Each week, MIAbites features a curated listing of the upcoming week's best food happenings in Miami.  The listing is subject to change and details should always be confirmed ahead of time. 

Tuesday April 12th-  Slow Food Miami, local Miami chapter of non-profit supporting the use of fresh and organic ingredients in food, will hold the latest in its series of monthly “Snail Social”  Happy Hours on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from 6PM-8PM at Essensia Restaurant + Lounge, the farm-to-table restaurant at The Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach, featuring Executive Chef Venoy Rogers, winner of Food Network’s Chef Wanted. Attendees can look forward to savoring appetizers featuring such ingredients as kale, cilantro and arugula from the Chef’s organic garden. What you see is what you get (to eat)! In true farm-to-table fashion, take a garden tour with Chef Venoy before sunset to get a peek at where your ingredients are grown. Each guest will receive one complimentary glass of wine, and drinks are half-off until 8PM. Guests are invited to stick around for dinner afterwards to savor more of Chef Venoy’s specialties. Slow Food attendees wishing to stay will receive 20% off dinner at the restaurant.  Essensia at The Palms Hotel and Spa 3025 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140. 305 908-5458. NOTE: And SAVE THE DATE for the "Snail of Approval Tasting Event" on Friday April 29th at the 1 Hotel and hosted by Chef Tom Collicchio. 

Tuesday April 12th-  National Grilled Cheese Day is not just for kids. Get your cheesy fix at Ms Cheezious, at it’s original location at 7418 Biscayne Blvd, Miami and also stop in for it’s Grand Opening brand new location at 1915 Ponce de Leon Blvd in Coral Gables. Everyone who purchases a "Must Have" grilled cheese on that day from their new Coral Gables location or the MiMo restaurant will receive a free Sixpoint beer as well. Hours are from 11 AM to 11 PM. And if you are on Miami Beach make sure you visit Radio Bar at  814 1st Street Miami Beach, FL 33139 305.397.8382 for their spicy crunchy nacho grilled cheese delight. 

Wednesday April 13th-  StarChefs, the restaurant industry trends magazine, announces its 2016 South Florida Rising Stars Awards Gala on Wednesday April 13th at Marlins Park, honoring up-and-coming chefs and hospitality professionals, who represent the vanguard of the contemporary American dining scene. Beginning with an awards ceremony at 6:30pm and followed by a tasting gala from 7:15 pm to 9:30 pm, guests will experience 20 of South Florida’s most exciting restaurants with beverage pairings and cocktails by the winning sommeliers and bartenders, in one location for one night only. Tickets are $95 pp with 10% off discount through MIAbites code RSBLOG. For listing of Rising Chef winners and more information and to take advantage of this offer see MIAbites link here. 

Thursday April 14th- Quality Meats Miami Beach is firing up the grill on their patio for an epic THREE DAY STEER ROAST.  Executive Chef Patrick Rebholz, fresh from receiving the People’s Choice award at SOBEWFF Meatopia is partnering with Chef Norberto “Negro” Piattoni for a three-day whole steer cookout/extravaganza. Rebholz, an expert in whole animal butchery, and Piattoni, a former employee of renowned Argentine Chef Francis Mallman, will collaborate to create three separate dinners – on Thursday 4/14 hosting an asado BBQ for $59 pp, Friday 4/15  a family-style feast for $79, and on Saturday 4/16 a more formal dining experience at $99, all complete with wine and beer pairings. The dinners will take place Thursday, April 14 through Saturday, April 16, 2016.  A 900-lb. steer along with side dishes, bread and even desserts, will be cooked in a specially constructed “fire kitchen” on Quality Meats’ expansive terrace. For reservations and more details visit:  qualitymeatsmiami.com/wholesteerdinners  Quality Meats Miami Beach  1501 Collins Avenue 305-340-3333

