Spring Break is in full swing and Miami is hopping. The Weekly Nibble from MIAbites features some food-focused events, Brunch and new Happy Hours.  Details are subject to change so always check ahead to confirm specific prices, dates and times. 

Sunday March 26th- UPDATED:  Chef Paula DaSilva of Artisan Beach House was the winning Chef and now moves on to Grand Cochon in Chicago. Cochon 555 Miami Culinary event and Somm Smackdown at Ritz Carlton Miami Beach.  Five local chefs are each given one whole, heritage breed pig and one week to prepare the entire 200 pound animal. The winner is decided between a People's Vote and 24 Celebrity Judges, who then crown the winner, Miami's “Prince or Princess of Pork.” The winning chef advances to the year-end finale competition called Grand Cochon, to be held this year on October 1st in Chicago. $125 +. Tickets on Eventbrite link here. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cochon555-miami-tickets-29658558547?aff=es2. The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach 1 Lincoln Road Miami Beach, FL 33139.

Monday March 27th- National Paella Day- Bulla Gastrobar has created a unique menu filled with Spain’s most famous dish. Beginning on March 20th. Guests are invited to enjoy a variety of mouth-watering paellas created by Executive Chef Miguel Rebolledo and the Shattered Pineapple cocktail throughout the week. Menu highlights include the Paella Valenciana, Paella de la Huerta and the Paella Negra – combining traditional paella recipes with bold new ingredients and flavors. Guests can also enjoy complimentary paella tastings of the Paella Valenciana from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. during happy hour on the patio at both locations. Additionally, happy hour specials include half off all beverages. Bulla Gastrobar Coral Gables 2500 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Coral Gables, FL 33134 Bulla Gastrobar Doral 5335 NW 87th Ave C102 Doral, FL 33178. 

Friday March 31-  Celebrate National Oysters on the Half Shell Day at:

Izzy’s Fish & Oyster- Enjoy Happy Hour from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., with bottomless oysters and Narragansett beer for $28. If you can’t make the regular happy hour, head to Izzy’s for their special late night happy hour from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m. for $2 Oysters or $4 Oyster Sliders. Izzys 423 Washington Ave. Miam Beach FL.

Le Zoo - Le Zoo features seasonal east coast oysters or kumamoto oysters by the ½ dozen or as a selection in one of the seafood Plateaus. During L’Apero (Le Zoo’s cocktail hour) you can indulge in $1 oysters or for $28 All You Can Eat Oysters plus glass of beer or Simonet!  Le Zoo Bal Harbour Shoppes, Bal Harbour, FL. 

Friday March 31st-Sunday April 2- PlaceInvaders, a pop-up dining series that hosts events in interesting and remarkable private homes across the country is coming to Miami for three dinners, to be hosted at a luxurious waterfront house on the Miami River and featuring the cuisine of Chef Cesar Zapata of Phuc Yea and cocktails from Zacapa Rum. Enter MIAbites contest to win 2 tickets on Instagram. Tickets are $100 per person and available here https://www.placeinvaders.com/tickets/miami

Saturday, April 1-  Villa Azur on Miami Beach celebrates their 5th Year Anniversary. Join the all-white affair featuring live entertainment, complimentary craft cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres of the restaurant’s signature dishes. Reservations for dinner are also available.  Villa Azur 309 23rd St. Miami Beach, FL305 763.8688.

Saturday April 1-  A Patch of Heaven Farm in The Redlands hosts a special chocolate tasting from 4-8 pm. Come and taste different chocolates by Miami’s very own chocolatier Ricardo “Cao” Trillos. This event will include a tour of Patch of Heaven Gardens followed by a sweet and savory 5 course meal paired with wines. Proceeds of this event will benefit the creation and expansion of the existing forest and cacao trees. $100. Tickets on Evenbrite link here,  Patch of Heaven 21900 Southwest 157th Avenue Miami, FL 33170

Sunday April 2nd- The first annual Locales Festival by Chef James is a one-day celebration of the Latin American community and Miami’s diverse culture, debuting in South Florida at Bayside Marketplace on Sunday, April 2, 2017. Hosted by Chef James Tahhan and produced by Premier Tourist and Landmark Association, the festival will also celebrate Bayside’s 30th birthday and shine the spotlight on community accomplishment through the Miami Bayside Foundation (MBF). Families are invited to check out cultural highlights including the arts, vibrant culinary scene with celebrity chefs from Miami’s top restaurants, live musical performances by Latin Grammy® nominated artists, film competitions, interactive sports activities and much more! Bayside Marketplace 401 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132

New and Ongoing:  Brunch and Happy Hours!

NaiYaRa, Sunset Harbour’s neighborhood hotspot is bringing the first ever Thai inspired brunch to the neighborhood. Starting Sunday, March 12th , NaiYaRa will begin serving Sunday brunch. Guests will be able to enjoy an array of Chef Bee's ALL NEW brunch items starting at 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Brunch menu highlights include: Yam Kai Dao, a traditional Thai fried egg salad; Chiang Rai Fried Chicken and Biscuits; Udon Pad Thai; Korean Steak & Eggs; Banh Mi Sandwich, a Vietnamese sandwich filled with pork belly and pickled vegetables; and Rottii, a customary Indian style sweet pancake served with coconut ice cream coffee to name a few of the newly created Brunch items.  NaiYaRa 1854 Bay Rd. Miami FL 

Ariete launches its new Happy Hour menu, available Tuesday – Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Ariete is the perfect spot to enjoy after work cocktails including the Cocktail Float (house-made ice cream, Now Your Father’s Root Beer, Fernet and Luxardo), French 75 (Flor de Caña, lemon juice and Proseco) and The Girl from Ipanema (Cachaca, ginger beer, lime & basil), among others. Restaurateur Jason Odio and Executive Chef Michael Beltran, have carefully curated the perfect lite bites menu to accompany the decadent cocktail offerings. Menu items include Fritas with chorizo and potato sticks on a potato roll, Grilled Oysters, Ariete Oxtail Nuggets, Smoked Salmon Sliders and the restaurant’s signature Chug Burger. Ariete  3540 Main Hwy, Coconut Grove, FL 33133

Lolo’s Surf Cantina, Miami Beach's newest Baja-inspired Mexican restaurant with flavor-forward menu, will be offering happy hour specials starting on Monday, March 20th. Friends, families and coworkers are invited to keep the fiesta going at their vibrant bar with Lolo’s new happy hour series from Sunday-Thursday, 4-7 p.m. Enjoy cocktails and savory treats for $6 or less available at bar only.  Lolo’s Surf Cantina through the park-side entrance of Stanton South Beach, 161 Ocean Drive.  (305) 735-6973.

(Information provided by various sources and subject to change. Please confirm all details ahead of time)