Tuscany is undergoing a food renaissance; its local products lovingly grown and manufactured by artisans proud of their land.  And Chef Andrea Menichetti  ­­— the son of Maurizio Menichetti, a sommelier and vineyard owner and chef Valeria Piccini , owners of the two Michelin stars rated Da Caino restaurant in the Maremma, the coast of Tuscany —  intends to bring to Miami "produce, cheeses, and meats that come from small local producers in Tuscany", as well as wines from his father's vineyard.

Together with restaurateur Alessandro Cecconi, they are opening Vino E Olio in October, a sleek 220-seat restaurant with glass lit walls casting colors in all directions in the dining room and a stunning outdoor terrace.  The  menu  based on rustic Tuscan cuisine includes Chef Andrea’s signature dishes:  Tortelli Cacio e Pere, or pasta stuffed with sheep cheese and pears; and, for dessert, almond cannoli with chocolate mousse and Grand Marnier cream.    

Vino E Olio,  139 NE 39th Street in Miami’s Design District will open Tuesday through Saturday from 6:30pm – 11:30pm.  For more information call 305.573.0707        

Miss Yip Chinese Café and Javier E Rabinovich, owner of The Prive Group are opening a second, 4,000 square-foot location on 900 Biscayne Blvd, a residential tower in Downtown Miami — the first location is on Lincoln Road in South Beach.  The menu is traditional Hong Kong fare presented in a modern way with a Dim Sum cooking area and new bar/lounge addition with outdoor terrace area.

Frequented by locals and celebrities alike who applaud its food and delicious ambience, Miss Yip is also a darling among national food critics. The restaurant’s new home is reflective of its hip cache; it will be housed in a spectacular new in a burgeoning neighborhood populated by young professionals, and offers valet parking and a full bar.

“We wanted to create a lively, hip place that is centrally located and catering to people going to the American Airlines Arena for games and concerts, coming from a cruise, and heading to a show at the Performing Arts Center,” said Mr. Rabinovich.   For more information, visit www.missyipchinesecafe.com.

The Palms Hotel & Spa has appointed  Mr. Patrick Kemmache as the new Director of Food & Beverage, as the property prepares for its first fall and holiday travel season since completion of a $20 million renovation project and garnering of the AAA 4-Diamond status earlier this year.

Mr Kemmache,  a graduate from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in Paris and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Paris,  has received several accolades including 5-Star and 5-Diamond ratings, induction into the James Beard Foundation, and numerous Food & Beverage “Executive of the Year” awards. He most recently served as the Director of Food & Beverage for The Delano Hotel/Morgans Hotels and Resorts, operated by China Grill Management.  Prior to this position, he served as Director of Food & Beverage of The Umstead Hotel & Spa in North Carolina, the only 5-Star/5-Diamond property in the Raleigh-Durham area.

Mr. Kemmache oversees The Palms Hotel & Spa dining and bar operations, culinary and purchasing functions, staffing, quality control, and profitability including the signature “natural gourmet” restaurant, Essensia, and all other dining outlets, as well as corporate meetings execution and social catering/banquets. The Palm Hotel and Spa, 800.550.0505 ,  www.thepalmshotel.com .

The Miami franchise of NakedPizza is debuting this month, the first of over 300 stores under development nationwide. Naked Pizza  is on a mission to change the fast food industry with an all-natural pizza, featuring an "ancestral blend" of 10 grains and prebiotic fiber,  at an everyday price of $4.99 for a 10” pie.   Pizza lovers can officially “get Naked” at the premiere Grand Opening Event on August 28th.  NakedPizza is located at 1260 Washington Avenue (on the corner of 13th Street) in South Beach’s Art Deco District.  www.nakedpizza.biz

Maria Tobar is now  Executive Chef of  the 296-room JW Marriott Hotel Miami on Brickell Avenue. Chef Tobar will spearhead culinary operations for the hotel’s restaurants, including the award-winning Trapiche Room, as well as banquet operations and in-room dining.  

A native of Ecuador, Chef Tobar began her culinary career at age 17, working as her father’s assistant at a small catering company in San Miguel de Ibarra. In 1996, she opened her own restaurant, La Casa del Chef, a traditional Ecuadorian restaurant in Quito. After earning her degree in Hospitality Management from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE-I) in 1999, she was given the opportunity to work at Bistro Latino, a five-star restaurant at the JW Marriott Hotel Quito. She moved to Miami five years later.

Ms. Tobar joined the JW Marriott Hotel Miami in 2004 as a line cook and quickly rose through the ranks, working her way to Kitchen Supervisor, Sous Chef, Head Chef and most recently Executive Chef.  “She is a seasoned veteran of the culinary industry, and has a wealth of hospitality experience and genuine passion for food,” said Florencia Rotemberg, the hotel general manager.

The JW Marriott Hotel Miami includes The Wine Spectator Award Restaurant Trapiche Room, Isabela’s Restaurant,  La Terraza Café & Bar and Drake’s Bar.  JW Marriott Hotel Miami, 1109 Brickell Avenue, Miami

The 2400-sq-ft Havana’s Cuban Cuisine - part of Michael J. Mellion’s family of restaurants including Barrio Latino in Aventura, and Barrio Latino, Coral Gables (opening fall 2010) - is the only full service Cuban restaurant in the Cooper City/Davie area.

