Let's Eat Magazine | Holiday Edition 2017

BURGERLISCIOUS Coming in Hot HOLIDAY ISSUE 2017

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A Fresh Take at SushiClub Burgers... with a Side of Wine Puung the Miracle Back in the Mile

Not every day is perfect.

But at least they can end that way.

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Join us for Happy Hour The holidays are the perfect time for gathering with family and friends, and what better way to reminisce than over a glass of wine. Enjoy specially priced wines, cocktails and small plates Monday-Friday from 3-7pm.

Or sip on two glasses of wine paired with a signature flatbread for just $15.

Whichever way you choose to happy hour, the weekdays have never tasted better.

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Today’s Menu H O L I DAY I S S U E 2 0 1 7 Morsels from the Editor-in-Chief Putting the Miracle Back in the Mile Beef & Barrels, by Jacqueline Coleman, Sommelier Food 4 Thought with SushiClub Burgerliscious returns November 2 nd to Ponce Circle Park!

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MORSELS

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SCENES FROM BURGERLISCIOUS 2017

As I sit down to write this Editor’s Note for the latest issue of “Let’s Eat Magazine”, I am reminded of the very first issue we labored to publish in 2015. After months of planning and pitching and prodding, we finally “gave birth” to our first edition that summer with a cover story on All Things Brunch.

It was a modest magazine in its inaugural run, but one that to this day I remain most proud of. As a Chamber, we had heard the call from our members – especially our restauranteurs – to create something uniquely theirs that would shine a proper spotlight on the incredible culinary offerings in the Gables. “Let’s Eat Magazine” was just what the patron ordered and an amuse bouche to the usual main course offerings.

Interestingly enough, the creation of our own magazine more than three years and nearly a dozen issues later, mirrors the recent life of our Publisher, Jessica Wilcox. Right after Hurricane Irma ravaged so much of our entire state and directly impacted many of our local businesses, Jessica welcomed her first daughter – and second child – Ella Christiana. Never one to rest on her laurels, even after childbirth, Jessica was back the next day working the phones and texting with advertisers, contributors and checking-in on our local restaurant community. I would say that this type of focus requires more than commitment – it is all about undeniable passion. And no one has a greater passion for our restaurants than Jessica. We congratulate her on the recent addition to her beautiful family – a future diner and Let’s Eat supporter, no doubt!

Speaking of welcoming, our Chamber helped snip the ribbon at a new restaurant on Miracle Mile this past month – SushiClub. This innovative purveyor of fine sushi brings a new vibe to the downtown and a colorful array of rolls that will impress even the most discriminating diner. Our leadership also welcomed Plomo Taco & Tequila bar, another amazing concept from the Atomic Restaurant Group, a few days later and just one block further west on the Mile. You can read all about these great new additions to our City Beautiful by visiting our website at letseatmiami.com, curated by our very own Green Goddess Cindi Avila.

With these new concepts choosing to open a shop in our beautiful downtown, we remain a culinary destination for foodies of all fare. There is also tremendous enthusiasm for Miracle Mile and Giralda Plaza as the Streetscape improvements near completion. This issue’s cover story drills down on what we have already seen taking shape, including the recent dedication of Giralda Plaza, our City’s Restaurant Row. The project has not been without its heartaches and delays, but the finished product is already gorgeous and will be a major draw to culinary aficionados. From the amazing tile and paver work to the new trees and inviting lighting, this $22 million dollar investment has been worth every penny. Now, it is time to rebuild our audiences – local diners, hungry visitors and the business leaders looking for that perfect location to close the big deal over a meal.

As the end of the year approaches and another amazing holiday season draws near, we encourage all of you to support local merchants on Small Business Saturday (November 25th), as well as make plans now to take your teams out to lunch or dinner to say thank you for a job well done this year. Most importantly, please patronize the amazing restaurants who support this publication and do so much for our local community every day. We are incredibly blessed by the generosity of our restaurants throughout the year and thus we say a hearty thank you.

Now, Let’s Eat!

MARK A. TROWBRIDGE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PRESIDENT & CEO, CORAL GABLES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Photos provided by SnapHappy Photos

Finally, it is that time of year again where we celebrate all things beef – the return of Burgerliscious.

This year, our 7th edition of meaty goodness returns to Ponce Circle Park (recently ravaged by Irma) for what promises to be a tremendous event. What began as a program to support local restaurants in 2011, Burgerliscious has grown into the best event hosted in the Gables each year drawing nearly 2000 participants who love burgers. Equal parts competition and rallying cry for local restaurants, we could not be more proud to host and produce this event each year. Of course, none of this would happen without the 20 + restaurants who come out to compete and show-off their ‘best in bun’ burgers, along with our amazing sponsors!

