The Federal vs. Haven: Big Texas Showdown in the MIA

The Federal

Zapata vs. Erickson. Who will win?

While Miami is best known for palm trees swaying among neon-lit avenues, Texas is probably most famous for cattle, oil, lots of excess...and old fashioned duels to the death.

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That vision apparently has made two of Miami's hottest young chefs homesick for the lone star state. You see, Haven's chef Todd Erickson came to Miami from the Big-D (Dallas for you tenderfoots), and The Federal's Cesar Zapata graduated from the Art Institute Houston before working under James Beard-nominated chef Timothy Keating in Houston.

So, to pay tribute to their long-lost former homes, both chefs decided to hold one of those duels -- only knives and pans will be used in place of rifles and pistols (thank heavens for progress).

The duel will be held at The Federal on Tuesday, October 30, at 7:30 p.m. and you're invited to bear witness to this epic battle, eating your way through the evening...and having a say in the chefs' fates.

The five-course menu. consisting of five Texan themes, will be divided up between the two chefs. The dishes will be paired with Spoetzl Brewery beers out of Austin, Texas. The menu is:

Fried
Chopped beef, roasted jalapeño, fried egg, Texas toast

Tex-Mex
Hatch roasted chicken, melted leek tamale charred sweet corn salsa, queso de cabra

BBQ
Smoked short rib, Texas chili, sweet potatoes, spicy pickles

Game Duo
Battle quail

Dessert
Hummingbird cake and cream cheese mousse melted pecan praline, caramelized pineapple

At the end of the meal, diners will be handed a score card and will be asked to rate the chefs on taste, plating, and originality. Score cards will also be entered into a raffle for a dinner for two at the restaurant of their choice -- The Federal or Haven.

The dinner, served family style, is $75 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Tickets can be purchased in advance here.

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