The menu is Latin fare with traditional Cuban, Argentinean and Mexican influences. Appetizers range from $2.95 to $12.95, soups and salads from $3.95 to $8.95, and entrees from $8.95 to $19.95. Argentine Grill items, such as the Argentine Churrasco (skirt steak), range from $12.95 to $14.95. Other menu highlights are traditional Cuban cuisine such as Ropa Vieja, Bistec de Palomilla, black beans and rice as well as several Mexican favorites. For dessert, there's an 80-year-old family flan recipe, tres leches and dulce de leche, as well as other typically Latin American desserts.        

Havana’s is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-11 p.m.   8600 Griffin Road, Cooper City, FL 33328 (at the southwest corner of Pine Island and Griffin Roads),  (954) 530-1400 or visit www.havanasrestaurants.com

By MARGALIT FOX

Mr. Batterberry was a food writer and historian who founded two influential magazines, Food & Wine and Food Arts… 

At his death, Mr. Batterberry was the editor in chief of Food Arts, an influential trade magazine for the restaurant and hotel industry. In May, he and his wife, the Food Arts’s publisher, were honored with the James Beard Foundation lifetime achievement award for their contributions to the American culinary scene. 

Read more...http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/business/media/30batterberry.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries

Soyka Restaurant at the 55th Street Station in MiMo district, has a new menu of fresh local ingredients and exciting desserts by newly appointed culinary team, Executive Chef Paul Suriel and Pastry Chef  William Newcomb – both formerly of Joe Allen’s in Miami Beach where they worked for 12 years.   “We are proud to be celebrating the 11th anniversary of Soyka  with these new changes,” said General Manager Patricia Ferraro.  

Some of the new menu items are 10 oz. Sirloin Burgers and fresh healthy salads including  endive-arugula salad with prosciutto, pecorino Romano shavings and tropical fruit chutney. Chef Newcomb’s specialties include strawberry soup, mango mousse, seasonal fruit cobblers and his acclaimed sticky date pudding. 

Soyka  is open Sun. – Thurs. from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Fri. – Sat. 11 a.m. – midnight and offers offers indoor and al fresco dining and free parking daily until 4 p.m. Happy hour specials include $3 beers and house wines and $5 drinks along with daily menu specials.      Soyka Restaurant , The 55th Street Station, 5556 NE 4th Court, Miami, FL 33137; - 305 759 3117  

The Water Club's 27,500 square-foot location where the old Miami Shooters used to be, at 3969 N.E. 163 St., North Miami Beach, has undergone a multi-million dollar refurbishing to become an all-day, all-night, year-round destination. The elegant 500-seat indoor/outdoor restaurant  offers a 15,000 square-foot waterfront pool deck and patio, 500 feet of dock space accommodating up to 50 boats with a full-time dock-master, and a swimming pool with a sun deck. All that in addition to a temperature-controlled Wine Room housing 2,000 labels where GM Louie Spetrini plans to conduct winemakers dinners and tastings.

The reasonably-priced vast and varied menu meant to be served family-style includes plenty of seafood - raw bar, oyster bar as well as crispy fried oysters ($11.95) ; steamed Top Neck clams and Prince Edward mussles ($11.95), Manhattan clam chowder (7.95); Salads, sandwiches and burgers ($10 to $12); among the entrees from the Water, Land and Earth (all under $20)  there's  Yellowtail snapper with pearl couscous studded with toasted almonds and Spanish olives; bucatini Pescatore; coconut curry chicken ($13.95) over jasmine rice. Meats are braised or pan-roasted and prices range from $18.95 for skirt steak with chrizo chimichurri to $36.95 for Spinalis Rib Steak.

There's a kid friendly menu, a bar menu with items served along side cocktails and drinks; sides and a dessert list that changes seasonally.

The Water Club. 3969 N.E. 163 St., North Miami Beach, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For additional  information, visit www.thewaterclubmiami.com .

Chef/restaurateur Jonathan Eimann has closed Pacific Times in The Design District. China Grill Management’s  Jeffrey Chodorow,  Zach Chodorow and  Jonathan Eismann have partnered to re-concept Pacific Time  with a Asian-inspired Mexican-style restaurant, El Scorpion.  http://www.southfloridagourmet.com/site/administrator/index.php?option=com_content§ionid=7&task=edit&cid 

After six years, Casa Toscana has closed, according to a press release sent by chef/owner Sandra Stefani, “due to recessed economic times and other unforeseen reasons.” The Cooking Classes will continue but will be held at different location.

Blue Martini, a 8500 square foot upscale entertainment and martini lounge with locations in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa and West Palm Beach is slated to open July 30 at the newly renovated The Palms at Town & Country Shopping Center.

CEO Mark E. Vasu and Managing Partner Steve Day will host a Grand Opening Party for the public on July 30th, from 4 - 8pm with special discounts on drinks and food to showcase their signature Blue Martini and other favorites paired with dishes on the menu such as seared tuna and beef tenderloin.  Located at 8405 Mills Drive #205, Blue Martini Kendall will be open 7 days a week, from 4pm until 4am.  Blue Martini Kendall plans to launch a schedule of events soon after opening including an “In the Biz” night for hospitality industry people, a Ladies night and a 7 day a week happy hour.  For more information visit www.bluemartinilounge.com  or call 305.630.2583.   

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza opened its newest location in Kendall this past Saturday, making it the 5th restaurant in Miami-Dade and the 23rd location nation-wide.    In addition to its coal-charred pizzas, the menu features coal-oven-roasted chicken wings topped with grilled onions and Italian-style salad, as well as other Italian specialties and a full bar. The store is open 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Take out :  (305) 273-8020.  12502 West Kendall Drive,  half a mile west of the Turnpike.