I have the scoop on the most exclusive private restaurant in Miami! Another scoop is a new restaurant coming to Bal Harbour. If you’re stressed and looking for inner peace, you can meditate with a Buddhist Monk. And I never thought that the billionaire guy who built Hudson Yards in NYC would tell the world that Miami is more appealing than the Big Apple.

Restaurant Scoop!

If it wasn’t for my girlfriend Pauline Grinberg Shender, I would have never known about the most exclusive private restaurant in Miami. Named Haiku, it’s a members’ only dining experience in Wynwood. See the menu on the bottom. Totally unique. We loved Pauline’s birthday party last week and meeting all her friends. Thank you for inviting us.

Jess Varughese, owner, created this new concept (@haikurestaurants). This is how it works. Haiku offers 40 memberships, which include access to private dinners for parties of up to 16 guests, and each member commits to five reservations over the 12-month period. The executive chef, and partner, Albert Diaz, sets the menu with the member. Diaz had a clear vision for the menu from the start, which he says is loosely based on kaiseki, a traditional multicourse Japanese meal presented in a tasting menu format.

After travels to Japan and months of research, chef Diaz created an impeccable menu utilizing fresh ingredients and beautiful presentation. The Haiku dining experience offers 10 to 12 signature dishes, including togarashi pork crisp with cured lionfish and finger lime; elderflower tempura with stracciatella, dashiand white balsamic; and a selection of Edomae sushi.

The space, designed by Scott Kester, features a 16-seat chef’s tasting counter, bold blue accent chairs, an inverted cathedral ceiling and scalloped walls, giving off a modern Tokyo vibe. What can be better than getting the extravagance of a restaurant experience while keeping it completely exclusive? Nothing

This was a party we will never forget. Thank you to Pauline’s husband, Alex, as well.

 Bal Harbour Shops Adding New Restaurant 

It’s always big news when Bal Harbour adds a new restaurant to its very luxurious open-air shopping mall.  The working name is “Avenue 31 Café. Some of the ladies who lunch at the already existing Bal Harbour hot spots—Mediterranean restaurant Aba , Italian eatery Carpaccio , Japanese restaurant Makoto , and artisan gelato spot Bianco Gelato—have been telling me they are looking forward to a new eatery.

I don’t want to be snotty, but when you eat lunch out every day in the finest restaurants money can buy, you need a new place to brag to your friends.

For those of you who don’t know, Bal Harbour Shops is an open-air shopping mall in Bal Harbour, a suburb of Miami Beach, Florida. With sales of $3,400 per square foot in 2022, it is one of the highest grossing shopping centers in the world with an impressive list of notable retailers and restaurants.

Meditation Classes in Miami Beach

The older I get, the more I meet people who just want to find inner peace. Fifty plus friends are telling me they need more quiet time because the world is very chaotic, and families are becoming more complicated.  The best way they can deal with their everyday lives is to devote as much time as possible to calming themselves down.

That’s why I am spreading the word to everyone who is visiting Miami, or lives here, that you can now meditate with Buddhist monk and meditation teacher Gen Kelsang Tashi. He is actually leading live sessions to help develop your inner peace, happiness and wisdom through meditation.

Great news. No experience is needed. $15.00 per class.

About the Classes

Suitable for everyone, these meditation classes offer simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our lives and develop inner peace. These classes focus on using Buddhist understanding to help us solve our daily problems, let go of negative minds and find the lasting happiness we seek.

Each class includes guided meditations, practical teachings, and an opportunity to ask questions. Each class is self-contained and can be attended individually. No previous experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome.

Upcoming Class Dates & Topics

• Feb 26 – Solving our Problems with Love: The Benefits of Cherishing Others
• Mar 5 – Mindful Living: Practicing Loving Kindness in Daily Life

About the Teacher

Gen Kelsang Tashi is a Buddhist monk and the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Miami. He has been practicing and teaching meditation in the Kadampa tradition for over 15 years. His gentle approach to meditation emphasizes the importance of keeping a happy and positive mind. He is appreciated for his clear, light-hearted and practical presentation of Buddhist teachings.

GET THE DETAILS.

Real Estate Developer Stephen Ross is a Miami Beach Influencer 

I never thought that the billionaire guy who built Hudson Yards in NYC would tell the world that Miami is more appealing than the Big Apple.  Is it true or is he just trying to persuade more New Yorkers to buy in Miami because he plans to develop more properties in the Sunshine State.

Stephen Ross, the founder of the Related Cos., has been quoted several times lately saying that NYC is undesirable because of high taxes and big oncreases in crime. He feels Florida has that “ease of living” feeling.

I find it funny that Ross, all of a sudden, claims Florida is the future for New Yorkers. Millions of city people came to that decision over the years as they realized that they can have sunshine in their lives all the time.

Ross, 82, probably felt forced to say it because so many of his friends and business associates are now making Miami and Palm Beach their business headquarters. It’s astonishing how fast the south part of Florida is growing. Everyone wants to be a part of it.