SUGARCANE Raw Bar Grill brings Chef Timon Balloo to the Wynwood Midtown District

 

Hop on a hammock, close your eyes. Let’s head to a place that’s warm – where palms sway and drums play. Take a third Caipirinha – or a fat cigar. Indulge in the freshest ingredients and some quality time with friends and family. Kick back, eat well and stay awhile. This is SUGARCANE raw bar grill.

 

THE STORY  in a word or two

SUGARCANE raw bar grill is located in the heart of Miami’s emerging Midtown district 3252 NE First Avenue. Developed by the owners of SAMBA BRANDS MANAGEMENT, SUGARCANE raw bar grill is inspired by international influences and South American spirit.

Three distinct kitchens:  robata, hot and raw bar unite for a fresh take on tradition and a unique culmination of flavor. Embarking on a quest for the simple pleasures of life: eating well, kicking back and celebrating with friends – the concept focuses on a ‘shared experience’ through its eclectic menu of small plates, artisanal cocktails, and an extensive rum selection. With 4,200-square-feet of interior space, an impressive outdoor terrace, a private gallery, and indoor/outdoor bars – SUGARCANE raw bar grill is the perfect venue for special events.

THE CHEF

Born to Chinese and Trinidadian parents, Timon Balloo’s scrapbook of memories leads with days on the farm, ethnic recipes and a favorite pastime of watching not-so-traditional childhood television – PBS’ Yan Can Cook. So, in 1998 when Balloo enrolled in Johnson & Wales University, it came as no surprise to family and friends that he would pursue a career behind the stove.

While Balloo has since been recognized as a Distinguished Visiting Chef (2012) by the University, his first real lesson in the kitchen was on humility, taught by “Professor” Allen Susser. “In Susser’s kitchen, you were broken down and then built back up,” Balloo explains. “My time cooking at Chef Allen’s gave me a new respect for food.”

Courtesy: Ellen Bowen, MIAbites.com

Through the international program of extended studies, Balloo traveled to Belgium to work at Hotel Métropole under French Master, Chef Dominique Michou. From Entremetier Comis (hot line) to Patisserie Comis, Balloo honed his classical culinary training skills. “The vegetables and animals would often come straight from the farm,” Balloo explains. “It wasn’t unusual for us to have to skin and pluck the next dish… now that was farm-to-table cooking!”

Returning to the United States, Balloo became Junior Sous Chef at the five-star AZUL in Miami’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, under the leadership of Michelle Bernstein. Identifying Bernstein as his greatest mentor, Balloo recalls, “She taught me to cook from my heart and, as such, I started to craft my own approach to food with Asian-Caribbean soul.”

From La Broche in Miami to SUSHISAMBA park in New York City, Balloo cooked his way to the top, earning the title of Executive Chef.  Among his favorite dishes at SUSHISAMBA was the Moqueca Mista, “It touches a depth of flavors, is simply prepared – void of ‘fancy’ techniques – and has personality when it enters the dining room. Food is about life and excitement, but it’s also very much about integrity.”


Courtesy: The South Florida Sage

Through the use of simple ingredients to fuel great food, Balloo’s signature juxtaposition of bold flavors on small plates started to take shape. A brief, one-year departure (2007-2008) from the SUSHISAMBA restaurant group resulted in a partnership with Amir Ben-Zion to launch Domo Japones in Miami’s Design District. The Japanese-concept highlighted one-of-a-kind ingredients in a former post office turned restaurant setting. Though brief, Balloo’s menu was awarded three stars by The Miami Herald and voted “Best Japanese 2008” by Miami New Times.

An opportunity to reconnect with the SUSHISAMBA restaurant group in 2009 as the Executive Chef and Partner of SUGARCANE raw bar grill (SUGARCANE) brought Balloo back to their kitchen. “I’ve always appreciated the brand’s contribution to the industry, from the great ingredients to the warm environment.”

Opening with much fanfare in 2010, SUGARCANE has been celebrated locally with a three star review from The Miami Herald; a nod for “Best New Restaurant,” and “Best Up-and-Coming Chef” from Miami New Times; and the titles, “Restaurant of the Year” and “Chef of the Year” (Miami) by Eater. On a national level, the restaurant earned recognition as a semi-finalist for “Best New Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation and Balloo received a nomination for “The People’s Best New Chef” by Food & Wine in 2011. Most recently, Balloo was honored as Distinguished Visiting Chef by Johnson & Wales University, not to mention the restaurant’s AAA Four Diamond rating for 2013.

Today, Balloo’s zeal and vivacity continues to manifest in his dishes. Dana Cowin, Editor-In-Chief of Food & Wine said it best, calling Balloo’s menu at SUGARCANE, “A greatest hits of delicious dishes.”

