(Miami) Spice of the Week

I've missed the first few weeks of Miami Spice season while on vacation, and frankly, after two weeks in Hawaii, could use some bargain dining. We go over this every year here at FFT, so here's the short-form version of my "Spice Rules":

(1) there's no reason to bother with restaurants where the Spice menu is not a meaningful discount from their regular prices (though, of course, go to them if you like them; just don't do so because they're offering a Miami Spice menu);

(2) the infamous chicken breast / farmed salmon / churrasco (or substitute short rib) "trifecta" is usually a tell that a restaurant doesn't have its heart in it; and

(3) look for food that actually interests you. If a restaurant doesn't excite you the other ten months of the year, it is unlikely there's going to be something really inspiring on their Spice menu.

The Miami Spice format is a bit different this year. There are now two categories: "Luxury Dining" and "Fine Dining," with different price points: $23 lunch / $39 dinner for "Luxury Dining," and $19 lunch / $33 dinner for "Fine Dining." And if you can remember which is which five minutes from now, you're smarter than me.^[1]

I decided to do something a little different myself this year as well. I set out to see if I could come up with a "Week of Spice" - a Spice lunch and dinner for each day of the week that satisfied my "Spice Rules." Then for the real bargain hunters, I've added for each day an alternate dinner choice in the lower-priced "Fine Dining" category.^[2]

Not that I would actually do this: I sure don't need to eat two desserts every day, nor do I really need to spend $60+ on restaurant meals every day. But it was a good exercise in picking what look like the seven best lunch and dinner menus being offered, including on Fridays and Saturdays (when some places have elected not to offer their Spice menus).

This is not a complete listing of each restaurant's menu (and menus change regularly anyway), just my personal picks of what sounds best. These are not listed in order of preference, and indeed some of the best are saved for the end, so I'd encourage you to wade your way all the way through.

(For an alternative take on this year's Spice menus, don't miss Miami Rankings' "2012 Miami Spice Awards")

(continued ...)

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MONDAY

Lunch - DB Bistro Moderne

Chicken Liver Mousse

Shallot Marmalade, Dijon Mustard, Cornichon

Rainbow Trout

Crushed Potatoes, Baby Spinach, Glazed Radishes, Brown Butter Grenobloise

Cheese Plate

Dried Fruit Chutney, Grapes, Walnut-Raisin Bread

Dinner - J&G Grill

Sautéed Florida Pink Shrimp

Key Lime Yogurt and Red Radish

Colorado Lamb Shoulder

Parsnip Purée, Stone Fruit, Natural Jus

Lychee Panna Cotta

Passion Fruit, Mango Sorbet

$33 Dinner - Edge Steak & Bar^[3]

Egg

Lake Meadows Natural Egg, Cheesy Grits,

Chorizo, Snap Peas and Sprouts

Snapper

Pan Seared Florida Snapper, Charred Zucchini Salad

Mussel Vinaigrette, Saffron

Chocolate

Hot Chocolate Mousse, Butterscotch Custard,

Bananas, Salted Peanut Brownie

TUESDAY

Lunch - Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill

strawberry gazpacho / salted almonds / creme fraiche

palmetto farms pulled pork shoulder on brioche / spicy melon slaw / twice-cooked fries

peach trifle / sweet corn cake / blackberry sorbet

Dinner - Tuyo

Soft Shell Shrimp on West Indian Pumpkin Mash

with Madras Curry and Speckled Tomatoes

Grilled Spiny Lobster "Rundown"

with Gratin of Plantains Martinique

Coconut and Carambola Creme Caramel

and Wildflower Honey Glazed Palmier

$33 Dinner - Graziano's

Mejillones Mediterrananeos al Asador + Almejas + Tomatoes + Torrontes

Fresh Mediterranean Mussels farmed in Seattle + Littleneck Clams

Parrillada de Corderito + Costillar al Asador + Polenta Frita

Mix Grill - Pennsylvania Lamb + Beef Short Ribs + Fried Polenta

Crepes Souffles + Dulce de Leche

WEDNESDAY

Lunch - Makoto

Welcome Course: Miso Soup, silken tofu, wakame

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice, serrano chili

Chicken Robata, asparagus, corn, brussels sprout salad

Mochi, assorted flavors

Dinner - Michy's

Pulled, Picked, Pressed Pork Belly, Stewed Leeks, Pickled Cherries, Cherry Bacon Syrup

Grilled Swordfish Summer Clam Bake, Vongole Clams, Chorizo, Bliss Potatoes, Corn, Clam Broth

Deep Fried Summer Cherry Pie, Coca Cola Syrup, Vanilla Ice Cream

$33 Dinner - Barceloneta^[4]

Ajo Blanco

Chorizo Sidra - Spanish chorizo, Valdeon cheese, apples, cider

Croque Monsieur - rustic bread, serrano ham, sauce mornay, black forest ham, mahon cheese

Remolacha y Cerezas - roasted organic beets, cana de cabra, amarena cherries, walnuts

Croquetas - creamy serrano ham fritters

Pork Belly and Clams - crispy pork belly, braised white beans, broccoli rabe

Fideos a la Cazuela - noodle paella, langoustines, rabbit, sobresada, asparagus tips, tomato confit, peas

