PlanetEye

Fronting one of South Beach's busier traffic thoroughfares, this outpost of authentic Haitian cuisine might be easy to pass by and pass up, which would be a shame. We admit we almost forgot it was in the neighborhood, and only took the opportunity to stop in and sample the fare one day this spring because we had to park so far west and then walk back east down 5th Street to get back to Ocean Drive. Tap Tap turned out to be a pleasant way to revive on a humid day of walking.  We'd been told the atmosphere was usually lively here, and although we visited at the wrong time to catch the Thursday night live band, it was certainy still an interesting mix of locals, globals and of course Haitians devoted to dining on the best prepared dishes from their homeland that Miami has to offer.

Keeping it visually colorful are the murals, Haitian metal art and voodoo flags adorning the walls.  Some of the fresh and spicey items on the menu that you might consider for a brief sampling of Haitian culinary skill include: pumpkin soup, shrimp in creole sauce, grouper in spicy lime/cabbage sauce, Tap Tap salad and Goat. As with other areas of the Caribbean, pork and chicken play a major role in a recipe, so try some of the Haitian creations such as griyo (fried pork chunks) and poul di (baked chicken).  And while Cuba may have been the island of origin for the mojito, Haitians have appropriated it and put their own twist to it at Tap Tap.  If the volume becomes too loud inside, you can always sit on their terrace on a pleasant enough day and, like most establishments in this city, even Tap Tap has take-take out.

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While Miami Beach frequently gets so much of the attention when it comes to entertainment, dining or nightlife, downtown Miami is home to some excellent spots for either casual or more formal fare.  If you come into downtown for business, meetings, conventions or even for theater or museums, what better way to refresh and relax before or after your event than with some casual but well-prepared light fare.  One recently opened location to mark on your map for such downtown Miami dining is Pure Verde – nestled at the far end of the lobby level of the Hyatt Regency Miami, this newly-renovated lounge exudes Miami chic.  A cool jade color scheme, bar bites and flat-screen TVs provide a fashionable atmosphere for winding down.  Aside from that, you can soak in some spectacular panoromas of the downtown's soaring skyline from from most sides of the lounge with their giant windows looking down across the river walk and across the winding Miami River.  

Pure Verde bases a lot of its menu on Latin derived dishes and drinks.  You can go for just a light platter to accompany your cocktail, or you can dive into several courses that will take care of your lunch or dinner.  Appetizers, for instance, include Artichoke Spinach Dip; Hummus & Vegetables; and Cheese Quesadilla.  We found the salad selection to be quite filling for a light lunch, with such items as Peel & Eat Shrimp; Caesar; and Steak Salad on their list; Keeping the mix of both seafood and meat items on the main entree are Clams Romanesco; Mahi-Mahi Sandwich; and the Pressed Cuban Sandwich.  The Verde Signature Cocktail selection -- in addition to martini and margarita choices -- is also strong on their variations of the mojito, with Mango Mojitos, Red Bull Mojitos, or Pomegranate Mojitos available here.  For those with a discriminating wine palate, the bar can offer you a nice choiceof Sauvignons, Merlots, Chardonnays and Zinfandels.

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Pure Verde - at the Hyatt Regency Miami, 400 S. E. 2nd Ave., Miami; Tel: (305)358-1234

Discriminating palates are heading north from South Beach to Bal Harbour and the recently arrived Regent Bal Harbour, which in turn is home to chic dining destination 1 Bleu.  Boasting an awe-inspiring design with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, 1 Bleu is a distinct new addition to gourmet dining on this part of the Miami shoreline.

1 Bleu’s cuisine takes is Mediterranean inspired, indulging the diner with a menu emphasizing fresh seafood, organic and locally-sourced produce and the finest cuts of meat available worldwide including Kobe and Wagyu beef. Executive Chef Gerdy Rodriguez, born in Havana and raised in Miami, is well versed in South Florida’s bounty – and takes advantage of local delicacies — offering diners succulent stone crab claws in season, as well as organic micro-greens, heirloom tomatoes and other fresh vegetables from nearby farms. Rodriguez also imports fresh seafood specialties from the Mediterranean, like baby calamari and langoustine, cuttlefish, wild line caught fish, razor clams, turbot, and Mediterranean striped bass – all flown in daily from La Costa Brava, Cataluña, Spain.

With elegant seating for both indoor and outdoor dining on the ocean-side terrace, guests are treated to an ever-changing vista outside the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows—complete with breathtaking views of Haulover Bridge, the shimmering Atlantic, the beach at Haulover Park and the 30-foot sculpture created by renowned artist Guy Dill that graces the terrace. Inside, the large main dining room is divided into three intimate areas, with oversized, raised banquettes designed to take advantage of the outstanding views. Dark imported woods from Brazil and Africa, rich leather and marble walls all combine to create a contemporary style; while a magnificent glass block encased wine tower with a special display tasting table adds an element of excitement to wine selection.