South Florida Location:

WYNWOOD - MIDTOWN DISTRICT

SUGARCANE raw bar grill

3252 NE 1st Avenue
Miami, FL 33137

Phone:  (786) 369-0353
Contact Online

Reservations

Menu

 
Hours:

Mon 11:30 am - 12:00 am  
Tue   11:30 am - 12:00 am  
Wed 11:30 am - 12:00 am  
Thu  11:30 am - 1:00 am  
Fri    11:30 am - 2:00 am    
Sat   10:00 am - 2:00 am  
Sun  10:00 am - 12:00 am 

Recent Reviews:

Urbanspoon

Opentable

Yelp

Zagat

Tripadvisor

Connect with Bulla Gastrobar:

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Instagram
Foursquare

SugarcaneRawBarGrill.com

EVENTS AT SUGARCANE raw bar grill
 

Miami Spice

August 1 – September 30

Enjoy Executive Chef Timon Balloo’s special three-course tasting menus!

Lunch $23 | Dinner $39
tax, beverage & gratuity additional

download the lunch menu |  download the dinner menu
 

Weekend Brunch

Every Saturday and Sunday 10:00am - 4:30pm

 

 

Brunch at SUGARCANE – something to wake up for!
Celebrate the weekend with our sweet and savory a la carte brunch menu!

Happy Hour

Every Monday - Friday, 4pm - 7pm

kick back. eat well. stay awhile.

delicious snacks, tapas, raw bar items and sushi rolls for $3 – $12
signature cocktails for $7
pitchers of beer or sangria for $25
*happy hour menu available at the bar only

Read More

NAOE Miami Japanese Restaurant on Brickell Key - Chef Kevin Cory

Courtesy of: Forbes Travel Guide

If you're visiting Miami's Brickell Key, don't pass by this gem. In this petite Japanese jewel box, only eight diners can claim seats. Chef/owner Kevin Cory and manager Wendy Maharlika treat you like a guest in their own home. Maharlika holds down the dining room while Cory single-handily prepares every dish that comes out of the kitchen — which means timing can sometimes be off as he keeps pace with the volume. But with food like this, you’ll hardly notice.  (Chef Kevin Cory has received numerous awards since opening NAOE)

Meals start with the chef’s omakase bento box and then proceed to presentation after presentation of pristine and tender sushi delivered until you call uncle. Though the menu changes daily depending on which fish is freshly sourced from Japan and local harbors, recent dishes included housemade egg tofu with uni and miso-butternut squash soup. Housemade barbecue eel is sweet and toothy, and comes topped with the chef’s own special soy sauce. Speaking of soy sauce, it’s the mystery ingredient in the signature ice cream, and it makes for a surprisingly delicious end to the meal.



At the age of 19, Kevin Cory started to learn Japanese Cuisine from Executive Chef, Nobuo Kase. Nobuo Kase was experienced in Kyoto, the former capital of Japan where Kaiseki Ryori, the most sophisticated of Japanese cuisine is found, read full biography... and find out how he has become one of the most recognized Chef's in Miami.

 

R E S E R V A T I O N S

Chef Kevin Cory specializes in natural Japanese cuisine at NAOE®.   Every Monday through Saturday, Chef Kevin Cory serves a unique Chef's Choice menu  $200 per person plus sales tax plus 18% gratuity.

As the menu is prepared specially each day, please clear any special requests 10 days in advance.  We cannot accommodate allergies to mushrooms, eggs, fish, shellfish, rice, raw, vinegar, alcohol, salt, sugar, legumes, or gluten.

* Reservations are required and exclusively accepted online via OpenTable.

Please allow two to three hours of your time for the dinner.

Child Policy - Children under 12 years not permitted.

Private Dining information is available upon request.  We welcome a fully private reserve of NAOE® for up to 8 guests.

Location - Directions

Seating Times:

Monday - Saturday
6:00 pm
9:30 pm

Capacity:

8 per seating
Dress Code: Casual and Comfortable

Location:

NAOE
661 Brickell Key Drive
Miami, FL 33131
Phone:  305.947.6263
Fax:  866.941.6052               

Web: www.naoemiami.com

Facebook

Recent Reviews:
Forbes Travel Guide

Yelp

Opentable

Zagat “I can’t believe this exists in Miami” since it would be “outstanding even in Japan” gush fans of this culinary star; Kevin Cory’s “creative” omakase meals include a bento box “revelation” and “impossibly good” sushi read full review
tripadvisor
urbanspoon
FodorsTravel
 

Located on an island off the center of a major city, Brickell Key was first created as an off-shore property in 1896 composed of two small islands by the Father of Miami, Henry Flager. In 1943, Edward N. Claughton Sr. combined them into a single 44-acre island.  Since the late 1970's, Swire developed Brickell Key into a sustainable green community with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, ASIA and more encompassing the Village Green. NAOE® is located in the middle of town at the Courvoisier Centre

Read More

China Grill Moving from South Beach to Brickell

 

As if the dining selection couldn't get any hotter in Downtown Miami! News of China Grill opening up this year on Brickell is over the top...

