Miami Danny

No, just sleeping. I think people here are pretty bored with New Yorkers asking for South Beach restaurant recs. Most people who live in Miami don't eat on South Beach-many places are very expensive and overrated. Get off SoBe, and it's a whole different world. For T-Giving, try Royal Bavarian Schnitzel Haus-it's on NE 79th St over the JFK Causeway in Miami-I had Chrstmas Eve goose dinner there last year, and it was one of the most memorable meals I've ever had. I posted it here... http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=58196 1085 NE 79th Street Miami, FL 33138 305-754-8002 www.schnitzelhausmiami.com

I'd like to start with Yako-san 17040 W. Dixie Hwy in N. Miami Beach. This is a real Japanese restaurant that features home cooking and appetizer-sized plates for the most part, so you can try a lot of very different stuff. I started with the Cobia sashimi, fried Chrysanthemums, and deep-fried Bok Choy-a must! Followed by something whose name I can't recall but there's a whole section of it-basically, fermented beans-very slimy and gooey, but it grows on you. I also had what can only be described as potato jello, very odd but appealing. I had a soba with a fish broth which was a great palate cleanser, followed by a miso black cod that was cooked perfectly. Had a few more items I can't remember, but there wasn't an off-note in the entire meal, and I remember ordering some more unusual stuff. Washed it all down with a very nice Sake that was on special-marked down from $60 to $40-they have a pretty decent selection of large and small bottles, not too cheap, but a couple of bargains. The service is great-the customers at the next table sent their food back because it was not what they thought they had ordered, and the waitress and manager were very nice about it. A bit perfunctory, but also professional and courteous, which is important, because you may need some items explained to you! They have a great blackboard of daily specials, and some stuff in Japanese that isn't always translatable. The check came in under $100 incl. tax, with the sake, and about 8 or 9 (or 10) items. (Sorry, I've lost my notes!) It's in a nondescript strip off Biscayne Blvd, but on the plus side, there's plenty of parking. A mixed crowd (you name it) adds to the charm, and the staff greets you like old friends, even if it's your first visit. You may see some chefs here late night, as they are open til 3:30 AM!

I agree on the sous-vide article-been done like crazy already everywhere else. But the local angle was relevant, and the who's doing what dishes in the Cryovac was interesting. But the tasting panel was particularly annoying in a typical DC fashion. Who are these people? If I want amateur opinions, I'll just talk to my friends. But I don't think there's a lot to work with either, quite frankly, as Tom's Weekly Dish proves-owner of Mimi's open another place. Let me guess, it sucks? And Death by Chocolate? What is this 1995? The Food section is an abomination plain and simple.

Perfect choice for Old Miami atmo, also the River Oyster Bar is twenty feet away-leave the boys at TR, and head to ROB-great spot for seafood and romance. Great Kumomato oysters!

My new fave rave is Le Bon-723 Lincoln Rd. Great Belgian beer selection, and 1KG Mussels/Frites (enough for two) is $14. Great service, too. Sit outside-great for drinking, eating, people-watching, and not too expensive. Will work for boys AND for romance.

Check out Full Kee on H St-Great Hong Kong-style soup with noodles and homemade dumplings. Jellyfish salad and other delicacies abound-order off the small table-card folded menu thing of specials-cash only-bring your beer from the corner grocer. Very inexpensive.

The Design District/Wynwood is right over the Causeway (US 195) from South Beach, in the City of Miami. You get a nice view of the cruise ships and the Miami skyline from the bridge (it's actually really beautiful at night). The first exit after you cross Biscayne Bay is Biscayne Boulevard. When you exit, you are on NE 36th St. You cross Biscayne Blvd, and the DD starts at NE 36th and NE 2nd Ave, which is a block and a smidge west. Wynwood is south of 36th St, and west of N.Miami Ave (which divides the NE and NW quadrants). The distance from downtown, if you just go north on Biscayne Blvd. is a little less, maybe twelve minutes. Design Disrict is fairly upscale, while Wynwood's art galleries and hangouts are a little more cutting edge. I definitely recommend either art-gallery walk-DD is 2nd Thursday (next week), and Wynwood is 2nd Saturday (also next week). ALL kinds of people flock to this area, including many artists and creative people (many of whom live here) to the beautiful people-to those just looking for an inexpensive wine bar/tapas joint with great music. And you'll often find them in the same place. I can't give recommendations for places to eat, because I own one, but there are several very good spots for dinner/nibbles/drinks. Definitely worth an evening, very different from South Beach (which I love, too, especially for...the beach!)

With all due respect, and without trying to be argumentative, Miami's Design District is NOT in the 'inner city'! It is not even close! That's like saying NYC's Chelsea or DC's Adams Morgan is in the inner city. There are lots of great new places here, and in neighboring Wynwood as well. Your description was WAY off. I was in the Design District/Wynwood last night, and there were plenty of people out and about having fun-drinking wine, eating tapas, listening to music. This is where it's all happening in Miami-the no-stress alternative to South Beach. As for Doug Rodriguez, I'll let him defend himself.

Sorry but I didn't get to any of the new places you mentioned. This was a trip where - unfortunately - business and family issues/problems - came first and food was second. We did try a new Ethiopian restaurant in the Design District (Sheba). And it was quite good. Not terribly expensive (not cheap either). I recommend giving it a try. For those people reading this thread who aren't familiar with Miami - this isn't a particularly wonderful neighborhood at night. It is supposed to be one of the new hot development areas in Miami - but it is a work in progress as far as I'm concerned. Still - the restaurant had really good food. Robyn ← So some guys lose their shirt on a doomed restaurant, and all you can think of is that they should have called YOU? When? Right before they sold their house to pay off their debts? Or just before they threw the noose over the nearest joist? Seriously, though, I'm not defending their actions, but I'm sure they had a lot on their minds. And it's not as if you lost anything. As far as the Design District goes, I think you have painted an overly ominous picture of a place that is, yes, a work in progress, but is also very safe at night. There is less crime here than in South Beach-in fact, there are two thriving clubs right around the corner from Sheba. There are also plenty of other dining and drinking options that the locals all know about. The Design District and Wynwood are where the future of Miami is heading-even people from the beach come here to have a good time!