JESSICA WILCOX, OWNER J. WILCOX CONSULTING & PUBLISHER, LETʼS EAT MAGAZINE | sales@letseatmiami.com | (305) 962.9313

Holiday Parties as Celebrations

Tarpon Bend turns your Holiday Party into a celebration!

We’re the place people love to gather for good times and we’ll help you p l a n t h e p e r f e c t e v e n t w i t h g r e a t f o o d & d r i n k . Yo u ’ l l e n j o y h o s t i n g y o u r party and get all the compliments for amazing good times.

Holiday Dinners & Luncheons / Cocktail Parties / Patio Parties I l o o k f o r w a r d t o s e e i n g y o u t h i s H o l i d a y S e a s o n - WAYNE ELDRED, OWNER

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VISIT THE NEW GIRALDA PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN CORAL GABLES make your way to the new Giralda Plaza in Downtown Coral Gables.

The new pedestrian promenade featuring al fresco dining, seasonal entertainment and lush greenery, serves as the perfect backdrop for a day or evening of possibility.

Giralda Avenue, known as “Restaurant Row,” is now Giralda Plaza.

Located between Ponce de Leon Blvd. and Galiano St in Coral Gables.

Follow us for the latest news and happenings in Downtown Coral Gables. @ShopCoralGables

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PUTTING THE

Miracle Mile BACK IN THE

For as long as many of us who love Coral Gables can remember, we have been waiting for the reimagination of our own beloved downtown.

What was once heralded as a premier retail street among its peers in the Southeast – anchored by the most extraordinary brands of the day – had grown a tad tired with age.

Coupled with the fact that over the years other places around Greater Miami have come to life after their own installation of new lights, trees and decorative elements, it was time for us to reach higher and chart our own path.

With a tremendous amount of input from every constituency and stakeholder in the Gables, along with the strong political will from our elected officials, the project was officially approved in 2015 and ground was broken in early 2016 to much fanfare.

A collaboration of the highest order from the very beginning – with the City and property owners agreeing to share renovation costs equally – Miracle Mile is nearing its full completion and Giralda Avenue hosted its very own special ribbon cutting just a few days ago.

To simply state that our goal was to put the “Miracle Back in the Mile” does not fairly honor the fine work of many community leaders over the past few decades who made this project a priority, and ultimately a reality.

From the beginning, a project of this scope and difficulty took gravitas. It took political acumen. It took brute strength.

Beyond the cost and impact to local businesses that was often painful at times during the construction phase, there was the knowledge that once completed, it would be an incredible new feature in our City Beautiful and draw shoppers and diners to the Mile in droves.

With Giralda Plaza now finished, you can begin to see the vision of what the City, our Chamber, BID, designers at Cooper Robertson and our merchants had in their minds all along. The wide-open space that is closed to vehicular traffic is our own slice of heaven and a rebirth for Restaurant Row. With greater depth, width and no cumbersome curb to impede outdoor diners, we have rolled out the red carpet to every type of consumer. Discriminating diners will find Giralda Plaza – complete with its gorgeous lighting and foliage nestled along the block-long stretch – the newest gem of our downtown and a place they will come back to time and again.

And, with Miracle Mile nearing its own completion deadline (7 of the 8 blocks will be finished by Small Business Saturday on November 25th) by the first of the year, you can already see the transformation and bask in the luster of its new vibe.

Our merchants are excited – and eager – to experience a completed project and get back to what they do best…serve their customers, hawk their great wares and showcase our community.

Miracle Mile is not only about to undergo its own renaissance, it is about to reclaim its rightful place as a premier destination for diners, shoppers and those who love the good life.

Every single day, we draw nearer to enjoying a main street that is bigger than a modern-day miracle in our City Beautiful and we cannot wait to experience it to the fullest!

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F E A TU R I N G S US H IC L UB Arriving with great fanfare smack dab in the middle of Miracle Mile late last month, Sushi Club’s ribbon cutting event was a glamorous affair which created a buzz and energy that was palpable. This new addition to downtown Coral Gables promises to help put our newly reimagined main street front and center for discriminating diners and consumers, especially those who love great food and an even greater vibe. Let’s Eat Magazine recently sat down with their leadership team and asked them some Food 4 Thought.