Thursday April 14th-  The Fontainebleau’s Cellar 1954 Wine & Dinner Series 2016 season continues with a lavish dinner on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at Scarpetta at 8 p.m. with Napa Valley’s legendary Opus One Winery – hosted by France Posener, sales director for the winery. Diners will enjoy a decadent five-course menu, prepared by Scarpetta’s chef de cuisine Neil O’Connell,complemented by Opus One Wines. Opus One was created in 1979 by the most iconic partnership in wine history between Robert Mondavi and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Opus One quickly became America’s first ultra-premium wine as well as the first-ultra premium California wine to be sold in France, The United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland. Priced at $350 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, the luxurious evening will begin at 8 p.m.  Reservations are required and can be made by visiting:  https://www.nightpass.co/e/np/tq0YXX8ysw. Scarpetta at Fontainebleau Miami Beach 4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140.  877 326 7412

Monday April 18th-  Alleviate the pain of Tax Day this year with a beer (or two) on the house.  Keeping with its theme of celebrating minor holidays, Mignonette and Blue Collar declare Tax Day, Monday, April 18th to be Taxes Schmaxes Day!  Mignonette and Blue Collar will ‘refund’ every-other bottle of beer or glass of wine on 4/18 - just declare your order to your waiter and your second MegaMix or glass of red will be free!

New and Ongoing:

Driftwood Room at Nautilus, South Beach invites guests to enjoy a $45 Rosé Brunch on Sundays from 11:30-4 pm with a special four course prix-fixe brunch menu prepared by Chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Chef de Cuisine Lucas Marino. Guests can enjoy items from the appetizer buffet, the savory cavery, and dessert platter in addition to choosing one entrée for $45 per guest. The entrée selections include signature dishes such as the Cuban Benedict, Avocado Toast, Guava & Tamarind BBQ Ribs, Lobster ‘Mac & Cheese’ and Prime Steak Tartare. Those looking to take their brunch to the next level can add on upgrades such as the Cabana Club Seafood Tower for Two, the Triple Layer Chocolate Cake Sundae and for $25 extra unlimited Whispering Angel Rosé. Driftwood Room at Nautilus, a SIXTY Hotel 1825 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 305.503.5700

Komodo, Brickell's new Pan-Asian hotspot, has launched its weekday ‘Lucky 9’ happy hour menu, featuring an assortment of its best specialty cocktails and appetizers priced at $9-. Named after the Chinese lucky number “9”, guests can sip on Cucumber Basil Martinis, Lemongrass Mojitos, or Rhubarb Mules, while enjoying Tuna Tacos, the famed Grutman Pastrami Egg Roll, the Komodo Roll as well as a variety of other favorite menu items Monday-Friday 4-7 pm. On Friday nights, Komodo turns it up a notch with a DJ spinning cool vibes all night on the outdoor terrace. The happy hour is offered at the outdoor garden and bar and inside bar. Komodo Miami 801 Brickell Avenue Miami, FL 33131 305.534.2211.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, Lincoln Road’s destination for authentic regional Italian cuisine, is introducing Bacco Night, a new Monday night special that is sure to delight oenophiles. All bottles of wine on La Bucca di Bacco – Quattro’s impressively diverse wine list - will be 50% off every Monday during dinner service. Quattro Gastronomia Italiana 1014 Lincoln Road on South Beach Telephone: (305) 531-4833.

Bazi in the Marlin Hotel invites you to kick back and enjoy classic Asian staples every Sunday beginning on April 10th. The special Shanghai Nights menu will offer guests a delectable way to indulge in some of their favorite dishes for only $10 each including Lo Mein (chicken, beef or shrimp), Beef and Broccoli, General Tso Chicken, and Mu Shu Pork.Bazi’s Shanghai Nights menu will be available every Sunday. Bazi at The Marlin Hotel, 1200 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach. (305) 695-0101.

( Information provided by various sources and subject to availability. Always make reservations and check ahead to confirm details.)