Shireen’s Spotlight: Wynwood Kitchen & Bar

shireen sandoval fashion, fashion blogger, miami fashion blogger, miami fashion, Miami, Restaurant, Fine Dining, Food, Foodie, Spotlight, Shireens Favorite Things, Wynwood Kitchen and bar, FL

shireen sandoval fashion, fashion blogger, miami fashion blogger, miami fashion, Miami, Restaurant, Fine Dining, Food, Foodie, Spotlight, Shireens Favorite Things, Wynwood Kitchen and bar, FL

What: Wynwood Kitchen & Bar, 2550 N.W. 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33127

Why: In honor of Art Basel 2014 (which begins next week,) Shireen’s Spotlight is shining its light on the fun, fabulous and always artistically inspiring Wynwood Kitchen & Bar. The bustling, busy restaurant consists of two large rooms and a massive outside patio area. No matter where you sit, you’ll always have a view of the most beautiful and provocative art the city has to offer. The food is served mostly tapas-style and is best shared with friends.

My favorite is the Ropa Vieja Empanadas; they’re worth every single, delicious, fried calorie. It’s served with an amazing, mouth-watering cilantro cream sauce. The Pork Belly plate is a close second and is served with a healthy lentil salad. WKB has the most spirited, high octane drinks, too. The Wynwood Inferno is by far my favorite. It’s a bold mix of Don Julio Silver Tequila, jalapeño, cilantro, passion fruit and lime juice. Hit this place after your holiday shopping; it’ll keep you in a high-spirited mood all night long.

Where: In the uber-artsy neighborhood of Wynwood. This particular district of Miami  is bursting at the seams with jaw dropping graffiti, provocative museums and dozens of eclectic galleries featuring local, national and world-famous artists.

The restaurant sits proudly on the corner of North West 2nd Avenue, the major road that runs through this inspirational mecca.

Parking gets a bit crowded at night, but there’s a $7 valet just a few doors down. I suggest, though, to take your walking shoes and enjoy the famed “Wynwood Walls” before or after dinner. It’s a fun, romantic and interesting way to check out art and get a bit of exercise.

When: Dinner / Monday-Thursday 5:30pm-11pm, Friday-Saturday 5:30pm-12am the bar is open until 1:00am

Reservations 305-722-8959
www.wynwoodkitchenandbar.com
Twitter: @WKBMiami
IG: @WKBMiami
FB: Wynwood Kitchen & Bar 

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
producer: Jessie Rosario
writer: Shireen Sandoval
photographer: t4two photography

“A picture is a poem without words” – Horace
Now, go be fabulous!

Friday, November 28, 2014 Shireen's Spotlight , , , , ,

Shireen’s Spotlight: Tamarina

shireen sandoval fashion, fashion blogger, miami fashion blogger, miami fashion, Miami, Restaurant, Fine Dining, Food, Foodie, Spotlight, Shireens Favorite Things, Tamarina, FL

What: Tamarina 600 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131

Why: Glamour and sophistication have never tasted so good. Tamarina doesn’t just specialize in Italian Coastal Cuisine, it’s perfected the art of pampering its diners to the “nth” degree. The beautiful, chic, inside/outside restaurant has a warm and rich atmosphere and its food is simple, delicious and clean. I adored the tiger prawn carpaccio. It was so tasty, I was ready for another round. Speaking of…

When you sit at the main bar (they also have a standalone oyster bar and a champagne bar) ask Magic (yes that’s his real name) to make you a dirty martini. It has to be one of the best drinks I’ve ever had in the “Magic” City. It was so smooth, I felt like Marlene Dietrich throwing one back with Gary Cooper in the 1936 movie, “Desire.” This place is regal, romantic and has really great raw fish.

Where: Tamarina is located in Brickell where Lippi used to be. Parking can be a challenge, but on the West and North side of the restaurant, there’s affordable valet.

When: Monday-Friday 12pm-11:30pm, Saturday 6pm-11:30pm/the bar is open until 1am, closed on Sunday.

Reservations:  305-579-1888
www.tamarinamiamirestaurants.com
Instagram: @tamarinamiami
Twitter: @TamarinaMiami
Facebook: Tamarina Miami

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
producer: Jessie Rosario
writer: Shireen Sandoval
photographer: t4two photography

“Champagne makes you feel like it’s Sunday and better days are just around the corner.” Marlene Dietrich

Now, go be fabulous!

Friday, November 21, 2014 Shireen's Spotlight , , , , ,

Shireen’s Spotlight: Dolce Italian at the Gale South Beach

shireen sandoval fashion, fashion blogger, miami fashion blogger, miami fashion, Miami, Restaurant, Fine Dining, Food, Foodie, Spotlight, Shireens Favorite Things, Dolce Italian, The Gale, South Beach

shireen sandoval fashion, fashion blogger, miami fashion blogger, miami fashion, Miami, Restaurant, Fine Dining, Food, Foodie, Spotlight, Shireens Favorite Things, Dolce Italian, The Gale, South Beach

What: Dolce Italian at the Gale South Beach, 1690 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, 33139

Why: It’s the type of place where you wanna hang-out with your closest friends, enjoy a long, lackadaisical cocktail and get around to dinner when you feel like it. Not only that, Dolce has just launched a really cool new Happy Hour: every single day of the week, you can choose from 8 great signature cocktails, 8 specially priced appetizers, all priced at 8 dollars. I guess I know what my new favorite number is.

