SAIA on Fort Lauderdale Beach Does Happy Hour South Beach-Style

Situated steps away from the sand, SAIA at the B Ocean Hotel is the sophisticated sushi spot you’ve probably never been to. Opened less than a year ago, it’s taken some time to convince Fort Lauderdale’s socialites that the old Holiday Inn building has been redesigned with a sushi restaurant…

Smashburger Opens in Coral Springs

Smashburger, the burger chain that smashes your meat before grilling it to order and finishing it with your choice of a plethora of toppings, is opening its first South Florida location, in Coral Springs.The fast-casual restaurant opens Tuesday, November 15. A special reception the day before will feature food blogger/hamburger…

East End Brasserie in Fort Lauderdale: First Look

“Hello, bonsoir,” said the manager as he breezed through the dining room of the East End Brasserie last night. His mix of English and French would seem appropriate for the 2-week-old restaurant. The menu is somewhat French, a bit English, and, overall, pretty impressive. Impressive is applicable here, at the…

Food and Drug Pairings: Hiding Contraband Edition

This being Florida, drug news seems to make headlines more often than elsewhere. And the trend will likely increase as South Florida will become an even more dominant hub for drug traffic. This week The Washington Post reports that old drug smuggling routes between our state and the Caribbean are…

Tundra in Fort Lauderdale: First Look

Tundra on Las Olas had its soft opening last Sunday, the ice-themed restaurant conceived by David Berman and Alex Podolny. The centerpiece of dining is a 15-course tasting menu for $59, which includes kobe beef meatballs, ceviche, potato black crusted grouper, and butter poached lobster. And yes, that is an…

Sonic Beach Opens in Fort Lauderdale: Free Beer Offer

Sonic Beach opens today in Beach Place, bringing new life to the somewhat tired outdoor dining and shopping center on Fort Lauderdale’s A1A. The restaurant/entertainment complex will take up almost 6,000 sq. feet of space on the second floor of Beach Place and although that means no drive-through service will…

Trend Alert: You Want Fries on That?

Are French fries the next add-to-everything item? Just as eggs have become the latest haute garnish on burgers, fried rice, pizza, you name it, it seems French fries are making an appearance as a topping rather than a side. Here are five things I’ve seen recently that signal an oncoming…

David Chang and Kathy Griffin on Jimmy Fallon: Ramen Noodles and Booze

Momofuku’s David Chang was on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night. Joining them was none other than D-lister Kathy Griffin.”Feed me, feed me,” Kathy chants even before Chang starts to demo some of his creations, which include piña coladas (hint: Use frozen fruit instead of ice for an undiluted…

Top Chef Alums From Florida Offer Up Thanksgiving Recipes

Floridians watching this season’s Top Chef can cheer on Chris Jones, Fort Lauderdale native and chef de cuisine at Moto in Chicago and his Floridian sous chef Richie Farina, from Riverview. After round two of the show, should you feel inspired to do some cooking, check out this food porn and get…

Battle of the Pumpkin Spice Lattes: Comparing Four

Pumpkin is one of those fruits that is most emblematic of the Autumn season. Forget about its obvious benefits like being Atkin’s Diet-friendly, full of vitamins, and a powerful digestive aid (fiber baby, fiber). We want to eat it, drink it, and smother it all over our bodies in a display…

Top Chef‘s Gail Simmons: I’m Mary Ann; Padma Is Ginger

Top Chef judge Gail Simmons is writing a memoir.According to AdWeek, the 35-year-old chef, food writer, and Bravo celebrity wanted to tell her story of how she became a judge and host on two of Bravo’s most popular shows.Of course, that’s not all she’s done. In addition to her television…

To-Go Breakfasts That Don’t Suck, for Under Five Bucks

I’ve been on a quest for breakfast tacos, and while I’ve found a decent one, it’s led me on a quest for meals to go that don’t involve a drive-through, grade-D meat, and trans fat. Surprisingly, I’ve found a few that take me through to dinner for under a fiver…

Christopher Walken Cooks a Chicken — Seriously (Video)

If you ever needed proof that spending the day searching YouTube is a fruitful endeavor and not a waste of the precious time you have left on this planet — here ya go!We just came across the simply titled Chicken With Pears by dogdocla. It’s a video of a man…

Eat Up: The Top Five Airline Food Fails

Eating a bad meal on a flight is adding insult to injury. Thanks to the post-9/11 security increases, you’ve already waited in a security line in your socks, slipped on urine in the restroom, and rushed across four different terminals to make it to an early flight… only to find…