Make Umi's Giant Prawns With Honey Garlic Sauce With This How-To

Some chefs keep their recipes top-secret. Those chefs are lame. But John Belleme, the award-winning Executive Chef at Umi Fishbar & Grill, is willing to share the love and show people exactly how to make his cravable Asian Fusion dishes right at home. In this video, Chef John shows you how to create Umi Fishbar & Grill's crazy-delicious Giant Prawns With Honey Garlic Sauce. The recipe takes between 30 and 45 minutes to create and feeds 4.




Marinade:
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons water
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (available at Asian market)
2 teaspoons black bean garlic sauce
2 teaspoons light soy sauce
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 pound jumbo shrimp – approximately 12 to a pound

Honey garlic sauce:
3 egg yolks
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sweet chili garlic sauce

Other Ingredients:
3 tablespoons peanut oil
12 marinated shrimp
2 teaspoons minced garlic
4 green onions, sliced into one-inch lengths
1/2 cup carrots, thinly sliced
12 snow peas sliced into thirds diagonally
1 shallot, julienned
8 medium shitake mushroom caps cut into quarters
honey garlic sauce
2 teaspoons unsalted butter
chili powder to garnish

Preparation:

To make the marinade, combine the ingredients in a bowl, add the shrimp and let the shrimp marinade at least 20 minutes.

Combine the ingredients for the honey garlic sauce, mix well and set aside.

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the shrimp and cook approximately two minutes per side. Remove shrimp from pan and add remaining peanut oil. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add vegetables and sauté approximately one minute. Add shrimp, honey garlic sauce and butter to the pan and heat thoroughly. Adjust seasonings and serve.

Umi Fishbar & Grill
2401 PGA Blvd Suite #160
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33405
(561) 472-7900
http://www.umifishbar.com/
Hours: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Sunday

Sushi Skills Put to the Test During "Maki Madness" at RA Sushi

People take sushi seriously, so it came as no surprise that the 1st Annual Maki Madness contest on Saturday, March 26, was a total showdown.

RA Sushi was prepared with DJ beats, fun basketball games, 4 Orange Premium Vodka tastings, and, of course, more than 75 Tootsy Maki rolls waiting to be consumed. As the competitors came in, each received a RA Sushi T-shirt, sweatbands and a number to pin to their shirt, on which competitors wrote monikers like “Trashcan,” “Kamikazeeee,” “Sushi Anonymous,” and even “Not A Good Idea.” When the competition began, they soon found out that they needed more than a clever name to win.

The rules of the competition were simple: Each contestant receives two Tootsy Maki rolls and a glass of water. The first to finish their two rolls (down to the very last piece of rice) move on to the next round. After scarfing down Tootsy Maki rolls at top speed, the top four who finished in each heat moved on to the second round.

The competition was getting intense, with two heats of four letting the top two move on to the placing rounds. The competition was now down the top four speediest sushi eaters.

We were soon going to find out who was moving on to the final championship round. Contestant number 7, Chris “Trashcan”, and number 8, “Hartzey,” were beating out the competition. For the time it took other contestants to finish one roll, they finished two. When it came down to the championship round, we knew the competition would be fierce. Or so we thought.

The final round rules were different. The last two contestants were given three glasses of water, three minutes and unlimited rolls (starting with a plate of eight). Whoever ate the most sushi in the time allotted was RA Sushi’s 1st Maki Madness Champion. Keep in mind, these men have already eaten SIX sushi rolls before the final round. That, it turns out, is all some people can handle.

The timer began, with half a sushi roll down, this so-called “Trashcan” wasn’t looking so hot. After a mere 30 seconds, the “Trashcan” slid the mountain of sushi before him over to his opponent and forfeited the Maki Madness title. The hulk of a man, “Hartzey,” became RA Sushi’s Maki Madness Champion, earning the grand prize of “Sushi for a Year.” He could put sushi away at astronomical speeds and even asked if he could have the leftovers after the competition was done!

If you lost out on your chance to compete this year, don’t sweat it. RA Sushi will continue its Maki Madness next year. So, if “Hartzey” comes back to claim his title, you'd better be prepared. He is the official sushi king, and a force to be reckoned with.

RA Sushi

The Shops at Pembroke Gardens

201 SW 145th Terrace, Pembroke Pines

Tel: 954-342-5454

Become A Fan! www.facebook.com/RASushiPembrokePines  

Visit: http://www.rasushi.com/  

Fun at the Palm Beach International Film Festival

The Palm Beach International Film Festival may have ended last night, but it will stay in the minds of the film buffs who traveled from across the world to view the collection of 21 feature films, 18 documentaries, and a good amount of short and student films.


