Shireen’s Spotlight: Essensia Restaurant & Lounge (inside The Palms Hotel & Spa)

Essensia Restaurant & Lounge (inside The Palms Hotel & Spa)

Essensia Restaurant & Lounge (inside The Palms Hotel & Spa)

Essensia Restaurant & Lounge (inside The Palms Hotel & Spa)

What: Essensia, 3025 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Why: I love it when I can go out to eat and not be hungover the next day. I’m not talking about liquor, either; I’m talking about food. I don’t do food hangovers and that’s one of the main reasons I love the “Essensia Restaurant & Lounge,” inside the Palms Hotel. The cuisine is “healthy, creative and flavorful”.

Chef Julie Frans not only whips up some of the best “natural gourmet” in the Magic City, she looks pretty good while doing it, too. Julie has a terrific bright, clean energy and it translates into her food. My favorite items on the menu include the Signature Kale Caesar Salad, Grilled Octopus and Thai Lemongrass Soup.

The soup was actually so yummy (made with coconut milk, kaffir lime, tomato, mushroom, bok choy and thai herbs,) it knocked my socks off. That’s not the best kept secret, though: just behind the hotel’s Tiki Bar is Essensia’s Organic Chef’s Garden, maintained by Frans. It’s a green, sprawling delight of herbs and seasonal produce used daily for their delicious recipes. It doesn’t get any fresher than that. The bottom line: they care about what they feed you and how it makes you feel.

Where: The restaurant/bar is tucked away neatly on the first floor of The Palms Hotel & Spa on Miami Beach. I’ve always loved this property because of it’s ridiculously gorgeous grounds. What’s more, it’s a hotel that not only caters to tourists, it celebrates its homegrown crowd, too; with stay-cation and spa specials.

I really like the feel of the hotel, which has this unpretentious regalness to it; reminiscent of an old, well-maintained, tropical Southern mansion, if you will. Parking is a bit tricky, as it’s right on the ever-busy and bustling Collins Avenue. They do have valet, but as usual on the beach, it’s a pretty penny.

When: Essensia is open for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Dinner.

Breakfast: Daily 7am-11am
Lunch: Monday-Saturday 11am-3pm
Brunch: Sundays 11am-3pm
Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 6pm-10pm, Friday-Saturday 6pm -11pm

Make reservations on line www.essensiarestaurant.com or call 305-908-5458
IG: @ChefJulieFrans
Twitter: @ChefJulieFrans
FB: Essensia Restaurant & Lounge

Cuisine does not measure itself in terms of tradition or modernity. One must read in it the tenderness of the chef.Pierre Gagnaire

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
Photo: t4two photography
Producer: Jessie Rosario
Writer: Shireen Sandoval

Thursday, January 22, 2015 Shireen's Spotlight , , , , ,

Shireen’s Spotlight: Champagne Happy Hour at The Forge

Shireen's Spotlight: Champagne Happy Hour at The Forge

What: The Forge, 432 W. 41st, Miami Beach, Florida 33140

Why: Because there’s no other place where you can drink a king’s share of champagne, eat amazing hors d’oeuvres and enjoy the alluring glamour of the movers and shakers of Miami Beach. Not only has “The Forge” been the place to see and be seen for decades, it continues its reign of decadence with its Champagne Happy Hour. Simply put, it’s the perfect place to end the week.

Every Friday night starting at 6pm, you can pop-a-top of Veuve Clicquot for just $50.00 (ten dollars per glass, along with other drink specials.) The Forge also serves up complimentary, yummy finger foods by Chef Christopher Lee. For the record, I love his crazy, good Kale Salad with parmesan lemon vinaigrette.

When I went to shoot the snapshot for this spotlight, my photographer, Tod, and I had to literally squeeze our way thru the high-spirited crowd. The bar was bursting at the seams with the bold and the beautiful: reality television stars, professional athletes, a powerhouse public relations guru and the owner himself, Shareef Malnik.

Shareef always takes the time to say hello and chat about Deco Drive and the ever-changing world of media. More specifically, social media (because that’s where you’re reading this little tidbit.) This guy totally gets it; plus, he’s cool, kind and classy; maybe that’s why “The Forge” has been fabulous for so long.

Where: Since the 1920’s, “The Forge” has called Miami Beach home. It’s right on 41st Street/Arthur Godfrey Road, which is considered mid-beach. The building, though completely remodeled, has kept its original mystique and elegance. If you can’t make it for happy hour because of a heavy workload, you have to try it for dinner. The dining is delicious and the steak is said to be one of the best in the Magic City. It’s the least we would expect from a Miami institution.

When: Every Friday night from 6pm-until-11pm.

www.theforge.com
Twitter: @ForgeRestaurant
IG: @TheForgeRestaurant
FB: The Forge

Right now, “The Forge” is booking Thanksgiving Dinner: $72 per person
Reservations: 305-538-8533

editor: Matthew Auerbach
producer: Jessie Rosario
writer: Shireen Sandoval
photographer: Tod Phillip

Thursday, October 16, 2014 Shireen's Spotlight , , , ,