It was a typical Miami spring day as the early morning rain clouds cleared up and the sound and smell of the ocean came in through the opened windows of The Strand Bar & Grill at the Carillon Wellness Resort in North Beach Miami. I gazed outside at the blue waters and sun-tanning Miamians, mimosa in hand, waiting for our media brunch to begin.  

Sheep’s Milk Ricotta, Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Avocado Toast:

The first dishes came out after our second refill of the bottomless mimosas. The Sheep’s Milk Ricotta was the first of the starters presented to our group. It was a velvety dollop of milky ricotta with slices of tart apples and a sweet honey drizzle. I smeared a healthy portion of the cheese on some freshly baked bread and bit into it. The crunch of the rustic bread with the creaminess of the ricotta was a good start to the afternoon.

As I sipped my mimosa,  a bed of beautifully charred Brussels Sprouts dressed in a kale pesto sauce topped with parmesan and a fried egg arrived at the table. Breaking the delicate yolk let the silk gold mix with the sprouts. The brussels sprouts were tender throughout with an added crunch from the charred outside.

Avocado Toast is a brunch staple. The Strand version features crusty rustic bread topped with shrimp, radish and of course, plenty of avocado. The bread was baked in-house, the avocado was ripe and creamy, the shrimp and herbs were fresh and bright. Brunch had truly begun.

Tabbouleh, Eggs Benedict and Cinnamon Rolls:

Chef Patrick Ochs was working hard to make sure this brunch carried us through the day, because the dishes kept coming as the Mimosas kept flowing.

The Tabbouleh was the prettiest of those dishes. A couscous dish with tomato, olive, cucumber and a lemon oregano vinaigrette was wrapped in cucumber slices. The couscous was fluffy, the vinaigrette was light, and the cucumber was refreshing.

Eggs Benedict, another brunch classic made an appearance on The Strand menu. Poached eggs on top of an English muffin, ham, tomatoes and topped with hollandaise sauce. Rich, creamy, yolky, buttery, everything eggs benedict is known for.

Then came the Cinnamon Rolls, the sweet, doughy part of any brunch. Two big rolls with candied pecans and a cream cheese icing. The buttery outside hid the warm gooey center, I grabbed a bit of that with the candied pecans and melty cream cheese frosting for a perfect bite.

The plates were empty and champagne glasses were clinked as we toasted the lovely beachside brunch.  Brunch was over, everyone was full, satisfied and slightly tipsy. We all said our goodbyes to the chef and walked out into the heat of the early afternoon, looking for a shady spot under a palm tree to rest.

These were only a handful of brunch options offered at The Strand. You can go there on multiple occasions and always enjoy something new. The food combined with the fantastic atmosphere and view makes this a perfect spot for a brunch date and beach day. So, come hungry and don’t forget the sunscreen.

And why not treat Mom to a spa day at Carillon followed by brunch in his gorgeous setting for Mother's Day, Sunday May 13th.

The Strand Bar & Grill

Carillon Wellness Resort

6801 Collins Ave

Miami Beach, FL

305 514 7474