Samantha Gurowski, Burt Young, Stephanie Dunn

The PBIFF opened with a bang last Wednesday, March 23, with a screening of "Win Win," Tom McCarthy's acclaimed film about "a nice-guy New Jersey lawyer whose practice is floundering, his office is falling to bits, and the high school wrestling team he coaches with curmudgeonly Vigman hasn't won a match all season." It was the perfect opening night flick: A low-key, engaging, sometimes hilarious emotional observation of several vulnerable characters (played by Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Burt Young, and newcomer Alex Schaffer). There was plenty to discuss at the after-party at Pura Vida Lounge & Nightclub in West Palm Beach, where the film's costar Burt Young (a.k.a Pauly from "Rocky") happened to be hanging.

Estee Rubinstein, Richard Jenkins, Amber Clark

The Silver Screen Splash, the festival's premiere event, took place poolside on Friday, March 25, at the ritzy Boca Raton Resort & Club, where Oscar-nominated actor Richard Jenkins (you may remember him from "Eat, Pray, Love" and "Stepbrothers") was present to accept an award. In between speeches and performances, attendees chatted around the pool, bid during a silent auction, and helped themselves to an open bar and food stations with sliders and truffle fries.

 

Then, before we knew it, it was closing night. After a screening of "The First Grader," the inspiring true story of an 84-year-old former prisoner who attends primary school to learn how to read, the "It's A Wrap" party was held last night at Deck 84 in Delray Beach. Gathered around Deck 84's outdoor bar, attendees sipped cocktails and discussed their favorite films from the weekend until bartenders were forced to give a last call.

Until next year, PBIFF.

Gab Night Out: Pre Cinco de Drinko Celebration

We were long overdue for a Happy Hour. Had we really not had an official Gab Night Out together since the Gab Holiday Party? We made up for it during this Friday's Gab Night Out, though, held at Uncle Julio's in Mizner Park.

The theme was Pre Cinco de Drinko, and, yes, we are aware that Cinco de Mayo is more than a full month away. What can we say, we're ahead of the curve. And love any excuse to get together over Mexican. With that in mind, this month's appointed party committee (Sam, Steph and Jen) went to work crafting the following visually stunning, extremely high-tech invite:

(Ok, we admit we don't have the skills of our design department. Moving on.)

The lessons learned over the course of the evening were:

If you're late, even if it's because you're meeting deadlines, you will be forced to wear a sombrero.

There's no such thing as too little guacamole.

After a few margaritas and mojitos, Mexican mustaches are a fantastic idea.

Some 'Savor the Ave' Shots | March 24, 2011

Captured at PRIME















Sushi Overload! RA Sushi Pembroke Pines Hosts Maki Madness This Saturday, March 26

Not to brag or anything, but we've always had a talent for putting away shocking amounts of sushi. Let's just say we've never met a Tootsy Maki we didn't like.

For anyone who shares our blessing (or curse, depending on how you look at it), it's time to put your sushi where your mouth is!

1st Annual Sushi Showdown

Saturday, March 26, 2-5 p.m.

In the spirit of March Madness, RA Pembroke Pines announces its first annual Maki Madness sushi-eating contest. Whether you’re a professional food eater, in which case we tip our hats to you, or if you're a sucker for good old-fashioned competition, you’ll be sure to enjoy plenty of entertainment and food and drink specials all day long.

Competitive slots have already been filled (sigh), but you can still have your fill of the following specials:

Drink Specials:
$4 Kirin & Kirin Light

$6 Free Throw Bomb

$7 Rim RAcker

$8 3-Pointer
Food Special:
$7 Tootsy Maki

Prizes:
1st Place: Sushi for a year (12 $50 RA gift certificates)
2nd Place: $100 gift certificate
3rd Place: $50 gift certificate
Bonus: $25 gift certificate awarded to contestant with loudest applause

Entertainment:
NCAA March Madness coverage on all TVs
Special Guest DJ spinning hot beats

Location:
The Shops at Pembroke Gardens
201 SW 145th Terrace, Pembroke Pines
Tel: 954-342-5454
Become A Fan! www.facebook.com/RASushiPembrokePines
Visit: http://www.rasushi.com/

Umi's Indoor/Outdoor Bar Opening This Friday, March 25

Umi Fishbar & Grill already has plenty going for it - a striking design, a great PGA location, harbor views, a ridiculously tasty menu that covers everything from delicious sushi to Asian Fusion entrees to the area's only robata grill...

And now restaurateur Carmine Giadini has gone and added a spectacular Indoor/Outdoor Bar.

This Friday, Mar. 25, Umi will unveil its new Indoor/Outdoor Bar with a Grand Opening featuring plenty of can't-miss freebies and a guaranteed good time.

Beginning at 8 p.m., take part in the Late-Night Happy Hour kickoff, enjoy the waterfront views, and dine on complimentary sushi, prepared by local celebrity chef Mike Jin, at the bar from 8 to 10 p.m. When 10 p.m. rolls around (which we predict will sneak up fairly quickly as you eat free sushi) all drinks are 50% off.

