Kane's duck fat chips is a side selection on the restaurant's Miami Spice menu.

​Miami Spice 2011 is well under way and restaurants are lively with patrons seeking out a meal deal. Since Miami Spice is a fantastic way to get to know new restaurants, we decided to preview Kane Steakhouse's Miami Spice dinner menu.

Short Order's own Lee Klein gave Kane Steakhouse a "grudging" on his tally of Spice offerings. Though we agree there weren't many choices on the Spice menu, the ones listed proved to be worth the price. For instance, a $37, 8-ounce filet is listed as a Miami Spice entree choice, making the $35 Spice menu a good value for the money. Other entrees include a grilled branzino filet with bulgar red lentil tabouleh salad and Tomahawk short rib with brocoflower puree. We liked that a choice of sides was included as a little "bonus".

Skipping around to the starters, Spicegoers can choose between roasted Berkshire bacon with fennel apple slaw or Kane salad with charred baby corn, golden beet, green beans and cucumber Dijon vinaigrette.

If you can, make room for dessert. Choose from a caramelia-marzipan mouse (with bourbon ice cream) or grilled pineapple upside-down cake (with rum raisin ice cream). The ice cream, by the way, is made in-house.
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​Scott Conant is no novice in the kitchen. With five Scarpetta locations and his new D.O.C.G Enoteca making some noise in Vegas this ambitious chef has his plate full. But a visit to his kitchen shows us that he hasn't lost that magic touch when it comes to preparing a killer dish. His creamy polenta with fricassee of truffled mushrooms will make you weak at the knees.

Although he is sharing the recipe with us below, it is probably best enjoyed in the restaurant where it is offered as part of their Miami Spice dinner menu. But if you're feeling adventurous, go to the next page and give it try!
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Photo by Christina Staalstrom

​Scott Conant has all the makings of a celebrity chef -- charm, good looks, award-winning restaurants, multiple cookbooks, and popular network shows. But this begs the question of whether Scarpetta's owner can work his magic in the kitchen and be held to the same standards as the contestants he judges weekly on Chopped and 24-Hour Restaurant Battle.

Short Order recently visited Scarpetta's kitchen, where a smiling Conant, pans ablaze and truffles in hand, was ready to make some creamy polenta with a fricassee of wild mushrooms. The dish is a signature at Scarpetta's Miami locale and is featured on the restaurant's Miami Spice menu, which Conant is finishing while in town.

Conant appreciates the importance of the Spice menu because, he says, "For many it's their first visit to my restaurant, so I want it to be a glimpse into what we offer," which is "soulful and rustic food that's presented in a refined way."
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billwisserphoto.com

1500 Degrees puts out a hot Spice menu.

​Over the past several days, we have reviewed Miami Spice menus. The $35 prix fixe, three-course promotion began yesterday and runs till September 30. Some restaurants embrace this program with more of a giving attitude than others. We categorize those that are extremely generous with choices and availability as "great." Worthwhile deals offered in the right spirit are "good." And those whose Spice deals look like the result of a severely twisted arm are listed under "grudging."

We haven't eaten these Miami Spice dinners, so we are not taking portion size into account. And our assumption is that food quality will be fine because we've plucked the better establishments from the MS list. We're really judging the menu and attitude rather than the meal.

Last Wednesday we looked at menus from Miami Beach establishments. The next day was the Design District, midtown, and north; Friday we covered the Gables, Grove, and points south; yesterday we gauged menus that had trickled in during the weekend. Today we publish the composite list of the Good (30 restaurants), the Great (16), and the Grudging (12).
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All photos by Laine Doss

Dessert first anyone? Sustain's chocolate fondant with coconib coulis.

​Miami Spice, the two-month-long promotion of discounted dining at Miami's best restaurants, starts today. With over 100 restaurants to choose from, the main question this time of year turns to where shall we dine tonight?

Sustain Restaurant & Bar invited us to preview its entire Miami Spice dinner menu, which is offered Sunday to Thursday evenings at $35 per person. Sustain also offers a Spice lunch menu for $22 (offered Monday to Friday). Short Order's own Lee Klein gave Sustain's Spice menu a "good" rating last week.

