At Faena Hotel Miami Beach, art permeates every facet of the hospitality experience. From August 1 to September 30, South Florida gourmands can witness Faena’s commitment to the culinary arts at a reduced rate as part of Miami Spice. During this time, the modern-Asian eatery Pao and the Argentinian-style, asado-inspired Los Fuegos are offering prix fixe, three-course menus featuring signature dishes and new creations.
The brainchild of James Beard Award–winning chef and Top Chef season nine winner Paul Qui, Pao fuses Qui’s love and knowledge of Filipino food with global influences from across Asia and Europe. Radical whimsy abounds in the seductive dining room—anchored by a Damien Hirst unicorn sculpture—and across the menu. Pao’s Miami Spice offerings include Qui’s much-lauded 72-hour smoked short rib, made with wagyu beef so tender no knife is required. Preface this entrée with an imaginative appetizer, such as the Unicorn (a chowder-style sea urchin and sweet corn pudding), Kinilaw (a Filipino cobia ceviche that is equal parts sweet and tart), and scallop tataki (a delicate pairing of finely sliced scallops with stone fruit, chili, white ponzu, and sorrel).
Pao’s Menu Spice dinner menu is available Tuesday through Saturday and costs $39, with additional supplements for the Unicorn and short rib dishes.
For something totally different, make a reservation at Los Fuegos by Francis Mallmann. The Patagonia-born chef’s love of all things asado is on full display at this indoor-outdoor restaurant, outfitted with an alfresco fire kitchen. Get to know the man behind the chef whites in Mallmann’s episode of the new Netflix series Chef’s Table, and then head straight to Los Fuegos to sample his local snapper à la plancha or ribeye churrasco with grilled polenta, criolla sauce, and parsley salad. Both dishes are listed on the Miami Spice dinner menu, as well as a vegetarian option of cast-iron wild mushrooms served atop aligot (cheese-blended mashed potatoes), breadcrumbs, and a soft egg. Regardless of what you order, wash it all down with a glass of Faena signature Chardonnay or Malbec, created specifically for the hotel.
Some options at Los Fuegos vary between dinner and lunch. Its Miami Spice lunch menu is available Monday through Friday and costs $23; its Miami Spice dinner menu is available Sunday through Thursday and costs $39.
Across the street at Casa Faena, diners can also take advantage of Miami Spice lunch and dinner menus all week long. Lunch costs $23 and includes items such as slow-roasted pork tacos, falafel bowls, and crème brûlée with local citrus. Dinner is $39 and features a duo of empanadas, Florida snapper with corn salsa, and a molten chocolate cake, among other delicacies.
After dining at Pao, Los Fuegos, or Casa Faena, opt to continue the fun at Faena. Catch a cabaret performance at Faena Theater, indulge in live music or take part in Wednesday-night Bingo at the Living Room, or simply lounge the evening away in your Baz Luhrmann–designed room. However you choose to spend your time at Faena Hotel Miami Beach, it’s bound to be an inspiring evening.
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