West Pink Shrimp Toast
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil
12–15 Key West shrimp
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon aged sherry wine vinegar
3 tablespoons hummus
2 baguette slices, freshly toasted
8–10 organic arugula leaves
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
7–8 Cilantro leaves
To Prepare the Shrimp
Heat a small sauté pan and toast the fennel seeds lightly until they become aromatic. Add the olive oil and shrimp. Cook over high heat for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink throughout. Season with salt and pepper flakes, then deglaze with vinegar. Remove from heat.
To Prepare the Toast
Spread the hummus evenly on the toast. Arrange the arugula leaves on the hummus. Spoon the warm cooked shrimp over the toast. Sprinkle with smoked paprika and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
Serves 2.
For nearly three decades, Nino Pernetti and his team have been serving both old friends and new from his beloved Coral Gables restaurant, Caffe Abbracci. The list of regulars reads like a who’s who of Miami’s movers and shakers. Over the years, they have served countless professional athletes, politicians, including three U.S. presidents, and county, state, and federal judges, including two U.S. Supreme Court justices.
At Caffe Abbracci, everyone who walks through the door is treated like a celebrity and served flawlessly executed Italian comfort food, great wine, and well-made cocktails. You’ll find an old-school Italian restaurant atmosphere with chandeliers lighting Caffe Abbracci’s main dining room. It’s a great place for celebrations, couples dining, or business meetings. You’ll usually find a mix of these festivities taking place at the restaurant on any given night.
The menu features traditional Italian dishes, including prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, risottos, chicken Parmesan, lobster ravioli, fettuccine Alfredo, and veal scaloppine porcini. Start your meal with Tortellini Tatiana stuffed with pear and cheese and served with a pink vodka sauce. Enjoy a tiramisu for dessert with coffee for a perfect ending to your fine Caffe Abbracci dining experience.
Lamb Chops with Dried Cherries and Berries
11 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
13/4 cups Cabernet, divided
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme, plus 1 teaspoon
16 2-ounce lamb chops, pounded slightly
1/2 cup mixed dry cherries and berries, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish
4 medium shallots, thinly sliced
11/2 cups shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, caps thinly sliced
11/2 cups beef stock
1/2 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley
Arugula, for garnish
Salt and pepper
1.In a glass or ceramic bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons olive oil with 1 tablespoon Cabernet and 1 tablespoon thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the marinade over the lamb chops and refrigerate for 5 hours, turning occasionally. Soak the cherries and berries in 1 cup Cabernet for 1 hour; drain.
2.In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add the shallots and mushrooms and cook over moderately high heat about 2 minutes. Add the stock, 1 teaspoon thyme, and the remaining wine to the saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil until partially reduced, about 4 minutes. Add the honey, parsley, and drained fruit. Lower the heat and cook for 3 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids with a wooden spoon.
3.Remove the chops from the marinade and pat them dry with paper towels. Season with salt to taste. In a large skillet, heat the remaining oil over high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the chops and cook for about 4 minutes a side for rare. Remove the chops from the skillet and drain the oil from the skillet. Pour the sauce into the skillet and cook over high heat, scraping the bottom of the pan until reduced slightly, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4.To serve, divide the sauce evenly among four warmed plates, reserving some for garnish. Place four chops on each plate. Dot each chop with sauce and garnish with a berry and arugula.
Serves 4.
A self-described Italian fusion restaurant, Caffe Vialetto is renowned for its excellent, innovative food and service. With a charming and romantic atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot for a tête-à-tête. The restaurant features white tablecloths, fresh flowers, captivating artwork, and an intriguing mix of modern music, giving it a relaxed yet upscale ambience. The staff is attentive and kind and offers high quality service, making sure every aspect of your Caffe Vialetto experience is memorable.
Caffe Vialetto serves up unique and flavorful Italian-influenced dishes like its highly regarded champagne risotto. This dish comes in lamb or chicken teriyaki versions. They also offer broad and varied menu selections, from fried calamari with a chili glaze to creamy polenta, mac and cheese, carbonara risotto, short rib croquettes, and numerous fresh fish and shellfish dishes.
The Caffe is perhaps best known for its bold, innovative pasta dishes. One of the most popular is the pear ravioli, served in a creamy sauce. Vialetto’s extensive wine list is sure to have the perfect pairing for your dish. Just ask.
Order the dulce de leche and Nutella panacota for dessert to cap off your fine-dining experience at this renowned restaurant.
Christy’s, the city’s premiere steakhouse, has become a South Florida institution, where you’ll consistently find great food and excellent service. This old-school meatery offers an intimate atmosphere with its romantically lit, wood-paneled dining rooms, mahogany tables, and gold-gilded framed paintings.
