It’s been said that the Miami/South Beach culinary scene is on the brink of a cultural revolution.
One that integrates the burgeoning urban farm phenomenon known as “farm-to-table,” the authenticity of the city’s Cuban and Haitian cuisine, and the emergence of new cooking styles such as “Floribbean,” and “Nuevo Latin” — techniques that combine signature flavors and ingredients of surrounding countries such as The Caribbean and Mexico. After a 24-hour Miami foodie feat, I would agree.
On my last day in Miami, I found myself enjoying a mixture of beach lounging and the laid back vibes of a couple local restaurants as recommended by the Menin Perks program. Through this program, Menin guests qualify for exclusive savings and complimentary food and beverages at nine of the company’s 15 properties (this includes but is not limited to a complimentary yoga class, cocktails, chips and guacamole, and discounted pizza). Free beach club access with two complimentary lounge chairs and towels is also available.
I first grabbed a quick steak n’ eggs brunch on Collins Ave and hit the waves (more like put my toes in the water and my butt in a lounge chair but who’s judging?) I spent half the day in the 80 degree November sun taking photos of the beach bungalows and building sand castles before setting off to the first stop on my foodie adventure: Bakehouse Brasserie.
A touch of elegant Paris in the heart of South Beach, Bakehouse Brasserie is an up-and-coming French inspired bistro that serves up freshly baked goods, delicate pastries, and traditional Parisian brunch plates such as Croque Madame, Gravlox Benedict, and Escargot Puffs.
In light of it’s French flair, Bakehouse doesn’t forget the rich Cuban heritage and influential southern charm of South Beach, either. It offers up southern inspired dishes such as crawfish beignets, gooey apple-pecan cinnamon rolls, and Florida’s famous key-lime pie.
I grubbed on a Bakehouse special, “Bernie’s Cuban“, which is served up with a side of crisp baby kale with bourbon apricots and goes perfectly with a tall glass of their refreshing “South of Frozé” cocktail with Remy VSOP and fresh berries. It was just strong enough to take the edge off after a long day at the office (or the beach, let’s be honest).
For dessert, I topped off my meal with a heavenly four-inch slice of Key Lime Pie with mountains of pillowy soft meringue – a Sunshine State staple:
With my stomachs half-full with one more stop to go, I called an Uber and made my way to the other side of the city to see what Ricky’s South Beach had to offer.
A 1980’s carnival-themed gamers bar located on 16th Street, (shew that’s a mouthful!) Ricky’s serves up classic and affordable American favorites with a twist! Featuring mouthwatering menu items such as fried Twinkies, cotton candy, and cheesy fries topped with pulled pork, Ricky’s experiences no shortage of crazy handcrafted cocktails, either. In fact, their elixirs are revolutionary and go far beyond what you would find at your average street festival.
I first sipped on the “Nutty Julep” with Maple & Walnet Whislepig Rye, Remy VSOP, oleo, mint, and angostura bitters, and the “It’s Always Sunny” with peach tea Bulleit Bourbon, Giffards Pamplemousse, suze, lemon, and dove honey.
For grub, I sunk my teeth into “Ricky’s Lollipop Wings” made with spicy guava, BBQ truffle honey, and buffalo blue cheese slathered on tender chunks of white meat. Visitors who order will need napkins – a lot of napkins. But for the full experience, make sure to eat these sans utensils.
For a second course, I chose the “Rise and Shine Slider” with a juicy all beef patty, smashed tater tots, truffle honey, bacon, cheddar, and aioli. I appropriately dubbed this the “brunch burger” because it contained all of the quintessential components of a wonderful breakfast beautifully smashed between two toasted buns:
On the brink of a food coma, I still made room for a plate of “Loaded Fries” with assorted curly and waffle fries generously topped with jalapeño cheese whiz, bacon, fried peppers, scallions, and chili cream. The mixure of waffle and curly fries gave it a fun flair, not to mention made for a beautiful photo.
For a full list of carnivalicious food, beverages, cocktails, bar snacks, and happy hour specials offered at Ricky’s, click here!
Anxious to get back to The Gale to throw on a movie and get in my pajamas, I walked the two miles back to Collins Ave to burn off whatever calories I could at that point. I must admit that I didn’t take advantage of Miami’s nightlife, but only because I had a boat to the Grand Caymans to catch bright and early and wanted to get whatever beauty sleep I could! But hey, there’s always next time.
I caught one last glimpse of the South Florida sun over a glass of wine from the balcony of the hotel suite before turning in.
For a relaxing and all encompassing tropical experience, look no further than Menin Hospitality. Between their lavish hotel properties – also located in Chicago and Ft. Lauderdale – and world class dining establishments, they are sure to have something for everyone.
Book your next trip with Menin today, and be sure to ask about their seasonal and local specials. To read about my first 24 hours in Miami Beach with Menin Hospitality, click here.