Star Chef Michael Schwartz Lands in the Design District
Hometown culinary hero Michael Schwartz, the South Beach pioneer
who claimed the attention of trend-conscious connoisseurs with
his first restaurant, Nemo (since sold to former partner Myles
Chefetz), has opened his long-awaited, eponymous eatery, Michael’s
Genuine Food & Wine. Since its debut in March, the 90-seat,
indoor/outdoor restaurant, located on one of the central streets
in the Design District, has been bustling with customers of all
stripes, and at all hours of the day.
Both prices and a variety of plate sizes tempt diners to return
often, rather than treat the place as a special-occasion restaurant.
An eclectic, boutique-driven wine list is also an attraction
for aficionados looking for some of the best deals in town. The
well-equipped bar, with freshly squeezed juices, housemade sodas,
and tasty bar snacks – including gratis organic radishes – is
a popular gathering spot.
No doubt the crowds are drawn as much by the comfortable vibe
as the sincerity of the simple yet luscious modern American fare,
which Schwartz sources from growers who are as local and organic
as possible. “I think the name, Michael’s Genuine
Food & Drink, says it all,” Schwartz explains. “I
set out to create a neighborhood place that feels like the real
deal, where you’re recognized and welcome and there’s
always something you want on the menu — and what goes into
the dishes is simple, fresh, and pure.”
Handsomely envisioned by acclaimed restaurant designer and long-time
Schwartz collaborator Carl Myers (Chispa, Little Palm Island,
and Nemo), and run by Schwartz’s wife Tamara and general
manager Charles Bell, Michael’s is an unpretentious oasis
in the burgeoning borough.
Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink is located at 130 NE
40th Street in Miami’s Design District. Lunch is served
Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dinner is
offered Monday through Thursday from 5:30 to 11:00 p.m., Friday
from 5:30 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to midnight,
and Sunday from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. Happy hour, featuring half-price
cocktails, wine, and beer, takes place Monday through Friday
from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Ample metered parking is available, as
well as valet service from 6:00 p.m. nightly. Reservations are
suggested at 305-573-5550.
The Jesus Quintero Studio
Actor and director Jesus Quintero began his theater career
in his native Colombia, where he studied at the actors’ school
of the Teatro Libre de Bogotá. He also garnered experience
as an actor, a technical director, producer, and assistant
director with the Teatro Libre before moving to Pennsylvania,
where he acted with the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center
and the Open Stage of Harrisburg. Now a Miami resident, Quintero
is currently an actor and the education director with the
Playground Theatre. But he has a new project in the works – his
own studio.
The Jesus Quintero Studio operates in “The Yellow House” at
420 NE 23rd St., which is Quintero’s own home. Although
the studio will utilize other venues as well, Quintero feels
that working on a stage in his own back yard provides a unconventional
but valuable intimacy, a kind of artistic laboratory or rehearsal
space. “The studio is an open space for independent artists
who want to work and show their talent,” he says.
As a preview of the upcoming fall season, the Jesus Quintero
Studio performed Tennessee Williams’s 27 Wagons Full
of Cotton in April and, in collaboration with Meshaun Arnold
from the Mahogany Road Theatre, will perform Shadows of Richard,
Quintero’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard
III, May 17 through 20 at 8:00 p.m. at Florida Memorial University’s
Lou Rawls Center for the Performing Arts, 15800 NW 42nd Ave.,
Miami Gardens. Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter is scheduled
next. For details call 786-390-1257.
Café Le
Glacier Says Hello Again
Café Le Glacier is the latest Biscayne Boulevard dining
spot to receive a new lease on life. Principal owner Marcia
Ribeiro, along with minority partners Sara Parente and Hope
Aranguren, acquired the business in March. “I see so
much potential here,” says Ribeiro. “This is the
best street in Miami.” Plans are under way to give the
restaurant a facelift while preserving the French cuisine Upper
Eastside residents have come to know. Changes will include
a new outdoor patio seating area, a new color scheme, and a
revamped interior.
Ribeiro, a native of Rio de Janeiro, is a well-known Miami
businesswoman. A former tennis pro, she first came to Miami
at age 15 to compete in a tournament and immediately fell in
love with the Magic City. She currently heads the successful
export firm A&M Connection, a specialist in shipping electronics
and industrial chemicals to Brazil. Also a veteran of the restaurant
industry, she ran a small seafood bar on the famed Barra da
Tijuca beach in Rio before relocating to the United States.
The grand reopening fête is planned for early May, during
which it will be temporarily “out with the French and
in with the Brazilian.” The event will feature a samba
dance school in addition to liberal amounts of food and drink.
Café Le Glacier is open from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
daily, and is located at 7295 Biscayne Blvd. For information
call 305-754-6551.
Who Needs A Car When You Can Scoot, Skate, and Bike?
Bike enthusiast and former record store owner Darren Venvitti
noticed a lack of good bike shops along the lower part of
the Biscayne Corridor and decided to take action. He recruited
his friend and former owner of Uncle Sam’s Records
in Miami Beach, Don Vernon, as business partner and opened
a one-stop shop for fun on wheels, the Scoot, Skate and Bike
Co. The store stocks bikes of all kinds, from classic and
customized mountain bikes to a large selection of cruisers
and custom choppers, modified by bike customizers Phat and
Felt. Along with standard scooters, Scoot, Skate offers a
wide selection of eco-friendly electric scooters.
