Gabriel Medici, chef and co-founder of Novecento restaurants, has helped his restaurant group expand in Miami and throughout the world. His choices of favorite Miami restaurants and dishes reflect his global outlook:

1. Zuma

Salmon Teriyaki and Great Sushi

270 Biscayne Blvd. Way, Miami; 305-577-0277

2. Mandolin

Grilled Octopus and Branzino

4312 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-576-6066

3. Houston’s

Rib-Eye Steak, Couscous Salad

17355 Biscayne Blvd., North Miami Beach; 305-947-2000

4. Cypress Tavern

Steak Tartare

3620 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-520-5197

5. Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink

Lamb Leg. Best ever, always perfect

130 NE 40th St., Miami; 305-573-5550

6. Cecconi’s

Perfect mix of tourists and local people

4385 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-507-7902

7. Salumeria 104

Spaghetti Bottarga and Amazing Prosciutto

3451 NE First Ave.,Miami; 305-424-9588

8. Pubbelly Sushi

Crab Tacos, Sake

1424 20th St., Miami Beach; 305-531-9282

9. Zak the Baker

Sourdough Bread, Croissants

405 NW 26th St., Miami; 786-347-7100

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Miami Beach eatery Pubbelly Sushi is coming to the Dominican Republic.

The hotspot sushi restaurant is opening this month at the Marina at Casa de Campo, headed by Chef Juan Jose Carrasco Melero.

“We’re confident Juan José’s vast culinary skillset will perfectly complement Pubbelly Sushi’s eclectic menu,” said Charles Keusters, director of food and beverage at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas “We’re thrilled for him to join Casa de Campo and eager to see his wealth of experience in action as he further enhances the overall guest experience at our resort.”

The 1,873-square-foot restaurant will focus on Asian fusion cuisine, with dishes from tuna pizza with crispy tortilla to tostones con ceviche with hamachi ginger soy.

It’s the latest outpost for the rapidly expanding Pubbelly Restaurant Group.

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On Friday and Saturday, expect a chef’s tasting menu with a bevy of seafood dishes. Offerings include clam chowder croquetas drizzled with oyster aioli; fried snapper curry with red curry, ginger, dutch potatoes, and peppers; thai seafood sausage with green curry and papaya salad; salmon ceviche; arroz de coco y langosta de la Florida, with calasparra coconut rice and spiny lobster; and mar y montana, with braised veal cheeks, langoustine, parmentier, and globe carrots.

The festival ends Sunday with various seafood-centric brunch offerings at the three eateries.

“It’s nice to do little things that inspire us and our clientele,” Mendin says. “It’s really about doing things so we don’t get bored too. But the whole idea with this event is to showcase the start of stone crab season.”

All dinners take place from 6 to 11:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday menus are prix-fixe and cost $60 per person. Reservations can be made for Pubbelly and Barceloneta. Walk-ins are welcome too.

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This week is Pubbelly’s 20th Street Seafood Festival and the start of Fooq’s new Fooq’s & Friends collaboration series.

Details on this week’s 20th Street Seafood Festival hosted by Pubbelly in Miami Beach and the first Fooq’s & Friends collaboration dinner at Fooq’s in downtown Miami:

• Pubbelly Row in Miami Beach (Pubbelly, Pubbelly Sushi, Barceloneta) is turning into a weeklong seafood fest as chefs Jose Mendin, Juliana Gonzalez, Yuki Ieto and Maria Orantes go to town on the freshest bounties from the ocean. Each of the three restaurants will present a different menu each day, Wednesday through Sunday. Samples:

Wednesday-Tapas: Shrimp Shumai (Pubbelly), Lobster Tacos (PB Sushi), Prawns with Chorizo (Barceloneta).

Thursday-Stone Crabs: Stone Crab Fettuccine (Pubbelly), Spicy Stone Crab Roll (PB Sushi), Stone Crab al Ajillo (Barceloneta).

Friday-Chef’s Choice: Clam Chowder Croquetas (Pubbelly), Sashimi Salad (PB Sushi), Laughing Bird Shrimp Carpaccio (Barceloneta).

Saturday-Chef’s Choice: Seafood Poutine (Pubbelly), Thai Seafood Sausage (PB Sushi), Coconut Rice and Florida Lobster (Barceloneta).

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When it comes to sushi, Miami has some serious contenders, like these five restaurants worth mentioning.

Katsuya by Starck

Upon entry, you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the vastness and swanky designs that Katsuya by Starck sits in. The paintings and murals may, at times, appear to jump out of the walls and do a Cirque du Soleil performance, but these fantasy designs, does very little to take away from the artistry that chef Katsuya Uechi gives to every item on the menu.