 

 

The new 15,000-square-foot China Grill at 801 Brickell Ave. will be a three-level restaurant with elevated ceilings and a covered outdoor dining garden and bar. Designed by New York's ICRAVE Studio in association with Miami based Arquitectonica, the new Brickell restaurant is part of an effort to refresh the brand which this year will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its flagship New York opening.

China Grill has locations in Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, New York, and Mexico City, all of which are expected to receive renovations and a new culinary concept.

In 1987 China Grill New York opened to a packed dining room and immediate critical acclaim. By its fifth anniversary, the restaurant was as busy as ever and regarded as one of the hottest destination spots in New York City.

 

Jeffrey Chodorow’s labor of love, his first and only venture into the restaurant world, had proven to be an enduring success in a scene where restaurants seemed to come and go overnight. But something was missing…he wanted mashed potatoes.

 

Never satisfied with the perception that China Grill was a "Chinese" restaurant, Jeffrey broadened the horizons to include even less likely pairings. "Why not wasabi mashed potatoes? Lobster mashed potatoes? What about lobster pancakes or a peking duck salad?" Chodorow’s insistence on thinking outside the wok would set the pitch for what would become one of the most innovative and highest-grossing multi-concept restaurant companies in the world.

 

Over twenty years and twenty locations later, China Grill Management and its affiliates continue to produce some of the most original, critically acclaimed and wildly popular dining hotspots in major cities across the globe. Our restaurants have been featured in such diverse publications as The New York Times, In Style, Bon Appetit, The LA Times, 944, and The Miami Herald (to name just a few) and have won awards ranging from Zagat NYC’s "most popular nightspot" to Esquire Magazine’s "Best New Restaurant."

Why?   Because we redefine the very meaning of "restaurant." The philosophy operating behind every CGM property is as simple as it is daring—that serious food and dazzling spectacle are not mutually exclusive.

 

By pairing the culinary ingenuity of world-class chefs, atmospheres crafted by internationally renowned designers and the highest standards of service, CGM’s mission is to create an unrivaled and unforgettable dining experience for every single customer. It is this combination of uncompromising vision and gourmet expertise that has earned China Grill Management a phenomenal reputation as a trendsetter at the vanguard of dining.

China Grill (opening 2013) We're Moving!
After seventeen star-studded years on the beach, we have closed our Washington Avenue doors in preparation for our move to Brickell Avenue this winter.

Stay tuned for details on our exciting new location and we look forward to seeing you Downtown!

Address & Phone
801 Brickell Avenue
Miami, FL 33131
305.534.2211
Web:  China Grill Miami  Facebook

Read More

SooWoo Japanese Steak House Doral

SooWoo Japanese Steak House offers a pleasant and modern Japanese dining atmosphere. We carry the freshest sushi and sashimi in town and offer a large variety of specialty rolls that will make your mouth water. Our hibachi tables are second to none and we serve only the freshest meat and seafood to our customers.

Our all new homemade dessert menu is a great way to compliment a delicious meal. With a wide variety made fresh by our pastry chef, who is always coming up with tasty, new ideas, your sure to find something to your liking. Wash it all down with a savory cocktail from our full liquor bar, serving the best in sakes, wines from around the world, and premium liquors and beers.

Every Friday and Saturday night enjoy live music at SooWoo, featuring some of the best performers around with no cover charge.

Located in the heart of Doral, a unique and exciting dining experience awaits you at SooWoo. From the entertaining theatrical show done at your Teppanyaki grill, to the more relaxed Sushi Bar area, SooWoo has it all.

SooWoo Japanese Steakhouse serves sushi and Korean specialties, but that’s not all. It’s also great place to go for Teppenyaki, where a chef cooks your meal right in front of your eyes on a tabletop grill. It’s an entertaining way to eat, and perfect if you want to avoid the normal pre-dinner small talk.

Delivery:

SooWoo Japanese Steak House provides a delivery service from Monday to Friday from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. We also have pickup available everyday. We offer a pleasant, modern Japanese atmosphere, good music, and a large variety of special rolls with varieties of teppanyaki dishes prepares in front of you. We look froward to seeing you at The SooWoo!

Hours: 
Monday - Thursday 11:30am to 10:30pm
Friday - Saturday 11:30am to 11:00pm
Sunday - 12:00m to 10:30pm

Soo-Woo Japanese and Korean Steakhouse

Doral Location
9753 NW 41st Street
Doral, FL 33178
(305) 477-4477

Kendall Location
13729 SW 152 Street
Miami, Florida 33186
(786) 227-5044

(NEW LOCATION - GRAND OPENING!)
Pembroke Pines Location
Shoppes Of Silver Lakes
18283 Pines Blvd
Pembroke Pines, Fl 33029
(954) 447-0888

Hollywood Location
COMING SOON..!

Email
Info@thesoowoo.com

www.thesoowoo.com

Read More