Venvitti
and Vernon will install a recharging station for electric
scooters if they see a demand for it. They also employ a
highly experienced and reputable small-engine mechanic who
works from their full mechanic’s shop a few blocks
away for all scooter and bike repairs. The Scoot, Skate and
Bike Company, located at 1800 Biscayne Blvd., unofficially
opened on December 1, 2006, to a receptive midtown community.
Although not a true grand opening, business has been going
well for Venvitti and Vernon , and they are planning an official
grand opening for the end of May or June.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to
8:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information
call 305-758-7004.
Che Sopranos Moves to the Mainland
Miami Beach favorite Che Sopranos has crossed the causeway,
opening two new locations — on Biscayne Boulevard and
in Miami Shores. The original Sopranos pizzeria opened on
South Beach in 2001. In 2003 that location was sold and the
concept morphed into Che Sopranos on 71st Street in North
Beach, with an expanded menu in a restaurant setting. Founders
Leandro De Vita, Max De Vita, and Valeria Jimenez, as well
as co-owners Bruce Mazer (Biscayne Boulevard) and Santiago
Valdez (Miami Shores) describe their fare as “Italian
food with an Argentinean flair.”
The menu is straight out of Buenos Aires, where the De Vita
brothers grew up, featuring Italian pizza and pasta staples
as well as traditional Argentinean steaks and empanadas. The “Tanguito” pizza,
with its thin, crispy crust topped with roasted red peppers
and ham, is a tasty envoy of Che Soprano’s Italian/Argentinean
fusion cuisine. The menu ranges from full dinners to lunch
specials that include a drink for under $10. Kids are welcomed
with a children’s menu and drawing materials at every
table. Situated in a former house, the Biscayne Boulevard location
has a large outdoor patio and a smartly designed bar, lending
it a mixed modish and casual appeal. According to co-owner
Bruce Mazer, formerly of Majestic Properties, the Biscayne
Corridor “is ripe for opportunity, lacking reasonably
priced places to eat with a good atmosphere. Che Sopranos is
the right thing in the right place at the right time.”
Che Soprano’s is located at 7251 Biscayne Blvd. and at
11007 NE 6th Ave. in Miami Shores. All three locations are
open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to midnight. Home delivery
is available. Call 305-754-8282 (Biscayne Boulevard) or 305-722-2020
(Miami Shores).
Bagua Brings Balance and Harmony to the Design District
“Bagua” is a feng-shui term for a grid used to
designate balance to all areas of one’s life. It’s
a perfectly appropriate name for Milda Vaivada’s store
just north of the Design District. Since its opening nearly
three years ago, it has fulfilled Vaivada’s goal of introducing
customers to every aspect of feng shui, including children,
pets, and personal health. In addition, it has become a favorite
neighborhood destination.
Here you can find everything from incense and scented candles
to healing balms and oils, from hand-made jewelry to home décor
items. According to Vaivada, who personally selects her store’s
products, every item is purchased from fair-trade suppliers
throughout the world . In her own words, all her products are “functional,
beautiful, and serve to enhance your well-being and add beauty
and harmony to your life and home.”
In addition to items sold in the store, Bagua offers a variety
of lectures and workshops throughout the year, and also hosts
evening fêtes every Friday with music, wine, and hors
d’oeuvres.
Bagua is located at 4600 NE. 2nd Ave., Miami, and is open Monday
through Thursday from noon to 8:00 p.m., Friday from noon to
midnight, Saturday from noon to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday from
noon to 4:00 p.m. For more information call 305-573-9292 or
visit www.bagua9.com.
Bin No. 18: A Taste of Europe in the Upper Eastside
With almost 16 years’ experience in the food industry,
including work as chef for the Ritz-Carlton and the Shore Club
Hotel, chef Alfredo Patino opened a restaurant that reflects
his own personal taste, influenced by years of living in Europe.
Inspired by the bins used in wine cellars for storage, along
with the restaurant’s location, Bin No. 18 officially
opened its doors early this year. It provides a modern, chic,
yet relaxed atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor seating in
both dining and lounge style, and a tasteful soundtrack of
background music.
The menu is drawn from Mediterranean influences and is best
represented by the tablas, large wooden platters carrying a
spread of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and other foods typical
of coastal Spain, France, and Italy. Patino’s intriguing
wine list spans the globe, as does his selection of beers.
Visit Bin No. 18 on a Thursday and Pantio will buy you your
first drink. Or drop by on Sunday and enjoy their popular brunch
menu.
Bin No. 18 currently includes a small retail section, stocked
with imported beers, wines, and cheeses as well as prepared
foods. Patino plans to expand this section to include a wider
variety of products.
Located at 1800 Biscayne Blvd., just two minutes from the Carnival
Center, Bin No. 18 is an ideal pre- and post-show destination.
Open Monday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 6:00
to 11:00 p.m. Sunday hours are 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For
more information call 786-235-7575.
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