Copa de Caramelo - salty caramel mousse, raspberries, chocolate crumble

THURSDAY

Lunch - Toscana Divino

Carpaccio of venison and tartar of porcini mushrooms, toasted hazelnut and lime gremolata, arugula, truffle vinaigrette, 18-month parmigiano reggiano

Braised and seared baby pig, Tuscan white beans and kale, apple lavender relish

Honey and almond semifreddo, salted caramel sauce, vanilla Greek yogurt, biscotti di Prato

Dinner - Azul

"Thai" Lobster Bisque, Coconut Green Curry, Bay Scallops, Kaffir Lime "Air"

Australian Wagyu Beef Cheek, Sweet Soy Glaze, Forest Mushroom Ragout, Textures of Celery

Buttermilk Panna Cotta, Lemon Pain de Genes, White Peach-Sauternes Sorbet

$33 Dinner - The Federal

"Buffalo Style" Pig Wings

blue cheese mousse, pickled carrots, celery

Gilroy Garlicky Shrimp

head on, grilled lemon, garlic toast, herbs

BBQ St. Louis Style Pork Ribs

smoked low & slow, grilled corn, tart sour cherry slaw

Sweet Something of the Day

FRIDAY

Lunch - Zuma

mizuna with bacon, miso and enoki mushrooms

branzino with pickled fennel, Japanese herbs and wasabi tofu

crispy chocolate goma bar with peanuts and banana ice cream

Dinner - Scarpetta

Creamy Polenta

Fricassee of Truffled Mushrooms

Porchetta

Cannelini Beans, Peperonata

Budine di Mascarpone

Mascarpone Custard, Mango Salad and Sorbet

$33 Dinner - Jaguar

Assorted Ceviche Spoons - choose three including Peruano, Oriental, Nuevo Shrimp of Calamari,

Los Cabos, Vuelve a la Vida, or Black Market

Moqueca de Camaron - large sautéed shrimp cooked with tomatoes, coconut milk,

malagueta peppers, dende oil and coconut flakes

Palomas Cajeta - fresh banana and cream filled crepes with a hint of liquor covered in dulce de leche

and sprinkled with hazelnut

SATURDAY

Lunch - Hakkasan

Oolong Tea Set

Dim Sum Combo

Black Pearl Chive Dumpling

Golden Crystal Dumpling

Chicken Shiu Mai

Barbecued Combo

Grilled Lamb Skewers with Spicy Cumin

Crispy Five Spices Beef ball

Spicy Sautéed Shredded Pork

Chicken, Asparagus Congee

Mango Custard

Freeze Dried Mango, Coconut Sorbet, Carbonated Lemongrass Foam

Dinner - Bourbon Steak

Corn Ravioli

Brown Butter, Chanterelle Mushrooms

6 Oz. Prime New York Strip Pavé

Roasted Eggplant, Heirloom Tomatoes, Black Garlic and Caper Vinaigrette

Wild Blueberry Shortcake

Ginger Shortbread, Local Corn Ice Cream

$33 Dinner - Pubbelly

Croquetas - short rib, porcini, mint aioli

Dates avec chorizo - goat cream, bacon

Japanese amberjack - garlic chips, lemongrass romesco, hazelnuts

Duck & Pumpkin dumplings - orange, almonds, cinnamon, soy brown butter

Pastrami & Sauerkraut dumplings - white cabbage soy, 1,000 island, caraway

BBQ "Pork Wings" - smoked teriyaki, pickled cherry slaw, bacon

Pork Belly - kabocha, butterscotch miso, corn powder

Brussels Sprouts - bacon miso, sea salt

Dessert

SUNDAY

Lunch - Area 31

Local Fish Ceviche

spicy papaya, greek yogurt, puffed grains, cucumber

Crispy Skin Snapper

tomato-chorizo "fondu," baby summer squash

Brownie Sundae

pistachio ice cream, cherry jam

Dinner - The Dutch

Beer Steamed Clams

Middle Neck Clams, Panic Attack, Chorizo, Grilled Bread

Tasting of Pork

Salsiccia, Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Loin, Creamy Polenta, Peperonata

Buttermilk Panna Cotta

Candied Almond, Strawberry Sorbet

$33 Dinner - Bloom

Sockeye Salmon Tiradito

coban chile, tomatillo salsa, cancha corn

Braised Oxtail Tamales

thai coconut rice tamale

Crab Huancaina Arepa

scallions, nori, eel sauce

Shaved Ice Bomb

with homemade syrups and fruit preserves

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^[1] The designation of a restaurant as "Luxury Dining" or "Fine Dining" was apparently based on someone's determination of the average price points on their regular menus, but it produces some anomalies, like Edge in the lower-priced category, and the not-so-luxurious "Fifi's Place" in the higher-priced category. Go figure.

^[2] I'll confess I had some difficulty finding seven great lunch options; and if not for the sake of variety, there might be places that I'd include for both lunch and dinner on this list.

^[3] As noted earlier, it's peculiar to me that Edge wound up in the lower-priced "Fine Dining" category, but a great deal for diners.

^[4] Barceloneta, and its sibling Pubbelly, adapt the Spice 3-course agenda to their small-plates format by letting diners choose several dishes to share among different categories. I haven't tried either of them yet, but they look like a great bargain.