MC Kitchen: Sophisticated Miami Dining

Dining out for a special occasion? Consider Miami's MC Kitchen. Chef Dena Marino has been praised in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Gourmet and Wine Spectator magazines, and MC Kitchen offers seasonal, modern Italian cuisine.

The classy and sophisticated decor is fitting of its location in Miami’s Design District and matches the elegance of Chef Marino’s dishes. Recommended first courses are the Artichoke Heart Bruschetta with shaved truffles, and the Stone Oven Roasted Octopus with black risotto. Favorite entrees are the Garganelli Bolognese and the Colorado Rack of Lamb. And the friendly and professional staff make every MC Kitchen diner feel welcome with attentive and knowledgeable service.

Visit the MC Kitchen website to learn more about this Miami restaurant.

MC Kitchen
4141 NE 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 456-9948
www.mckitchenmiami.com
www.yelp.com/biz/mc-kitchen-miami

Happy Mother’s Day!

Wishing all the moms out there a wonderful day!

Walls Old Fashioned Ice Cream: Always In Style

Old Fashioned never goes out of style at Walls Old Fashioned Ice Cream in Miami. What’s not to love about a family owned ice cream parlor with creamy hand dipped ice cream, and homemade fudge? With over 25 flavors of ice cream, and a plethora of toppings from syrups to candies, there's likely something here for everyone. Scoops are generous, so be prepared to indulge. Daring diners take on their “Great Wall of Ice Cream” food challenge with 12 flavors, bananas, brownies, 2 wet toppings, 2 dry toppings, whipped cream and a cherry. If you finish, you and your crew will get your picture on the “Wall of Fame”; if you can’t, it'll wind up on the “Wall of Shame.” Walls makes their own fudge too, a perfect treat for yourself or gift for a friend. The decor and the 1950s memorabilia – along with the prices! – help give Walls its old fashioned vibe. Friday and Saturday nights are often quite busy, but there's still generally plenty of parking in their lot.

Walls Old Fashioned Ice Cream
8075 SW 67th Avenue
Miami, FL 33143
(305) 740-9830
www.wallsicecreamfl.com
www.yelp.com/biz/walls-old-fashioned-ice-cream-miami

Brand New Tennis Courts: Rules & Regulations

Dear Portofino Biscayne Residents,

We are pleased to announce that our newly renovated tennis courts are open for the enjoyment of all our Portofino residents. To preserve and to ensure these upgrades are a going to be a long term benefit we must implement the following Rules & Regulations:

The Sandwich Goes Sweet in These 5 Dessert Panini Recipes

Sure, it might sound strange, but the dessert panini is having a moment in the culinary world. Whether you choose to try one for lunch or for dessert, these creative grilled sandwiches will certainly be the sweet spot of your whole day.

Sweet Dessert Paninis [Food Network]
Filled with the sugary, buttery goodness that's signature to celebrity chef Paula Deen, this hazelnut panini is truly decadent.

Nutella S’Mores Panini [Panini Happy]
This sandwich combines chocolate and marshmallow, just like a grown-up s’more.

Strawberry-Nutella Panini [Recipe Boy]
The Nutella is sweet, but strawberries make this recipe a healthier alternative that you can even eat for lunch.

Blueberry, White Chocolate and Marshmallow Panini [Always Order Dessert]
A pinch of salt brings out the sweet, gooey flavors in this unique panini recipe.

Plum and Brie Dessert Panini Recipe [McCormick]
When you’re feeling a bit fancy, this sweet panini offers just the right amount of gourmet taste.

Burger and Beer Joint: A Miami Hot Spot for Great Burgers

Its simple name is deceptive, but Miami's Burger and Beer offers gourmet upgrades to this classic combination. The “Hotel California” is their most popular sandwich made with Prime Angus beef, and topped with guacamole, grilled onion, jalapeno relish, cilantro sour cream, sharp cheddar and a fried egg. If you like spicy food, try the “Sympathy for the Devil.” If you're looking to indulge, go for the $32 Stairway to Heaven burger – a 10 oz Wagyu beef patty topped with 3 oz of foie gras, and a black truffle demi glaze and served with a side of duck fat fries with parsley and roasted garlic aioli! The bar boasts a large list of bottled beers, as well as spiked adult milk shakes. Although Burger and Beer can seem to be on the pricey side, the large portions make this Miami restaurant a good value.

Burger and Beer Joint
900 S. Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33130
(305) 523-2244
www.bnbjoint.com
www.yelp.com/biz/burger-and-beer-joint-miami-2

Happy Spring!

The sun is shining and the flowers are starting to bloom. Wishing everyone a lovely Spring!

Michy’s: Luxurious Comfort Food

Luxurious comfort food is how owner/chef Michelle Bernstein describes the menu at this brightly decorated little bistro. Fresh local seafood and seasonal ingredients from local producers all expertly prepared have earned Michy’s a loyal following. Favorites are the White Gazpacho, a delectable chilled blend of white grapes, marcona almonds, and cucumbers. Peruvian-style Ceviche, Tuna Tartare, Heirloom Tomato Salad, and Duck Confit are other taste-pleasers on the starter menu. Entrees include Short Ribs Falling Off the Bone, Whole Yellowtail Snapper, Seared Halibut, and Lemon Ricotta Gnocchi. Order the family-style tasting menu and let Chef Michelle fete you with a variety of delectable dishes. Whatever you order, be sure to save room for one of the fabulous desserts, like Deep Fried Pineapple Pie with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. Yum!

6927 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, FL 33138
(305) 759-2001

Gold Coast Railroad Museum: History on Rails

You don’t have to be a train enthusiast to enjoy a visit to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, a popular museum in Miami. A visit gets you up close and personal with historic trains like the Presidential Pullman car, the Ferdinand Magellan, built in 1928 to transport heads of state like Franklin D. Roosevelt in the days before routine air travel. The California Zephyr Silver Crescent, the Silver Palm Sleeper Car, and a steam locomotive are also on exhibit at the museum. Take a train ride during your visit on a caboose, coach car, or the Edwin Link Children’s Railroad, which is suitable for both tykes and adults. Open Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

12450 SW 152nd Street
Miami, FL 33177
(305) 253-0063

Two Websites to Help You Find Your Next Book

With the seemingly endless number of books available today, choosing your next read often feels overwhelming. If you want great book recommendations from knowledgeable sources, these websites offer reviews, news, and author interviews from the worlds of fiction and nonfiction.

Book TV
C-SPAN’s Book TV is a weekly television program that interviews modern authors about their upcoming books. Book TV features 48 full hours of nonfiction books from Saturday at 8 a.m. to Sunday at 8 a.m on the C-SPAN network. The program’s website includes a program schedule, links to purchase books featured on the show, a video library of past content, and podcasts discussing current works of nonfiction.

NPR Books
National Public Radio’s Books is a radio program that discusses recent news from the literary world, and the show’s corresponding website offers even more than that. The NPR Books website enables you to browse by genre to find book reviews for works you might be interested in, and it also features a New in Paperback section of upcoming releases. The author interviews include in-depth discussions with some of the country’s most renowned authors, and you just might find your new favorite after hearing his or her point of view. The NPR Books website also features a front page of news headlines from the publishing world, from the staggering revenue from the romance novel industry to books related to current events in the world today.

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