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All photos by Laine Doss

The Tudor House patio is cool for dining, even in summer.

​Tudor House, the new Geoffrey Zakarian restaurant at the Dream Hotel South Beach, opened to much fanfare and anticipation. With executive chef Jamie DeRosa behind the burner and Zakarian's wife Margaret a frequent presence at the "modern gastro café," much was expected of the food and service.

Short Order was invited to sample some Tudor House fare as a prequel to Miami Spice. Though we didn't dine on Spice-exclusive offerings, we did sample many items on the Spice menu, including the grilled branzino and organic buttermilk fried chicken entrées.

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Does Meat Market bring the beef?

​Miami Spice begins today. Some restaurants embrace the $35 prix fixe three-course menu with more relish than others. We categorize those that are generous with choices and availability as "great." Worthwhile deals offered in the right spirit are "good." And those whose Spice deal looks to be the result of a severely twisted arm are listed under "grudging."

Last Wednesday we looked at menus from Miami Beach establishments. Next day was the Design District, midtown, and north. Friday we covered the Gables, Grove, and points south.

We'll repeat the caveat that we haven't eaten these Miami Spice dinners, so we are not taking portion size into account. And our assumption is that food quality will be fine because we've included the better establishments on the list. We're really judging the menu and attitude more than the meal.

Today we'll take a peek at some menus that were released after we began. Tomorrow: a composite listing of the Good, the Great, and the Grudging.
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Lesley Elliott

​Last night, the 10th annual Miami Spice program celebrated with a kickoff party at the Miami Beach Convention Center. VIPs were treated to extreme entertainment including contortionists and aerial performers from Cirque Eloize, but even the laypeople got to watch jazz flautist Nestor Torres belt out a tune center stage. Culinary demonstrations by Chefs Michael Schwartz (Michael's Genuine Food & Drink) and Tom Azar (City Hall) made the crowd hungry for more.

Now, we must note that cooking for thousands is certainly no easy task, but some chefs fared remarkably well, while a few plates were just a tad above edible. Here we pay homage to the top five who went all out to provide attendees with a special bite that was most reflective of the culinary talent they are truly capable of. This was a really difficult decision, but in the end, we chose between a balance of beautiful and tasty.

Now on to the winners of the night.
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billwisserphoto.com

DB Bistro: Good, Great, or Grudging?

​We've been perusing upcoming Miami Spice menus (the promo begins Monday) over the past couple of days. Wednesday we looked at some from South Beach and Mid-Beach; Thursday we took notes on restaurants in midtown, the Design District, and up north. This being the tenth year of the Miami Spice deal means most of you know about how some restaurants embrace this $35 prix fixe three-course menu with more gusto than others. Here is how we are categorizing the deals: Those that are generous with choices and availability are deemed "great." Those with solid deals offered in the right spirit are "good." And those whose bills of fare seem grudging are listed under "grudging."

We'll repeat the caveat that we haven't eaten these Miami Spice dinners, so we are not taking portion size into account. And our assumption is that food quality will be fine because we've included the better establishments on the list. We're really judging the menu and attitude more than the meal.

Unless noted otherwise, the Miami Spice deal is not available Friday and Saturday evenings.

Today: Goin' South, with stops in Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. Monday we'll look at menus that have come in last minute, and tally up all the deals we've covered.
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Ben Fink

Genuine but grudging?

​Yesterday we took a look at some upcoming Miami Spice menus (the promo begins in four days) from South Beach and Mid-Beach. We noted that some restaurants embrace this $35 prix fixe three-course menu with more gusto than others. Those that are generous with choices and availability are deemed "great." Those with solid if uninspiring deals are "good." And those whose bills of fare seem grudging are listed under "grudging."

We'll repeat the caveat that we haven't eaten these Miami Spice dinners, so we are not taking portion size into account. And our assumption is that food quality will be fine because we've included the better establishments on the list. We're really judging the menu and attitude more than the meal.

Unless noted otherwise, the Miami Spice deal is not available Friday and Saturday evenings.

Onward and upward we go -- heading north, with stopovers in the Design District and midtown.
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