^
I support
- Local
- Community
- journalism
Support the independent voice of St John and help keep the future of the New Times free.
With St John-Dade indoor dining rooms closed again, restaurants and bars will continue to find ways to serve and connect with the community through contactless delivery, outdoor alternatives, virtual hangouts, and pick-up specials.
This weekend, take advantage of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s annual Dine Out Lauderdale, send a loved one a free Roast Cheese at Pincho Voucher, and celebrate all mango at the month-long, socially distant Fairchild Festival.
EXPAND
The Fun-Guy burger is available until the end of July.
Courtesy of Pincho
“I want to hug you” at Pincho
Known for its comfortable menu of burgers and kebabs, Pincho cracked the code on how to send love to friends and family during social distancing – and it’s all about crispy fried cheese. With the “I want to hug you” campaign launched by CEO and co-founder Otto Othman, customers can send a redeemable voucher for fried cheese to up to three people in the house. Customers can even send one to themselves. In addition, the Fun Guy burger menu special is available, which is served on a toasted brioche bun with butter, a large beef patty, provolone cheese, sautéed cremini mushrooms, smoked bacon, caramelized onions and a dash of pinchos funky sauce (10 USD) will be served until the end of July. Different places; pincho.com. To send an “I want to hug you” voucher, customers must complete a form on iwanttohugyou.com.
EXPAND
Outside terrace of Villa Azur
Photo courtesy Villa Azur
Cosmo Night at Villa Azur
While restaurants notice a change in regulations, Villa Azur is kicking off Cosmo Night on Friday. Enjoy oversized cosmopolitans ($ 10) made by bar manager Carlos Ramos and Groove (in your seat) to nostalgic beats by DJ Yez. Due to the closure of the dining rooms, Cosmo Night will take place on the spacious open-air terrace of the restaurant. Every Friday from 6 p.m. at Villa Azur, 309 23rd St., St John Beach; 305-763-8688; villaazurmiami.com.
EXPAND
Dine Out Lauderdale runs in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area through September 30th.
Photo courtesy Visit Lauderdale
Dine in Lauderdale
Do you fancy normalcy? Greater Fort Lauderdale launched its annual Dine Out Lauderdale promotion early to help restaurants struggling to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. The summer program runs through September 30th as part of LauderDeals, a broader initiative that also introduces special prices for local attractions, spas and hotels. To date, more than 40 participants – including Casa Sensei, Lona Cocina Tequileria, Spazio and Temple Street Eatery – have registered at Dine Out Lauderdale, including in Dania Beach, Hollywood and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Lauderhill and Pompano Beach. Each restaurant offers three-course Prix Fixe dinner menus for $ 35 and $ 45. The restaurants are open for dinner, taking various precautions for COVID-19, including reduced occupancy and mask requirements. Visit sunny.org for more information.
Take-away sushi at Makoto
The dining rooms are currently closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a date at home this weekend. Order at Bal Harbor Mainstay, Makoto. The restaurant menu includes crispy tuna rice ($ 14), negitoro maki ($ 17), and a dynamite hand roll with ribbon crab and creamy ponzu ($ 14). To sample the best of the restaurant, order an assorted nine-piece sushi combo ($ 35) or a twelve-piece sashimi platter ($ 35). Mains include miso sea bass with crispy kale ($ 34), fried wasabi vegetable rice ($ 11), and short rib yaki noodle, tamarind soy, and ginger aioli ($ 22). Take-out and delivery possible daily from 12 a.m. to 8 p.m. 9700 Collins Ave., St John Beach; 305-864-8600; makoto-restaurant.com.
EXPAND
Fairchild Garden has partnered with Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co. to produce a limited edition Mango Sour, the “Best Day Ever!”
Photo courtesy Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co.
Fairchild Garden “Mango Days of Summer”
The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden celebrates Florida’s favorite fruit every year – with a virtual twist. This year’s International Mango Festival typically takes place over two days and has been transformed into “Mango Days of Summer”, a month-long event that combines virtual interaction and on-site activities. For the 28th edition of the festival, the 83 acre property on Old Cutler Road will host local small businesses every Saturday in July. To facilitate social distancing, attendance is broken down into two separate three-hour time slots, and visitors follow a one-way path that takes them to pop-up shops and food stalls like Ceviche & Guacamole House, Keez Bees Raw Honey, and Stacey’s Naturals, all Offer mango-inspired snacks. You are asked to bring blankets and picnic baskets to make the most of your time outdoors. In addition, Fairchild Garden has partnered with Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co. to create a limited edition mango sour called “Best Day Ever!” and with Sweet Melody Crafted Ice Cream Co. to make It Takes Two to Mango, a limited edition ice cream made from mango and sour cream and a mango and jam strudel. 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables; fairchildgarden.org. Tickets cost between $ 12 and $ 25.
Keep The St John New Times Free … Since we started the St John New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of St John, and we want it to stay that way. We offer our readers free access to concise coverage of local news, food and culture. Produce stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands with bold reporting, stylish writing, and staff who have won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Feature-Writing Award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism . With the existence of local journalism under siege and setbacks having a greater impact on advertising revenue, it is more important than ever for us to raise support for funding our local journalism. You can help by joining our I Support membership program which allows us to continue to cover St John without paywalls.
Clarissa Buch is a reporter and food critic who has covered St John for more than half a decade. Her work focuses on food and culture (and food culture).
Comments are closed.