The restaurant’s signature dish, crispy rice with spicy tuna, is divine and pairs well with an order of sake while each fish chosen for the sashimi sampler plates taste like it was just reeled from the ocean minutes before. Katsuya by Starck opened in Miami Beach’s SLS Hotel almost three years ago and it easily became one of the best and hottest dining spots in Miami.

 That’s still the case.

Location: 1701 Collins Avenue, 305-455-2995

Neighborhood: Miami Beach

Pubbelly Sushi

The Pubbelly boys, José Mendín, Andreas Schreiner, and Sergio Navarro, were so successful in introducing the concept of Asian-fusion small plates that they decided to open an all-Japanese version of it. And the food critics of Miami couldn’t be more pleased. The menu at Pubbelly Sushi takes on traditional dishes and gives them a slight twist. Take their hamachi jalapeno as an example. The superior white fish comes with a lemon soy sauce and roasted poblano peppers instead of the traditional yuzu sauce and piquant red peppers. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed too, in contrast to the posh surroundings of Katsuya by Starck, but that doesn’t mean Pubbelly Sushi lacks patrons.

In fact, the place is always packed from the minute they open until closing so plan on going during off-peak hours. Should you decide to try the place out, make sure you order their signature Snow Crab Roll.

Location: 1424 20^th Street, 305-531-9282

Neighborhood: Sunset Harbor

Doraku Sushi

Some people might say that they come to Doraku primarily to drink their highly inventive and potent cocktails, but there’s no denying that the sushi here is pretty darn good too.Their Emperor Roll, made with crab, shrimp, scallop, and tuna, served over tempura sweet onions is favorite among local diners. This Lincoln Road staple also has one of the best happy hour specials anywhere in Miami with $5 litchi martinis and a range of bar snacks starting at $4 including tempura battered rock shrimp, ahi poke, and classic maki rolls like tuna, avocado, and crunchy crab.

Location: 1104 Lincoln Road, 305-695-8383

Neighborhood: Miami Beach/Lincoln Road

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Each week, MIAbites features upcoming food happening and events in Miami.
 

And November in Miami kicks off the season with a ton of upcoming food-centric events for any discerning palate or enthusiast.  Please check ahead to confirm times, prices and other details.
 

Friday November 13th- In their 6th year, The Lucky Rice Festival captures their obsession with Asian food culture through feats, festive dinners and gastronomic gatherings in six cities across the US. Lucky Rice Miami will transform the Raleigh Hotel Pool and Oasis on Miami Beach into an international bazaar where Asian-meets-Latino bites and globally spirited Bombay Sapphire® East cocktails will spill out onto the beachfront oasis.  Featured restaurants include La Mar by Gaston Acurio,SUGARCANE Raw bar grill, SUSHISAMBA, Ortanique on the Mile, Alter, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink and Phuc Yea. Tickets are $150 VIP and $88 GA and available online at http://luckyrice.com/event/miami-feast/
 

Saturday November 14th–  The Wynwood Yard , a hub for Miami’s most talented food and beverage entrepreneurs to introduce innovative culinary concepts to the community, celebrates its Grand Opening with a Garden Party on Saturday, Nov. 14th from 7:30-10:30 pm.  Located on Lots 56, 64, AND 70 NW 29th Street, take a promenade through the home-grown garden with hand-made flower crowns on-site, delight in the on-site food concepts featuring: Myumi & Della’s Test Kitchen featuring live chef demos, as you sip the craft cocktails and resident drafts brews at the eco-friendly bar concept created by Chef and beverage guru, Ken Lyon. Enjoy a special live performance by Elastic Bond and intimate moments of multi-sensory pleasure with Alma Dance Theater. Tickets are FREE and on Eventbrite and pre-registration is encouraged to insure admittance. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-wynwood-yard-garden-party-grand-opening-tickets-19192255553
 

Do you like this? Read more awesome restaurant reviews, tips and event listings at MIAbites.com.
 

Sunday November 15th– Chef Jeremiah hosts his notorious P.I.G 6 Pork Is Good event from 3 pm- 7 pm at Gastropod at 160 NW 26th St. in Wynwood.  Tickets are $50 pp and include no less that 10 top chefs cooking up their versions of porktastic dishes, plus cocktails and more.  Tickets available https://gastropod.tocktix.com/#/home
 

Monday November 16th – From 7:30-10:30pm, Boxelder Wynwood hosts their second in the series ‘Pairings’. This pairing presents a Brewer and Chef whose unique styles happen to compliment each other perfectly – Michael Demetrus / M.I.A. Brewing and Steve Santana / Taquiza. The dinner will consist of six courses, each perfectly paired with a unique beer. We are extremely happy to be unveiling five beers from M.I.A. that have yet to see the outside of the brewhouse. Following the interactive Pairings format, the dinner is limited to 25 seats – all front row seats at the bar of Boxelder. Steve will be behind the bar with his crew preparing and serving each course, and while Michael’s work is done beforehand, he will be right there with Steve Tickets at $75 and available on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mia-taquiza-pairing-tickets-19456221081  Boxelder Craft Beer Market – 2825 Northwest 2nd Avenue. UNIT C. Miami, FL 33127
 