El Palacio de los Jugos-5721 W. Flagler. The yucca con chicharron will blow you away. There are several hot food stations at this outdoor/indoor market cum picnic ground, serving different Latin dishes. Everything I have eaten here has been terrific-even the fried rice! Very inexpensive, and a good crowd-watching spot. And of course, an incredible selection of tropical juices as well. 10-30 minutes from the airport depending on traffic.

In the old days (say, December), there would be discussions about everything in Tom's reviews. I guess the restaurant is in an area and of a cuisine that doesn't really excite anyone. I was only wondering why this restaurant? I think Steve is right, that without one-stars, you can't have two-stars, etc., but this one seemed a stretch. As for the review itself, my eyes glazed over before I had finished the first paragraph. Maybe that was the reaction of others, as well, thus no reaction at all!

Probably a good thing--been to Rosa Mexicano? ← ...or Les Halles?

I was wondering if anyone knows if the WSJ printed any responses from the chefs mentioned in the article.

No problem, Steve. Usually there's a response from the group, though. I was just wondering if perhaps people are talked out about TS? On the subject, there's a great little Pakistani joint called Islamabad on 14th St just south of U St NW. They're very cheap and delicious, they bake their breads fresh, and they do a nice lassi. Great local character(s). Not much of that left. No branches in NYC.

I was going to check the DC eGullet reaction to TS's review today, but it seems like either no one read it, or gives a damn. Is anyone out there?

The food limit is 10% anyway, so why not just leave it that way and let Sloppy Joe's serve less food? Oh, right. We're in Florida. I've never eaten there, but I imagine they're not really known for their food, anyway.

Steve-On the contrary, I would like to know a lot LESS about chefs, and just eat; but that doesn't seem to be the trend. The cat is out of the bag. It's too late for chefs to say enough, after they've promoted everything they do. Chefs chase celebrityhood like everyone else. That has its upside as well as its downside. When chefs want to 'save the shark', or whatever, they are using their celebrity to get you to do something. When they promote the use of a particular brand of shrimp, they're trying to get you to do something else. Is there a difference? That's up to the consumer to decide. But we can only decide when we have the info. I admit that the reaction by some is overwrought (I'm shocked, shocked to know that people do stuff for money!), and the WSJ article had some flaws, but the fact is that the public doesn't JUST care about the finished product anymore, they DO care how it got there and why. We have chefs to thank for that (I'm not being sarcastic). It's great. But's it's also too late to say, Just shut up and eat!

I watched tonight, and I could see both high and low points. It's just entertainment, not meant to be taken too seriously. This being the first episode, I'm willing to give it another shot before I pass judgement. But I loved watching everyone in Seattle butchering that poor salmon! I thought Ming came off pretty good when he browbeat the kid about 'losing' his pot, and Ruhlman is obviously only there for his good looks. When they were all together in Chicago, they looked like they were the heads of the food Mafia families!

Make sure to use plenty of genuine California Raisins!-T. Keller

So now it's the journalist's fault? Top chefs are taking money/products to put someone's food on their menus and sometimes NOT telling their customers, and that's not news? This was a timely story that got to a lot of people who were shocked that their beloved chefs were doing this. That is news. And I'm sure from now on, chef's will be revealing their sponsorship deals, which is a good thing. Many people were probably unaware of these deals, even if they are public knowledge. Personally, I doubt anything nefarious is going on, but it's good to have it out in the open.

People understand that running a restaurant is a tough business. And I don't care if the money comes in the front door, or the back door; whatever it takes to realize your success. Chefs, for whatever reasons, are very public figures, and encourage their squeaky clean images with "fresh, local, seasonal ingredients", etc., and they are remunerated (those that succeed) accordingly. Therefore, they are held to higher standards than your average nameless craftsman. The mere fact that they are approached to endorse or use a certain product isn't shocking or troubling, but an indication of their success. They should be proud of these associations and disclose them. I don't think they have anything to hide, do they? Is there a difference between saying, "I love Contessa shrimp and use them in all my shrimp dishes", and "I love Contessa shrimp and use them in all my shrimp dishes and they're paying me $500K for using them"? If a better shrimp came along tomorrow, would Ming jettison Contessa and the $500K? That is the question that remains unanswered here.

Congrats Susan- I promise to be nice to all those Northerners who want to know where to eat on South Beach!

Thank you! Still pretty reasonable.

Steve-I do believe that, 'inherently', all of these things matter to people who post here. Perhaps, we are a picky lot, a finicky lot, even maybe a little bit of a cranky lot (guilty), but, speaking for myself, I DO want to know everything about a restaurant, its chefs, owners, etc. If chef's and restauranteurs are constantly trying to get more publicity for their restaurants, and desire to be held up as having integrity when it comes to their food, its presentation, etc., and they desire to have their product treated and discussed like fine art, then they ought not be surprised when the public holds them up for scrutiny. I'm not judging anyone, just asking for full disclosure.

Just curious, brr. $100 sounds pretty reasonable for 2 apps. 2 entrees, dessert and wine. Were you including tax and tip? Thanks!