Cafeina

Cafeina's new "Rouge Garden" space.

​Owner Ivette Naranjo opened Cafeina during Art Basel 2009, which in Miami time, makes her an Arts District pioneer. It was the only venue at the time to even hold a proper liquor license allowing for a full bar. She is celebrating the lounge's second anniversary in Wynwood by throwing a big party this weekend, and you're actually invited. Doors open to the public at 7 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, when the neighborhood will welcome a bigger and better Cafeina. There is an entirely new area designated as the "Rouge Garden," named as such because of the bright "raspberry truffled" colored south wall surrounding the 1,200-square-foot space.

The outdoor addition is adjacent to the main garden we all know and love. Handmade cast-iron windows among tall hedges are meant to evoke a country manor courtyard, which includes lots of trimmed up shrubbery and Japanese Blueberry trees (guess raspberry bushes would have been overkill) to pretty up the place. Cafeina's plans are to use the enclosed expanse to host live performances and serve as an event production space; it also allows for more intimate private parties at Cafeina.

Executive Chef Luis Vargas has been working on an expansion of the current small plate menu, and you can look for an update on cocktails as well.
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Torres takes over 660.

​660 at The Angler's has announced that Carlos Torres will be replacing the recently departed Giorgio Rapicavoli as executive chef. The indoor/outdoor contemporary American restaurant will keep its signature dishes, but chef Torres will slowly integrate his own dishes into the menu. Look for a yuzu-marcerated scallop ceviche with avocado, red onion, crispy garlic and oregano oil; and octopus escabeche with roasted red peppers, onions, lemon aioli, caperberries, olives, and smoked paprika. That one sure sounds good.

Born and raised in Bogota, Colombia, Carlos Torres moved to New York City when in his early twenties in order to work at such restaurants as Lucy Latin Kichen and Pipa. He then moved to Miami and worked for chef Douglas Rodriguez at OLA, where he eventually became executive chef (and impressed locals with his cooking). Torres likewise helped to open De Rodriguez Cuba and De Rodriguez Ocean, where he was executive chef. Last but not least, Mr. Torres won the New Times Iron Fork Competition in 2010.

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Photo by billwisserphoto.com

​The Rickenbacker Fish Company opened to modest fanfare in December of 2010. Located just a stone crabs throw away from Rusty Pelican, the Rickenbacker was disappointing cuisine-wise; it never really delivered on its promise of organic, sustainable produce, and the seafood was so-so at best. One can only speculate that the return of a revived Rusty Pelican sealed Rickenbacker's fate.

The venue, on the Bay with views of downtown Brickell, remains a prime spot for a seafood restaurant. So many places have failed here, but that's only because nobody has ever opened anything worthwhile. Since Rusty has gone the way of more upscale food, and with not all that seafood-centric a menu, a savvy restaurateur would grab the Rickenbacker space and open a real seafood house: pristine product, grilled or fried, with simple well-prepared sides and cold craft beers -- at a moderate price. People would be lining up the docks to get in.

Alternative wish: An enormous and extensive seafood market.

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Cabrera is going frita.

As of last week Chef Alberto Cabrera is no longer considering the Gables his 'hood. "I have ​decided to leave The Local," Cabrera wrote in an email.

"My partners and I cannot agree on the direction of the restaurant or an adequate compensation for my continued involvement. I have to this point sacrificed a lot on a personal and monetary level to see The Local succeed and I am proud of what I created."

After bringing the gastropub into the limelight -- and helping it garner not only numerous local awards for its eats but also recognition in the December issue of Esquire magazine as one of America's Top 10 Best Beer Menus -- Cabrera is going off on his own to open Frita Shop, a fast food concept he refers to as a "Cuban burger joint.
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Chariff Realty via Facebook

From left: David Martinez, Michelle Bernstein, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, Lyle Chariff, and Steven Perricone breaking ground.

​Chef/restaurateur Michelle Bernstein might be opening a new "to-go" version of Michy's in the same neighborhood as her flagship restaurant, Open Media Miami reported yesterday.

Chariff Realty Group posted the enticing rumor on its Facebook page. A picture of the groundbreaking ceremony of the 10,000-square-foot retail space currently under construction at 6101 Biscayne Boulevard shows Bernstein and husband/business partner David Martinez in hardhats alongside commissioner Marc Sarnoff, Lyle Chariff, and Steven Perricone, shovels in hand.

The caption under the picture alludes to a deal in place, "'another Done Deal' Michele [sic] Bernstein will be creating Miche's [sic] to go which is an Epicurean [sic] market of high end meals. We still have more space available."
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The couple can concentrate more on Miami now.

​We have but a pithy press release that states the following:

"As of February 1, 2012, Chef Michelle Bernstein will no longer be involved with The Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach, Florida. She and husband/partner David Martinez continue to own/operate Sra. Martinez, Michy's, and Crumb on Parchment in Miami."

The Omphoy is tucked into an exclusive property, and Bernstein was a consultant more than a chef (meaning she would most likely not be found in the Omphoy kitchen very often). It didn't make sense for Miami locals to go to all of that trouble for a secondhand Bernstein when we have her more hands-on aforementioned properties to visit right here. So the Omphoy's loss shouldn't affect you or me very much at all.
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Sergio Ferrer and Jorge Porro

Rapicavoli and Cass look forward to a new project

​Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli formally announced that after his recently aired victory on Food Network's Chopped, his last day at 660 at the Angler's will be January 20. Come the first week of February, he'll open Miami's second popup, Eating House.

Before getting the scoop on his new endeavors, however, we wanted the details from his Chopped experience.

After watching the young chef's cool, confident composure on national television, it was clear who the winner would be by the second round. "It's important to have self-confidence and have a goal set in mind," Rapicavoli says. "I made sure to keep my promise and focus on what was in front of me. I called my mom the night before and promised her I would win, so I did."

But how can we forget the eccentric competitor, Fey, who danced in front of her pea soup before realizing five seconds before time was called that she forgot to put it on her plates? We asked the chef what is was like working alongside her. "I actually didn't have much of an idea of what was going on during the competition. I had so much tunnel vision throughout that I missed all the theatrics."
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The Corner, via Facebook

​Melissa (Melie) Cala, chef at the Corner in downtown Miami, died over the weekend from complications following an asthma attack. The Corner issued the following statement on its Facebook page:

It was a work day like any other, when Meli realized she had forgotten some cookies she had baked at home the day before on her day off. She left to go back and get them in such a hurry that she left her breathing apparatus behind. A few moments later, she placed a call to 911 complaining of breathing trouble from the side of the road. By the time the paramedic got to her she was barely breathing. At the ER, the doctors did all they could with no success. Needless to say, we are absolutely crushed by this loss.

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If you get hired, you can eat this every day.

​Looking for work? Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is hosting a job fair at the Midtown Miami location today for all positions: from managers to cooks to cashiers -- up to 50 people in all will be hired for its Florida locations.

Executives from Lime's parent company, 50 Eggs Restaurant Group, will be giving interviews on the spot.

Here's all you need to know:
When: Today, Thursday January 12, from noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, The Shops at Midtown Miami, 3201 N. Miami Ave.

The rest is up to you.

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Laine Doss

Party with the mayor at Lokal

​For some reason, in Miami a restaurant will open and then hold its grand opening about six months or a year later.

Lokal's Matthew Kusher is taking a more traditional approach to the grand opening party -- he's holding it less than a month after his Coconut Grove restaurant actually opened its doors.
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