#SobeSavvy Presents #BeachyBrunches ! Vol 5: Terrazza @ShoreClubSoBe #Brunch

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Brunch — a combination of breakfast and lunch eaten usually during the late morning but it can extend to as late as 3PM on Sundays. The word is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch.

Terrazza restaurant at the Shore Club challenges many assumptions about brunch.https://www.morganshotelgroup.com/originals/originals-shore-club-south-beach/eat-drink/terrazza

Ending at 4pm is just one of them. South Beach being South Beach means a good portion of their denizens think anything prior to 1pm on a Sunday is just too early, hence the 4pm end time.

My family and I arrived shortly after they opened at 11am. We were seated at their airy spacious patio adjacent to their gorgeous pool. Numerous celing fans kept the oppressive Miami heat at bay.The patio space’s simplicity added to the calm sophistication of the setting. We had high hopes that the food and drink matched the terrific ambiance. It didn’t. It exceeded it. Terraza has decided to take the normal eggs and waffles brunch to a level that I have never encountered before.You have your standard brunch fare for their guests who require the familiar. What they also have in addition can only be described as a brunch tour de force.Let’s talk food first. Made to order pasta station and omelette station are present. Various toppings/fillings are available. No need to wait in a line whilst holding your plate like a manilla folder. You can place your omelette or pasta order with your waiter who will have it made and bring it to your table. Whilst awaiting an omelette I would recommend you try one of the many many tapas plates. Every Sunday the executive chef changes up the tapas choices to keep things interesting and inventive. This Sunday I tried the grilled salmon on a bed of roasted corn and lima beans. I also tried the crispy fish and calamari salad. We also devoured their burger and also had a mini slider. I wanted to try the roasted eggplant and two different types of sausage but just didn’t have the room ! My daughter loved the brioche french toast with fresh strawberries and bananas and tore into the lemon ricotta pancakes. The Antipasto and shrimp cocktail choices sat next to the custom self serve Bloody Mary station. Did I mention their Bloody Mary’s yet ?

They also have what can be only be described as the worlds best custom made self serve bloody mary station. You start with your choice of 3 different bloody mary foundations. V-8 , straight fresh tomato juice or clamato juice. Now the fun begins. They have endless choices to fill, spice and garnish your drink in any way shape or form you choose. From smoked applewood bacon slices to pickled asparagus or quail eggs and numerous pickled or peppered olive choices. You can make it as hot or mild as you like also. From celery seed, paprika, old bay,imported Thai Spice or cayenne pepper to name a few. Terrazo’s F & B manager, Eduardo Hernandez was gracious enough to walk me through the myriad of choices.

Terrazza has coined their brunch as a “Ladies Who Brunch”. Besides all the of delectable items on their buffet, women also get bottomless mimosas , bellinis and this week they also had sangria {white and red}. Our glasses were never empty longer than 45 seconds. Service was attentive and efficient without being intrusive. I asked Eduardo, “why a lack of signage on the tapas for their vast buffet ?” He responded, ” we decided to forgo the little signs on the food because we want to encourage our guests to interact with the line cooks with questions about the dish so they may occasionally learn something that they might not have if we had the signs on the dishes”

We ended our brunch journey at the dessert station with chocolate covered strawberries and scrumptious cheesecake bites. I’ll try the croissant au chocolate next time. Need a breezy easy Sunday brunch ? Look no further . Go to Terrazza at The Shore Club. You will be swept off your feet.

Ladies Brunch is $44 inclusive of bottomless mimosas , bellinis, and Sangria . Gentlemen pay a $20 upcharge.

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#SobeSavvy Presents #thePowerofHappyHour! Vol 4 @SemillaMiami #southbeach #miami

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Last Friday my friend and I wanted to do a local happy hour here on the beach. We wanted a happy hour away from any touristy area while enjoying some good bites and libations. We both have been wanting to try Semilla at 1330 Alton Rd Miami Beach, Fl 33139. http://semillamiami.com/.

My happy hour partner and good friend who hails from Brussels was excited to sample the cuisine of the renowned French chef/owner Frederic Joulin. We were greeted warmly upon entering. The majority of tapas and drinks are a la carte at the $6 price point. There is plenty to choose from. We had some of their fresh blue point oysters, bbq rib potstickers and goat cheese croquettas. Everything was yummy and served in a pleasant friendly manner. The interior is very welcoming in a warm industrial garden-esque atmosphere. I asked the owner about the various planted herbs on a wall display . Frederic said ” I always want to use the freshest of herbs on my recipes . so what better way than to grow them all myself. I rotate them on a regular basis on the wall based on when they are ready to be cultivated for the kitchen”. How unique ! After a few cocktails and bites we ended our happy hour culinary adventure with their delicious dulce de leche profiteroles. We will be back.