Umi is taking their celebration a step further, featuring a Sobieski ice luge and tastings, as well as a caviar station featuring Beluga caviar and Beluga vodka tastings.

You now officially know where to find us this Friday. 

Umi Fishbar & Grill

Harbour Financial Plaza
2401 PGA Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Call:(561) 472-7900
http://www.umifishbar.com/
Search 'Umi Fishbar & Grill' on Facebook

Savor the Avenue With PRIME This Thursday, March 24

Now that Spring is officially in the air, there's no better season to enjoy the cool weather and dine al fresco in South Florida.

Why not transform your meal into a full experience and dine in a unique setting with more than 1,000 other guests at the longest dining table on the Southeast coast, on crazy delicious cuisine from some of the area's most noted restaurants?

Foodies, rejoice! Savor the Avenue, Delray's one-of a kind epicurean event, is taking place this Thursday, March 24, allowing you to dine smack dab in the middle of Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to East Fifth Avenue.

Photo courtesy of http://www.southfloridagourmet.com/

Here's the rundown:

Greet, Toast & Dine

5 to 6 p.m. and 8:30 to 10 p.m.: Check in and sip your complimentary cocktail provided by the restaurant with which you made your reservation (16 are participating).

5:30 p.m.: Kick off your evening with premium cocktails by Xanté®, one of the evening’s sponsors, and live entertainment by Ron Bivona, a singer remniscent of Frank Sinatra.

6:30 p.m.: Grand Toast at the Grand Table, donated by San Giuseppe

7 to 8:30 p.m.: Time to dig in! Dining with custom wine pairings donated by Rutherford Wine Company

9 p.m. to Midnight: Keep the party going at the after party at Pineapple Groove, with more drink specials by Xanté®

As one of the hottest new restaurants in town, tickets for Prime are already completely sold out. But you can still lust after their Savor the Ave menu and keep them in mind for next year:

Hors D’oeuvre
     Chef’s house smoked salmon on pumpernickel toastini, golden frisee and lemon aioli
     Paired with Rutherford Ranch Sauvignon Blanc

Appetizer
     Maryland style crab cake steak fries, matchstick slaw & a bacon vinaigrette
     Paired with Lander-Jenkins Spirit Hawk Chardonnay

Main Entrée
     8-ounce prime filet mignon, lobster béarnaise, baby broccolini roasted shallot mashed potatoes
     Paired with Predator Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi Appellation

Dessert
     House special decadent chocolate bread pudding
     Paired with Lander-Jenkins Spirit Hawk Cabernet Sauvignon

Savor the Ave benefits The Office Depot Foundation, which strives to make a positive impact on children, families and communities. The restaurants will donate $5 for every reservation made for the event.

Deck 84 To Host the Palm Beach International Film Festival "It's A Wrap" Party

On the heels of Sundance, the Miami International Film Festival and the recent SXSW Film Conference and Festival comes our own Palm Beach International Film Festival, being held March 23 to 31 at various hot spots throughout Palm Beach. As a true South Florida destination, Deck 84 of Atlantic Avenue will be participating in the iconic local event, hosting the Closing Night Film & Awards Presentation on the evening of Monday, March 28.

First, get cinematic at Movies of Delray for the 7 p.m. showing of The First Grader, "an inspiring story about the universal human urge to make our lives better." The premise has us hooked: it's the true story of an 84-year-old man who, having never been given a primary education, shows up for school after the announcement that free eeducation will be available in Kenya.

Following the closing night picture, the Palm Beach International Film Festival will wrap up the nine-day celebration of film with filmmakers and the community at Deck 84, our favorite waterfront venue. Take in the view and stay for the award presentations of the 2011 PBIFF’s Audience Favorite Winning Films, dancing, cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres.

$35 gets you into the movie, as well as the official after party. Buy your tickets to the Closing Night Film & Awards Presentation today before the event sells out. 21 and over only.

We'll be there - will you? What are you looking forward to seeing?

Deck 84

840 East Atlantic Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33483
(Adjacent to the bridge where Atlantic Ave. meets the Intracoastal)
Call: (561) 665-8484
http://www.deck84.com/ 

St. Patrick's Day 2011: South Florida Food, Cocktail & Event Highlights

By now, everyone is familiar with the nation's more famous St. Patrick's Day celebrations: the weeklong festivities in Boston, Chicago's parade along the green-dyed Chicago River, the packed streets of New York City, the cobblestone roads of little ol' Savannah, Georgia...

We're not the types to miss out on a good celebration. Here in South Florida, we have our own unique St. Paddy's presence, with Delray Beach being home to the state's largest St. Patrick's parade - which just happens to be tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Go to Deck 84, just under the bride on Atlantic Avenue, for a prime spot to watch the parade and enjoy a few afternoon cocktails at one of their satellite bars without missing any of the action.

