Weekly Nibble 2016: Paella at Bulla, "Burgie Awards", M.I.A Brewing at BLTPrime, Alter & Contra NYC, and new menus at Quality Meats and Mignonette

Each week, MIAbites will feature The Weekly Nibble, highlighting "foodie" events and special promotions in Miami for the upcoming weeks.  Please note that specific details, dates and prices are subject to change, so please call ahead to confirm event details. 

Tuesday January 12th -  Slow Food Miami will kick off the 2016 Snail Social soirées at Basil Park, the healthy-food-focused bistro helmed by Chef Tim Andriola. The event, which is open to the public, will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres between 6PM and 8PM, and select cocktails offered at special Happy Hour prices. Guest are also invited to stay for a delectable 3 course dinner ($25) featuring farm fresh dishes in keeping with Chef’s food philosophy. Basil Park 17608 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160.

Wednesday January 13th The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce "Let’s Eat Dinner" Series is pleased to return in 2016 with the announcement that Bulla Gastrobar will host a special dinner and cooking demonstration on Wednesday, January 13 at 6 p.m.  Guests are invited to learn how to make authentic Spanish paella learned at one of Spain’s most famous restaurants, El Bulli.  Led by Bulla Doral’s new chef Miguel Rebolledo, who will take the helm at Bulla Gastrobar’s new Doral location in early 2016, refined his technique and culinary skills working under two of the most renowned Spanish chefs, Jose Andres and Ferran Andria, and Bulla Coral Gables’ chef Diego Solano, participants will enjoy CAVA wine and a cooking demonstration of the beloved national dish of Spain, paella.  Tickets are $65 and reservations are required. Bulla 2500 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (305) 441-0107

Saturday January 16th - Burger Beast hosts his 7th Annual “Burgie Awards” honoring South Florida's best food vendors, restaurants and food trucks. Miami Lakes Auto Mall is bringing the 2016 Burger Beast Burgie Awards back to Magic City Casino on Saturday January 16th from 5-10 pm. After a 2 month long voting period on the Burger Beast Blog which ends on Wednesday January 13th, the 14 Burgie Award Winners will be decided. Those winners will be announced & receive their Awards LIVE at the Burgie Awards. Over 25 different food vendors will be on hand selling to the public a variety of great eats in addition to live music and admission is FREE. Voting is still open and for more info visit http://theburgies.com.

Tuesday January 19th-  Alter and Chef Brad Kilgore welcome chefs Fabian Von Hauske and Jeremiah Stone of New York City's Contra. Together, they will create an 8 course menu for a few group of lucky guests. As of this writing only 10 seats were still available for this intimate and unique dinner collab. Tickets are $120 pp with optional wine pairings available for purchase and tickets for the event can be found on Brown Paper Tickets link here.  http://m.bpt.me/event/2483677.  Alter 223 NW 23rd St. Wynwood Miami, FL (305) 573-5996
 

Thursday January 21st - BLT Prime Miami will partner with local home-grown beer makers  M.I.A. Brewing for a five course dinner featuring seasonal beers from the Doral-based brewery and tap room. Miami Herald Food Editor Evan Benn, a national beer writer for Esquire, Beer Advocate and other publications, will serve as host for the event; The evening will get underway at 7 PM on Thursday, January 21. Priced at $75 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity, reservations are required at 305-591-6066. BLT Prime Trump National Doral
4400 NW 87th Ave Miami, FL 33178

Saturday January 23rdStripSteak by Michael Mina at The Fontainebleau kickoffs off their 2016 Cellar 1954 Wine & Dinner series with a decadent five-course menu prepared by StripSteak chef de cuisine Derrick Roberts, complemented by seven different wines from Darioush. Darioush Khaledi and his wife Shahpar founded Darioush in 1997. The Darioush Estate has flourished over time and is now comprised of 120 acres in Southern Napa Valley spanning the Mount Veeder and Oak Knoll American viticultural areas.  Each of the five courses will be paired with a different varietal from the label. Priced at $225 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, the luxurious evening will begin at 8 p.m.  Strip Steak by Michael Mina 4441 Collins Ave. Miami Beach FL (877) 326 7412