No stranger to high-end dining, Rodriguez has designed sophisticated menus with signature selections that reinterpret classic dishes; developed throughout his career as top toque in some of Miami’s most acclaimed dining destinations including Norman’s and Mundo, Sambal at Mandarin Oriental and the Michelin starred La Broche. The menus include starters such as a delightful salad of organic field greens enriched by seasonal berries, crumbled feta cheese and toasted almonds and lightly dressed with a Jerez vinaigrette as well as Hawaiian yellowfin tuna carpaccio with cêpes confit.

The impressive raw bar includes a selection of seasonal oysters and clams, an eye-catching plateau de fruits de mer – a striking assortment of shellfish including Maine lobster, white shrimp, Mediterranean mussels, oysters, clams and mignonette sauce and an ever-changing ceviche menu, all subject to seasonal availability. Main courses tantalize taste buds with dishes such as seafood mixta, a delicate blend of grilled langoustines, clams, mussels, scallops, oysters, puntilla and trout roe, served with baby corn, saffron aioli and micro greens, and Moroccan lamb loin – cooked to the perfect temperature and complemented by grilled pineapple, coconut and dried fruit. Desserts at 1 Bleu feature selections such as Greek yogurt panna cotta, served with a wild berry consommé, strawberry confit and a honey tuile, and the irresistible pistachio-almond baklava, which comes with caramelized walnut ice cream, walnut chantilly, orange confit and wild honey.

For lighter and more casual refreshment or after-hours drinks and cocktails, you  consider stopping in at the adjacent The View Bar.  It has a menu ideal for a light meal, complete with signature cocktails and an opulent raw bar. Diners can unwind with a glass of wine from the world-class wine list and nosh on tantalizing “light entrees” such as American “Kobe” beef sliders, smoked salmon and mozzarella pizzette and Greek lamb souvlaki.

1 Bleu serves lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and serves dinner Sunday through Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; and until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday The View Bar is open for breakfast and remains open throughout the day.

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1 Bleu - at The Regent Bal Harbour, 10295 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour.  Valet parking available; reservations suggested; Tel: (305) 455-5400 

Sooner or later - and we've found it's usually sooner - everyone gravitates to the News Cafe when they're in Miami.  It could be as a meeting spot, a people watching spot, a breakfast, lunch or dinner spot, a happy hour get together, a chance to catch up on good reading and the news, or any mix of the aforegoing.  Whatever the case, the News Cafe may be licensed as a dining establishment, but it's also something of a local landmark.  A certain part of the ritual of having been to Miami that you really don't want to miss.

Located on the 800 block of Ocean Drive, the place to sit and observe here is usually out on the sidewalk seating.  Lounge here with your coffee or sandwich as some of the most diverse cross-section of international types stroll by at any time of the day and night or month of the year.  The News Cafe was a favorite haunt of designer Gianni Versace when he lived nearby at Casa Casuarina in the Nineties, and it was from here that he returned home to meet his sensational death at the gates of his villa.  On a more pleasant note, past events do not seem to have dimmed the Cafe's popularity, with the doors remaining open 24 hours and making it a favored haunt of city night owls of all stripes.  The menu remains as global as the clientele, with both continental and American style breakfasts; pastas, burgers and paninis; and an assortment of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes.  The bar area is popular for its happy hour, Monday through Thursday, between 4 and 7 p.m., with a nice selection of both American and Euro import wines and frozen cocktails.  But to tell the truth, News Cafe wins our hearts with its ample supply of international and American magazines and newspapers, so we can keep up with the world and our industry while keeping up with the South Beach scene around us.  

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News Cafe - 800 Ocean Drive, MIami Beach; Tel: (305) 538-6397   

Adding to the local range of European fare around South Beach is Paul, a brilliant recreation of a classic French bakery/cafe that originally made its debut at the end of the nineteenth century in Lille, France.

 There are four other sister stores of Paul around South Florida, but only this recent Lincoln Road location delivers the authentic design of the old country, from the walls of striated Zebrano wood to the elongated metallic lettering to the brick and marble details of the interior.

The fare: be prepared to be swept off your feet by the scrumptious artisan breads, baked from custom-grown, winter wheat and milled flour with natural ingredients.  
If you're like many visitors, you'll be carrying home at least a few samples of brioche and rolls.  For a lunch-time standard that stands out, try the Croque Monsieur sandwich, a brioche-type bread that is filled with Emmental cheese and Black Forest ham.  Another classic to bite into on your inevitable return: the open-faced goat cheese toasty with chopped tomatoes and basil, served on a thin farmhouse bread.  A sweet pastry (anything from a dazzling selection of pains au chocolat, raisin danishes, or apple danishes), accompanied by a cafe au lait, makes for a fine mid-day or mid-morning refill.

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 Paul - 450 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; Tel: (305) 531-1200