This place is incredibly yummy, but don’t take it from me, take it from the best in the food business: Dolce has been selected to participate in a new television series on Bravo called “Best New Restaurant,” starring Master Chef Gordon Ramsay. It’s slated to air January 2015.

Where: In the Heart of South Beach across the street from the famed Delano Hotel on Collins Avenue. It’s a crowded area with snowbirds, tourists and locals to boot. Not to worry, though, the hotel offers valet parking on James Avenue. It’s just a short walk to the front door of the gorgeous, warm and welcoming Art Deco hotel.

When: Dinner/Sunday-Thursday 6pm-10:45pm, Friday & Saturday 6pm-11:45pm

www.dolceitalianrestaurant.com 
Reservations: 786-975-2550
Instagram: @dolce_italian 
Twitter: @Dolce_Italian 
Facebook: Dolce Italian  

Editor: Matthew Auerbach
producer: Jessie Rosario
writer: Shireen Sandoval
photographer: t4two photography

Happy Friday! Don’t forget to be fabulous.

Friday, November 14, 2014 Shireen's Spotlight , , , , , ,

Shireen’s Spotlight: Seasalt & Pepper

Shireen's Spotlight - SeaSalt & Pepper - Miami, FL

What: Seasalt & Pepper, 422 NW North River Drive, Miami, Florida 33128

Why: If Seasalt & Pepper were a man, I’d seduce and romance him, take him home to meet my parents, marry him and love him for the rest of his natural born life. What I’m trying to say is, this place is a dream come true. The only way for me to describe it: perfection (and I never say that word.)

It has everything you could ever want in a restaurant: a great vibe, a beautiful backdrop, amazing food and drinks, elegance and charm. Matter-of-fact, this place is like something out of a movie: sleek, sophisticated and anyone in it, looks better because of it.

A lot of people dine there during the day, because it’s right on the Miami River, but it’s just as beautiful at night. The Magic City shines bright in the background and gives the restaurant a glorious glow. I was majorly impressed with the genuine kindness of everyone who worked there, from the owners, managers to the wait staff.

Highlights of my visit were the seafood rhapsody that is the “Meli Melo of Tartare” and a plethora of sumptuous cocktails. I recommend the “Cloud 9,” a lychee vodka concoction that’ll leave you begging for more.

Where: I know we’re all programmed to think “the beach” or “downtown” when we’re on the hunt for a great restaurant, but this fabulous gem is right on the aforementioned Miami River. Believe it or not, it used to be just a warehouse. Well, guess what? Magic moved in.

When: Wednesday-Sunday 11:30-3:00am

www.seasaltandpepper.com
Instagram: @seasaltandpeppermia
Twitter: @SeasaltNPepper_
Facebook: Seasalt and Pepper
Reservations: 305-440-4200

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

This should be featured in Shireen’s Favorite Thing’s fashion blog, don’t you think? Would love to hear your feedback. Happy Dining!

Thursday, November 6, 2014 Shireen's Spotlight , , , ,

The Henna Touch

www.ShireenSandoval.com - Shireen Sandoval - The Henna Touch

www.ShireenSandoval.com - Shireen Sandoval - The Henna Touch

www.ShireenSandoval.com - Shireen Sandoval - The Henna Touch

www.ShireenSandoval.com - Shireen Sandoval - The Henna Touch

www.ShireenSandoval.com - Shireen Sandoval - The Henna Touch

When the doctor told me that my baby didn’t make it, I was paralyzed with grief. Strangely though, on the outside, I was cool and collected. I guess it was because I felt like I had to be. While everyone and everything around me fell apart, I became an undeniable pillar of strength. Family members wept openly in my arms, friends shared heartfelt condolences and strangers expressed their true disbelief and genuine despair.

When the newness of my tragedy dissipated, though, my sadness erupted like a volcano. My heartbreak knew no bounds and like uncontrollable lava seeped into every single fiber of my being. I was completely and utterly inconsolable. In my private moments, I wept like a crazy person. I fell to my knees and released the most guttural, primal sounds that scared even me.

There was no stopping it: my grief had its own plan and I had no choice but to succumb to it. I became a person I didn’t know. I slept too much, drank too much, ate too much, exercised too much and shopped too much. I hated myself in the process. Looking back at it now, I realize that I was just trying to fill the hole in my heart. It didn’t matter what I did, though, the wound was so big and so deep, it was UNFILLABLE.

A few months later, as I struggled to continue on with my normal life, I had this unbelievable moment of clarity when I was driving to work. It was so profound, it shook me to my core. Hyperventilating, I pulled my car over on Collins Avenue and staggered a short distance to the beach. I realized that it didn’t matter what I did or how much of it I did, the emptiness inside of me would never, ever go away.

Read the rest of “The Henna Touch” at www.wsvn.com or get the look at www.thehennatouch.net and www.KoreBoutique.com.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 Shireen's Favorite Things , , , , ,