A romantic Friday night dinner at one of the best new restaurants in downtown Miami: Mirabelle By George B. — a French eatery where la présentation est magnifique and the food is au-delà de délicieux.
If you put everything I loved in a room: fresh hydrangeas, beautiful paintings, Wedgwood vases, blue and white tiled floors, soft lighting, classy music and to-die-for scallops — I’d never want to leave, which is exactly how I felt last Friday night when dining at Mirabelle By George B. The French eatery, which has been open about six months, is this extraordinary little slice of heaven in a place you’d least expect it — downtown Miami.
This isn’t just any French restaurant, either; it’s helmed by Chef George Berger, a world-class, award-winning pastry chef. He studied the art of patissiere in France, Switzerland and London, but his love of food didn’t stop there. While honing his fanciful dessert skills, he also traveled the world to perfect his cooking and viola! Mirabelle was born. Chef George is a delightful human being, with a kind smile and a genuine interest in anyone who eats at his restaurant, including myself…
My #Spotlight experience started with a warm welcome from Chef and his very attentive staff who greeted me with a yummy glass of champagne mixed with Black Currant (they serve french wine, beer and champagne) and an amuse-bouche of buttery Duck Terrine. My first appetizer was the stuff dreams are made of….
“Grilled Colossal Fresh Scallops with Hazelnut Crust and Pistachio Vinaigrette.” I happen to be a real scallop lover, but it’s a hard dish to get right. George’s were truly délicieux: tender, succulent and seasoned just right. I especially liked the hazelnut crust which added a delicate texture-y crunch. I also tried…
“Duck Foie Gras Poelle,” with white port wine-poached mango. Talk about soft and full of flavor and the mango undertones were a welcome surprise. Both appetizers paired perfectly with a crisp glass of “La Diva Luc Merat champagne.” After the appetizers, I switched to a full-bodied “Signature Gigondas Rouge 2015.” It was aromatic without being heavy and …
Went wonderfully with “Filet de Boeuf Wellington, sauce Perigueux” which is served with glazed vegetables. BTW, Beef Wellington isn’t easy to find in Miami and it’s even harder to perfect the decadent dish — which is basically cooking beef inside a pastry, but Chef George has a handle on it. He may even give Gordon Ramsey, who’s declared BW his signature dish, a run for his money. Chef George’s version is a real showstopper: tender and moist on the inside and a buttery golden brown on the outside. His perigueux sauce is especially good, mainly because he balances rich and earthy flavors without trying — or at least, it seems that way. The Beef Wellington is definitely a #musttry. If you’re a lamb chop lover…
The “Grilled Double Lamb Chops” are heaven on earth, made with thyme infusion and roasted garlic sauce served with olive oil-whipped potato puree. The soft & juicy chops literally fell off the bone. If everything sounds amazing, it’s because it IS. I’m not one to love every single thing put in front of me, but at Mirabelle’s it’s almost impossible not to and don’t even get me started on dessert…
You can’t have just one when you’re the guest of a master pastry chef, so I nibbled on a little bit of everything from the “L’assiette Gourmande” including: Mini Bourbon Vanilla Creme’ Brûlée, Chocolate Mousse, Violet Ice Cream Filled Macaron and Apple Tart Tatin. Each had its own delicious personality, but I loved the Violet Ice Cream Filled Macaron best. I’ve never had violet before and its sweet and flowery taste didn’t disappoint.
It’s no surprise “Mirabelle By George B.” is a top-notch experience, it’s in Chef George’s blood. He’s from Lyon, France, which is the capital of French gastronomy and owned Chocolate Fashion, an artisanal bakery, cafe and gourmet food company in Coral Gables, for 17 years. If you love quality food with an artistic presentation and phenomenal service, “Mirabelle” should definitely be on your foodie radar and that’s why it’s one of my #FavoriteThings. Bon Appétit!
P.S. All the artwork featured in the restaurant is done by Chef George, a true artist in more ways than one.
Mirabelle By Georges B.
114 SE 1st Street
Miami, Florida 33131
Also serving breakfast.
Monday – Wed: 7:30am – 7pm
Thursday – Sat: 7:30am – 11pm
Sunday: 9am – 3pm
Be Social:
IG: @mirabellemiami
FB: @mirabellemiami
Dress by @HotMiamiStyles
Accessories: @handmademiamibeach
Hair & Make-up: Odett Hernandez
Digital Editor: Jessie Neft-Swinger
Editor: Matthew “Je suis l’éditeur” Auerbach