Semilla’s happy hour is every day, from 6 to 8 p.m every day except Friday when it is extended until 10pm. The restaurant also offers Florida draft beers, well drinks, wines by the glass, cocktails, oysters, pot stickers, tempura, and barbecue skewers on their happy hour menu.

Now that our Miami Heat have made the Finals, Semilla is a fun place to catch a Heat game !

Check Out their Facebook page for specific themed specials like their Tuesday Ladies night .
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Semilla-Eatery-Bar/592386397468622

Here is my photo recap of the Happy Hour. Enjoy!

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh ~ Freelance Photojournalist ~ Bon Vivant Blogger
Follow @IJust_LoveThis #SobeSavvy

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#SobeSavvy Presents #BeachyBrunches ! Vol 4: @BalansLincolnRoad Weekday #Brunch

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Officially brunch takes place on Sat and Sunday mornings. Unofficially, according to Balans restaurant on Lincoln Road you can brunch any day of the week when they open at 8am. My family and I took them up on their offer and brunched there this past Thursday morning. One huge advantage of a weekday brunch is that you avoid the weekend crush of people who loyally flock to this Lincoln Road mainstay for their breakfast fix.

Balans is a UK chain that now has 5 outposts in Miami. Lincoln Road is the original. Sobe is an area where “here today, gone tomorrow ” restaurants are a fact that us locals bemoan. Balans has been here for over 16 years. That is one reason that Balans has been a staple in our culinary habits. The other is their honest pricing. No tourist trap here. Fair for Fare. Good food and portions for sensible prices. Brunch is no different. Situated on the far western end of Lincoln Road, Balans has a great relaxed atmosphere. You can choose from their stylish indoor space where they have a full bar at your disposal or opt for outside seating. There you will find casual tables or do like we did and lounge in one of their sofa tables where you can stretch out for a meal or a drink.

We were greeted by Francisco, their gracious and witty manager. He gave us an overview of their breakfast menu. The menu has everything from smoothies to various egg dishes and pancakes. We had their Jumbo Breakfast and Crab Eggs Benedict. Jumbo came with Eggs, sausage, bacon, Potatoes and pancakes ! Filling and delicious. Pancakes come with their unique pecan butter spread which was amazing. The Crab Benedict melted in our mouths. Huge chunks of real lump crabmeat under a traditional benedict of poached egg on a english muffin. Great twist on a classic dish. They also serve many varieties of bellinis and mimosas to quench your thirst. What a great meal on a warm and breezy Thursday morning.

If you seek a non tourist trap place for brunch on Lincoln Road then Balans is for you. Any day of the week.

http://www.balans.co.uk/site/index.php/miami/lincoln-road/

Lovely’ Leslie Heigh / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
Follow Twitter/Instagram @IJust_LoveThis
Hashtag #SobeSavvy

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#SobeSavvy Presents #BeachyBrunches ! Vol 3: @BLTSteakMiami Weekend #Brunch @TheBetsyHotel

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Sunday has evolved into the official day to have brunch. That being the case, this Sunday my family and I “brunched” on the “quiet” end of Ocean Drive at BLT Steak restaurant inside the Betsy Hotel http://www.thebetsyhotel.com/restaurants/blt-steak-en.html. While this is a renowned steak restaurant, it also excels at the days first meal. It has a weekend brunch that I describe as cool, quiet and classy. Want a rowdy brunch with a dj and girls prancing on a stage ? This ain’t the one. Want a brunch with world class food and be surrounded by iconic photos of the Beatles and the Fab Four’s tunes quietly piped in the background? It’s here. For decor think beige and white with clean lines. You can dine on the breezy elevated patio or in their casually refined dining room. We enjoyed dishes like lobster cobb salad and their infamous breakfast popover entree which is a combination of Eggs Benedict and an open faced ham and spinach omelette cocooned inside of half a bread popover shell. A popover is one of their signature creations. It is hard to describe. I call it the rich man’s biscuit, but I’ll let you decide. Whatever you call it, call it yummy. Our server Rachel was friendly and attentive w/out being intrusive. They also have a fresh raw bar and sushi offerings on the menu. Something for everyone. Get to BLT Steak for brunch. Make a reservation…Now

Lovely’ Leslie Heigh / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
Follow Twitter/Instagram @IJust_LoveThis
Hashtag #SobeSavvy

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#SobeSavvy Presents #BeachyBrunches! Vol 2: @ThePalaceSobe “Sabados Gigantes” Saturday #Brunch

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Hey Miami and those of you who plan to visit,there is a new brunch on the beach! A place for gays, straights, fun-lovers and food-lovers to come and toast to life. If you love brunch with a show, you no longer have to wait to have a Funday on Sunday!