Tuesday November 17th–  Miami.com is launching its new “Miami.com Experiences” Dinner Series this month with a one-night-only collaboration between chef Timon Balloo of Sugarcane and chef Nunzio Fuschillo of Bocce. The two talented chefs have collaborated to create an exclusive, seven-course menu that will be served on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Bocce in Midtown . The 7 course meal, along with an Amuse, is $75 per person, inclusive of tax and tip. An optional beverage package is available for purchase at the restaurant with wines that pair with the menu for $35. Seats are limited so make sure to get you tickets at https://tickets.completeticketsolutions.com/MHMC/Online/default.asp Bocce 3252 NE 1st Ave. Miami. 
 

November 18-22nd–  SEED Food & Wine Festival, presented by Whole Foods Market and held in Wynwood and Miami Beach is the first plant-based food and wine festival in the country. SFWF celebrates delicious plant-based foods, fine wines, craft beers, spirits, and lifestyle products and companies, while raising health awareness. Five days of events include upscale dinners, film screening, garden parties, and a Southern brunch, all leading up to a large-scale outdoor festival featuring food, wine, juices, music, gifts, organic body care, clothing, yoga, and everything that celebrates conscious plant-based living. Tickets for all events including for 5K,  Farm to Table dinner and Miami Botanical Garden brunch and Saturday November 21 all day Tasting Village are priced accordingly and on Eventbrite http://www.eventbrite.com/e/seed-plant-based-food-and-wine-festival-tickets-18407085087?aff=eac2
 

November 18-22nd– The Pubbelly Boys are at it again, this time launching their “20th Street Seafood Festival” from November 18-22 in Sunset Harbour. The festival will consist of 3 restaurants “around the corner”: Pubbelly, Pubbelly Sushi and Barceloneta; 4 chefs: Jose Mendin (Pubbelly Restaurant Group), Juliana Gonzalez (Barceloneta), Yuki Ieto (Pubbelly Sushi) and Maria Orantes (pastry at Pubbelly Restaurant Group), over the course of 5 days. Each day, each restaurant will offer a themed menu all highlighting the ocean’s delicacies. Wednesday: Tapas Style Menu, Thursday: Stone Crab Day, Friday: Seafood Chefs Menu,  Saturday: Seafood Chefs Menu, Sunday: Seafood Brunch.  Pubbelly 1418 20th St. Miami Beach, FL 

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Who’s ready to eat some amazing street style seafood? We are! Check out the day by day schedule and get your wallets ready, Sunset Harbour is about to get a serious flood of traffic this next upcoming weekend!

10/18 – Tapas Style Menu

10/19 – Stone Crab Day

10/20 – Seafood Chefs Menu

10/21 – Seafood Chefs Menu

10/22 – Seafood Brunch

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We can’t get enough of these Miami Beach restaurants, from swanky steakhouses to standout pizza and sushi spots.

When it comes to Miami Beach restaurants, locals used to fall into two camps: residents of the resort city, who never have a reason to leave, and mainland-bound Miamians who only “schlep” there under protest. Recent innovations like Uber have made the commute more bearable, but it’s the thriving dining scene that has everyone flocking without any complaints—no matter the distance. Suddenly, top Miami Beach restaurants are some of the top in Miami, period. These are the best restaurants currently luring us with thick, juicy steaks, inspired sushi rolls, seasonal off-menu items and some of the best pizza in Miami.

Pubbelly Sushi

The Pubbelly boys put a fresh spin on sushi at their foray into Japanese cuisine. Chef/co-owner José Mendín and sushi chef Yuki Ieto introduce unexpected ingredients and Latin flavors to create inventive rolls you won’t find anywhere else: pork belly and clams, soft-shell crab and bacon—the list of interesting pairings goes on. Pubbelly’s gastropub pedigree means you’ll find heartier fare here too. Feast on a variety of New England–style sliders filled with rock shrimp or Maine lobster, or super-fresh fish skewers. Check the chalkboard wall for daily specials and a list of rotating brews from around the world.

The Bazaar by José Andrés

James Beard Award–winning chef José Andrés—a spirited Spaniard whose frequent television appearances have made him a veritable ambassador of Iberian cuisine—knows how to turn a tapa on its head. At the Bazaar, croquettes come served inside a glass “sneaker,” caprese salad is skewered on a dropper filled with mozzarella and olive oil and caipirinhas are made tableside using dry ice. Unlike other gimmicky restaurants that value presentation over flavor, food here not only looks cool but actually tastes great too, which is partly why as many locals as tourists flock to this South Beach staple.

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