Food & Drink

At Stubborn Seed, the new Miami Beach restaurant from “Top Chef” winner Jeremy Ford, edible flowers, whimsical dishware and billows of white smoke make for a theatrical dining experience. “There are so many different themes, textures, flavors and visually stunning foods that we offer,” Ford says. “So far, we’ve received a great response from the

While brainstorming new cocktails for JEY Hospitality Group, Scott Kurzawinski works backward, starting with a name before bringing ingredients into play. “A name means so much,” explains Kurzawinski, the group’s beverage director. “It resonates with people’s minds. … When you see a fun name, it evokes a memory. You can build a cocktail from there.”

1. Isn’t that special?: Since opening the doors to its 4,000-square-foot venue on the Intracoastal Waterway in 2014, Grateful Palate Catering & Events has established itself as one of Broward’s premier special-occasion destinations. Customers are booking the space a year in advance in some cases—and not just for the view. 2. It’s in the details:

Patrons can expect the unexpected at Byblos, the eastern Mediterranean restaurant where bar manager Bart Cannizzaro likes to surprise with his unusual cocktails. Byblos (1545 Collins Ave., Miami Beach) offers cuisine with Turkish, Lebanese, Moroccan and Persian influences. Cannizzaro says those flavors also permeate the cocktails. “What I like about working at Byblos is all

In September, Coco Bambu, an award-winning Brazilian seafood restaurant, sailed into Miami Beach with a plethora of land and sea dishes. Founded by Afranio and Daniela Barreira, the Miami Beach space—inside a large, two-story art deco building on Alton Road—is the couple’s first U.S. location, joining 28 restaurants across South America. The Barreiras, who are

Tim Petrillo wanted Rooftop to be more than its view. Its location is prime—in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale, surrounded by the city’s skyline—but Petrillo didn’t want to rest on the scenic backdrop. If he were to put up curtains around the outdoor bar, would there still be a line snaking around the corner?

The more David and Vanessa Cardaci tried to change their routine, the more it stayed the same. They would set out on Friday nights in search of a spirited space in Fort Lauderdale, a place that exuded cool without trying, a place where they could sip on some cocktails, listen to music and savor the

Inspired by the Cape Florida Lighthouse, which sits along the edge of Bill Baggs State Park in Key Biscayne, the Ritz-Carlton’s newest restaurant brings coastal dining to the quiet barrier island. Lightkeepers, named for the lighthouse keepers of the 1800s, spotlights Florida-sourced ingredients, such as cheeses from Winter Park, beef from Ocoee, and snapper from

Something different: Delray’s thriving cultural scene finds a culinary complement with the arrival of Avant, a collaboration between Society 8 Hospitality Group and Nxt Big Thing. The 4,600-square-foot space, formerly home to SoLita and Mastino, has been reimagined as a hip, inviting ode to the social aspect of dining—and a celebration of art in its

A Diverse Palate: The European-style restaurant, café and lounge features a multi-ethnic menu, highlighting cuisine found in Italy, France, Greece, North Africa and the Middle East. “The recipes are very much authentic to their origin,” says co-owner Sabrina Cozzolino. “We don’t want to be identified as a Greek place or an Italian place or a

Take the plunge: The third and final foodie venue at Plunge Beach Hotel, Octopus gives the property a gourmet gastropub to go with its other offerings: Bean & Barnacle (artisan sandwiches, coffee, gelato) and Backflip (Latin- and food truck-inspired beach bar fare). The price is right: Along the way, food and beverage director Will Sibernagel

The Business of Food: Co-founders Levin de Grazia and César González are Venezuelan businessmen; de Grazia’s family has more than 30 years of experience managing restaurants, and González is a cook who started posting his creations on his Instagram account, @co_cinero, which has garnered more than 1.5 million followers. Options Galore: Among the most-requested dishes are the