And when the 43rd Annual Delray Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade ends, the party at Il Bacio Restaurant & Lounge begins, getting you in the shamrock spirit for St. Patrick's Day with "St. Practice Day 2011."

From 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., take your pick of Il Bacio Grill Specials like Black Angus Burgers, Turkey Burgers, Grilled Chicken, and Sausage, Peppers & Onions, plus live entertainment including Hard Drive, Derek Mack and DJ Brett the Hitman.

Irish eyes will be smiling with 4 Leaf Clover drink specials, including $4 beers, $4 Jameson's shots and $4 Bailey's cocktails.

But tomorrow's festivities are only practice for the real-deal holiday on Thursday. Our special cocktail recommendation for St. Patrick's Day 2011:

 Orange You Glad You're Irish?

     2 oz. 4 Orange Vodka
     2 oz. hot tea
     1/8 oz. honey
   
(Pour 4 Orange Vodka and honey into a cup of hot tea).

If you're entertaining at home, don't serve the same old green beer. Try these sophisticated Irish-inspired cocktails instead.


If our cocktail picks prove impossible to resists (which they will), and you need the luck o' the Irish to get out of bed the next morning, check out these recipes for hangover-fighting foods. They may not be scientifically proven to rid you of that seedy feeling, but they're guaranteed to be delicious.

Sith agus Sláinte 'bha! (Peace and good health on you!)

First Annual 4 Orange Classic Cocktail Competition at the South Beach Wine & Food Festival

The promo models for 4 Orange Premium Vodka stood ready as the crowds came rushing into the South Beach Wine & Food Festival on Friday, Feb. 25. The girls lured the masses into the Kitchen Aid tent by passing out tasty samplings of the classic Screwdriver, 4 Orange Mojito and the Miami Mojito (a personal favorite), and handing out totes full of chapsticks, candies, and the 4 Orange Wayfarer-style sunglasses that were nearly impossible to keep stocked. More than 3,500 tastings (more than 1,000 an hour!) were served, giving guests a fresh-from-the-grove taste of the world’s first vodka made from Florida oranges.

Max Solano with his winning cocktail, the "South Beach Sling"

Food and wine enthusiasts were greeted by a set-up that looked straight out of a Food Network show, with vintage wooden orange crates, fresh oranges, glass carafes, and orange trees that evoked the classic simplicity of Old Florida and prompted festival founder Lee Schrager to tweet “Great stage.” 4 Orange Vodka was the proud Silver Sponsor of the Festival. They also participated in the Wine Spectator Trade Tasting and the Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village.



Then the 4 Orange Premium Vodka First Annual Classic Cocktail Competition began. After months of prep, the top 10 mixologists and bartenders from across the country prepared their original 4 Orange Vodka cocktail to be sampled and judged by an expert panel. Las Vegas’s Max Solano trumped the competition, winning a $3,000 cash prize, trophy and the coveted title of U.S. Champion 2011.

A fan of vintage cocktails (who isn’t?), Max used the basis of an old-school Sling for his version: the “South Beach Sling.” He used four different orange flavors in his recipe, which took five days to develop and used sparkling wine in place of club soda. Solano traveled to the competition from Las Vegas, Nevada, the mecca of the food and beverage industry, as the Mixologist and Beverage Director for two of Chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants, Delmonico Steakhouse at the Venetian Hotel and Table 10 at the Palazzo Hotel.

Ashley Carter, New York, and 3rd Place winner, Paul Sevigny, Miami 

Victoria D’Amato-Moran placed second with her “Julius Temple,” a spin on the vintage 1920s Orange Julius dessert made with oranges, vanilla and cream. Taking third was Miami local Paul Sevigny, who has been setting the standard for Miami’s cocktail scene at The Florida Room in the Delano. Sevigny poured his “Purple Haze” in a mason jar for a rustic feel, adding ice crushed with a meat cleaver for an old-school touch. He finished the cocktail with a thyme garnish, sun-dried fig and a steel straw.

After a whirlwind day, Gab and 4 Orange pulled off a successful competition. The three winners were not the only ones to walk away with cash, though - 4 Orange donated a generous $3,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida. Now that the hype is over, it’s time to relax… But not for long. Mixologists and bartenders, get your recipes down and you shakers ready for next year’s 2nd Annual Classic Cocktail Competition! For more information, visit http://www.4orangevodka.com/.

Tony Johnson, Minneapolis

Dustin Haarstad, San Diego

Andres Sanchez, Philadelphia

Joshua Smith, Denver



Max Solano from Las Vegas walks away with 1st Place prize of $3,000



Victoria D'Amato-Moran, San Franciso, wins 2nd with her cocktail "Julius Temple."



Paul Sevigny, Miami, wins 3rd with his cocktail "Purple Haze."