Broward Palm Beach Blog

The effects of the economy are being felt in every industry imaginable, most of all the ones that entertain and nourish us. The restaurant industry, from celebrity chefs right on to busboys, dishwashers, and even food producers and farmers are more than feeling the pinch. Fine establishments in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, and all over downtown and Miami Beach are finding themselves with empty tables and plates left cold from a lack of customers. Not from January 12 through February 12. That's when the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (with sponsorship from American Express) are presenting the first ever Winter Miami Spice. Yes, yes, y'all - the same specially discounted fiesta of food everyone eagerly anticipates in the summertime is making an early appearance. Let the feasting begin!

Over 30 of Miami's finest restaurants will offer $23 lunch and $36 dinner prix fixe menus, so you can decide where you want to eat by district. Feel like heading to chic SoBe? Hit up the restaurant at The Setai (2001 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305-520-6400), or the ever-chic Table 8 (1458 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; 305-695-4114). On the mainland there's Andu (141 SW 7th St., Miami; 786-871-7005), Christy's Steakhouse (3101 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables; 305.446.1400 ), and more than we have room or time to mention. Visit www.ilovemiamispice.com.

-- Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik

Table 8, the chic-Los Angeles import tucked into the Hotel De Soleil at the north tip of Ocean Drive, isn't too coy on its Miami Spice preview page about why you should pay a visit: the chef, Govind Armstrong, is "famous", the ambience is "trendy", and the "celebrity fan-base" includes "Ryan Seacrest, musicians Nas and Kelis, Bobby Flay and Adrian Grenie," the write-up gushes. Um, what about the food, guys?

Even if the restaurant's publicist is a little more concerned with celebrity sightings than taste, Table 8's food spoke for itself on a visit this weekend. Though Short Order is on record with some concerns about whether Table 8's Miami Spice menu was skimping on the good stuff, this weekend's options more than justified the $36 cost for three courses.

We were more than surprised when Michael's Genuine Food & Drink (130 NE 40th Street, Miami; 305-573-5550), located in Miami's Design District, was noticeably absent from the Miami Spice participating restaurants list. We wondered if all the accolades, including a mention in the New York Times' "Coast to Coast, Restaurants That Count," had gone to its head.

But little did we know Michael's would be "spicing" up Miami alone with its own prix fixe lunch and dinner menus. We already think the place is well priced considered the quality of food, but it's always nice to save a bit of money, especially in the middle of a recession. The lunch is priced at $22 Monday through Thursday, while dinner is $35 Sunday through Thursday; both exclude tax and gratuity. The deal ends September 30.

I must admit that I've gone to Soyka countless times before, never considering it too expensive that a Miami Spice prix fixe menu is needed. But my friends decided to have dinner there Wednesday night and I took it as a perfect opportunity to try it out.

Soyka's food is contemporary American with plenty of Italian influences. I've always considered it the Cheesecake Factory of Miami restaurants, not because its a chain -- it's not -- but because the portions are generous and the menu is an inexplicable mish-mash of different items. Don't get me wrong, I like the restaurant; the food is good, the sweet potato fries are super crispy (crispiest in Miami, if I may say so myself), but it's not a place where the food leaves a lasting impression on me. And after previewing the Spice menu online, I didn't expect my Spice experience to change that.

The two months of fine-dining deals known as Miami Spice isn't all about the culinary savings. This year, organizers are also putting on cooking demos around the city with chefs of some of the city's top restaurants. Macy's at Dadeland and Aventura will showcase the cooking skills of chefs from Ortanique on the Mile, Bizcaya and La Marea. Here is the full list:

Dadeland

Saturday, August 16: Chef Edgar Leal, Cacao Restaurant
Saturday, August 23: Chef Cindy Hutson, Ortanique on The Mile
Saturday, August 30: Chef Miguel Magaña, Bizcaya (Ritz-Carlton/Coconut Grove)

Aventura

Saturday, August 16: Chef Pietro Rota, La Marea
Saturday, August 30: Chef Sally Camacho, Cascata Grille

All demos are free and open to the public and take place at 1 p.m. at the Kitchen at the Cellar. But in case you are too lazy to drive yourself to either location, you can learn from the comfort of your own home as Miami Spice also plans to showcase some demos live from some of the local television stations.

[via Miami Nights]

-- Jose Duran

In yesterday's Miami Spice post, New Times food critic Lee Klein compared the dining deal to the sort of bargain he usually encounters when he brings his car in to be repaired. In Part 2, he breaks down the Spice choices to the best and worst deals.

There are 106 participating restaurants listed at www.ilovemiamispice.com. Click the establishment’s name and you’ll be directed to the days and meal periods that the Spice menu is available, and a link to the discounted menu. Right off the bat you can eliminate those restaurants where an untaxed/untipped $30 lunch or $45 dinner is no deal at all. We did just that, which whittled our list of desirables to 32. Of these, 9 didn’t bother to list their menus, 7 are being stingy, 4 are well-enough priced in general that the Spice menu doesn’t make much sense, 2 are less than generous but great restaurants to try nonetheless. The rest comprise our Top Ten Miami Spice deals. Here is the breakdown in more detail:

Each year around this time, upon being handed my first Miami Spice menu of the season, I think of Ernie. Ernie is my car mechanic. “Broken radiator hose,” he’ll say with a furrow across his brow. “That’ll cost you 300,” and without even looking up to see the stunned look on my face, he’ll quickly add, “but today’s your lucky day, buddy, we’re having a month-long half-off sale on all radiator work.”

The Spice discount dining program kicks off this Friday, August 1, and runs through the end of September. The deal is a three-course meal that guests select from a limited and usually low-end list -- $23 at lunch, $36 at dinner. That’s without tax and gratuity, which means, even for tightwad tippers, the meal costing at least $30 and $45 respectively. “Choose well and that’s the equivalent of a 50 percent savings,” says our city’s daily paper, which means that under ordinary circumstances you’d be paying $60 for lunch and $90 for dinner for these well-chosen spots -- plus more if you desire water or lemonade or a glass of wine or cup of coffee. “Of course there’ll also be a small charge for the gaskets and such,” as Ernie likes to say.

The difference between Miami Spice and Ernie is that it is actually possible to find an honest deal with Miami Spice. There are 106 participating restaurants listed at www.ilovemiamispice.com. Click the establishment’s name and you’ll be directed to the days and meal periods that the Spice menu is available, and a link to the discounted menu. Right off the bat you can eliminate those restaurants where an untaxed/untipped $30 lunch or $45 dinner is no deal at all. We did just that, which whittled our list of desirables to 32. Of these, 9 didn’t bother to list their menus, 7 are being stingy, 4 are well-enough priced in general that the Spice menu doesn’t make much sense, 2 are less than generous but great restaurants to try nonetheless. Tomorrow we'll specify our breakdown, and present the Top Ten Miami Spice deals.

- Lee Klein