It’s difficult to comprehend, but Miami Beach hasn’t had a decent Chinese restaurant that you can dine in and be proud of for almost 20 years. But that’s about to change. If you are looking for a unique, out-of-the-box experience, Miami certainly has one. Let me introduce you to Padel Island that floats around Miami. Eliot and I are usually in bed before the fireworks on New Year’s Eve, but this year we stepped out with the young, beautiful people crowd — it was great! A fabulous brand-new steak house is scheduled to open in the heart of South Beach, but when is a mystery.

South Beach Finally Gets a Quality Chinese Restaurant 

Everyone in Miami complains that we didn’t have a decent Chinese restaurant, especially New Yorkers who had a favorite Chinese restaurant every few blocks. For years I could hear my husband Eliot asking friends “Where do you go for Chinese food?”  They would send us to destinations an hour away.  That’s not close enough if you have a strong desire for Chinese every week.  Good news came our way from Asian friends who gave us the scoop a month ago that Mimi Chinese from Toronto will be arriving this week with a soft opening.

We are thrilled that Mimi will serve dishes from regions in China like Guangdong, Sichuan, Hong Kong, and Hunan. Culinary director David Schwartz, who won the 2023 Michelin Guide Toronto Young Chef Award, leads the kitchen alongside executive chef Braden Chong.

“Miami Beach shares our love of food and celebration,” Schwartz says. “We’re not here to elevate a food culture — we’re here to honor it and bring our own creative twist to the table.”

The kitchen, which makes all the key components in-house daily, brings many of its Toronto hits to Miami Beach. Its menu spans China’s many regions through raw and cooked dishes.

The raw dishes showcase bright flavors, from a smacked cucumber salad tossed with wood ear mushrooms to Dai-style striped jack with mint and chili. Chef specials range from “General Tso” chicken with ginger syrup to “Hidden Chicken” loaded with chilies. For groups, the kitchen offers larger-format plates like an 18-ounce black pepper striploin, A5 Wagyu ribeye from Kaneko Farms, and a whole bass prepared two ways — with scallion and ginger or Hunan-style with house fermented chili.

But the kitchen showstopper is the “Four Foot Belt Noodle,” a long, wide noodle coated in housemade chili oil and topped with mushrooms and cucumber that is popular with Instagram set for its dramatic tableside stretching and cutting. Rice options include green scallion fried rice with roasted scallion oil, while the vegetable section offers plates like charred cabbage spiced with cumin.

Many dishes come tagged with their Chinese regional origin, giving diners a culinary tour, if you will, through China’s provinces. The bar stocks wines, sakes (including barrel-aged options and magnums), baijiu, and cocktails created for the menu.

Mimi Chinese brings calculated drama to Miami Beach. The windowless dining room comes draped in red banquettes and staffed by bow-tied servers. Once inside, the outside world disappears by design – you’re there to eat and focus on the meal. Beginning Wednesday, January 8, Mimi Chinese will be open five days a week.

Mimi Chinese. 1575 Alton Rd., Miami Beach; mimichinese.com

A Floating Padel Court Island   

If people today are looking for a unique, out-of-the-box experience, Miami certainly has one. Miami actually has many but this is the latest one that you really want to know about.

Let me introduce you to Padel Island that floats around Miami.

This was one of the buzzier unveilings at this year’s Miami Art Week. It was anchored off the coast of Fisher Island and people everywhere were saying, “What is that?”

It’s the brainchild of Yntegra Group, a Miami-based private investment firm spearheading ultra-lux residences and resorts in Exuma, a part of the Bahamas southwest of Nassau. Upon completion, the Exuma project will include a superyacht marina and a Rosewood-branded hotel.

Yntegra Group CEO Felipe MacLean said the exposure during Art Week was a great place designed primarily for the project and brand awareness.

A story in the Miami New Times said the court cost $1 million to construct. “It’s made of recycled steel from old shipyard materials and is engine and battery-free. It spans approximately 16 by 38 by 71 feet and weighs 81 tons. It’s currently being housed at a shipyard off the Miami River.

Future destinations are planned for Key Biscayne in February and the Miami Grand Prix in May. The padel court will begin its journey to the Bahamas early summer. Yntegra Group’s multi-island, 365-acre endeavor is slated to formally break ground in March. For more information, go to https://www.yntegragroup.com

Partying with the Beautiful People

We did New Year’s Eve a little different this year. We tagged along with our friends Dawn and Gail who took us to a party at the Icon in South Beach. We usually hang out with folks our age who like to be in bed before the fireworks go off. This year we spent the evening with the Beautiful People crowd, many years our junior who danced the night away.

Beautiful bodies mean great fashion trends. Unlike my age group who like to wear comfy clothes, this crowd couldn’t wait to dress up. The women wore outfits that were completely inspired by Hollywood. You could see a hint of everything. I have to admit, I took a peek every chance I got. It takes a special effort to find these clothes and to know how to present yourself in them.

One of the major reasons why I really liked mixing with the people I met last night was because they were accomplished. Not only did they look great but most of them had amazing careers: financial advisors, wealth managers, institutional investors, real estate developers, publishers, book authors, fundraisers, etc.

It’s good to start off the year with people who are doers. It invigorates you to do the things you always wanted to do and gives you the confidence that you can do it.

La Grande Boucherie Is a Big Mystery In South Beach

The Group Hospitality, a New York-based hospitality group, is scheduled to open La Grande Boucherie in the heart of South Beach.  The only problem is that no one knows when the opening is actually happening. It has been a work in progress for five years.

The Group Hospitality is a well-known company behind some very popular restaurants including: Boucherie, Olio e Piu, and the Omakase Room. No one has announced an official opening.

La Grande Boucherie is scheduled to be situated in one of the most stunning art deco buildings South of Fifth.  The building was the former home to a modeling agency and other restaurants.

The rumor mill claims that both the outside and inside of La Grande Boucherie will be absolutely stunning and the food is almost guaranteed to be great. Our New York City friends tell us that the La Grande Boucherie at 145 West 53rd St. in NYC is outstanding. It’s an upscale steakhouse that offers a blend of French cuisine.

We can’t wait for the steak and fries.