Your innovative flavors and dynamic cuisine is getting rave reviews Your menu is around town. What are eclectic and exclu4 ways that you sive – can you tell us ensure top quality more about the inspiin your sushi? ration for your 4 One Our starters? of the most importmenu is entirely ant things for us is to find developed by our executhe very best raw materials and tive chefs who travel all ingredients, at the highest levels of around the world looking for quality. We take care of all the details new flavors and ingredients during the entire process until we get which you will find in our entire to the final product. We create our menu. That is one of the own recipes, mixing flavors to make things that makes us an excellent product complete The different. with a beautiful presentasushi rolls and tion. nigiri at SushiClub are like works of exquisite One modern art. The Geisha Rolls of our most delicious grabbed our attention immedicreations is the Hamachi Octoately. What are 4 ingredients pus, seared with sea salt and fresh lime. you are working with since For those that prefer steak, we have the these lovely ladies do not New York Chipotle, rubbed in spices, fine contain any rice? herbs and butter, with chipotle adobo. This delicious meat comes in two sizes and is served with a We choice of two sides. We are also adding a gorgeous have a huge Flank Steak to our menu to share between two or variety of rolls and four people. Of course, we thought about pasta they are all delicious too, and created the roasted pumpkin sorrentiand beautifully presented.

Your main For the ones without rice, nos, filled with roasted pumpkin with low courses and main we use avocado, salmon, sides make our mouths moisture mozzarella cheese, and lump water. If we were at cream cheese and crab meat sorrentinos coated in a SushiClub for a high-levtempura. creamy shrimp sauce. el business meeting with clients, what 4 would you highly recommend?

Beef & Barrels November is Burger…and Wine Month

We all know that November is the month of burgers in Coral Gables. If you haven’t yet experienced a fun-filled Burgerliscious celebration, it’s time that you plan on adding the annual event to your calendar. Though the usual November food and wine buzz around the country begins to tilt toward Thanksgiving at the end of the month, I want to take some time to celebrate our very own Coral Gables holiday, and talk about how you can pair your favorite burgers with your favorite wines long after the revelry of Burgerliscious ends.

I know most folks think of beer with a burger, but I want to challenge that notion. While I’m not knocking those who enjoy a cold brewski with their buns, I think that wine is a much more versatile libation that can enhance the burger-eating experience for anyone who appreciates the way a good glass of vino brings out the best in a perfectly paired meal. So, if you’re ready to up your bun game, here are different varietals to try with each variety of burger.

Beef

/bēf/ | The traditional burger! All beef patty, some ketchup, and maybe even cheese make this style of burger an American classic. It’s important to note that when we talk about pairing wine with these burgers, it gets harder and harder the more flavors and toppings you add, so let’s just stick with the basics.

Beef is a great wine-pairing food, and goes well with big red wines. For your beef burger, stick with something Cabernet-based, or a peppery Zinfandel out of California; the bolder, the better. For an economical bottle to take to the next cookout, try a Chilean Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon found at your local grocery store.

Turkey Lamb

/tərkē/ | A lighter burger for those who are trying something a little healthier than beef, turkey burgers also go better with a lighter-style of wine. I’d even say that you can try a red or a white with your turkey burger. If you would prefer something crisp and refreshing, look for a Pinot Blanc or Pinot Gris. However, if you plan on loading up on the cheese, I would drink a glass of Pinot Noir with this burger. For a fancy turkey burger night, splurge on a Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir out of Sonoma, and “wow” your guests with how well wine and burgers play together. /lam/ | Now this is an interesting take on the burger, but also something that requires a little more thought into the overall meal than just plopping a beer down in front of it. When you’re making lamb of any style, you want to make sure that the rest of your meal complements your choice in prime meat. Syrah would be a good match for this burger. With the right amount of fruit and smokiness typically found in this wine varietal, you can enhance the smoky flavors emanating from a grilled lamb patty. Try a Chateau Ste. Michelle Washington state Syrah with your next lamb meal, and taste a magical pairing in your mouth.

Veggie

/’vejē/ | Veggie burgers can be a little trickier to pair because they can be prepared in so many ways. Some veggie burgers are heavier on the beans and vegetables, and others are made in more of a grain-style. If your burger is heavy on rice or quinoa, I would think about pairing it with a white that has a little weight like a Viognier. However, if you’ve got more bean in your bun, try something earthier but on the lighter side like a French Côtes du Rhône. I recommend looking for a Ferraton Père & Fils SAMORËNS Côtes du Rhône red.

. .. . . . . . .

Hope you decide to rethink burger night, and include a nice glass of wine next time. Cheers!

Jacqueline Coleman is a certified Sommelier and 4th generation Miamian, born and raised in Coral Gables. You can find her musings about the “wine lifestyle” on her blog, History & Wine (historyandwine.com), or follow her on Twitter @HistoryandWine.

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