Weekly Nibble: Domino Night, Birthday Pastelito Eating Contest, National Rum Day, Dog Day and More

With Miami Spice in full swing, we thought a MIAbites Weekly Nibble of things “other than Spice” might be of interest. Of course, Miami Spice is very awesome and we have compiled OUR own list of favorites which we will “reveal” in our Monday Newsletter. If you are not yet signed up, sign up below for 1X a week news, reviews and views.

Join B-Side Sushi by Itamae at 1-800-LUCKY for an Alternative Take with Estefania Andrade of Obra Kitchen Table featuring a limited a la carte menu on Monday, August 12th, 8 p.m. Available for one night only, menu items include: Nikkei Hamachi Sashimi - smoked avocado, aji dulce leche de tigre, crispy arepa, Vuelve a la Vida Handroll - shrimp tartare, salsa coctel, fried plantain, guasacaca, shiso Patacon - tuna, guava mojito, aji rocoto, mayo, Corn Cake - Dulce de Leche frosting, corn-sunflower crumble. 1-800 Lucky 143 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL 33127

Tuesday, August 13 starting at 7:00 p.m., José Mendín and his team at La Placita will square off against Café La Trova, the popular Cuban restaurant by world famous Julio Cabrera and Chef Michelle Bernstein for a dominoes competition. In addition to Café La Trova, La Placita will be competing throughout the month against a few other local restaurants, see below.

Tuesday, August 13: La Placita vs. Café La Trova

Tuesday, August 20: La Placita vs. 50 Eggs, Inc

Tuesday, August 27: La Placita vs. Tacology

The best part about Tuesday Domino Night? You can play too! We invite guests to join us at La Placita, sip on one (or a few) of our signature cocktails like the Guava-té Mule ($12) or MaMa-Yak ($14), and savor some of our classic Puerto Rican dishes like Alcapurrias ($12) and Bacalaito ($10). La Placita 6789 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138

Chug's Cuban Diner in Coconut Grove is set to host chef Michael Beltran's birthday bash on Thursday, August 15th. Guests will enjoy food and drink specials, lively tunes, games and a pastelito eating contest worthy of Chef Beltran’s birthday with Chef Giovanni Fesser (also known as Pastelito Papii) on-hand to judge the competition. From 8:00-11:00 p.m., Chug's will offer a Cuban Happy Meal for just $7, which features a frita and a beer along with complimentary beer samples of the entire Krunkles line from Terrapin brewing. In addition, Chug's will offer a specialty luau frita made with Taylor ham, pineapple, kimchi ketchup and papitas. Those looking to enter into the competition can participate in the junior league at 8 p.m. for just $20 or the pro league at 9 p.m. for just $25 per person. Email casey@chugsdiner.com to secure your spot. Chug’s Cuban Diner 3444 Main Hwy Suite 21, Miami, FL 33133

Habitat at 1 Hotel South Beach is honoring National Rum Month by partnering with Appleton Rum’s Master Blender, Joy Spence to curate an intimate dining experience on Thursday, August 15th 6pm-9pm. For just $125 a person, guests can enjoy a four-course family style dinner that perfectly complements the custom cocktail menu highlighting Appleton Estate’s portfolio of fine rums. Dishes include Appleton Rum Cured Ora King Salmon, Jamaican Jerk Marinated Meyer NY Steak and Caribbean Rum Cake. 1 Hotel 2341 Collins Ave. Miami Beach, FL

National Rum Day is Friday August 15th, and here is just a partial list of places to RUMble with special cocktails and parties: The Living Room, Beaker & Gray, RWSB, Rum Bar, Burlock Coast, Etaru, OLA at the Gates Hotel, Verde, Mondrian and The Wharf.

Join the folks at Veza Sur on Saturday, August 17 to celebrate their two year anniversary at their Cumpleaños Pachanga event. The Latin-inspired brewery will host a major fiesta featuring live music, a caja china, live t-shirt printing, a DJ the release of their apricot blond pale ale, La Super Pachanga, and more! The party will begin at 12:00 p.m., and guests are encouraged to drink responsibility. Veza Sur 55 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127

ADDiKT at W Miami - From 11:30am to 3pm every other Sunday, W Miami partners with ArtServe and will now be hosting a bi-weekly Blank Canvas artist installation series which will feature a live artist painting during brunch on the 15th floor. This Sunday, August 18, W Miami will feature local favorite, Emmanuel Gonzales, so sit back, relax, and enjoy an artful day while indulging in ADDiKT's modern cuisine brunch. To make a reservation, please visit https://www.opentable.com/r/addikt-at-w-miami or call (305) 503-0373. 485 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131

National Dog Day is on August 26, and Il Giardino at Mr. C Coconut Grove is gearing up to celebrate the occasion. Their brand new daily happy hour features various cocktail specials in the newly opened outdoor European garden, and on August 26, Il Giardino will feature a night-long Puppy Party from 6-9 p.m. to celebrate the four-legged furry friends. The special event will feature a special menu just for pups including a "Polpettine K-9" or a hamburger with potatoes (no bun) for just $19 or a full 14 oz. rib eye for $40. Now you can treat yo self and yo puppy at Mr. C's! Mr C Coconut Grove 2988 McFarlane Rd, Miami, FL 33133

Chef Mike Pirolo of Macchialina and Chef Mike Lewis of KYU along with bar masters John Cooper and Ilan Chartor will collaborate on Monday, August 12 at 11pm at Macchialina on Miami Beach. Stop by Macchialina on Monday for a late-night preview of the upcoming collab dinner featuring five specialty cocktails created by both bar teams. Complimentary signature appetizers include: eggplant Parmesan gyoza and spaghetti alla gricia featuring KYU's killer smoked bacon. Find out more via social media @macchialina & @kyumiami. On Monday, August 26 from 6:30-9:30 p.m., KYU and Macchialina will team up once again for a special dinner at KYU with a multi-course tasting menu that blends Macchialina's Italian fare with KYU's Asian-inspired flavors. Guests will enjoy specialty crafted cocktails & small bites to start. Then guests will enjoy 10 to 12 special dishes with natural wine pairings from Macchialina's Beverage Director, Jacqueline Pirolo. Purchase tickets at: KYU x Macchialina - Collaborative Dinner | Kyu Restaurant

Ongoing:

South Pointe's beloved neighborhood bar and restaurant, South Pointe Tavern has updated their menu to include a variety of fresh grilled and house-made options for their guests. New dishes include "shrimp-cargot" with garlic butter, mozzarella and Parmesan toast, burrata tomato tartar, a fresh summer salad with spinach, hearts of palm, tomatoes, faro, garbanzo beans and house-made vinaigrette with the option to add grilled salmon, chicken or shrimp, Hoisin BBQ ribs with a chili-caramel sauce, and a red-curry coconut salmon dish. South Pointe Tavern 40 South Pointe Dr #109, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Enjoy and check back as we update as needed. To be featured in the Weekly Nibble, please send info and images to info@miabites.com, and make sure you subscribe to MIAbites. No ads, No spam, No popups.