LA LOCANDA RISTORANTE, MIAMI BEACH FL

Open Food November 2008 Recipes and technique Sarah Freedman-Izquierdo Chef in Residence  Wine reviews Charlie Arturaola Sommelier in Residence People in food  Desmond Gorges Author of "The Richest Buttler in the world"  Events Jaime Izquierdo Photographer and editor       Miami Restaurateurs up close        La Locanda Ristorante, Miami Beach, Florida My New York friends refer to South Beach’s La Locanda as “the poor man’s Cipriani.” They love it because dinner at La Locanda costs one quarter of dinner at their favorite 5th Avenue restaurant. The restaurant La Locanda is run, like its New York counterpart, by a trio that consists of   the two owners Massimo and Francesco (who after recently becoming a U.S citizen requested to be called “Frank”), and Matteo, the head waiter-manager who knits the group together. At Cipriani’s the trio consists of the owner Giuseppe with Hassan the manager, and Sergio the headwaiter. They make the world’s most expensive Italian Restaurant New York’s most popular eatery. In both restaurants most of their success is due to the charm of the owners and staff. A lot of people patronize Cipriani in New York to be seen and to see the current news makers. To a certain extent this is true of South Beach’s La Locanda, in Miami. Naturally it is not “Le Tout” Miami, but it is certainly everyone who is anyone in South Beach and visiting celebrities. It is the kind of restaurant that attracts “The beautiful people”. Every night the tables on the pavement are full of very, very pretty young women and handsome young men often with their pet dogs. Frank is a true dog lover. Water is always brought ‘sans request’ as soon as their owners are seated. Mo, the black lab, who always accompanies the English actor/author Rupert Everett is a very popular quest. If there were stars given to restaurants south of 5th (the line that divides the fashionable area from the rest of South Beach), La Locanda would get the allotted maximum for the welcoming attitude of the owners and staff, and the simple but delicious Italian food. The trio of charmers Massimo, Frank and Matteo are not only so approachable, but funny, full of stories and gossip as they are the kings of the block 407-409 Washington Avenue. I go there often to catch up upon what’s happening in my neighborhood. I love to eat their most popular dish Strozzapreti de la Locanda,  and their Penne del Appennino- not the Appennines- which is not on the menu, but if you order in advance they will make it for you - fabulous. The wine list is extensive. For really great ‘reds’ Matteo will recommend the super Tuscans- Sassicaia and Tassinaia,  and with La Locanda’s wonderful grouper dish their nectar-like Pino Grigio Pighin. The desserts are sparse but their home made Tiramisu is really delicious, I recommend it, and most of my friends love the profiteroles. My brother and I called them “Nun’s Tarts” which we picked-up from our nanny, Marie Rigney who was for an Irish woman rather irreligious, although she spent her declining years in a nunnery in beautiful Fiesole above Florence. Goodbye “Ciao” to the departing guests seems so real and so heart felt that one will invariably leave o a high note.   Article by Desmond Gorges      Events in Miami                                                                  Mark Gelber and Mark Zaslavsky         Sarah Freedman-Izquierdo and           Michelle Bernstein                      Miami chefs attended the 25th anniversary of Marky’s Caviar at Michy’s Restaurant in Miami.   Sarah Freedman-Izquierdo from Marky’s, and Michelle Bernstein from Michy’s designed a sophisticated menu that included caviars, fresh foie gras, pates, Pata Negra ham, hot hors d’oeuvres , salads, and lots of champagne and frozen vodka. Chef Felipe Hernadez from Spain and executive Chef at Ideas in Miami sliced the famous Pata Negra ham during the party. Chef Rolly and Chef Philippe Ruiz from the Biltmore hotel, Sommelier Charlie Arturaola, professor of wine at Lynn University, and the other one hundred and fifty chefs and guests that attended the event mingled to celebrate the occasion.   Their retail shop now offers the latest specialty products from Milan, Rome, Paris, and London, thanks to the innovative marketing of Chef Sarah Freedman-Izquierdo. Sarah is the Marketing and Retail Development Director at Marky’s Caviar. She is presently re-designing the product line for both of Marky’s retail outlets: their shop at 687 NE 79th Street, and “Caviar and More,” their kiosk in Aventura Mall,   “Caviar and More” is a truly authentic Europen bar in the middle of Aventura Mall that has become a favorite for European and South American visitors. Their new menu includes a refreshing selection of sandwiches, just like the sandwiches found in the gourmet stands of Paris, London, Milan, and Florence. The bread is imported frozen from Paris and baked daily. The sandwich selection includes: Pata Negra with black truffle butter; salmon roe with cream cheese; Machego cheese with Piquillo pepper and Serrano ham; saucisson sec with French butter; mozzarella with Italian pesto and Proscuitto; Lavander honey with french butter, and more. Prices for sandwiches average $7.95. Customers can enjoy caviar platters accompanied by champagne just as they would at the caviar stand at Gallerie Lafayette in Paris. Service at “Caviar and More” is friendly and informative.   Marky’s store at 687 NE 79 Street (one block East of Biscayne Blvd.) is open Monday through Friday 9am-7pm, and Saturdays 9am-6pm. “Caviar and More” at the Aventura Mall is open seven days a week during Mall hours. For more information about Marky’s products and direction to their shops you can call Marky’s Caviar at 305.758.9299   Article by Jaime Izquierdo   Food Photograpy 305.788.3093     Wines Charlie's recommendations for this fall:   1.  2007 Soave Classico, Agricola Posenato, from Veneto, Italy, $18 (Crown Liquors, 16850 Jog Road, Delray Beach, 561/921-9463) 2.  2007 Torrontes, Crios, Susana Balbo, from Argentina, $16 (Crown Liquors, 16850 Jog Road, Delray Beach, 561/921-9463) 3. 2004 Casa de la Ermita: Reserva, D.O., from Jumilla, Spain, $29 (A1A Fine Wines, 6231 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/721-2220) 4. 2005 Obsidian, Cabernet Sauvignon, from Lake County, Calif., $32.99 (Lantana Liquors, 300 W. Mango St., Lantana, 561/533-1627) 5. 2005 Honig, Cabernet Sauvignon, “Bartolucci,” from Napa, Calif., $90 (A1A Fine Wines, 6231 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/721-2220)     Wine selections by sommelier Charlie Arturaola, Proffessor of wine at Lynn University      Contact information: theitaliangourmetshop@yahoo.com                                   Tel. 305.788.3093      All rights reserved. Copyright theitaliangourmetshop.com. 2008