken, prawns, garlic, ginger, bean sprouts, herbs, fried shallots and lime juice

Cooking naan bread in the tandoor oven

Naan bread with garlic and cilantro, and a curry dipping sauce

Chocolate Valrhona fondant with molten center and hazlenut and lemon sorbet

Marshmallows and cookies from the chef

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Miami, Florida - Mr. Chow

Mr. Chow's famous noodles - handmade beijing noodles he first introduced to the West in 1968, with a pork sauce

Lettuce wraps

Rice paper wrapped prawns

Fresh scallop on the shell 
Rice with egg and shrimp
Just checked into the Ritz Carlton South Beach Miami for 7 nights of sun and relaxation. (London, I love you, but your grey skies are killing me!) Last night our restaurant destination was the famous Mr. Chow at the gorgeously interior designed W Hotel on South Beach. The service is impeccable (we left all of the ordering to them), the food is absolutely delicious, the setting and the vibe is sexy, and the people watching never disappoints. Last night we dined a few tables away from Kenny G. If you are in the mood for authentic Chinese fare created from original Beijing recipes, you won't be disappointed at Mr. Chow.

Beef with oyster sauce

Velvet chicken with fresh chili

Nine season prawns

Crispy duck

The stunning dining room is centered by a unique 123 foot Gold-leaf
and Swarovski crystal chandelier designed by Michael Chow. 
 
Each evening there is an astonishing beijing noodle making demonstration