New and Ongoing:

Mignonette- It’s time to go “Big Easy” at Chef Daniel Serfer’s neighborhood oyster bar and seafood haven in Edgewater. Rolling out this week, Mignonette’s menu features six new brunch items; two new sandwiches for lunch; three appetizers; three ‘fancy’ preparations for dinner and four new veggies for the proverbial chalkboard. Southern- influences abound with a Big Easy brunch items like Conch Fritter Benedict with Bahamian conch, poached eggs and sherry-cayenne aioli. NOLA lunch offerings include the addition of the P-Muffuletta. New dinner items include Steak Diane, a classic dish prepared with beautiful cuts of filet mignon served with herbed spaetzle and cognac;  Swordfish is seared to perfection perched atop melty duck confit, wild mushroom fricassee and finished with a marsala pan sauce; Fancy Red Fish takes a cue from Cajun iterations with an Andouille crust, rock shrimp, bomba rice and lobster broth.  Mignonette 210 NE 18th Street, Miami, FL 33132 (305) 374-4635

Quality Meats- Coming up on the one year anniversary of the popular Quality Meats Miami, chef de cuisine Patrick Rebholz has added to the menu a Signature Chicken Parm Pizza, a buzzworthy import from NYC sister restaurant, Quality Italian, and is the star of the new line-up. Intended for two diners at $32 per person, the 14-inch chicken parmesan topped with mozzarella, Parmesan and Pecorino is delivered to diners on a pizza rack, and is sliced tableside. So popular in New York that the restaurant often runs out midway through dinner service, the dish is accompanied with all the requisite pizza toppings including shakers of parmesan, pepper, dried black olives and Calabrian chili honey.  Other new menu items make their way onto the charcuterie board and as new appetizers including two seasonally fresh selections – a snapper ceviche with local strawberries and heirloom tomatoes and yellowfin tuna carpaccio with roasted beets and lemon olive oil.  Among the newest main courses, two new selections are sure to please non-carnivores -- juicy lemon-charred chicken, and the Quality Lobster Bake. Quality Meats Miami Beach 1501 Collins Avenue (305) 340 3333

The Filling Station (previously located in Downtown Miami) in Oakland Park is giving guests a reason to celebrate the new year with a lunch deal that's a savory steal! Through the end of January, locals and visitors can enjoy The Ultimate Great American Bacon Cheeseburger served with a side of their signature tater tots and a draft beer for $11. To cure any hunger pain, the hunk of a meat is dressed with American cheese, candied bacon, buttermilk ranch and homemade chipotle ketchup.  This offer is available daily from 11:30 AM – 4 PM.Additionally, the irresistible bar food paradise will be offering new specials weekly like Trivia Night, or their $1 tacos during happy hour.  The Filling Station 3200 NE 12th Oakland Park. FL (954) 908-5225

Beaker & Gray in Wynwood announces the launch of $5 Happy Hour. Certain to become a go-to destination to wind down after work, Happy Hour at Beaker & Gray features lineup of libations and bites, available Monday through Friday from 5PM-7PM. For night owls, Happy Hour returns with a second round on Monday through Thursday from Midnight-2AM. Drink special include $5 craft cocktails, $5 beer and $ glasses of wine.  $5 bites include: Oaxaca – wax pepper, oregano and tomatillo; Sandwichitos – plantain brioche, pork belly and watermelon rind; Onion Rings – cipollini, pearl and dill; Ricotta – Black Mission fig, Thai basil and Citterio chorizo; and Glass Noodles – green papaya, chayote and Valencia peanut. Beaker & Gray  2637 North Miami Avenue in Wynwood. (305) 699-2637

. ( Information provided from various sources and subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm details )