On Saturday at the Palace Bar, SobeSavvy checked out “SABADOS GIGANTES” with longtime SoBe latin drag personality Adora. It’s their newest brunch addition to their popular brunch series. Yes, there are now two options for brunch at Palace ..now Saturday and Sunday!
It’s a truly Miami style latin brunch, with non-stop hilarious drag performances in Spanglish as well as a delicious totally-new totally-latin brunch menu (menu changes weekly and often includes favorites like churrasco and eggs or tropical pancakes with coconut and mango). There is UNLIMITED white or red sangria for the entire duration of the seating which begins at 2PM and goes til about 4:15 or so. All for $35 per person.

“Sabados Gigantes” also includes a DJ pumping out some classic Miami club tracks and live percussionists throughout the shows. When the brunch finishes the party really gets going. They crank up the music with a new weekly local guest DJ (straight and gay) and the drag shows continue all night long. Brunch is just a portion of all the Saturday fun.

The Palace is located at 1200 Ocean Dr in the heart of South Beach. There is a parking garage located at 13th and Collins. Check out http://www.PalaceSouthBeach.com and Follow @ThePalaceSoBe for more information.

Here is my photo recap of the delicious debauchery happening every Saturday at the Palace! Enjoy!

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh -Freelance Photojournalist -Bon Vivant Blogger- SobeSavvy.com
Follow @IJust_LoveThis #SobeSavvy #BeachyBrunches

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#SobeSavvy Presents #BeachyBrunches! Vol 1: @NikkiBeachMiami Amazing Sunday #Brunch

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” I’ll take another langostine from the Paella Seafood platter”. That’s what I told my husband this past Sunday at Nikki Beach’s world famous Farm To Table Sunday Brunch. It was a lazy 80 degree January afternoon and life was good. Nikki beach was celebrating Chinese New Year during their weekly Sunday brunch. Chinese themes and attire was all around. This is no ordinary brunch. How many places can you sunbathe and simultaneously brunch ?

White loungers on the sand. White Daybeds on the sand. Tables on the sand. Quiet chill out music playing.You get the picture. Besides the beautiful aesthetic of it all, it is unlike so many things here in Miami that are style over substance. Nikki Beach is the rare style AND substance.Yes the atmosphere reeks beach chic sophistication, but so does the cuisine. Nikki Beach has many items either buffet style or made to order. Basic brunch staples like omelettes and waffles are made to order. They specialize at the unexpected. Seafood paella topped with mussels, grilled calamari and yes, giant langostines. Pad Thai made to order. A Vietnamese soup bar. Custom made crepe station. Cheese and salad stations are there too. An assortment of petite deserts are found inside across from the meat carving station and sushi bar. Fresh watermelon juice flows from a tiki faucet.

They offer discounted house champagne , mimosas and bloody mary’s for $7 to quench your thirst. Can’t make it to St Tropez next Sunday ? Than go to Nikki Beach.You won’t be sorry

Where: Nikki Beach 1 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, Fl 33139
http://www.nikkibeachmiami.com/nikki-beach-miami-sunday-brunch-menu/
When: Every Sunday 11am – 4pm
Cost: $49.95 Champagne, Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas are a la carte for $7

Enjoy some pics from my brunch at Nikki Beach

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh / Freelance Photojournalist
The ‘Bon Vivant ‘ Blogger
http://www.SobeSavvy.com
Follow Twitter/Instagram @IJust_LoveThis
Hashtag #SobeSavvy

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My @byejoespirits Experience! #BYEJOE Tasting @HakkasanMiami Recap by #SobeSavvy

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The most consumed white spirit on Earth isn’t vodka – it’s Baijiu (pronounced “bye-joe”). It’s the most popular drink on the planet and I’ve never even heard of it! Well, not until Wednesday, December 11, 2013 when a friend asked me to be their plus one to a tasting event for ‘byejoe’ .

