My walk about town covers from the west side on US1 to Sunset East (that’s the east side Red Road). That’s a lot of turf, where I visited some new eateries, including one for our four-legged friends, and new specialty retail spaces on Sunset Drive.
The first stop is 107 TASTE located at 5966 South Dixie Hwy. “What’s in the name?” you might ask. Different yes, however, it reflects a “love story” played out at FIU and the surrounding neighborhood. Chef Yu Bi and Dr. Lei, originally from China, met at Florida International University on 107th Ave, where they bonded over their shared love for food and dreamed of opening a home-style Asian restaurant together.
Fueled by their passion and determination, they opened 107 Taste, close to FIU as a tribute to the road that brought them together. Their goal is to share their passion for Asian cuisine with the South Florida community, which they proudly call home for life. The couple have locations in Sweetwater, Miami Lakes, Brickell, Coral Gables and now South Miami. Welcome!
Enjoy traditional flavors from China, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, prepared with home-cooking techniques as an authentic dinner in an Asian home. 107 Taste is open seven days. Parking available in SOMI Center building.
Moving through town, my next stop, and another interesting name: THE GRAPE APE. It’s here I meet up with Jason Gaeten as he is getting ready to open up his dream restaurant, wine bar and wine shop. Here customers/diners will enjoy a global selection of wines, available for dine-in or take-home, and appreciate an inspired menu of Argentinian and Italian heritage prepared by locally acclaimed executive chef Giorgio Rapacoli.
Jason and his family have been in the hospitality business since the early 1980s with Shakey’s in Bayside and other locations, ushering in an appreciation for craft beers. Personally, Jason favored wines and made that his passion. And the name? Well, in came into being at a 2024 New Year’s Eve blast in Napa Valley!
The Grape Ape is a full service restaurant with both indoor and al fresco dining. It is open now for dinner only Wednesdays through Mondays, with later plans to open for lunch. Enjoy live entertainment on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Reservations are suggested.
With Jason’s passion for wine and Giorgio’s career in championing Miami’s culinary scene, as a known “foodie” and wine aficionado, speaking for us in SOMI, we’re delighted to have The Grape Up opening here in SOMI.
Crossing over Red to the east side of Sunset I met up with husband-and-wife team Andrian and Dominique Patron who on February 10th opened their second SNDWCH location here in SOMI.
The couple have made a name for themselves at the Shoma Food Hall in Doral, and in just a few short weeks are generating a great buzz around town. Both have enjoyed distinguished young careers in the hospitality business, with Adrian graduating from FIU hospitality school in 2010 and then at the top culinary school, CIA in Hyde Park, NY in 2012. Dominique received her hospitality degree at Chicago’s Kendall College 2015, with specialties in F&B and hotel management. After working with Daniel Boulad in NYC, Adrian came to work at the Mandarin Oriental in Miami where he and Dominique met.
In sitting with the couple, they shared photos of their Italian travels and I came to appreciate their culinary passions, and particularly their Italian visits in Parma and other culinary regions to see first hand the processing of Parmigiana Reggiano and the famed Prosciutto di Parma. They bring that love back to serving up a great meal at this elevated sandwich concept (and that’s without the “A” and “I” which has nothing to do with artificial intelligence, just simple great fresh ingredients, prepared on NYC’s Sullivan Street Bakery rolls.
Located at 1573 Sunset Drive, SNDWCH is open seven days a week from 10a-9p. Check out their ½ ½ combo and Tuesday and Wednesday specials. Order ahead and schedule your meal. Buon appetito!
Staying in the immediate area, I visited with Lusianna Guevara at her franchise location LA BOULANGERIE Boul’ Mich which had just recently opened in early February.
Luisanna has her roots in Venezuela, Mexico and Miami. With an extensive background in corporate marketing with Walt Disney for twenty-six years, moving into the restaurant is a new venture for her retirement years. While new to Luisanna, the La Boulangerie Boul’Mich is not new to her family, who started the first eatery on Key Biscayne some twenty year ago and have expanded with six corporate and three franchise locations here in the Miami area. It is a French artisanal bakery with a Latin twist concept that has been in existence for over 20 years in Miami. The concept is simple, you are at home in a relaxed environment amongst friends in a space that combines light, earthly colors and a vintage- industrial style atmosphere. La Boulangerie Boul’Mich enjoys the affectionate nickname given to the Boulevard St. Michel in the Latin Quarter of Paris known for its quaint cafés, bookstores, and shoppes.
Their menu includes baked goods, eggs, pastas, toasts and sandwiches, salads and soups. Product is baked daily on premise and is open seven days Monday-Saturdays from 7:30a – 6p and Sundays from 8a – 4p. Check out their website. Ordering is available online. Event catering is available.
After meeting new friendsat La Boulangerie and SNDWCH, I head across the street to a newly opened WOOF GANG, a bakery and grooming studio for our favorite four-legged friends.
Located at 5604 Sunset Drive, WOOF GANG BAKERY & GROOMING is devoted to the spirit and bond we share with our pets, from snuggling wet noses and serving up delicious natural treats, to turning a routine wash into a luxury spa experience. It is a national leader in professional pet grooming, and the leading specialty retailer of pet food and supplies. They pride themselves on creating a warm, loving, and fun environment for pets and their owners to enjoy with paw-mazing selection of delicious handmade, oven baked treats, premium pet food that is organic and natural, free of harmful and artificial ingredients, and formulated to nourish, and other products.
Biking along the US 1 corridor, I noticed that Mojo Donuts located at Three Chefs and a Chicken location has morphed into THE HOLLYWOOD DONUT FACTORY.
It’s here that their donuts are the stars! At The Hollywood Donut Factory, they only use the highest quality mixes and fillings. While their donuts are what make them famous, they also offer a full menu of delicious breakfast and lunch fare.
With locations in Hollywood (FL), on Las Olas and Bird Road, we welcome them to SOMI. Check out Community Newspapers Grant Miller’s interview with owner Bobby Palushaj.
Continuing my multi-modality approach to exploring the new and best in SOMI, crossing back over to the South Miami town center’s SoMi district there are two retailers we’re mentioning in this issue, with three others on Sunset opening soon to include in a future edition of SOMIonline magazine.
TECOMOABESOS is a family store located in the heart of SOMI. specializing in newborn to 8-year-old clothing made from Peruvian Pima cotton. They also offer carefully selected toys and footwear from around the world. TC BABY is a must-visit for families who want only the best for their children. | www.tcbabystore.com
And a few store fronts away, I met up with Marcel Pierson who has recently opened a studio in SOMI at 5819 Sunset Drive. Since 1984, the PIERSON INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN FIRM provides interior architecture, interior design, lighting and furniture design, art curation and project installation services to homeowners, business owners, and hospitality industry professionals.
