photo by Carla Torres

Move over New York. Miami's opening an "everything made from scratch" bagel shop, and its owners hail from the Big Apple.

Brothers Khalid and Islam Mohammed are originally from Egypt, but owned a bagelry in New York and Jersey for 14 year, so they know a thing or two about boiling and baking bread products. Their Northeastern outposts sold more than 3,000 daily, Khalid tells us.

"Nobody in Miami makes good homemade bagels," says Khalid. While we're not sure that we totally agree, we're intrigued. Intrigued to see what the back up for such a claim will be. In just two weeks we'll be able to find out.

See also:
- Ms. Cheezious Makes Live With Kelly and Michael's Truckin' Amazing Cook-Off Top Ten
- Pastelito Burger: Pincho Factory's Epic Buns Available All Month

More »

Carla Torres

After three months of speculation and hearing a few uncertain words from a Japanese waitress at Momi, we've finally uncovered just what the owners of Momi Ramen in Brickell have cooking.

Next to the authentic brick building that resembles a home and arguably serves the best ramen in town is a similar house with an equally distinctive design. A sign in Japanese hangs outside, and cardboard taped on the railings displays the address, which, unlike the sign, we can read and understand.

It's the address (21 SW 11th St.) of Momi's younger sibling, Sumi.

See also
- Momi in Brickell: Good Noodles Out of the Gate
- Momi To Open 24 Hours and Open New Location...Maybe.

More »

Lyn Farmer is director of the United Way Wine & Food Festival, now in its 18th year. But doesn't the title "imperial imbiber" of the freshly rebranded Veritage Miami sound much better?

"Our new chairman, Richard Fain, wanted to shake things up a little," said Farmer, who is also the food and wine editor for Tropic Magazine. "The rebranding is expected to have an impact on marketing but also give festival attendees and staff alike a sense of renewal."

After 18 years of blazing a trail for other food festivals to scorch the South Florida food scene, UWWF will likely benefit from that renewal. Before we get into what the good folks at United Way have in store, we bet you're wondering what an imbiber is. Is it (A) a Russian spacecraft that makes onlyright turns, (B) the thing doctors use to get the wax out of your ears, or (C) a person who drinks? If you guessed C, get to drinking. Why the unique approach?

"Every festival seems to have 'food and wine' attached to its moniker," continued Farmer, probably clutching a cigar with his feet up on his desk. "Most, however, are put on by a single winery or entity. We are the only ones who open our doors to all, so it was important for us to distinguish ourselves."

More »

Carla Torres

"It's not just pizza, it's an art," says Franco Stanzione, the ambitious 23-year-old who's opening Miami's first truly "authentic" Neapolitan pizza shop. "It's so easy to mess up. It only takes a minute."

That's because the pizza at this soon-to-open place takes only 30 seconds to a minute to cook. But that's not all that makes it special. At Stanzione 87, Franco and girlfriend Ashley Lopez follow a code. "We've got rules to follow." Rules for this 40-seat pizzeria are set by the Neapolitan Pizza Association, which certified Franco.

See also:
- Miami's First Dishcrawl Next Wednesday in Brickell

More »

Laine Doss

Right now in Ohio, residents are bundled up in parkas and scarves, braving snowstorms, frozen locks, and frigid temps. Here in Miami, we're strolling the streets, hitting the beach, and sipping cocktails on breezy patios.

This is why there's no place like the 305. So take advantage of our summery springtime and visit the Great Taste of the Grove next Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. Besides the culinary element, balmy temps, rum concoctions, and Billy Joel tunes should be as added incentive to show up.

See also:
- Great Taste of the Grove: Panorama Celebrates Fifth Consecutive Win
- Great Taste of the Grove Celebrates 22nd Year, Stays Affordable

More »

Cabrera.

After two years of delays, Alberto Cabrera has found a space for his long-discussed Frita Shop at the corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Salamanca Avenue. Opening sometime this summer, the shop will be the first of several spots, he said.

"It's going to be terribly simple," he said. We're thinking "a double [frita] and then a couple of different variations. We wanted to have a couple [hot] dogs, and are planning on doing some dogs with the actual flavor profile of frita."

See also:
- Alberto Cabrera Leaves The Local, Starts Frita Shop
- Bread + Butter: Sino-Cuban Pan Con Lechon and a Secret Dining Room

More »

Laine Doss

Given Miami's well-deserved reputation as a boozy city, it's surprising we have so little on-site distillation of our own. But luckily, that's changing -- in part thanks to last year's launch of the now award-winning Miami Club Rum.

The newbie brand just took home the gold medal for best white rum at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, says founder Mike Malone. And it's made right in our own little piece of paradise.

Take that, Bacardi.

See also:
- Miami Club Rum: A Distillery Tour (Photos)

More »

via Google CC

How you doin'?

In many ways, Miami feels as if it has seceded from the South, but the Federal's new Crawdaddy Tuesday and Chicken Fry Wednesday might make us feel a bit down-home again.

Crawdaddy Tuesday began last week, and Chicken Fry Wednesday premieres tomorrow, April 3. Both promotions will last through spring and run from 6 to 10 p.m. on their respective days.

Taking advantage of our nearby crustacean population to serve the freshest possible seafood, the Federal is flying in live crawfish every week from the Gulf Coast.

More »

A month ago we jumped some plants to get a better view of the old Tapas & Tintos in midtown. This Thursday, the space will open as the Greek bistro Kouzina.

Guys with strange names moved here from Greece to open the first of what they promise to be many food establishments. Kouzina will be their ode to their homeland and second outpost in Miami. The first is downtown's Freshko Gourmet Espresso Bar, which they hope to turn into a franchise.

Yiannis Sotiropoulos and Efthimios Paliouras moved here 11 months ago and left their families in Greece. They own nightclubs and restaurants in Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. They chose Miami because of its Mediterranean appeal. "People in Greece are depressed. In Miami there's the beach, the weather, and it's not as competitive as New York," Sotiropoulos says. "Miami is still very underdeveloped, and there's an existing need for places to eat and lounge in downtown and midtown."

See also:
- -Kouzina: Tapas Bar Turned Greek Bistro
- -Greek to Miami

More »

Flickr CC

Handmade, small-batch, and organic chocolate truffles are a focus at the show.

The Miami Fine Chocolate and Food Show will debut this year at Pinecrest Gardens March 9 through 10. Founder Mario Pi hopes the event -- which will feature small-batch chocolates, artisan cheeses, exotic spices, and charcuterie -- will fill a void in Miami's burgeoning culinary scene.

Part of that, he says, means looking beyond our beaches and exploring the Magic City's mainland.

"Miami is not just Miami Beach. There's a lot more to our city than that," he says. "There's a lot more to our food scene -- more than the hype, more than what you see on TV."

More »