20 guests were invited to a private intimate pairing dinner at Hakkasan, located inside the Fontainebleau Miami Beach Resort . We arrived to celebrate and become educated about byejoe – the spirit of china, a modern revolution in asian-fusion mixology. Our introduction to Baiju included four different selections served neat: BAOJING….JIAN NAN CHUN CHIEW… Byejoe red…Byejoe Dragon Fire. Each had a distinct and acquired taste that had all of us wanting more.

Due to the high content of alcohol, Baiju is best consumed with food and Hakkasan did not disappoint. We were served three courses family style. Each paired with a Byejoe fusion cocktail. Invitees received a gift bag with two bottles of Byejoe along with customized shot glasses. Needless to say I will be enjoying the good stuff this holiday season!

Learn more about byejoe here, http://byejoe.com/byejoe/ and Follow @byejoespirits

Here is a photo recap of my first baiju experience, courtesy of Byejoe. Enjoy!

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh ~ Follow @Ijust_LoveThis #SobeSavvy
“Social Butterfly News for South Beach and Beyond”

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Recap of @SavortheSeason by #SobeSavvy

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On Saturday November 16, the community came together to usher in the holiday season at the annual event known as Savor the Season!
Savor the Season is Brickell World Plaza’s annual semi-formal food and wine festival showcasing Miami’s most exciting restaurants and a spectacular selection of wine. This event benefits local non-profit organizations including the Humane Society of Greater Miami, UM’s Crohn’s and Colitis Center and UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Guests took part in 600 Brickell’s grand countdown to light up its signature 40-foot Christmas wreath.

This family friendly event took place at Brickell World Plaza , a 30,000-square-foot oasis in the very heart of the Brickell financial district, destined to become Miami’s coolest new venue for social gatherings, cultural events and entertainment. Whether it’s a musical performance on the fully wired stage, dinning al fresco under the shady live oak trees, or attending a private social event, Brickell World Plaza is the place to be.

Guests enjoyed unlimited food and wine from more than 20 of Miami’s finest restaurants and distributors, and live entertainment under the stars. We all had the opportunity to “Put on the Ritz” dance under the Miami stars! It was a perfect way to celebrate the holiday season and contribute to local community organizations. For more information, go to http://www.savortheseasonmiami.com.

Here is a photo recap of the event! Enjoy!

‘Lovely’ Leslie Heigh ~ Follow @IJust_LoveThis ~ #SobeSavvy
“Social Butterfly News for South Beach and Beyond!”

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#BAGrubCrawl Good Food, Good Drinks, Good Times! Recap by #SobeSavvy

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Many of us have heard of a pub crawl, but have you ever heard of a “grub” crawl? Instead of moving from bar to bar, participants move from restaurant to restaurant. On Saturday, November 2nd, Bon Appétit Magazine brought us Grub Crawl, the acclaimed on-the-move food and spirits tour, to Miami Beach!

The concept behind the food crawl came about when Bon Appétit realized an important element of the food festivals was missing – the actual restaurant.

“So much of going to the restaurant is the ambience, the atmosphere, the lighting, the music, the look, the waiters, and all of that is never present at a food festival,” said Adam Rapoport, editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit. “So we thought why not bring the food festival to the restaurant?”

The nighttime portion of the movable food festival took guests to several of Miami Beaches’s most notable restaurants including Juvia, Lorenzo, Bianca at the Delano, Pubbelly and Dolce in Rec Room at the Gale Hotel. During our time at the restaurant, crawlers were able to try signature dishes and drinks and interact with the chefs.

The Miami Grub Crawl was the final event in a series of five, preceded by Crawls in Los Angeles, Charleston, Chicago, and New York City. When deciding on cities, the Bon Appétit looked for locations with thriving restaurant scenes and popular dining neighborhoods, which is why they were drawn to the Design District for the daytime crawl and South Beach for the nighttime crawl.

This was an amazing opportunity to be part of Bon Appétit’s first Miami Grub Crawl! I recommend a grub crawl for anyone who enjoys good food, good drinks, and good times! For more information on Grub Crawl, go to http://www.grubcrawl.com.

Here is my photo recap of my delicious journey. Enjoy!

“Lovely” Leslie Heigh ~ Follow @IJust_LoveThis ~ #SobeSavvy
“Social Butterfly News from South Beach and Beyond”

Stop 1: Juvia

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Stop 2: Lorenzo

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Stop 3: Bianca at the Delano

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Stop 4: Pubbelly
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Stop 5: Dolce in the Rec Room at the Gale Hotel

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